December 2013 pincushion and needle case swap
 

Shhhhhh … This is a secret Pincushion and Needle case Secret Swap and you will not be sending to the person who will send to you. You may sign up for two items: can be either 2 pincushions OR 2 needle cases OR 1 pincushion and 1 needle case. Make sure you let me know what you want to swap when you sign up with a PM.
This swap will be a secret until you receive your package.
International swappers, please join us.
All skill levels welcomed!

THEME:
For December, some of you will want to choose Christmas. Some of you do not celebrate that holiday or would rather not have a themed pincushion or needle case, so please mark on your information sheet what you would like to receive: theme or not. Please read this information section when choosing what you will make for your secret partner.

CONSTRUCTION:
1. The cushion/case does NOT have to be quilted or hand embroidered, although it can be. But it must be handmade - not purchased.
2. Use cotton or wool felt for the pincushions and stuff with appropriate filling. Use cotton or felt for the needle case, and it should have an insert of wool, felt, or Warm and Natural (this is great for needle cases).
3. Embellishments/applique/embroidery are welcome but not required. PLEASE NOTE: THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL LINE IN THE INFORMATION SHEET REGARDING THE USE OF POLYESTER BLENDS IN THE COTTON AND FELT. If you plan on using the cushion as a daily use item please mention this, as polyester will dull the points of pins and needles.
4. The size and shape of the pincushion/needle case is up to the individual creating it, but should not be smaller than 3” x 3”.

SIGN UP:
Sign-ups begins today and end on December 1, 2013 at 9:00 p.m. PST. This is a firm closing time. Names will be assigned by PM beginning the morning of Dec. 3rd and should be completed Dec 5th by end of the day.
Please respond to this thread with a post if you are joining the swap. Then, highlight and copy the information sheet onto a new PM, fill it in, and PM it to me. And don't forget to tell me how many spots you want, one or two, and what you want to swap. I will acknowledge receipt of your PM.

MAILING DATE:
The deadline for all pincushions/needle cases to be mailed to your partner(s) is Friday Dec 20, 2013. International swap mail date is Dec. 15, 2013.
Participants in the November swap who did not fulfill their obligation will not be able to participate in upcoming swaps.
Please PM me with your tracking number when you ship. You are required to have a tracking number on your package but priority mail is not required. First class with a tracking number is acceptable.
If for some reason you will not be able to fulfill your obligation, please PM me no later than December 15, 2013 so that I can locate a swap angel. And speaking of swap angels, let me know if you would be willing to be an angel if needed. Thank you.

PLEASE:
PM me when you receive so I can mark off my spread sheet. Remember to thank your partner, either by a post, or a PM for a personal thank you. It would be nice if you report a feedback score to your SP. Pictures are encouraged, but not required. We all love seeing what everyone is receiving. If you are unable to post a picture, please make sure that you mark that on your information sheet so that your partner can take a picture before shipping it. Please understand that this board has members with different skill levels and you will not necessarily be swapping with someone at the same level. Let's love the creation we are sent. We all started somewhere and the most important thing to remember, is that our partner made it with you in mind!

Please put a card or note in with your pin cushion/needle case so the recipient knows you made it. It is not necessary to send other items such as needles, pins, etc., but you can if you would like. Just make sure the pin points will not poke out during shipping and stab the postal worker. Honest – this has happened – one of the swappers mentioned it.

PARTICIPANT’S INFORMATION FORM:
Screen Name:
Real Name:
Address:
City, State, Zip:
Do you want to receive a Christmas themed pc or nc? Yes or no:
If not Christmas, what theme would you like to receive? (Example: specify winter, Hanukkah, or anything goes)
Are you using your pincushion for everyday use and do not want it made with or stuffed with polyester? Yes or no:
Favorite Colors:
Favorite fabric line, notion, etc:
Your least favorite color(s):
Least favorite fabric line:
Is there anything you like to collect?
Is there anything you do not want to receive?
Do you have Allergies (smoke, cats, dogs etc):
Do you have pets?
Is it ok if your partner smokes?
Do you smoke?
What are your hobbies other than quilting?
Do you have a digital camera to post pictures on the thread?
Can you mail international?
E-mail address:
Phone number:
This form will be given to your secret swapper (minus the email address and phone number – this is for me should I need to contact you). Feel free to add more about yourself to the information sheet. The more you add, the better she/he will be able to get to know you. Plus, I will be using this info to match partners. If you have questions, please PM me and I will try to answer as quickly as possible.

REQUIRED:
I am required to tell participants to send me a monthly PM to verify that they are still active in this swap and are working on their promised project. I am required to insist that all participants send me verification of shipment, to include tracking information. Participants are required to ensure packages will not arrive “postage due.” Any and all other fees, such as import duties, taxes, etc imposed by the recipient’s government are the sole responsibility of the recipient. Absent legitimate and reported mitigating circumstances, participants who have not fulfilled their obligation to ship shall be deemed “late” and risk receiving Negative [Swap] Feedback. Please keep in touch with me and let me know right away if something happens that will interfere with your ability to complete your project on time. Swappers should treat each other as friends and focus on the fun. So … please be prepared to be flexible, patient and understanding if necessary and appropriate.

SHOULD YOU HAVE PROBLEMS, QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS PLEASE PM ME IMMEDIATELY! Thank you, and enjoy this swap.
This swap has been approved by PatriceJ.

Let the fun begin -- just received our first sign up!

of course, i'm in. sending you a pm now

I don't want to miss another one, so count me in!

pmd you I am in

great, how many do we have now???
what's everyone doing. a hint maybe???

