After all the fun we had with the Funky Chicken swap, we wanted to keep things funkified (ya know in a good way though, not in the smelly-shoes-you-wore-to-the-gym way) so we came up with the idea of a “Funky Neighborhood.” Pat was not able to host another swap right now, so I have offered to run this one! I have hosted many (many) scrapbooking swaps in the past, so I am very familiar with the process! For this swap we will piece houses that seem to be a little off kilter. Here is a tutorial for the type of house we are looking for:

http://www.quiltville.com/tonya/houses.shtml/

Your houses should be pieced, but make them your own!! Put a chimney, don’t put a chimney, put 3 chimneys!! Fussy cut a fun fabric for the doors and windows, don’t even add doors or windows, put 3 houses in one block, add a yard, a garage, maybe a quilt hanging out front. You can have tall and skinny houses or short and fat houses. Our funky neighborhood is only limited by your imagination. The tutorial above is just a stepping stone to give you an idea of how to build the houses, but have fun making it your own!

Here are a few inspirational pictures for you as well:

[img] http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3259/...c1bb96943d.jpg [/img]

[img] http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2555/...c18ce00d3d.jpg [/img]

[img] http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2795/...6334a841ae.jpg [/img]

[img] http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3419/...7bacbe20b7.jpg [/img]

Two more great examples I couldn’t insert as pics here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12699422@N00/2884020786/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/krom_mama/3488521519/


Don’t these look like so much fun?!

Please read ALL the instructions below before signing up, hopefully I have made everything very clear for you, but if you have any questions, please send me a PM (click on my name and then click “Send PM.”)

What size are the blocks?
Your blocks should be divisible by 3” when finished, but remember your houses need to be pieced, so smaller may actually be harder. The blocks can be square or rectangle, so long as both finished sides are divisible by three. Be sure to add seam allowances to your unfinished blocks. So a finished block of 6x6, should be sent to me unfinished at 6.5x6.5. A rectangle that will finish at 6x12, should be sent to me at 6.5x12.5 and so on…. If you are unsure what to add for seam allowance, please PM me.

How many blocks do I send?
Please send blocks to me in sets of 6. You may send as many sets as you would like to receive back, so if you send me 2 sets (12 blocks), you will get 12 different blocks back. I will be swapping all 6 of your blocks, so if you want to have one for yourself, be sure to make an extra! (Note: Since we are all sending in different sizes and different amounts, no one will end up with similar sets, so please feel free to make your six blocks in a set the same, similar, or different. It may be easier on you if they are the same, but so long as you mail to me in sets of 6, you can do whatever fits your stash!)

Who can swap?
If you think you can piece the house mentioned in the tutorial above, you are more than welcome to join!! It may look intimidating, but give it a practice on some scraps, and I think you’ll find it’s easier than it looks. The fun part of this is nothing needs to be precise, so this is a great swap for those of us that are not quite proficient at those perfect points yet!

What are the deadlines?
Sign-ups for this swap end on June 15th. You can post your intent to sign-up in this thread or you can PM me. Once you sign-up, I will send you my mailing address.

The mail date for the blocks is July 1st and if I receive all the blocks on time, I will swap in mid-July. If you have your blocks finished sooner, please feel free to mail them sooner!

How do I get my blocks ready to mail?
Please attach a slip of paper to each block that includes at the very least your board name, this will help me know which blocks are yours when I am swapping. It’s also fun to include your real name, email address, and state on the paper so people can see where all the blocks are coming from and possibly send you a thank you!

Before putting your blocks in the envelope (or box) to mail to me, place them in a large Ziploc bag and close tightly, then write your name and address on the outside of the Ziploc bag. If you have ever swapped before, you have probably heard of swap blocks separating from their envelopes occasionally, putting your blocks in the Ziploc bag will help ensure that the blocks make it back to you if this should happen. I would highly suggest mailing in a priority box for this reason, but I will leave that decision up to you.

