Bead Swap #2 - Again!

LisaKwaj wrote

on Jun 15, 2009 11:16 PM

Bead Swap #2 Lives Again!

Sherri and I have volunteered to sub for Dawn for Bead Swap #2.  Swap #2 will work similar to the way Swap #1 worked.  A package of beads will be mailed from person to person.  When you receive the package, take out beads you love and contribute a similar amount of beads that you think others will love.  Then mail the package to the next person on the list enclosed in the package.  If you’d like to be included in Bead Swap #2, e-mail Lisa before June 26^th.  Include your full name, e-mail address, mailing address, and the dates of any upcoming vacations in your e-mail.  NOTE:  Even if you’ve already signed up with Dawn, you need to sign up again by e-mailing Lisa.

Here are the details

[guidelines edited 6/26 and 6/27/09 by Lisa]

§    NOTE:  Sign-ups for Bead Swap #2 are now closed.  Please stay tuned to Beading Daily where you can follow the progress of our two packages (you read that right, we have two packages traveling around the world at once!).  Once we near the end of this round, we’ll begin accepting sign-ups for Round 3.

§    To participate in Bead Swap #2, e-mail Lisa with your full name, e-mail address, mailing address, and the dates of any upcoming vacations.  NOTE:  Even if you signed up with Dawn a couple months ago, you need to sign up again by e-mailing Lisa.  Please include “Bead Swap #2” in the subject line.  In case you’re not sure how to do that:  click on Contact in the upper right-hand corner of this post (or any other post by Lisa), then click Send Lisa an Email.  A window will pop up for you to type in your e-mail message.  E-mails must be received by June 26^th.  NOTE:  Do not post your information to the forum!

§    I’m preparing a package of beads to start this round that includes stuff I have duplicates of, or extras of, that I think you’ll like.  The focus of Round #2 has shifted a bit so that we each contribute beads that we think someone else will enjoy working with.

§    After June 26^th, we’ll shuffle the list of participants and mail the package to the first name on the list.

§    Since we have a large number of participants, we’ll split the list in half and Sherri will mail a second package at the same time that I mail the first.  Both packages will be sent to everyone on the entire list, so you’ll receive a package in half the time and will eventually receive 2 packages.  (To explain what I mean by that, let’s use 20 participants as an example.  The first package will be mailed to Person #1 on the list, who will mail it to Person #2, and so on until it reaches Person #20, who will swap out beads, then mail it to Person #1 to begin the next round.  The second package will start with Person #11, who will mail it to Person #12, and so on until it reaches Person #20, who will mail it to Person #1, and so on down the top portion of the list until it reaches Person #11 again to start the next round.)

§    When you receive a package, take out some beads that you love and add back others from your stash that you feel someone down the road will love.  This is not the time to get rid of those plastic beads with the gold-colored paint flaking off!  Search your stash for duplicates and pretty leftover beads to include in the package.  Try to add to the box at least as much as you take out, both in quantity and value.  If you take out a strand of beads, add back another strand of beads.  If you take out a focal pendant, add back another focal pendant.  Do your best to leave the package with at least as many fun, desirable beads as you received!  Please label the things you contribute with your name so that everyone knows whom to thank for their particular favorites.

§    Take a photo of the package if possible, add your name to the (lightweight) journal enclosed, and mark the enclosed map with your location.  Mail the package to the next person on the list enclosed in the package.  Post a note to this thread that you’ve received/sent the package so we can track its progress.

§    Please try to forward the package to the next name on the list within 2 business days.  When sending the package to US destinations, we‘ll use USPS Flat Rate envelopes, for which postage is only $4.95.  Weight isn’t so important within the US, as we can put as much into the flat rate envelope as it will hold.  But over in Europe, we need to try to keep the package under 1 kilo (2.2 lbs) to keep the postage reasonable.

§    Since many of us are vacationing at this time of year, we won’t keep the route secret for this round.  We’ll do our best to estimate transit time from place to place and avoid having the package arrive at your home when you’re out of town.  We’ve also asked Jeni to act as the “hub” for European participants again and will try to limit the number of trips the package takes across the pond.

