owlvamp, I have purchased charm squares from E-bay several times and have been happy with them. Most often they end up being from a place called Emerald City Fabrics. Sometimes it is a specific charm pack with 40 or so squares in it and other times the have been lots of 100 squares. Just read before you buy. Even with a standard charm pack of 40 or so squares that gets you almost 4 full sets to trade after you cut them into 2.5 inch squares. There are also some packs that are alreadh 2.5 inches. You should be able to find something you like. And remember, you don't have to have 15 sets to trade. 15 is the maximum.

Owlvamp, You've gotten alot of good advise here from our swappers. I didn't have any stash when I first got on the QB. I still don't have any large pieces. If I need to back a quilt, I piece it or I go buy yardage. My WalMart is 20 mins away and any QS is over an hour. When I go into the city or on a road trip, I MAKE IT COUNT!! I often send my daughters money for fabric. My only request is whatever they buy, they get an extra 7" so I have a variety of what they get that I can cut into two 2.5" strips and one 1.5" strip. They laugh and call me crazy. lol YES...yes I am. I also just purchased some online from a half off sale. I ordered alot of 1/4 to 1/2 yard cuts. I'm so exctied to get it.

And what Lisa said it correct, 15 sets is maximum. I have ladies who have signed up for as little as 3 sets to begin their trading.

Right now we have 25 ladies signed up to trade Cotton sets, 11 to trade Batik sets and 15 to trade Neutral sets.

Hi Sherri,
I'm so glad you spelled it out for the bestest SISTER.. I don't know if I am crazy or not, but of course I want to join.. I was at the LQS (30 miles away), and picked up a bunch of scraps, and found some fabric representing NY.. Maybe one day I will buy more from them, but I am having so much fun with swaping.. I will PM you, but wouldlike to join with 15 cottons, and 5 batiks.. I guess you, and Mariposa are gluttons for punishments.. You twoare very appreciated...
Barri

LoL barri, I'm glad you're joining us. We really do have a great group of swappers. I have alot of fun too. Dori really is my sister too if anyone wondered. To bad she lives so far away from me. :D

Thought I would share with you all how I was able to get most of my squares cut recently and ready to mail out. I did the majority of them while watching the Oscars. It can seem overwhelming if you don't already have a stash cut. (Like me). I just decided to do 10 of a specific color, 10 of the next color and so on and so on until I had 50. You could also do 5 or whatever number you are comfortable with. Just like being on a diet. Just do baby steps. A little at a time and then the goal is achievable. Hope this helps the newbies in the swap. Would like to hear how others do their cutting.

I like to work with 1/4 yard pieces...I don't wash...I do starch & press..makes cutting and handling the "candy" easier and hardly any fraying of the edges... sometimes I will just rotary cut and other times I will use the Accuquilt Go cutter...I like to keep each color/pattern in little stacks on a tray...when I get all the sets needed I start picking them to get one of each and straighten them all out and then into the baggies I get from Dollar Tree....

I love both of the previous ideas. I didn't have any 2.5 squares cut. I have a ton of scraps, which I am finding a pain in the behind, as I am not dealing with long pieces. Since I am in the 1.5", I sometimes have left over pieces after cutting the 2.5" that I can get a 1.5.. None of my bags will have all of the same.. I am also cutting one of each for myself.. I was concerned that if I cut from my stash, everyone would have those fabrics already from other swaps..
The dog is getting bored watching me cut..

There is also a site called 4my3boyz. She often has scrap bags, and the scrap bags can be themed or not. She sells it by the weight and the pieces you get are a variety of sizes. I love getting her Food scrap bags because I make Aprons and i like embellishing them. Before I moved up to Oregon I was a long way from a big town, but I bought a lot on line, some sites even have free shipping if you buy more than a certain amount.

I am cutting 1.5 and 2.5 scraps now, My Mom is still in the hospital, and I can cut in the waiting room. I just bring a big ol' bag of scraps and a baggie, or a bunch of baggies and cut cut cut... then I am done in no time!

Marytoddliz, that site is lots of fun. Tell me more about these scrap bags. How big do the pieces usually run? I'm seriously considering ordering.

Other sites for scraps that can be purchased are Blue Bamboo, and Fabric Buffet.

I had a tooth pulled on Mon., and now, I have a jaw infection; not feeling too good right now, but I did receive a gift from foxflower. It is a very cute bath mat with rubber duckies on it. I am still working on yours; just don't have any energy. I'll be taking a picture soon. Thanks so much!