What about postage?
Please include in your package, a Self Addressed Envelope and the amount of postage it took to mail to you, plus a few extra stamps (or even a dollar or two). If you want to mail priority, I will get the box from the post office myself, just make sure you include enough postage or cash for a priority box (I believe it starts at $4.95 now, but may be more depending on the weight). Remember, since we have all different size blocks it may cost more to send back to you then it cost to send to me. All loose postage and money sent will be pooled and used to mail the boxes and envelopes, if I have extra they will be set aside to use in a future swap!

What is the Activity Page link?
http://www.quiltingboard.com/group_a...jsp?gracnum=42

I think that’s it! If you have questions, please send me a PM. I hope you are all excited to move into our Funky Neighborhood!! I know I can’t wait!

Cheers!
Rachel

This looks like fun, fun, fun!!! I'm mulling it over...:)

This looks like fun but I've never done one before. Just a little leary but thinking about it.

Are you leary about doing the swap in general or making the houses? Either way they are both fun to do!! :) If you have any questions along the way, I am happy to help and hopefully we’ll get a fun group of people that will offer advice and guidance along the way too!

Cheers!
Rachel

I love houses!!! Geez, I need to think about it, as I have signed up on just about everything!

Will this be for different size blocks?

I'm afraid I won't do something right or that no one will like my blocks, or that I'll use the wrong fabric, or colors or style, etc.
It's new to me and I'm always a little queazy about new things. I'm getting better though, I even forced myself to try alligator meat a couple of years ago and it wasn't bad so I may force myself to do this too. :lol: :| :roll:

Well if that’s the case then you should absolutely do this swap!! It was tailor made for you because there are no corners to match up and if things start to look a little helter skelter, well that’s even funkier!! And if you pick the wrong colors, well again, funky!! :) There are no rules to funky, so whatever you make will fit right in!!

And I am right there with you on overcoming my “fears” …. I have been trying all the foods I thought I hated as a kid (some I liked, some I still hate) and trying to push myself to try new things all the time. It can be a little scary, but I promise you this is a great bunch of ladies. Just make a few prototypes and you will get great feedback. I have a great eye for color (for everyone but myself), so I would be more than happy to (kindly) let you know if something’s not working! :) But I bet your blocks will come out way better than you think they will!!

Cheers!
Rachel

Hehe, I had this conversation with hubby and when I did the scrapbooking swaps I used to be in like 15 or so at a time!! And they didn’t have long due dates like some of the ones here do. He made me promise to stick to 3 at a time this time around, but ya know, what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him!! :)

Yes the blocks will be all different sizes, but the blocks should be divisible by 3 when finished. So it’ll be like a puzzle to put it together, but that just makes the neighborhood more fun!!

Cheers!
Rachel

Okay, I'm in. My sister told me to do it. She said, "You have great ideas, I think you should do it." I told her that sometimes those "great ideas" look far better in my head than out but she and the rest of you have talked me into it. I just hope I don't dissapoint.

You won’t!! I am so happy you decided to give it a try. :) I have added you to the list (first one yay!) and sent you a PM. Welcome!

Rachel

Rapture, if you can eat alligator meat, you can do this swap!! LOL!

:-D I'm so glad you've decided to join us. The great thing about this is that it's FUNKY houses, so anything goes - colors, patterns, plaids, fabric that you thought was so ugly you'd never find a use for it (could be a great door/window/chimney). I've done the funky chicken swap and would kick myself if I missed this one. You'll have a great time!

Oh, I guess I should tell you Rachel, count me in! Hooray! I'll PM you my info.

Jen

Sign me up!!

I made a three ring binder organized by date so I can keep up with all these swaps... :lol: :lol:

PS
Sorry, I am not trying alligator meat!!! period

This sounds very fun and creative! Right up my alley! Sign me up! :)

YES YES YES!!!! This gonna be great fun!! Count me IN!!

Ok, I have a question... I have a tremendously hard time doing paper piecing, so I was wondering if these would be ok with funky fabrics:
http://www.forevergreenquilts.com/fr...s-BOM2009.html

I really want to do this swap and will try piecing again for it, but wanted to know if this would be an ok back up plan if I can't (would hate to sign up then not be able to follow through in the end)

Oooh, I love house blocks, but will have to think about participating (we'll see how I do on the doll quilt swap). Question: do all 6 houses have to be the same (or at least very similar), or can I send you six different blocks? 6 of the same size, or different sizes (as long as they're divisible by 3, obviously)?