Have received info sheets from 4 of you. Welcome!

The one who signed up yesterday, dropped out this morning.

Well, I jumped in with a pincushion and a needle case this time around.... going to take advantage of the long weekend to get stuff done. As for a hint..... that pile of green wool fabric in the middle is the beginnings of a pincushion and the crazy quilt squares flanking it were to practice piecing for a potential needle book cover. Of course, everything is subject to change based on what my partners put in their info forms.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/members...795-448813.jpg

nice green wools. I need to start shopping the thrift stores to get some wool in nice colors. firsthand it's sooo expensive, but second or third hand, I can shrink it and do something nice. can't wait to see what you do.

Well, some of those pieces are 70% wool blend yardage that I picked up at Hancock Fabrics on sale/clearance and dyed with Kool Aid and McCormick food coloring in a tiny crock pot. And some of those pieces are wool pants and jackets from the thrift store, also cut up and dyed in the crock pot. I imagine those will fade eventually, but they all went through the wash really well. So, if you come across light colored wool clothes in the thrift stores, that would be a great way to get whatever colors you wanted. I got the color recipes here:

http://www.dyeyouryarn.com/

This batch was especially citrusy with all the lemon-lime kool aid that went into it. :D

Argentium, thanks so much for sharing the website! A whole bunch of fun possibilities!

yes, thanks for the website, wil go there shortly. mariposa, so glad to see you joined us.

Will send my info tomorrow.

Judy- I just tried to PM my info and my computer screen froze as I hit submit. I am sending another just in case. So if you get two PM's from me, I apologize!
I am in for 2 PC's this month! Just started looking at christmas/winter pincushions and found oodles and oodles of pictures. :D

Rosebud - got your PM, thanks, and glad to have you back with us. And nope, only one came through.

nhnative and abdconsultant have joined us, welcome to both of you.

Judy I'm in again if I can get the info to paste to your PM. I sent a note already to you. I would like 1 PC and 1 NC Happy Thanksgiving everyone!. Hugs Mary

Thanks, Mary, so glad you have joined again. And happy Thanksgiving to you too, and to everyone on our thread.

lawsonmugs and jamimclaugh have joined again, welcome to you both!:thumbup:

judy... love your new avatar. I love redwork

Lynnie, I love her new avatar too. I'm in again. See what you started...lol

sooo great to see you joined again. do you know what you're doing for this month???

Thank you, Mary.
Me, too, Lynnie, I love it and always have some redwork (or black or blue) going on.

Lynnie not sure maybe something Christmasy or Wintery,if that is what my partner wants.

Just came back from Michaels where they have nice trational pcs for $1.00. Would be a snap to cover and trim w
buttons. I should put a few aside for future treats.

Dotty, what kind of pcs?????

The tradtional tomato in pink or blue. Here's the little guy I just
got out for the winter!

he's cute Dotty

How cute dotty.

How sweet, Dotty.

ooohh goodie goodie, the sign up is almost closed, so hurry hurry and get in on this great swap. we get to mail quickly this time. I hope I get my name tomorrow so I can send out quickly. I suppose this one won't be to crowded with most of the people doing shopping. Soooooo do something quickly, stuff firmly and you'll be ready to ship in no time. see ya there!

Just got info from peachs, a new swapper for our group. Welcome!

hey peachs, welcome to our fun and sometimes funky swap. we all have lots of fun and chatter amongst ourselves, so feel free to jump on in at any time. in case our fearless leader forgot to tell you, we sign up every 25th of the month. pc's are easy to make, just keep on stuffing and when you're done, stuff some more. kinda like making a tiny pillow. can't wait to see what you come up with. again welcome!!!!! (i'm a bit nuts, but in a good way) I just love this swap and want as many swappers as we can get. it's soooo much fun!!!!

oh dear, too late!

Psycho -- no, I have you on the list. Welcome, glad you joined us. I am going to be gone today, but will start sending the PMs with your partner tomorrow morning. Sorry, Lynnie, I know you are champing at the bit, raring to go!

ooooohh, I wanted my partner today (whine), I want it in the mail and out of the house. got cute beads yesterday at the bead store, (a good place to go to get beads, right) I wish we had more to choose from in that store. sometimes I feel michaels has more of a choice. I'm ready to mail, and have Januarys packed up and ready to go. can't wait for the sign up. Only 23 more days to go. I may fall off the board, someone come and find me for sign up please.

My goodness these holidays are flying. Wasn't it just a few days ago we had Halloween? Now thanksgiving is gone. Christmas in a few weeks.Wow so quickly gone What did you make for your pc Lynnie?

All names are assigned. I tried to send one PM if you were signed up for 2 pincushions. Anyone missing their assigned partner, please let me know ASAP.

I think I now know why some swaps limit you to one spot in the assignment line-up. Kind of time consuming to double check and make sure you didn't get partnered twice with the same person. And this time I looked back at the November sheet and tried not to duplicate any partnering from Nov with Dec. But won't do that again, will be too much to go through all that in January, so it will be pot luck in the assigning!

Mary, go back to nov swap, dotty posted pics for me, One is //Dec, one January and the other, I don't know just yet, april of over the summer. What did you make????

got my partners. going out tomorrow. I live on long island, ny mine are going west of me.(that's about all of you).
Can't wait for the next sign up, happy day all.

I did go back and then when I found them I remembered. duh......... I love the santa one and the bear and the glass one with the beads. Oh I guess I love them all. lol