Boomerang 8.0 PEARLS Group
 

Boomerang Friendship Swap 8.0 PEARLS Group

Boomerang Friendship Swap 8 Pearls group. Mailing deadline for all blocks to be home is January 1, 2013 to allow some time with the holidays.

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) or (9x22) We prefer the 18 x 11 for this swap as it gives a bigger cutting area for certain blocks but either measurement will work.
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: RULES FOR SWAPS AND SIMILAR ACTIVITIES - Updated 8 December 2010 )
1) Please make sure all fabric is prewashed prior to making the block and sending it home. You do not have to wash the fabric you receive.
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 do not request specific blocks as the idea is to let everyone, of every level join in and try new things and grow.
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. So measure, measure and when you think it is right, measure once more
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. You can do a weekly update as well if that works better for you.
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.
Hugs
April


Members in the PEARLS Group

areinn
bibliostone
cuppy
dahna42
dotcomdtcm
goldendog55
jahaper
ljdugas31
Lv2sew2011
marytoddliz
Mosher92
Ok Darla
quiltingmommy
saraaev
ssnare
yayaquilts

Yippie, here we go~ For all the duplicates, I am sending them to you in same envelope, makes more sense and saves Postage!

OK , I have my list. Hello Pearls. I have swapped with many of you before, nice to swap again with friendly faces, and to meet new Boom friends.

Cuppy

Hi Boomers :)

I'm in the diamond group. I thought I would be swapping out 50 blocks but only doing 35 so if any of you want to do an additional swap just pm me and give me your address if we didn't swap last time and don't have each other's addresses. Looking forward to seeing all your blocks! :)

I am ready to mail......

Hi everyone. I am glad to be in this group. It will be fun to see what fabrics we all will be using. I am sending several different fabrics. I am making a quilt for my son who is in college. He is studying music and plays the drums and base guitar. So my fabric will show this. I am also working on a Betty Boop quilt just for me. Yeah!!

Hello old and new friends,

I am sending assorted polka dots for blocks for Project Linus. If anyone would appreciate return postage, let me know via pm. Enjoy!

Dotty

Mine are in the mail~ now comes the fun part, getting your fabric and seeing what I can create!

Hello Boomers,
I am in the Diamond Group and would love to swap with some more people. So if any of you want to do an additional swap just pm me and give me your address. Happy swapping and sewing ladies. Wooohoooo

Oldcatlady, I tried to pm you, but it says you can't receive any more pms until you delete some of your stuff. I will do an extra swap with you. After you delete some of your pms, pm me.

We are in the same group. I will send my fabric to you this week. I will send patriotic fabric. Thank you for making me a block. Any traditional Patriotic fabrics, all patriotic prints, Vintage patriotic , and patriotic colors, red,white,blue,tan,gold are in the fabric. I will like them all .
Thank you,
Cuppy

HI all, some ole' Boom swapping friends and some new boomers!!

Excited for another round of swapping!! This is my third boomerang swap--these swaps are so fun!!:o (I still have "several" boom swap quilts to make....yes, I am behind in making my quilts from boom swaps! Don't know where the time goes!?!?!) Even though I haven't finished sewing the blocks together from my previous boom swaps I didn't want to miss this one! Call me crazy, or just your "average" quilter!!!

My plans are still to make charity quilts from the blocks I have received and will receive. My goal is to finish many of these charity quilts by the end of the year---I do need to get busy! Other projects have just gotten in my way. Imagine that!?!?!:D
I'm with you Cuppy!! I will be sending patriotic fabric, too. (I'm sticking to Reds Whites and Blues) Quilts made from Boom 8 blocks I plan to donate to Quilts of Valor! Have to cut my fabric then will mail them out to you all!!

Looking forward to receiving everyone's squishies!! (I will be OOT from Aug 26-Sept 9. Will let you know the ones received after I return home!)

I mailed all my f8s today. Yeah!!!!!!

Hello all, I am also in this group. My stuff is being packaged up and mailed by Wednesday, cross my fingers that I will get to the post office. I am excited about the swap. The kids all start back to school on next Monday, yes!, so then I will have a lot of time on my hands to get these done as quick as possible without neglecting housework (although with the kids at school, the house shouldn't get so messy anymore right?). I am excited about the two patriotic quilts mentioned. I did a patriotic quilt this summer using the simple friendship star, blue and red stars with a white background, all the fabrics were different so I have a lot of fabric that will go with your themes.

My fabric is a simple dot pattern in turqouise green on a cream background. I added a note asking that you all please just used the colors in the fabric (turquoise green or cream) or light pink and chocolate brown fabrics to go along with my fabric. I like traditional quilt blocks usually, but with this fabric choice the dots scream out modern or wonky squares would fit my quilt vision. With that said, I am challenging you all to see how modern or wonky you can go, circles? anyone good with circles? I found a chocolate brown fabric with pink spots that I was going to make a block to go with my boomerang blocks and I was going to try few circle patterns maybe a drunkards path block/circle in square block or free floating applique circles like this: http://www.purlbee.com/storage/liber...=1298598903740

Just a few ideas...I would love to hear all of your ideas for your quilts too.