Bead Swap #2 is open to all Beading Daily members who actively participate in the forum’s discussions.  In an effort to include as many as possible, while also ensuring the security of our swap’s assets, we define “members who actively participate” as those who have been members for at least one (1) month and who have logged at least 100 posts.

Pam I am wrote

on Jun 16, 2009 6:29 AM

This sounds like a huge amount of fun!!! Go ahead and sign me up Lisa and thank you! I just sent you an email! 

Pam

Briggs wrote

on Jun 16, 2009 7:35 AM

I'm excited about this! Lisa, I just sent you an e-mail!

~Briggs

Sherri S. wrote

on Jun 16, 2009 8:11 AM

IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION!

When sending on the package(s), we should use the U.S.P.S. Flat Rate Envelope that costs $4.95.  I think that there is a Flat Rate Video Box that is $5.95, but the envelope is cheaper and it seems to me you can fit more into it.

It doesn't matter how heavy the package is using the U.S.P.S Flat Rate envelopes or boxes.  You'll pay one flat rate as long as the package weighs less than 70 pounds.  (Wouldn't that be nice?  70 pounds of beads???  Of course, that many beads won't fit into the box or envelope!) 

This will save money on shipping especially using Jeni as our European Hub, because since she is a military wife, whoever sends the package to her in Italy will still be able to pay the flat rate, and Jeni can pay the flat rate sending it back to the U.S.

I hope I haven't forgotten anything!  Let me know if you have questions.

Sheila H wrote

on Jun 16, 2009 8:18 AM

Just signed up! Can't wait! This will be so much fun! I so enjoyed the last one. Last time, didn't we ask that you forward the package within a couple of days? That is about the only thing that hasn't been mentioned. 

Cat_P wrote

on Jun 16, 2009 8:19 AM

 Ok I am going to send my info.

Question though- email has to be received by June 26th then how are you going to shuffle the names on June 16th?

wrote

on Jun 16, 2009 8:32 AM

Well, obviously I'm in. The only other note I'll put in is that for shipping in Europe, keeping the package under 1 kilo (2.2lbs) will help keep shipping to other European countries down, as I figured out last time.  I don't think the first swap package was much over that anyway, but I was amazed at how much made it over here!

Zerenity by Inca wrote

on Jun 16, 2009 9:17 AM

Jsmaz:

Well, obviously I'm in. The only other note I'll put in is that for shipping in Europe, keeping the package under 1 kilo (2.2lbs) will help keep shipping to other European countries down, as I figured out last time.  I don't think the first swap package was much over that anyway, but I was amazed at how much made it over here!

Sheila H wrote

on Jun 16, 2009 9:29 AM

Jeni - I am sure you have figured this out, but you could always pick and choose a little of what goes to Inca. You could always e-mail her some pics for her to say what to definitely put in the package. Just a thought but I know that you have already thought of that!

Sherri S. wrote

on Jun 16, 2009 9:37 AM

Cat :

Question though- email has to be received by June 26th then how are you going to shuffle the names on June 16th?

She probably meant to type June 26, not June 16.  Lisa, please confirm!

Cat_P wrote

on Jun 16, 2009 2:06 PM

Sherri S.:

Cat :

Question though- email has to be received by June 26th then how are you going to shuffle the names on June 16th?

 

She probably meant to type June 26, not June 16.  Lisa, please confirm!

 Ah I thought of a typo error after the fact.

PatD3 wrote

on Jun 16, 2009 4:44 PM

Lisa, I just sent you my info. 

khakit wrote

on Jun 16, 2009 5:49 PM

 Lisa,

Thanks again!!!  ' can't wait to get started.  I just sent off my email info.

Chris

ChristinaMarieH wrote

on Jun 16, 2009 8:30 PM

 YAAAAAAY!

This was fantastic news to see after a bad day at work. Lisa, email has been sent. Can I stalk the mailperson now, can I, can I?

Shawna18 wrote

on Jun 16, 2009 10:00 PM

ChristinaH:

 YAAAAAAY!

This was fantastic news to see after a bad day at work. Lisa, email has been sent. Can I stalk the mailperson now, can I, can I?

 You seem entirely too eager to stalk that mailperson of yours ;) lol

Of course im in too, sending email now :)