Boom 31 Sign-ups open thru Feb 10!
 

Sign-ups for Boomerang Friendship Swap 31 are open! They will close no later than 11:59 pm EDT, Saturday, February 10, 2024. ***If sign-ups go quickly, I will close full groups early*** and I will start a waiting list in the event of a last minute drop. Each group will probably have 12 to 20 swappers. You may choose the 2 or 3 month swap or both if you are a repeat Boomer in good standing. All skill levels are welcome but you must be able to consistently sew a well-constructed 12 ½ inch block. Details follow below but anyone who has participated in a recent Boom knows the basics.

In general, this is how the Boom works: You will receive a list of Board Names of those in your group. You choose your fabric, prepare it and send it to me for distribution to the other members. You need one Fat Eighth (no smaller than 18” x 10”, a little larger is welcome but no selvages) for each member. Send all F8s to me along with any special requests for your fabric. I will distribute them to the other members. You stitch a block for each member using your pre-washed 100 percent cotton quilting fabric out of the F8 you receive. When you have finished all blocks, you ship them to me to sort and return to the owner.

Please note: Board participation is an essential ingredient in making this swap successful. So much information about the swap is found there, much more than I can possibly write in this sign-up post. If you wish to join the swap, please understand it is your responsibility to read all posts and post at least weekly. If something comes up and you cannot post, please have somebody email me. Absolutely no disappearing please!

Anticipated schedule:

Sign-ups end 11:59 pm EDT, Saturday, February 10, 2024

ALL F8s due to me Saturday, February 24, 2024
I ship F8s to you Monday, February 26, 2024

2 month group’s blocks due to me Saturday, April 27, 2024
I mail 2 month group’s blocks Wednesday, May 1, 2024

3 month group’s blocks due to me Saturday, May 25 , 2024
I mail 3 month group's blocks Wednesday, May, 29, 2024

Rules/Guidelines:
Please make sure to also refer to the basic policies that apply to all swaps through the board: Rules for Swaps and Similar Activities - Updated 8 December 2010.

Fabric, Completed Block and Package Preparation:
1) Use only 100 percent quilting cotton. Please pre-wash and press your fabric. Remove selvages before cutting into Fat Eighths, no smaller than 18” x 10” but a little larger is welcome. No exceptions. (Packages that come to me with smaller pieces will be returned to you unswapped at your expense. Please keep off-sized pieces for your own use.)
2) When mailing your f8s to me, please make sure they are individually sealed in a small ziploc-type bag, no hard zippers please. Please label each baggie with your board name (make it easily visible to me) along with any instructions or color requests for your fabric. This may be a note inside or a label on the outside. (Do not specify a recipient unless a fabric is being directed to a particular person.) Labels are useful to help the recipient prevent fabric mix-ups, something that’s easy to do but do not place the label over the opening as I will be checking fabric sizes. Please then take all the individually wrapped F8s and put them in a large ziplock-type bag onto which you have written your name and address. This you will then put into your mailing envelope. Later, when you send your completed blocks back to me, please seal and label them with the owner’s board name and your board name easily visible to me in a similar manner as you did the F8s.
3) Please mail your F8s to arrive by the due date. The sooner everyone gets them to me, the sooner they go out. Be sure to send me the tracking number as soon as you ship.
4) Carefully handle all fabric received and completed blocks, placing them somewhere safe until mailing time comes.
5) To help keep track of the fabrics and blocks made, I will continue the online Gallery found at boomerangswaps.weebly.com.
6) You are required to keep in touch with your group by posting your progress to the dedicated Boom group threads at least once a week, even if you have completed your blocks early. This is a requirement. Nobody likes to make a slew of blocks and not have them acknowledged. If you do not keep in touch with me or the group for any reason, you will not be able to participate in the next Boom. If you don’t wish to keep in touch, this is not the swap for you.
7) All blocks must be completed within the time frame for the group and mailed to me with a tracking number.
8) All blocks must be 12 1/2” unfinished. This means you must measure. Blocks may be traditionally pieced, paper-pieced, appliquéd, whatever the block maker decides to do. It is up to each individual. Please do not request specific blocks as the idea is to let everyone, of every skill level, join in and show their talents. Your blocks may be returned to you for reworking if they do not measure 12 ½ inches square.
9) Most importantly, let’s keep this space a positive and enjoyable place to be! We’re all here to have fun, even me.