Christina

Ok ladies i mailed out all my f8 today!!!! Watch your mail boxes...

Christina/QuilterMommy I love getting important tips from the fabric owner. Which colors to use or not use, but then I usually let the fabric tell me what to do! I know that sounds crazy but it usually works out pretty good.

I am not very good working on a curve, but I will do the best I can with your fabric. I received two F8's this morning from the Diamond group.

Having fun with Fabric today.

Marybeth

I received my first squishie today from Marybeth (this is our 3rd boom swap together!!). Now to hunt for the perfect coordinating fabrics for it and the perfect block pattern. Let the creative process begin!!!!:o

MaryBeth I got your teacher apple fabric today....I'm thinking red school house with a abc 123 boarder?

I got all my f8's mailed today. Also received f8 from goldendog55.

My f9s have all been sent now!

Oh I like that, my friend is such a sweetheart, always doing for others, she will love the quilt I am going to put together. Any one who got the Apples think School teacher, I think I only sent out ten, so it won't be a big quilt. Karen I always look forward to your block, I have all most all of my boom quilts together, the one I have not finished is the one with the parrots, I have not received all the blocks back and I used every scrap of fabric to make extra, so I will wait, but I will give that one to a sister of mine who was in a auto accident, she had to be in a rest home for 3 months, now she gets to come home, so thought she would like that one.

OK I am rambling now. I have a summer cold and am working on getting rid of it!

Have a wonderful day ladies, Marybeth

I got a squishie today from marytoddliz.

Received my first 2 fabrics from marytoddliz and goldendog55 today. Thank you.

I will be mailing mine out tomorrow ,addressed and sealed. Everyone should receive by weekend.


Cuppy

MaryBeth I got your teacher apple fabric today. I do not understand what you want. I am to use your fabric with a school teacher fabric or make a block using your fabric and something that I think might go with it, is this right?

I was just hoping to do the quilt in a school theme, so do what ever you can. Use your imagination, what ever you do will be fine!

So happy to see you all moving along :)
Hugs
April

I will just post all F8 from all groups this way since some didn’t put what group they are on just easier for me….
Received F8 from 08/22/2012
Ssnare-guitar fabric
Jaba-strawberries
Abby’s Mom – green with flowers
Jahaper – Light green with flowers
Goldendogg55 – blue with orange flowers
Misswigglewings – blue with ladybugs & Black, green and white
The Mama Hauser – pinkish Baltics
Roseysue – pink with flowers – purple with flowers
Ljdugas31 – blue and light blue flowers swirls
Elisabrat – blue with bumble bees
Yosamitesa – white Dr. Seuss
Moonrise – white with assorted flowers
Marytoddliz – green, white, pink – blue with apples

I got three today, ssnare, lahaper, and goldendog55 thanks.

That's 4 total. I have a question. Everyone has sent using one stamp, but today I went and tried to mail mine and the post office wanted over a dollar for each envelope, because they were considered squishy and flexible and therefore a parcel. I am using envelopes that are the size of greeting cards. I was first told that I needed to pay more because they were "large envelopes" but I totally disagree as they are greeting card envelopes, but they refused to allow me to mail at regular price because they were flexible and squishy. Yet they were still under weight for regular mail. Anyone else have problems? Also, has everyone else needed to to Canadian customs declarations?

(continued) I don't want these to get postage due, but this seems weird. What has been everyone elses experience?

I put 2 stamps on each. That worked last time. I had to go to the p.o. and fill out a Customs form for Canada. I will be sending 3 blocks home tomorrow.

quiltingmommy, I have received all of mine just fine. When I mail them out I put 65 cent stamp on them and they arrive with no trouble. and I do not have to write a custom form, just write on the envelop Scrap of fabric no value and it should go through, although it will cost a little more. I paid $1.17 but I put two F8's in envelope because I have same person in two swaps so I mail them together.

If they give you too much trouble and if you can, go to a different PO. But make sure you wrap in plastic wrap (like saran wrap) and squish all the air out of the envelope.

Used to send letters to BF with fatter envelopes that the squishes and was never charged an over rate. (back in the day when I thought I had a lot to say :p)

I received 3 today from: ljdugas31, Yayaquilter, and ssnare. I will take a look at them tomorrow.

Still have the Crud, and am going back to bed!

I find it is cheaper to not go to the post office. I also use Press n Seal, and each P.O. has different rules. The envelope has to fit through their slot. It is more the thickness than the weight when mailing, unless it is over 1 ounce.

I received squishie from ssnare today.

