I joined a Facebook swap group because I thought it would be fun, and oh boy is it! It is a little more fun because I got in as it was just starting and I even got to become involved with a side group just for quilters from Indiana. That group is small right now and the women are a hoot! I can’t wait to meet some of them.
For the swap group we filled out profiles so the other members would know our interests and likes and dislikes. It started out as a monthly and/or quarterly swap. After this quarter it is going back to just a monthly swap because organizing both was too much work for the admins. Each month that I sign up for I get a name of someone in the group to send a package to and someone gets my name. No one knows who got their name and it’s different each month. The spending limit is $15/month and it’s amazing what everyone gets for that amount! Here is a picture of what I received for my first monthly swap.
Isn’t everything adorable?! The little owl is sitting on the ledge in my sewing room next to his flamingo buddy. The charms are perfect because I bought the supplies to make myself a charm bracelet just before I received this package. Perfect timing! The fabric is waiting for the perfect project.
The next two pictures are from the quarterly swap that I am in. I get something from the same person for 3 months in a row and with the 3rd package my “Secret Sewing Friend” reveals who she is. These packages are from April and May. June will be the last month. She has been getting me something different each month based on my profile and I love it all. I can’t wait to see what I get and find out who she is in June!
I went a different route with my gifts. I bought all three months at once and coordinated everything so that she should have a good start on fabric for a whole quilt when it’s done. I also included a few extra goodies in each package just for fun. I don’t have pictures of what I sent though.
It’s a lot of fun, like Christmas every month, and I get to talk to a lot of interesting people and learn new ideas, techniques, hints and tricks for sewing! I didn’t even know what the little clips in the last picture were until I got them and had to ask. (They’re for keeping your spools of thread and matching bobbins together….just in case you didn’t know.)
The name of my swap group is Monthly Secret Sewing Friends. Look us up on Facebook and join in the fun!
Have a great day and happy crafting!
Julie