I think they have to be the same. That's to my understanding at least.

Actually the houses aren't paper pieced, just pieced. If you look at the tutorial I posted up there you can see how to make funky houses with no paper piecing. I hope that helps!! These houses are so fun to make because you don't have to match anything up, try following the tutorial with scraps, you will be surprised how easy these can be to make!

Cheers!
Rachel

PLEASE I want to join.. this looks like sooo much fun.. and they are to darn cute no matter what you put together!

One small question the ones I send in have to be identical to each other or close enough to each other that they look like duplicates?

Actually I personally don't care!! :) No one is going to know except you and me!! :) Since everyone is sending in different sizes and different amounts, no two people will have the same sets of blocks anyway. I will probably make the houses similar myself because then it becomes an assembly line and makes it easier to get them together I think, so doing similar ones may make your life easier, but so long as you mail me sets of 6, you can do whatever you want!!

Cheers!
Rachel

I have added everyone that said they definitely want to join through here. Looks like we have a fun group already!! Please let me know if you don't see your name on the activity page.

Cheers!
Rachel

Thanks for Hosting..this will be so fun!

Yippee!!!!! You KNOW I can't resist this one!!!.....*scampering off to start digging in the stash.....hmmm.....those chickens might look cute peeping out the window...* :lol: :lol: :lol:

Love, love, love those house blocks! Sign me up for one set! They really are so easy and liberating to piece. If anyone is on the fence, give it a try. Lots of fun! Use your scraps!

Looks like fun - I have never done houses so I am gain to try something new - Please add me to the list.

:lol: :lol: I went and check out the tut!! That is so great! This is really going to be fun!!!!!! :thumbup: :thumbup:

Looks like fun but I will sit this one out. Have fun everyone.

Count me in. It sounds like fun.

oooo, I'm soooo tempted.


Does this mean that you can't applique? Not that I was going to...but just curious!

I was tempted and signed up---already got an idea in my head.
I hope not. The way I read it is that the house itself is to be pieced but after that you can do what you want. Personally I had planned on some applique. Not a whole lot but some and by machine not by hand.

Yup what raptureready said! The house itself should be pieced, which I think will give your quilt a little consistency (you need something to make all those funky houses work together!), but after that you have free reign to do whatever you want!!

Cheers!
Rachel

I should have everyone that has given a definite yes signed up through here. Let me know if you don't see your name on the activity page or you haven't gotten a PM from me! I am so excited for this ..... I am already picking out the drapes for when I move into our funky neighborhood ..... Who's on the welcoming committee? I expect a plate of cookies when I move in!! hehehe

Cheers!
Rachel

Well darn it Rachel...I got sooooo busy digging in my stash that I burned the silly cookies! They were the "good" kind tooo! :shock:

Esq....you know I"m an enabler...you should sign up for this one...Sophia would love this funky quilt...make it for her!

Always thinking there Patti!! Still mulling it over. If sign-ups are 6/15, what is the due date?

Mail date for the swap is July 1st ….. So that’s 3 months to sew :)

Rachel

Awwww...see Rach...plenty of time! It won't even fall on a due date for the IRR! :wink: :lol:

Okay, count me in for one set! I just can't resist the idea of a house quilt. I've never kept a quilt that I've made, but this one is going to be mine!

Yippee...another vict....I mean participant!!! :lol: :lol:

I whipped up a quick house today, just to give it a try. It kind of blends together cause I just grabbed my bucket of blue and a strip of green for the grass. Obviously you'd want to make the house stand out more than I did!! :) :)

You'll notice from the picture that this is an unfinished 3.5 (3" finished) block. I wanted to try it just to see if I could do it!! I think in this swap, smaller is slightly harder, but I kinda like the small ones too!! :) :)

We already have 15 people signed up!! That will make a very nice neighborhood ... I will now be baking the cookies for our new neighbors since Pat obviously cannot be trusted!! She's too easily distracted by fabric. :) :)

Cheers!
Rachel

I want to sign up and make a whole pile of these blocks! Do we have to tell you how many, exactly?