Important Shipping Details
You must supply me with tracking numbers on all parcels sent to me and I will do likewise when mailing to you. All shipping costs are your responsibility. Be sure when you ship to me that you have covered the cost fully as I will not accept packages with postage due. You may ship to me in whatever tracked package you like however I will only ship to you in USPS Padded Priority Envelopes (unless other arrangements have been made) at the rate in force at the time of shipping, currently $8.80. Please send a pre-paid envelope or label (no regular stamps please!) or you may send me $8.80 in well-concealed cash to cover the cost of shipping the F8s and I will supply the envelope. You will also need to send me an additional $8.80 per group for return shipping of your completed blocks. This can be done in advance or when you send back your completed blocks. Regarding Multiple Groups, please note that I will send only one group’s completed blocks per package. (F8 shipping will remain combined whenever possible.) If you are in both groups, please send enough money to cover separate shipping of completed blocks for each group you are in.

Keep in mind the following:
You must be in good standing with previous swaps on the QB. Anyone with a poor track record of fulfilling swap commitments will not be permitted to join. If you sign-up and do not fulfill your commitment, you won’t be able to participate in future swaps with me.

All skill levels are welcome but you must be able to sew a 12 ½ inch, basic, well-constructed block. The block does not have to be detailed but it must be stitched well. All seams should be ¼ inch or a scant ¼ with at least 12 stitches per inch. All fabric should be cut one the straight of grain to avoid "wonkiness" and fraying whenever possible. Blocks should not leave your hands until you know you have made every reasonable effort to get them as close to the 12 ½ inch size as you can. We all respect new quilter’s need to learn and that will be taken into account. If you cannot consistently construct a 12 ½ inch block, this is not the swap for you. Please note: when you measure, measure your block under an acrylic square at least 12 ½ inches square, not on top of it, squaring the block on a corner after pressing. Also, be sure to allow yourself enough time to complete your full set of blocks. In other words, don’t leave them to the last week! The results can be hit-or-miss. And please be sure to clean up the blocks. Turn them over, trim your threads and cut dog ears. If you used paper to piece your blocks, please remove that paper! No "crinkling" blocks, please!

Please pre-wash your 100 percent cotton quilting fabrics without any fragrance residue. Please note that that some swappers may be smokers or have pets. If either is a problem for you, this isn’t the swap for you.

No public complaints or criticisms for any reason are permitted. All complaints must be addressed by Private Message (PM) or email but I will accept constructive comments only. No exceptions!

To join Boom 31, please email me (not PM) with "Boom 31" in the subject line at [email protected] with the following:
Board Name
Full Name
Complete Address
Best Phone Number (please specify cell, home or work)
Email Address
Have you fulfilled all your swap/exchange obligations on the QB in the past?
*2 Month Group or 3 Month Group or both? (Newbies to the Boom should select only one group, preferably the 3 month group if you are unaccustomed to piecing on a deadline.)
*Group lengths and group sizes are fluid and will be determined by sign-ups. You may be asked to adjust to fill vacancies as needed. If changing doesn’t suit you, you may withdraw at that time.

Thank you for your interest in Boom 31. We hope you'll join us!

Emailed my info! :) Yay!

So did I. Let the fun begin

Welcome, Terriamn, cheesehead and Logcabin82! Nice start. 😊

Me three!! Emailing now! Can't wait to begin this Boom.

I hope some of our old swappers who have skipped a few Booms will return for this one. <3

Count me in! I'm so ready.

