Boomerang Friendship Swap 6.0Mailing deadline to mail all blocks home to their owners is February 1, 2012

Hello and welcome to the Boomerang Friendship Swap. This swap is about a great opportunity to get a large number of blocks from all over the world made by our online quilting friends. This is open to swappers no matter where they live, so come on and join us international folks :)

How it works:
1) You will select a fabric or selection of fabrics from your stash (or you can buy new-up to you) and cut them in to Fat Eighths (18 x 11).
2) You will send each member in the swap one F8 to work with. The person who receives the fabric will make you a block with your fabric in it.
3) You may advise the person of colors you would prefer they use or not use but please do not request specific blocks. This is meant to be a “friendship” swap where your friends pick, design and create a beautiful 12.5” unfinished block for you based on the fabric you send them.
4) In turn you will receive an F8 from each member in the swap and have to make them a block.

Rules/Guidelines:
(please make sure to also refer to the basic policies that apply to all swaps announced through the board: http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-20154-1.htm )
1) Please make sure all fabric is prewashed prior to making the block and sending it home.
2) When sending your fabric please make sure it is in some kind of sealed item (Ziploc baggy, saran wrap) with a piece of paper or even a peel-off label with your name, address and quilt board name so that the items are protected and won’t get mixed up. Please do this when returning blocks as well. (This way if for some unhuman reason the PO mangles a package the plastic has a chance at saving the work and with an address visible it just might make it home)
3) Please mail your F8 within three weeks of receiving the address list. This helps ensure we all have ample time to work on everyone's blocks.
4) Please handle all fabric received with the utmost care and place it somewhere where it won’t be lost or forgotten about.
5) In order to help keep track of the blocks sent and received I will be emailing out a chart to all members who participate so that you may fill it in as we go.
6) All blocks should be 12.5” unfinished. They can be regular pieced, paper-pieced, appliquéd-whatever the quilter decides to do. It is up to each individual. Again the feeling is to get a true friendship quilt out of this. Please remember to measure two, three times and cut once and do your very best to make sure the finished block you are sending home is 12.5"
7). Please remember to trim your threads, cut your dog ears...in essence remove any excess work from the back of your block that the receiver should not have to worry about. We do not want to have any extra bulk in these blocks that are not needed (harder to quilt them :-) )
8) You may sign the back of the block if you wish to or perhaps pin a small muslin square with your name, where you live and what the name of the block is.
9) Please measure your block before mailing it. We all started somewhere but it is nice to be able to get all the blocks back measuring the same size so the quilt can go together nicely.
10) Please make a block that you yourself would be happy and proud to call your own.
11) This is a one block per swapper swap. You will have to make 35 blocks per large group (36 swappers in each group) or 15 blocks per small group (16 swappers in each group) (If you wish to do two groups please be aware this means you will have to mail 70 F8s and make 70 blocks or any combination of the possible group size). Please be aware of this before you commit yourself if you do not think you would be comfortable making 35 blocks in 4 months. (70 for 2 groups)
12) Please be courteous to our swappers and post when you receive either someone's fabric or a completed block. This helps us to know the postal gremlins are not at work lol If for some reason you cannot get on the board to post please let me know and I will let the members know. We appreciate interaction with all of our swappers.
13) Have FUN!!! This swap will let you explore your creativity as you do not have to make the same block for everyone. You can try that block you always wanted to. Try new fabrics, new colors...step outside of your comfort zone in to a different box

PLEASE DO NOT SEND FABRICS/BLOCKS WITH PERFUME OR OVERWHELMING FRAGRANCES ON THEM DUE TO ALLERGIES. THERE MAY BE MEMBERS OR FAMILY MEMBERS WHO HAVE SEVERE ALLERGIES TO CERTAIN THINGS SO PLEASE TRY YOUR BEST TO NOT SEND ANYTHING THAT COULD CAUSE AN ATTACK

Also please remember when posting on the board to use members board names or just first names and not their full names. This is a courtesy to our members as the information here can be seen publicly and we do not want anyone to have that private info.

