backthatelfup

Just as a heads up, I will not be running the Winter Solstice Swap this year. If someone else is interested in taking it over, I would be more than happy to send over the inquiries.

Is anyone interested in co-running the Winter Solstice Swap? It's super easy, I do most of the work but I would feel more comfy coordinating 30 people if I had someone to ping? Please PM me! I plan on opening the swap this week!

Okay, it's November, I am plotting for the Winter Solstice Swap Just sorting out dates for stuff. I don't want to post it too early, yah know? As a lover of Thxgiving, it always bums me out to post about Winter holidays before my favorite holiday has come and gone! But I will probably send it in for approval in about a week? Boxes out by December 15th?

I waited too long to get the Altoid Tin Art Swap; might run it early in January if people are still interested.

Blah, was sitting at my desk, had an idea kind of like the ATC swap but with altoid tins. Decorate/trick out an altoid tin for someone.

Is this something anyone would be interested in? Also, do people think it should be a one to one swap or like the ATC swap, where each person makes several for different people so everyone winds up with a pile of tins?

 

 

 

It's one of my favorite swaps. Please count me in.

 

It's looking like I might not be able to participate in Halloween SW this year after all because of other health and time commitments which means that I *definitely* want to be in on the Winter Solstice swap!

 

…Also, if anyone is thinking of a Yule/ Winter SW lightening round, count me in on that, too!

 

Okie doke; I am actually starting to get excited about it Look for it to get started around Thxgiving. It'll be the same Winter Solstice Swap we know and love, with 4 items and a price cap.

I know it's a ways off but I am looking to see if anyone would be down for the Winter Solstice Swap this year. I am just asking now because my autumn is going to be busy and I want to gauge interest as I make plans for the rest of the year

Does anyone want to co-run the Winter Solstice Swap with me? It would still be open to 30 people, thinking of still keeping it US only unless I get enough people who'd be willing to ship international? PM me if you're interested in co-running!

Edit: AAAAAND I have a helper! Thanks! Details to come!

I'm ALMOST done with my RPG swap questionnaire. Putting the last touches before I decide when I want to run it and submit it to the lovely mod for approval.

I think it is probably too late to run it to be done in time for Halloween. :/ Oh well, a little post Halloween pretend never hurt anyone, I don't think. I could be wrong.

I'm having a blast with the fandom swap - is there any interest in a Britcom swap?

 

What sort of things would be included?

I hope the Fandom swap gets run again But Britcom sounds fun!

Backthatelfup - I am so excited for you to have a chance to garden! Do you think we should try to do seeds swaps sooner?

Hmmm, I don't know. I personally have a few more months of getting things in the ground, but not necessarily seeds (though I am going to get some clover going over the winter to fix some crappy soil I have. Womp wow). I guess it depends on who is doing it and when people start their seeds. Maybe something gardening related that isn't seed-centric?

I have the Winter Solstice Swap questions still so I will be running that again! And I have started questions for the RPG swap! I don't know when I'll shoot for the RPG swap but I will try to get the Winter Solstice Swap running by November so we can have stuff in time for the Solstice

I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M TALKING ABOUT THE WINTER SOLSTICE

I know this is a little ridiculous, but I got a new planner and that made me think of planning things, then -bang-pow-zoom, I started planning my next year's garden!

 

I did a seed swap around the Vernal Equinox, this year. I'd like to do that again next year, but I was also personally interested in starting some seeds indoors, this winter. I'm in about the middle of the country, zone-wise. And it looks like I could start a few things as early as January, but most things would be started around Febuary/March.

 

Would anyone be interested in getting a jump on seed swaps? Maybe open sign-ups in January to help get past the post-holiday blues and get things mailed out to arrive in early Feb.?

 

ALSO- I would be interested in an ATC swap, but I don't think I could commit to 15 cards, either. It takes me a while to draw things out.

I just got a huge garden And I so want to start some plants THIS WINTER for SPRING. I'm in zone 8a, for the record. I just ordered some seeds to start and would love to share

I've wanted to do the ATC swaps! But I don't know that I could do a bunch :/ 3-5, probably.

Oh glob.

So last year I did the Winter Solstice Swap and I'm thinking of doing it again.

But I also love RPGs and was thinking of doing an RPG Character swap. Send in a Character Sheet type Questionnaire, get matched, and try to make a small 'Adventurer's Kit' for the character.

Oh glob.

Would anyone want to do this? I would put a price cap on both.

Greenwoodtree-

 

Thanks so much for the tip! I was thinking of sandwiching seeds between 2 pieces of corrugated cardboard, but they would probably get crushed that way, too.

 

How would you feel about leaving the DC off to save money on shipping? Since we are swapping such inexpensive items, it should be easy to replace a package if one gets lost in the mail.

 

Or should I just suck it up and pay for DC?

I would not forego DC.

