MARCH/APRIL SWAP 2013 - INSPIRATION

Have chatted this one over with Kim, as we want it to include everybody but to tie in with the retreat - so please try to join if you can, whether you're coming to the retreat or not.

You pick a single item which you think would inspire your recipient. It can be anything: an exotic piece of ribbon, a funky metal embellishment, a fabulous swirled jewel accent, a piece of fantastic paper. It must be something of quality in its own way and it may be something you bought because you loved it but have never had your own inspiration as to what you could do with it. The recipient can use the item to make whatever they wish.

Sign up by March 25th, with your item to be sent by 1st April latest so that we all receive them at least a few days before the retreat - that way we can all gather our supplies together in order to make the item of our choice over the weekend of the retreat. Hopefully, we might even be able to put up piccies on the forum that weekend to show each other what we've made: it would be great to have us all working on something together whether we're at the retreat or not.

Once sign-up is done, I will PM you with the name of your recipient.

Lynda

Signed up:

Lynda
Kim
Billie
Lorraine
Kate
Karelyn
Cath
Jo
Alison

me please

Thanks, Kim: will put your name down.

Lynda

ive allready sorted my bits out ...

That was quick!

Lynda

I'd like to try this, hopefully Skype will be up and I can do it with you all.

Ooh, good, Billie: will put your name down.

Lynda

I'll have a go.

Thanks, Lorraine.

Lynda

What sort of value are we looking at Lynda, it's a single item right?

Yes, Karelyn, a single item. And it doesn't have to be particularly valuable, just something that isn't pedestrian, shall we say. Difficult to give an example - no, I've got one. In the ATC swap (was it January?) everyone admired the little watch charm that Ruth used on her ATC and sent to me in the items to make mine. Does that help?

Lynda

I'll have a little fossic before committing myself, I can't imagine there's anything in my local craft shop that I'd call inspirational, so it would have to be something I've already got.

Sure I can manage this

I'm sure you probably have something in your stash already that might fit the bill, Karelyn: just have a trawl through and see. For instance, I have some hand-marbled ribbon, some vintage buttons - anything like that would be ideal as they'd spark off someone's imagination.

Will put your name down, Kate.

Lynda

OK Lynda, count me in.

Oh good, Karelyn!

Lynda

Me too please Lynda.

Thanks, Cath.

Lynda

Go on then. I can manage to post something by 1st then hols after that

Ooh good, Jo - will put your name down.

Lynda

Come on, girls - we need as many as possible signed up for this swap, especially as it will be a link between those of us at the retreat and the ones who couldn't come. Don't forget, you can make what you like - so Lorraine could incorporate hers into a piece of jewellery and Tina could sew it to some quilting!

Lynda

lyndaejane wrote: - so Lorraine could incorporate hers into a piece of jewellery

I could...but I haven't made any jewellery for a couple of years and don't really want to either.

Maybe people feel a bit apprehensive about it. I am still not too sure on what to let go,lol.

Lynda, is it just one thing? as a piece of ribbon doesn't seem to be much for some exciting embellishment, if you see what I mean?

Yes, just one thing, Jo - unless, of course, it's a 'set' that's meant to be used altogether. It doesn't have to be valuable in money terms, so it wouldn't matter if it was a length of ribbon - although some of the exotic ribbons like the die-cut felt ones aren't cheap. Also, you will know your recipient so you can pick something suitable: if it was Kim, for instance, you could send a lovely piece of lace (just happen to know that one, as it was Kim I sent to for the last swap). If it was you, the sender could pick a big button/set of buttons, as I remember you like those.

I know that some people might receive more expensive items than others, but I don't think anyone will mind: it's the thought the sender has put into picking the item that will be important.

Lynda

Oh no it's getting harder all the time, I thought I'd got my item picked out but it might not be at all suitable now!

Oh, sorry, Karelyn - I did say I would PM the recipient's name to everyone who'd signed up: always easier to do any of these swaps if you know who you're sending to. After all, I wouldn't want to send buttons if you were my recipient now, would I, lol!!

Lynda

You might want to, but I don't want you to LOL, yes, I'm not great at listening to instructions, I'll wait and replan as required. Kim's chosen hers, she might have to rethink too.

yes im waiting to see if i need to change it once i know who im sending to .got an alternative anyway .

.......and I have thousands of buttons>>>>>>>>>>

I am worried now.

and we keep the item until we get to the retreat or make it up before hand???

You send your item to the recipient by 1st April latest, Jo: that will give those of us at the retreat time to have our inspiration and select the stuff we need to make up the item, ready to take with us to the retreat. The idea is that everyone makes up their items over the retreat weekend and we post the pictures if possible: that way, those who can't be with us there will be able to join in.

Please don't be worried: think of it this way. If you were making up something to put in any other swap or on someone's card, you would maybe use one thing as your inspiration - you could send something like this. Or maybe you would put a really nice embellishment on your swap or card which just went really well with what you'd made - you could send something like this. Or, as I think I said before, if you've had something for a while that you bought because you really liked it but can't get inspiration yourself, you could send something like that. It doesn't have to be expensive: the only reason I said to send something of quality in its own right was so that people don't send just any old metal embellishment they've had left over, for example, but send a really unusual one or maybe one that's no longer made and everyone wishes it was.

Hope that helps.

Lynda