Please, NO public complaints or criticisms of other swappers, items received, or other type for any reason. ALL complaints must be addressed by Private Message (pm) to me. THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE!!!!!

Just one more friendly reminder-please make sure your packages have proper postage on them-if you are unsure either take them to the PO or throw another stamp on. We do not want anyone to have to incur any extra expense during this fun time. Also be aware postage could run high on this swap so if you think that may be an issue you may not like this swap.

I think you will find yourself enjoying the blocks because you can work at your pace as they come in as long as they are all out by the established deadline once the swap is closed.

As always please feel free to PM me with any questions or concerns-I am always happy to help.
If you check these five threads you will see some of the awesome work that has been done in the past:

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-32780-1.htm
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-41063-1.htm
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-57109-1.htm
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-88100-1.htm
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-88099-1.htm


Hugs
April


Members in this group:

1000projects
alikat110
Aully
bibliostone
Chigger Holler Quilter
Crafty3790
daisey
eagleoneowl2u2
fabric_fancy
fromzstore
girlscouts1
goldendog55
Havplenty
islandwiz1
janecat
Janetlmt
Jennifer22206
Joyce D
KerriV42
Kris 2011
Lillie
ljdugas31
marytoddliz
missgigglewings
moonrise
mosher92
Ncquilter
Ok Darla
PokerDiva
QuilterMomma
quiltin'gran
Rn8or
Sandynorm
sew1096
shaysmema
troy26

Hi group Autumn!!!

All my f8ths are going in the mail tomorrow, my mail already came today.

I can't wait to work with you!!

HI Everyone,
I am looking forward to our journey ahead. I am so excited!

I will get my fabric cut this weekend.

I will post a pic of the panel I am using for the middle. Please only use colours that are in it and NO flowers.

I will be sending 2 10" squares to each of you.

Thanks Aully, will try to remember this. Love the panel and work hard to get the right colors for it.

what a pretty panel. I know I've got colors in my stash that are going to play well. :)

These are the fabrics I'm sending for this group.

I love the coffee cups!

I'll send you that F8th then. :) It's one of my favorite fabrics - I've been hoarding it for a while.

Can't wait to see what you do with them. :D

My F8 will go into the mail tomorrow. Can't wait to see what I get back. I have loved everything I have gotten in past Boom's.

Ooooo Shaysmema, you are in my boom swap again. I am so lucky. Here we gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.........

Hi everyone in this group. My F8's are going to go in the mail after I get the addresses. Nothing is inb the email or spam mail either.

aully be sure to include a note with your f8's with this information on it. reference the page # of your panel in the note if this info is needed to complete your blocks. thread post notes get lost very quickly once swappers start posting on this thread.

april sent out the spreadsheet this morning. not sure why you haven't received it. you may want to send april a pm to let her know you havent received it yet. it's always possible that the email address had an error in it.

I have pm her again. I have been waiting since I missed the last one. [email protected]

Hi group! I have my F8th's cut out, but I need to finish the rail fence block to use as labels to send with each piece. I'm working 12 hours today and 12 hours tomorrow, but will finish everything up on my days off this weekend and have my envelopes in the mail on Monday. I can't wait to start working on everyone's block!

update>>>>> sent spreadsheet to you.

remove your email address from your post as this is a public board that anyone has access to. only send that information in a pm.

i will forward you a copy of the spreadsheet now.

mary

I re-emailed them Carolyn Please let me know if you get them this time.
Hugs
April
PS Thanks Mary for giving such a great tips to the new comers and helping them out.

Yeah, I just got home from quilt club and found the lists in the e-mail. I have to wash and cut for this group as it was a last minute decision, but I am sure you will love the fabric. I got it on line and the line is called cedar chest. I will take pictures as soon as it comes out of the wash. this is going to be so fun! I am going to see who is in my other group!