Sending home blocks to Yaya and ssnare. I sure hope you like them! i loved the fabric that you both selected. Karen I love the Color of Valor quilts, what a great cause. Sherry, what fun fabric, I know your son will love his musical quilt. I made my son a quilt out of Denim and he won't even let me take it home to repair it. So I am going to make him another, so I can repair that one. he is 35 and I gave it to him when he was 21. It needs some work!

thank you for letting me play with your fabric,

Marybeth

I take my F8 and put plastic wrap around it squish all the air out and put in legal size env. take it to the post office and they put a 45 cent stamp on it. No problems that I know of. Once I sent F8 with out plastic wrap because I was being rushed by the hubby to leave the house and I think one of them didn't make it to the swap partner. It seems as if each PO is different. I think some like to use there power not to mail something with out extra. Just because they can. You can have them run your envelope through there little gaget and then have them weight it because I did she ended up putting 45 cent stamp on it. And apologize to me.
Donna
PS as far as the Canadian customs declarations? yes I have to fill one out everytime.

Thank you for all of your comments.

I have researched the post office rules.

Regular vs. large letter.
regular letters have a maximum size: 6 1/8 x 11 1/2 inches
regular letters 1 ounce .45, 2 ounces .65, 3 ounces .85
regular letters less than 1/4 inch thickness

As far as flexibility, I am not sure what the po employee was talking about. Online, the rules say that the mail must be flexible or else they cannot go through the machines. Rigid mail is a problem.

My envelopes are 5 3/4 x 8 3/4 inches ( I checked the box), I weighed a few at the post office and they were about 1.1-1.2 ounces. Not sure about thickness. I have repackaged my fabric by using the press-n-seal wrap, instead of plastic baggies with air squeezed out. I called my po and talked about thickness, they said that there was a template to check thickness. I plan to do this this afternoon. If they pass the test (fingers crossed), I am going to insist on the .45 postage.

I discussed my envelopes with the employee over the phone and she said that she would personally choose the higher postal rate which would insure that the envelopes would not go through the automated machines, and possibly damage (thus the reason for the higher postal charge). But, after reading about how everyone else does their mailing, I am pretty confident that the envelopes would be safe. Yes, there is a possibility of damage, but I am willing to take the chance (I have plenty of extra fabric to resend if someone doesn't receive my envelope).

When it comes to the finished quilt square I would be more willing to pay more for protection because it would be worth more to me personally, but an scrap of fabric that is easily replaceable...nah!

Or, if needed, I would be willing to do .65

I received some pretty squishies from Marybeth, Linda D, ssnare, and Judy Bowers. I won't be able to start these blocks till I am back in town the week of Sept 10.

I've most of my f8's out (can't believe you've (Marybeth) finished my block already! WOW! I have a few left to mail-ran out of stamps and have to take the Canada one in to do the customs dec form! Just to be on the safe side I put 65 cents on each envelope--I was told that the extra 20 cents covers it since they most likely don't fit through the machine (I've had them checked at the PO both previous boom swaps I was in and I was told they needed the extra 20 cents.) On the other hand I've received squishies with both 45 cents and 65 cents. You would think all PO's would be the same but they are not!

All my f8s have been mailed. I used two different fabrics featuring Tinkerbell. Yes, I am old enough to remember when her name was spelled as one word, not Tinker Bell! All posts offices are different. Through six boomerang swaps, I have never had to fill out a form to send fabric to another country. And, I even asked about it the first time I mailed to Canada. The last swap, my husband was "helping" and mailed one to Canada with just $ .45 and it made it there without a problem. While we were on vacation in S.C. and in Florida, they tried to charge me for packages because the envelopes did not have paper in them, even though I had them slide them through the template slot. Silly people. I just brought them home and mailed them from Ohio.

I had to take a daughter to the doctors today and went to another PO close to the doctor's office. Nice attendant knew the PO rules and processed my envelopes correctly!! He knew the rules that I read online off the top of his head and agreed with me. He checked the envelope's thickness with the template and there was no problem at all. Squishyness doesn't matter. The only time there might be a problem is if there is an unevenness of the contents due to something like coins or pencils that might jam the automation machines. Fabric squashes down to an even thickness and wouldn't catch.

The only point that I was confused on was the ounces rule. Up to 1 ounce is .45, between 1-2 ounces is .65. The attendant weighed each individually and Half of my envelopes needed .45, half needed .65. (That extra 1/10 of an ounce is sooooo much more difficult to handle j/k) I was a little too liberal on my cutting and gave some of you an inch or two extra here and there which accounts for the differences in weight.

Hope my experience helps others so that they wont be overcharged.

So with all that said, all of my squishies are on their way to all of the pearl recipients and a few extra for April (Angel B), Melinda (Nexxus831), Penny (oldcatlady)who were looking for extra swappers. Let me know if they made their journeys safely.

I received three today: Linda (ljdugas31), Dotty (dotcomdtcom) and Karen (yayquilts)

Christina.