Greenwoodtree

11 minutes ago, Lucchesa said:

Having something in the dark days of January would be really good for me. 

Same for me. January is always hard.  Not as hard as the holiday season, but frigid and empty, especially knowing theres 5 months of winter to go before any sign of spring.. This swap will have a lot of introspection, not a lot of spending. I hope we have a good handful of BPAListas interested.

3 hours ago, llamadolly said:

Here in MD the coldest/worst parts of winter are in January and February!

I want to start it on a New Moon cycle (probable Nov. 14), and end at the Full Moon on January 28, before Imbolc on the 31st.

I wrote up the winter crone swap but now I think I should wait until later this month to start it. I was thinking of a send date mid to late January. Thoughts, anyone?

12 minutes ago, llamadolly said:

I'll put up the Solstice swap soon because I think this is a good and important year for it. Will also definitely join a winter crone swap!

Thanks for the reminder about the Solstice. That might be something I could join too

17 hours ago, Lucchesa said:

I would love to join in!

 Awesome.

I feel inspired to write it up now. I don't think many will be interested in a non-holiday swap this time of year, but hopefully there will be a few.

I'm thinking about creating a winter crone swap. .....because I cant do t-giving or christmas and this time of year is really hard on me with all the commercialism, no family or close friends to be with. 

I'd rather focus on what doesn't bring depression....

It would be themed along the lines of old world winter-time, and the crone aspect.  probably some artistic aspect, some creativity, writing, gifting...

Just now, yowahoshihime said:

 

I've been considering the same thing with my current running swap. I've had two people drop out of my swap for health related concerns already. I think maybe starting thinks up again at a later date would be smartest. 

 ABSOLUTELY!  Im preparing to make a post to the effect on my swap too. Whoever has it, either keep it or send back to me.

Ive been thinking that some kind of announcement to all swap participants about not sending anything right now would be a good idea.

The virus can live for a long time on some things. I am a high risk person, it would be deadly for me.

I dont necessarily want to spray lysol on everything I receive, though it may come to that.

6 hours ago, Em- said:

I definitely don't have enough to provide good seed fodder for a jewelry round robin, so feel free to run with this if you're up to it! 

 Me either.  I think we'd only have enough if we sent our extras to whoever could start a small box. Im happy to run it, but no way I have enough alone!

1 hour ago, Em- said:

Dang, y'all were busy in the past couple of days!

 

First things first, last call for the Leap Year swap! Sign-ups close at 5pm and I'm matching tonight!

 

I love that there are new round robins starting - that is a great way to more gently rehome things than the bluntness of the traditional Spring Cleaning Swap (although I think there's room for both for those of us who like the more traditional mystery swap - more on that in a minute). Personally, I would be VERY into the idea of a jewelry round robin if that were to get off the ground (I have stuff to contribute, but probably not enough to start even a small flat rate box worth. 

 

In terms of starting up new round robins, my suggestion as both an occasional organizer and participant is to make it VERY clear what the expectations are - both in terms of what should be contributed and not, as well as how strong a curatorial hand you want to take as an organizer. Also know that the size is only going to grow. I started up a bath and beauty box with 10 items and a box of Imps/decants in a medium flat rate box and by the time I handed the project over to Kakiphony, there were two stuffed to the gills large boxes. She took a much stronger curatorial stance which got rid of a lot of the Bath and Body Works sprays and drug store brand samples, but if those are things you want that's totally cool too. 

 

Someone also asked for more info on the traditional Spring Cleaning mystery match swap - there's a few of us who have run it over the years, but the basic idea is that you curate a box of at least 10 different types of items for your swap partner that you already have in your house. You can craft or bake with existing supplies, but you don't shop solely for the swap. We usually say different types of items so that no one ends up with, say, 5 imps of random BPAL and 5 books and that's it. Personally, I've always had a blast with this swap and and have received some amazing things from people over the years, but you definitely have to be prepared for a certain amount of randomness since no one is going out and shopping off your wishlist. It is one of my favorite swaps, so I hope someone runs it this year so I don't have to.   

 

Also, if folks have things they truly just want to give away and not receive anything back in return, we have the PIF sub-forum just for that purpose! 

 

 

Thanks for your awesome expertise post, as always.

I wish I'd thought of a jewelry de-stash! I had a HUGE pile of culled jewelry I gave away a couple years ago, and my ever-growing stash now just has a small amount to give away.

Maybe I could send what I have to you, to contribute to a start box?? What do you think of that idea?

The reason I havent done a PIF is because I want to know exactly who Im sending to It may sound silly, its just me!

Okay, I submitted the spring cleaning Round Robin box swap!

3 hours ago, Deceitfuldescender said:

First off, if I ordered some fudge, you think it might arrive by Vday? Bc yuuum.

 

I also am very particular with what I can use on my skin sadly.

 

Second I love the idea of a round robin cleaning, I am super down for that.

yes, Ma'am~! Im also running a sale through 2/16, details in the shop The sooner you order, the sooner it gets to you, always shipped Priority.

Okay you GUYS! You have motivated me to actually be WILLING to host a swap! Do you know how long its been? Awhile!