Marybeth

Most of my "Autumn" F8's will be going out in the morning. I ran out of stamps, but I'll try to get rest out Saturday morning (DH should be off work and hopefully can go to the post office for me). :)

My fabrics for this group are shown in the picture below. I'm using calico-y autumn colors. My only request is that you don't use any novelty prints (no cartoon-y stuff). Have fun! :mrgreen:

Edited to add: I sent a signature block with each F8. Please sign it with a permanent marker, and put your city/state/country, and return it with the finished block. I plan to use them in blocks like this, either on the front or the back of the quilt (however it works out). :mrgreen:

All autumn group fat eighths are in the mail!! Whoo hoo!! Here we go!

I got all my F8 in baggies, have to buy more envelopes in the morning. here is the fabric I am sending out

Hi,

Looking forward to this swap...

Mine will go out next week...finally picked out the fabric from my stash tonight...now to wash, iron, pack, address, and mail...

suzanne aka quiltin'gran

greetings all

i look forward to working on all the blocks.

i plan on having mine out by monday.

mary that collection is beautiful

moonrise love the fabric and what a great idea to do signatures.

I also sent signature blocks with mine. If you get the one for my DD cab you please put your name and state or country? I'm planning on using it to teach her some geography. And she can't wait to see where everybody is from!

all my f 8 out this morning was surprised when took to the po they went for a regular stamp i ironed the material really flat and wrapped them in gling wrap so they were flat i guess the secret is to iron flat though i would post this may help someone else last time i mailed some it was 61 cents.

In the mail today are f8s for Aully, Ok Darla and troy26. All the rest will go tomorrow.

Just in case anyone needs help with labels try this:
Open and save the excel spreadsheet in your documents. Open up word, click on mailings, start mail merge and then choose the step by step wizard. From the right choose labels, then next, then choose label options from right, the box that pops up 5160 is generally the 3 rows 10 per row address label format, then next to select recipients, browse and choose the excel spreadsheet, click next arrange labels click address block, match fields in the lower right, first name should be swapper name, last name & suffix not matched, company (this is optional) you can put their boardname here or not matched, address 1 will be street name, address 2 not matched, city will be city, state & zip, state & postal code will be not matched and country or region will be country. Once you select these fields click okand then ok again and then update all labels on the right hand side. Then click on next preview your labels then next complete the merge and then print on the right. You should be good to go. I would recommend not putting their board name on the labels as this may make them too large.
Hugs
April

what was the postage cost to australia? i havent checked yet.

mine was .98

I didn't go to the PO but I put 2 reg stamps and 1 20cent stamp on it or 1.08. I heard from others that would work.

PokerDiva - that'll work just fine.

Hello Autumns! My F8's have been sent today, Friday the 30th including my two Canadas and my Australia.

Postage to Canada was $1.98 and to Australia was $2.59

went to the po and my postage for canada was .80 and .98 for australia

wonder why the difference

I think the people at the PO are nuts. It also depends on how you package it.

i have 2 PO within 10 minutes of my house - one always charges less then the other - the difference is one measures the entire package and enters that into the computer along with the zip codes - the other just weighs and enters zip codes.

the place that just weighs and enters zip codes is always cheaper

yes mine just weight and zip code i found by pressing my f8 really good that they only cost a single stamp to mail last time it was .61 ea because i just folded and did not press so it had to be hand stamped.

My husband works for PO if the envelope fits through a slot they use its ok for 64 cents,,,I am not sure how you would get away with 1 stamp.,..because it goes my weight and it has to weigh at least one ounce unless fabric is really thin. My advise is to be careful or the recipient may have to pay the difference for you if you are short. My husband has to collect from people alot. I ironed mine very flat and it still made it barely through the slot... so it cost me 64 cents but the po both of them I went to said it could have very easily been 88 cents..So please think twice before sending with one stamp. I also sent mine today to everyone including canadas and australia
This will be fun cant wait to see everyones fabrics.

Wow - and I took mine to the PO, and mine told me that if it fit through the slot it was one stamp.

Anyway - if I owe anyone money for postage due, just let me know. I just did what my PO said was OK.