Janice, sorry about your fur babies.
DH and I decided no more after we lost both of our 14 year old dogs within just a few months of each other. They're like your children and it hurts too much when they have to go. Just love them as long as you can.

Info sent.

Good morning! Can you believe it’s the end of January today? Where did this month go?

So far we’ve got 7 people signed up. I’ll post the list soon. I’ll also be sending out PM’s to previous Boomers in a day or two.

Thanks for the kind posts and emails about our pup. She had a good afternoon and evening yesterday and seems like her old self. You’d never know she’s very ill. Today she’ll have a car ride, one of her favorite things! One day at a time.

Have a great day!

Yay, I missed this group. I sent my email. now to go look thru my stash or go shopping.

I'm in! Sewbiz- look what you started with me! :)

After 24 hours, the following people have signed up:

Cheesehead - 3 month
Logcabin82 - 3 month
Terriamn - 3 month
Sewbizgirl - 3 month
Libster - 2 & 3 month
WMUTeach - 3 month
Janice McC - 3 month
Lstew2212 - 3 month
SusieQOH - 3 month

My best guess is that we’ll not have enough for a 2 month group so we can do multiples for the 3 month group as we’ve been doing recently for those who like 2 groups. But it’s super early so we’ll see.

I am in for both! Sending my information.

Count me in :-) I’m overseas but thinking of fabric LOL! Hugs Al!

Yay! Love to see the Boom friends coming back to the swap! My F8s are ready to go. Janice, can we mail now?

You can go ahead and mail, SBG. Obviously we don’t know how many will join but if you want to mail, I can always send back extras. I expect some of us will double up and we might get to a full group.

QUOTE=sewbizgirl;8634595]Yay! Love to see the Boom friends coming back to the swap! My F8s are ready to go. Janice, can we mail now?[/QUOTE]

WMUTeach, I started the 365 Challenge quilt a couple of hours ago and have 8 done. Of course, they’re the easiest and fastest 8! Good thing I’ve been working with 1-1/2 inch squares on Checkerboard Chain or it wouldn’t have gone so well.

Went to the vet today with the pup, and we got an update on her time left. Anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. That’s more than we expected so oddly enough, we’re happy. Lots of time left to enjoy her and do things she likes as long as she doesn’t overdo.

Updated list…

Cheesehead - 3 month
Logcabin82 - 3 month
Terriamn - 3 month
Sewbizgirl - 3 month
Libster - 2 & 3 month
WMUTeach - 3 month
Janice McC - 3 month
Lstew2212 - 3 month
SusieQOH - 3 month
Hav4boys 2 & 3 months
Rebaquilts - 2 months

Will mail today, Janice.

Little blocks are so cute. Are you working with a particular color scheme?

Good news for more time with your sweet doggie. What is she ailing from, if I might ask?

I’ll look for the blocks next week.

I’m going to do lots of colors. The first dozen or so will be red with black backgrounds. Then I’ll move onto purples or greens or whatever strikes my fancy tomorrow. I’ve done 11 today and am calling it quits for the evening.

Short answer: likely cancer of the spleen. Long answer: Ripley has devastatingly low platelets. She cannot clot. Oddly enough she went for her annual check up 9 days ago and was deemed in perfect health but that was before the labs came in. On Sunday we realized her ear had swollen up but why? Took her in Monday (by which time the labs came in) and they realized she was bleeding into her ear. It was drained under sedation and did a new platelet count. Even lower. Did images and ultrasound and the culprit appears to be a lumpy spleen. Without surgery to confirm it, cannot be sure. She cannot have surgery because she cannot clot. So no real way to be sure but everything points to the spleen locking up her platelets and not letting them out to do their job. She’s 12 1/2 and we won’t put her through anymore surgeries. She’s had 4 or 5 for MAST cell skin cancer, another big reason to think the cancer finally internalized. Her ear was drained again today, no sedation this time, and she did great. We go back Monday for a new platelet count to see if the steroids she’s been put on have begun raising the count. In reality, steroids, if they work will only give her a little more time. But she’s still acting pretty normal just more tired. When she’s worse, well, we’ll do what we have to.

