MINI SWAP 2 is closed...thanks everyone. I'll get names swapped this week!

It's that time of year again: the holidays are past us, things are slowing down and most of us are getting ready to snuggle in for the rest of the winter months. The perfect time for a little miniswap.

::So what is it?::
A swap between our children. I'm sure your children enjoying sending and receiving mail as much as mine, so why not let them get in on all this brown paper package goodness??

::Here are the details::
PLEASE, PLEASE read the "directions" carefully and FOLLOW them. I don't mean to be a "meany-pants" (as my daughter would say), but last year I spent so much time following up with people that forgot certain information, or sent emails to the wrong address, etc, etc. It was exhausting and confusing. So I'm doing my best to streamline everything this year. And hopefully, by doing that I'll be able to include more people than last year. So please, help make this easy on me....

::we will swap by household. Keep in mind, you might sign up one child, but be swapped with a household of two or three children. This doesn't mean you have to put together three times as much stuff, but it might be nice to include something small for each of the children.

::Last year I didn't put an age limit on who could participate. But this year, I'm going to say two years and up. The idea of this swap is that our children are really partcipating. So I am going to put a minimum age. Please use good judgement about where to cap it off at the older end. (And just for the record, if you were my partner and signed up your four year old, but there was a 12 month old toddling around your house, I'd want to know so I could include a little something for him/her. I wouldn't want to leave those babes out all together. But I'll leave that up between partners.)

::The swap is open to anyone, so please be willing to ship overseas when you sign up.

::I always try to be budget-conscious. Try to keep the bulk of your swap goodies in the handmade or hand-me-down category. Last year my partner passed on gently used books, a stuffed toy and other goodies (among other fantastic things)--and my kids loved it. And the sentiment behind her children wanting to pass on a special toy to another child was priceless.This swap is not meant to break the bank.

::Ideas of things to include? you can check out the flickr group here  Or, leave a comment after this post of some of the highlights from last year. I'd love to hear and I'm sure others would, too.

::Please include a postcard or small map showing where you're from. (I forgot to do this last year. oops.)

::Ship packages by February 5. I know the longer I have the more time I have to procrastinate. I figure one month is do-able?!

::Want to join? Here's what to do:: (this is the important, follow-the-directions part!)

• Send me an email at this address: miniswap(at)gmail(dot)com
• Please put "miniswap sign up", or something similar in the subject line
• Include your name and your child/children's names and ages.
• I will leave the address swapping up to you and your partner.

The following week, I will contact one of the two partners with the swap names. It will be up to that partner to contact the other family involved. I'll post here when I've sent out emails so you can be watching...

I will take names until Monday morning.  However, I'm going to put a cap on the participants at 150. I think I managed about 100 last year. And if all goes smoothly, I think I can handle fifty more. I HOPE??!!!  So friday or 150, whichever comes first...

And please, help pass the word on your blog, too.

Alright, please forgive the overload of details. I'm just attempting to keep this slightly organized. No "meany-pants" intended!!

And check back here for more updates and details.

Have FUN!!

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What better way to start your week than with good mail, no?

Last week, I received a package from my partner for the handmade jewelry swap. I was lucky enough to be paired with the organizer and jewelry-making genius of Jo. She was such a sweet partner and made me the perfect necklace from vintage buttons.

We both agreed how intimidating it is to create jewelry for someone else. When I make my pendants, I'm almost always making something that I like, or that I would wear, but when you create with someone specific in mind, there's a lot more second-guessing of your choices involved.
Jo also included some yummy organic milk chocolate (gone.) and one of her lovely wood block prints.

Jo, it was all perfect. Totally me. You hit it right on! Thank you. thank you.

I am long overdue on posting the wonderful goodness that arrived in our mailbox last week from Mary-Sue and her children Annika and Pedar. They were our wonderful partners from the miniswap and we have so enjoyed getting to know them better. I wish that I was a wee bit wiser, and had my camera at the ready when we opened the box, because instantly the contents were grabbed, loved and carried away to special places around my house. Our package was filled with so much thought and love and care...it truly was overwhelming. So, though it doesn't begin to do justice for all that was included in our swap, here are some highlights (mary was napping during the photoshoot)....oh, and the box was FILLED with little pink hearts, attached to different gifts with notes about each item. It was so fun.
For starters, she made each of the girls one of these aprons, with their initial stitched on in buttons! I love them, especially because we have one craft apron that the girl's usually argue over. Now they each have their own and they are way more fun than our plain old off-white one!

Each of the girls got one of these adorable summer skirts. I'm thinking they will be the perfect thing to wear over bathing suits? Although Emma wears hers now over her pants, of course.

This went up in Emma's room right away.

And here's some more of the wonderful things that I could round up. Emma loved the dolls and I spent the first day cutting and cutting and cutting....and look at the wonderful bag and treats that Mary-Sue included for me! The bag has great pockets, which I LOVE... she included a wonderful book,
some herbal rub for my girls since they were both sick when we were talking, a candle and do you see that beautiful linen towel with the red poppies(?)...I don't know if I can even bear to use it!

Even as I sit and write this, I'm realizing there is so much that I forgot--the grey squirrel puppet. I think I may be having more fun with it than anyone else. I'm pretty funny with puppets, I've realized. Of course, it's easy to get two giddy girls cackling when there mother is hiding behind a chair putting on squirrel dramas. Oh, and the sun catcher--Today, I caught emma standing on the counter at the sink, spinning it...and the books, and Lily, and the jewelry for emma....I know there' more that i'm forgetting, but thank you so much Mary-Sue and Annika and Pedar. Your thoughtful package made three girls in Wisconsin (i won't be able to say that for very long) very happy! xo.

I think the miniswap was a success. And I think a Fall round just might be in order...

I'm in cleaning mode. I've had this huge bolt of fabric that I bought from Crate and Barrel for a long time and I've never done anything with it. So, I'm giving it away.    All GONE !! Sorry.

I kept a little for myself and still have five yards for the giving or the swapping. It is 100 % cotton.
Leave me a comment so that we can keep track of what's been taken and I'll get in touch with you for more details via email. I'm going to keep it to a one yard minimum so that I'm not sending out lots of packages. Enjoy!

Dawn: 1/2 yd. Jeanne: 2 yds. Stephanie: 2 yds. Mirre: 1/2 yd. Sound good?