I will post the Round Robin Spring Cleaning box later tonight and hopefully will be approved in the next few days.

1 hour ago, Deceitfuldescender said:

I may start the imp/decant round robin since I have SO MANY.

So tentatively

 

greenwoodtree for spring cleaning round robin

yowahoshihime for bath/body/makeup round robin

and also maybe bottles

I could also probably start both a bottle and imps/decants box (seperate).

There could actually be more than one bath & body or perfume boxes going at the same time, thats what Em had done.

And the various Hot drink swaps that Gwydion hosts are like that too, more than one box out at a time.

4 minutes ago, Deceitfuldescender said:

First I would be super down for a bath and beauty box that operated like the tea swap where you take and replace items and it round robins. I am not sure I have enough to start the box personally, but I would participate. I did often receive useful stuff in the spring cleaning swap, so I like the receiving end as well as the gifting end. And I do have stuff to clear out.

Stuff to mull over I guess. At one point there was also a round robin of imps. I wonder if that or a round robin of unwanted bottles would work, with the same take out and replace idea. The imps is great because new people can take new stuff to try out.

 

Also oh god @Greenwoodtree did you start shop for your delicious  stuff. 😍

Link to my Etsy shop in my signature, if thats what you mean!

The Bath & Body box that Em was hosting for awhile, it was okay, but I rarely found things I could use due to staying away from most mass-produced or chemical products.  That box{es} also had the bottles and imps.

Im willing to host/start a round robin box with spring cleaning items - if anyone likes that idea. Similar to what I wrote in my post above!

36 minutes ago, Soupy Twist said:

 

what an awesome idea! Like "I have a large bag of children's clothes size 8–10" or "I need a bead organizer" or "set of melamine dishes to first one who claims it."

So...this is getting close to an idea Ive had for a long time for a round-robin type box. 

The Spring Cleaning swap almost always left me with a new box filled with items that I couldnt use, and (I felt bad feeling that way), with rare exceptions.

The questionnaire, though it got more detailed, still didnt allow for exactly what was sent.

Perhaps even adjusting the swap to not make it that everyone has to FILL a flat rate box, but only send what they think they have that their match wants or needs. 

This could even get as precise as instead of a questionnaire, everyone posts in the thread exactly the kind of things they want or need, and the person who has some of those things, says, "It Me!!", and requests their address. (Specifics would be, no big debates about what exactly (quantity, shade, size, etc)is sent beyond the basic requests or it could get tedious and ridiculous!)

Back to my other idea - Basically fill a flat rate box with nice things that we think are too nice to just donate but which we dont want to sell either.  It becomes a round robin box, and we take out what we like, and put in what we want to part with. The person at the end gets to decide what to do with whats left. If that were me, I would either keep, re-gift or donate what was in it.

So....some other ideas.

13 hours ago, Deceitfuldescender said:

I am thinking soon might be a good time for a spring cleaning swap.

HA! I'd LOVE to be able to just pack up & ship a box without having to receive anything! 😝

19 hours ago, spookygrrrly said:

 

Sorry that these months and season are so hard on you.   What ever you decide to do I hope that maybe some of your delicious fudge would be available. I still dream about the fudge you sent me last year

Thank you, yes, my fudge is available through my etsy shop as usual. Im just getting way less business because I opted out of Etsys B.S. and so they arent shwing me in searches like before.

But yes, the Candy Witch is still working.

6 hours ago, Lucchesa said:

Meanwhile I see the tacky ornament swap is live!  Which is in its way a kind of anti-Christmas swap 

Yeah, true, but Im going to be going through my christmas decorations and culling most of them this year, including the tacky ornaments from that swap. so...nope.

Hey everyone - I am SERIOUSLY considering creating an ANTI-CHRISTMAS swap - for those of us who, for whatever reason, cannot or do not handle the coming on-rush of holiday insanity that is commercialized christmas.

For me its become an incredibly painful couple months since I have no family or friends to celebrate anything with, and the loneliness and isolation has me wishing I were not alive during November and December every year..

So rather than focus on what I cant stand anymore, I want to create something new.

Its still percolating.

I welcome suggestions, but my thoughts are running toward more of an empowerment/free-will theme.

DiZZysTARdust, You can find in the posts at the top of the Circular Swap page a lot of specifics  -

here and here: 

Straight, hardcore lavender. A twinge of head pain when

I smell it warns me to wash it off soon. I wish straight lavender and I got along like we used to. This is a potent herbal and I like it.

Surprised by this one! I remember testing it several years ago and it was bad. Now it blooms into a sophisticated, lovely, light scent. Its going on my 'need more' list.

It started out a calm herbal that I could love, but quickly my skin turned up the volume on the flowers. UGH

If you love southern flowers, this is for you.

Wonderful scent - I swear it reminds me of my grail scent, The High Priest Not to be Described. Its blended really well. Also, I think I need to add blood musk to my favorite notes.



All I smell is rum and black musk...I miss all the other notes

Was hoping so much for this one. Violets and vetiver are two of my best. But the wretched red mush starts amping, and it makes the vetiver turn chemically.