Whenever someone is having medical issues I have to run to Google to understand. And now it is our lived four legged children.
and making the decisions on treatments is just as difficult.
my prayers for you and yours

Janice McC, I am liking the color choices for your 365 blocks. ;) I agree that those little, bitty squares do get easier after making a few of the "Checkerboard Square" blocks. I am doing a two day "retreat" next weekend and the CC is going to be my project. Need to do a mound of cutting of 1.5" squares and my frame strips to be ready for my weekend adventure with CC.

I have started cutting my 10X18 pieces. Found a large hunk of fabric in my stash that came from who knows where, so now it will be put to work in this Boom Exchange. Start thinking fall, particularly solids to go along with this small print. It is a Cranston Fabric (no date on the salvage) and the company closed in 2009. Lovely fabric. I remember selling their fabrics in a local quilt shop and sewing with that line in the early 80's. How can it be that I am that old? Just seasoned I guess?

I included my rotary cutter and scissors in the photo to provide a perspective of the scale of this print.

WMUTeach, love that print! I have some lovely fall colors that would work, depending upon your color requests. Enjoy your retreat! I’m a little envious. I used to go to Cross Stitch retreats years ago. Sooo much fun. Seasoned? Love that expression. I’m seasoned, too.

TG, I run to DuckDuckGo for my searches these days and have I had a lot this week. Our pets never live as long as we’d like.

My avatar is changed to Ripley with her toy carrot. She Loves them stuffed as well as raw as a treat. lol.

I’m considering doing two groups this time. Omgosh, I must be nuts.

I'm getting pictures of your fabrics ready and also looking for recently done Boom quilts to add to the gallery. Anyone who has a Boom quilt that hasn't been put in the gallery, don't hesitate to add it here. Also, your F8s for Boom 31 can be added here and I'll pick them up. I've already gotten those from the Autumn Boom 30 thread we'd been using. Please Try to keep the pix to 100-200 kb.

SBG, did you post a pic of your finished Boom 30 quilt. I saw a pic of it as a top but I don't know if you finished it. If so, I'd love to see it and add it to the gallery.

It's all sandwiched and ready to quilt, Janice. But not done yet! I'll hurry up on that one.

Look at your pup in the avatar pic! What's her name? What a cutie! She's a double Petey!

Love the Chameleon quilt. What Boom was that?

Lots of people have remarked about Ripley's looks. This isn't even a great pic. She's really quite beautiful with an equally wonderful personality.

Janice Ridley looks like such a sweetie, poor baby. Enjoy your time with her and make new memories to cherish

A little update…

Cheesehead - 3 month
Logcabin82 - 3 month
Terriamn - 2 & 3 month
Sewbizgirl - 3 month
Libster - 2 & 3 month
WMUTeach - 3 month
Janice McC - 2 & 3 month
Lstew2212 - 3 month
SusieQOH - 3 month
Hav4boys 2 & 3 months
Rebaquilts - 2 months

I’m biting the bullet and trying 2 groups. Little nervous about it but I always get 1 group done early so it should be ok. So is Terriamn. I know she can do it!

I use DuckDuckGo also - it is such a great search engine!'

i know I said i wasn't but I saw your fun fabric and found a leftover piece of backing fabric so I am in for another round!
I am asking for one color per block - but you can use a variety of hues/shades of that one color. tone on tone or solids. You all shouldn't have to visit the LQS for me this round.

Another update! Travelinggramma is back in. Woo hoo!

