Quiltingboard Forums - March 2017 Mug Rug Swap -- National Pet Month

March 2017 Mug Rug Swap — National Pet Month is April

We will celebrate National Pet Month by making wonderful pet mug rugs — either by creating a mug rug that looks like our own pet, or a pet we once had, or a pet we’d like to have. And we will do that with whatever fabric we have at hand. The choice is yours!

What is a mug rug? A mug rug is an item you use to place a cup of coffee, tea or soda on, along with a small snack plate/napkin beside it. It’s approximately 9”x8” or larger so both items will fit. Please do not make it smaller than 9”x 8” (unless your partner tells you specifically that she wants a smaller size), as that is quite small for both items as it is!

1. You will be assigned a partner. This is not a secret pal swap. Each partner will contact the other partner for addresses. You are encouraged to talk to each other and find out little things about them so you can make a special gift just for them. Then think about this month’s theme — National Pet Month. You might want to find out from your partner if she has a pet or a preference for her mug rug. Then plan a special mug rug. Will you appliqué or paper-piece or just go with regular piecing? Will you make your mug rug rectangular, circular, square, hexagonal? How you choose to make your mug rug is up to you, but make it with love & pride!

2. The mug rug must be made with 100% quilter’s cotton, with a nice cotton batting in between to protect furniture from possible damage due to heat/cold. Use a binding method you are comfortable with, or practice & learn a new binding technique! Also, the mug rug must be quilted. Remember, this is a gift you are making for someone. Be proud of your work & do your best. And be kind about what you receive. If you have any issues, please work it out with your partner first, before contacting me; communication is key. This board is for all of us to make friends & have fun.

3. You must send your name, address, e-mail address and phone number to me, ctyankee, by February 28th. Deadline to send out swaps is March 20th & don’t forget to send me notice, with tracking number, that you have sent to your partner. Any delays in mailing must be shared with me prior to the deadline of March 20th. I want everyone to receive a partner’s trade. We should not have to request angels. Again, communication is important. You can be forgiven if something comes up & you notify your partner & me prior to the deadline. But if you don’t communicate & don’t send out a mug rug to your partner, you will be locked out of swapping with this group and negative feedback will insure other swap groups know you didn't send. Also, if your partner has not sent to you by the deadline & you have not heard from her, please let me know. I’m pretty easy-going about things, but there is rarely a good reason for non-communication. If your partner has not communicated with you at all, let me know ‘way before the deadline so we can possibly avoid a problem later.

4. Also, please let me know if you can mail internationally! This is important, as we have quite a few international swappers who want to join us, & I don’t want anybody to be left out. So if you can ship internationally — even just one time — that would make it more fun for our overseas & Canadian swappers!

5. You are free to include little gifties with your mug rug, handmade or store-bought; it’s up to you. It’s been discussed on a previous swap that if you talk with your partner, maybe you can agree on an extra item each — like a FQ. That would be between you & your partner. But you are only obligated to send a mug rug. Nothing else is required in this swap.

6. Any questions? Contact me immediately and I will help get you started.

7. Please take a photo before you ship your package to your partner, just in case she cannot post a photo. We all love to see photos! But don’t post it until you know your partner has received your package & that she is unable to post a photo herself.

8. Be sure to label the outside of the package with the name of the swap & your swap name. Many people sign up for more than one swap & it can be confusing to the recipient in trying to figure out which swap it came from.

9. And most of all — just have fun!

SIGN UP TODAY! Send me a PM with your name, address, e-mail address & phone number for emergency use only. If you have a preference of what you receive, just communicate that with your partner. Names will be given out on March 1st, the latest. You are required by the board to send things you sign up for, or risk not having the ability to swap again in other swaps. Again, per board rules, anything about your partner or the item they send to you that does not please you is not to be posted on the board but sent in a PM to me, ctyankee, or to your partner to sort out. It’s polite and it’s the right thing to do.