I've been wearing BPAL for a few years and have just now realized how amazing amber is. I'm wondering, how could I possible have MISSED THIS AWESOMENESS ALL THIS TIME and wondering if my skin chemistry has just changed or what.

It started out with Gold Phoenix, then The Sportive Sun and now The Lion. All just gorgeous, warm scents. Reading through this thread realizing a recent favourite, Fenris Wolf, also has amber in it (though it is very red musk on me and sandalwood.

Might have to go back through the catalog again...so in love.

I have kind of a survey question about small craft swaps:

 

For smaller craft swaps (ie ATC, create-a-card, mini shrines, etc.) is four weeks-- from receiving your person to mailing deadline-- a reasonable time frame? Or do you like more time? less?

 

And, in the vein of suggesting swaps, I really liked Sunshinedaisybliss's idea of the build-a-beauty-box swap, with everyone filling out a questionnaire, and then creating a sample box for your person, including 5-7 samples(one of which would be full size?) and some "lifestyle" extras like tea, snack cakes, perfume, etc..

You'd end up with a box of about ten things tailored to your questionnaire answers, and it would be fairly inexpensive because most of it was travel/sample sized. If you get sample boxes, shop Sephora, get GwP stuff, you might even be able to do all but the super sample without buying anything.

Any interest?

 

Also, how about a White Day swap?

Mini shrines? What?! WHERE?!

Edited to add: Is anyone running a Spring Equinox/Seed Circle? Eh? Buehler?

I kind of want to do a swap for parents where they say stuff like, 'Now that I have a kid, I don't do (blah) anymore' and people get matched and try to help them get back into the stuff we did before we had children. :/ I read a comic on the couch yesterday WITHOUT interruptions and it was marvelous.

There would probably be the 'I want to get back into' components (maybe a snack ONLY for the parent) and one thing to occupy the minions so the parent can actually do their thing. With a price cap.

Just a thought.

ih8perfume Maybe a circular swap where the box goes around and people deposit and take seeds/bulbs might be cool! Or a mystery match where people say what growing zone they're in and their garden layouts/situations?

flyby I love that idea. I don't adhere to any...thing but I am so ready to kick 2012 out the door in an official way and move on. That swap sounds awesome.

I love the small, low cost swaps The themes are so much fun!

And now, a quick question:

 

Who'd be interested in a lightning ATC swap round, starting, say, next weekend? The mailing deadline would be December 17th, and the theme would be BPAL Yules.

I will be in the next ATC swap, so say we all! Now I kind of want to make sci-fi based art cards. HA!

A lot of people in the Winter Solstice Swap were talking about doing a seed/cutting exchange. I think most of us are ready for Spring even though Winter hasn't even started

Ha, okies, I think come January, I will do a recipe swap! I love to cook!

 

nice idea! what about having an ingredient or 2 be sent along too? I like low cost swapping for sure...

Free-ish swaps are always awesome (like the mix CD ones).

I think the easiest include would be stuff like special spice blends, which I've been trying to work on. Or even sauces - I have a friend who makes an amazing BBQ sauce.

Good ideas! I thought maybe ingredients or inexpensive gadgets? Small, inexpensive. Spice blends are always fun! I made garam masala the other day which was pretty tasty.

So now that I'm running one swap, I was thinking of another one for January.

A Test Kitchen Swap. I love to cook but I'm always looking for new recipes. A swap where people say how much they cook, what they want to cook more of, what appliances they have, how many people they cook for, their budget for food and they get sent three recipes. Then everyone has to cook at least one recipe and report back on what they thought.

I don't know if there has to be a buying aspect of the swap.

Just an idea.

I've done several swaps here, and my daughters always love to watch me put the packages together, and are as excited as I am when mine arrives. This year they have both asked to make accounts here because they want to be a part of the swaps. Since they are 9 and 13 I laughed and told them no, that they aren't old enough.

 

But I was thinking that if there is any interest maybe we could do a parent supported swap for our kids? They would fill out the questionaires and be in charge of choosing what to put in the packages, and we would be in charge of paying and making sure they follow through and get everything done in time. I'm not sure there are even enough moms here with children old enough to participate, much less that would be interested.

 

Anyone think this is a good idea, or want to tell me why this is a bad idea? I searched around to see if I could find a swap like this, but didn't find anything.

My kid is 5 and already loves BPAL and has been asking about the Winter Solstice Swap I'm running. I think she would love to do a swap. Maybe holiday cards? I am up to my ass in art over here but even something small like a piece of mail would be appreciated.

My mom's favorite perfume is an LE from another company. The notes are:

Nargarmotha, Geranium Bourbon, Cocoa Powder, Black Clove, Peru Balsam, Mallow Root, Egyptian Vanilla Musk, Egyptian Apricot

Anyone know of a BPAL that would be similar?

Tintagel has a nice wine note for me. When I used to work at a wine shop, I loved to wear it

WAR, Huh, whoa, What is it good for? Ginger.

Seriously, War is very gingery.