Cheesehead - 3 month
Logcabin82 - 3 month
Terriamn - 2 & 3 month
Sewbizgirl - 3 month
Libster - 2 & 3 month
WMUTeach - 3 month
Janice McC - 2 & 3 month
Lstew2212 - 3 month
SusieQOH - 3 month
Hav4boys 2 & 3 months
Rebaquilts - 2 months
TravelingGramma - 3 months

Speaking of LQSs, I hit up mine and found two sale fabrics. (Yay, sale!). Here are the three fabrics I will be sending. The blue green was given to me by Hav, a fabric she no longer wanted, so it’ll be a donation quilt. Everyone will get a piece of the blue green, and the second group will get either the pale pink ballet slippers f8 or the grey bunny love fabric. The sale fabrics will also be donation quilts, for the local chapter of Project Linus. They have restrictions on embellishments so please avoid them as I won’t be able to use them in my quilt. All color requests will be with the F8s.

I’m off to prep the fabrics. Have a pleasant evening. We’re hanging with the pup tonight. 🙂

I've been on the fence about doing two groups, as well. I always used to, but since having the BC I wasn't sure how much to commit to, energywise. When I read your post, Janice, I literally ran to the mailbox to retrieve my package to you, but I was too late! So I'll have to send another one, but I'd like to do two groups as well. Hope I get the Guess How Much I Love You rabbits!! I usually do my first set of blocks in about 2 weeks, so I'll have the whole rest of the 3 months to get the other ones done.

Ripley is a beauty and hardly looks like she is 13. She looks like a pup. Pit bulls have the sweetest personalities.

SBG, if you ran to the mailbox I’d say you’ve got enough energy to do both groups! lol. (My knees are screaming at the thought of running!) You're definitely a quick finisher so I think it’ll be just fine.

It looks like we’ll be running a single 3 month group. Those of you wanting the 2 month group, will that work for you? Those, like me, who want two groups can send two sets of fabrics as we’ve done in the past for the 3 month group. .

Is there anyone else who wants to double up?

Janice, my mailbox on the road is all uphill from the house. Just a slight incline, but still... my glutes scream by the time I get up there. Every time.

Chameleon quilt was from Boom 27.

The single group works for me.

Lovely fabric Janice.

TGso glad you are joining us

I cut myself 3 blocks this morning. Told you I was so ready! Also bought some solids yesterday to go with that gorgeous fall fabric.

lol, Libster! I guess you really are ready! I’m working on a small quilt today. I want to get it to assembly by next weekend, if not sooner. My sewing room will need straightening up again before the boom starts.

I am having brain fog, when I cut my fabric do I go down and cut my 18” then cut into the 10” or just the opposite

Terriamn, Usually I cut 18 inch WOF and then subcut into 10 or 11 inch pieces. Sometimes I can get four across but if shrinkage is bad, I may get three and then save the small pieces for my use. Waiting on the latest platelet count on Ripley. She's doing well the last few days. My youngest son is coming out to visit her. He was her "first Dad" but gave her up to us at 11 months when he took a new job in CA and couldn't find a single rental that would accept a pitbull. She's been ours ever since and I couldn't be happier. But, she knows him and saves her most special greetings for him. Such a sight to see!

Signups close on Feb 10. Are there any fence-sitters out there? Would love to have a few more people join! How about some newbies? Come on and give us a try. Email me with any questions or post here and someone will answer you quickly. Come join us!

Hope Ripley gets good news from the vet.... My dog knows my son too. When we first got him Luke was living with us, so he's Marty's "big brother". Sometimes I let him hear Luke on the phone, and he runs to the front door, looking for him. In Memphis, he stays with Luke if we need to travel without dog. It's touching to see that bond!

Looking forward to playing with the F8s!

Janice, fingers crossed that Ripley's platelets will improve. Hoping the steroids she is receiving will provide her more time. It breaks my heart to know what you and your DH are going through.

Cheese

Platelet count: no worse, no better. We’ll check again in a week. As long as Ripley’s comfortable and happy, we’re happy.

Been busy with computer work today and assembling a quilt. Also started my least favorite job, taxes. Yuk.

SBG, your pkg just arrived! And so it starts! Woo hoo.