Bead Swap #10

“Buttons”

The purpose of this swap is to provide members an opportunity to experience the fun of swapping and building relationships with fellow artists. Swaps are open to members only – join here if you would like to be a member!

This swap is being hosted by Janet Thurman.

This swap is now closed.

Details of the Swap:

Each participant will make 12 Buttons, no matter how many swappers we have. Please meet the size restrictions of each piece to be no larger than 1 1/2-inch. Sign up and get started early! If you miss the deadlines you will not be happy (please refrain from asking for an extension).

The cutoff for signing up to participate is November 20, 2021
The deadline to mail your box to the swap coordinator is November 22, 2021
Buttons MUST be received no later than November 30, 2021.

You must join the Facebook Group for this swap here. Make sure you read and understand ALL of the rules first.

The swap coordinator’s contact information will be on the Facebook swap page. Keep in mind swapped items will be made by participants of different skill levels. All that is required is that you make something that pleases you and you are happy to share with others. This is not a competition!!

CREATOR: gd-jpeg v1.0 (using IJG JPEG v62), quality = 75

Things to Remember

We encourage all skill levels to play. All that is required is that you make something that pleases you and you are happy to share with others. This is not a competition!!
The swap items are randomly assigned.
Only commit if you are confident you can participate.
Keep in mind, the swap coordinator is a volunteer with their own life and is doing the best they can. Be kind.

Participation Rules:

● Sign up on the Facebook swap page.

● You must be able to make and submit by mail buttons that have been properly annealed, cleaned, have no sharp/dangerous edges, and are sturdy enough to survive being shipped twice and worn by a new owner, should they so desire. (This applies to all items being swapped.)

● You must sign up by the deadline in order to be included. You must also meet the deadline for mailing your swap pieces to reach the swap coordinator in time to be divided and shipped out to other participants. If your buttons are not received by the receive date, they may miss being included in the swap and instead your buttons will be returned to you. Allow for possible slow mail delivery and keep your tracking number so you may keep up with the delivery.

● Please take a photo of your buttons before you mail them! It would be wonderful to have a description of what you used and any other information that you can share with us along with the photo on our Swap Facebook page.

PLEASE POST PICTURES ON OUR SWAP FACEBOOK PAGE!

● Package your individual swap items carefully, with tissue, bubble wrap, etc. so that it may be reused to send the swaps back out to the participants. If you put your buttons in individual bags, please make sure the bag is fully closed or sealed so the button doesn’t fall out. Make sure your name, contact info (like email, FB or website) and anything else you’d care to say is attached to each item, so the recipient knows who made the piece. You can staple your business cards to the bags if they don’t fit inside.

● In order to participate, you must send return postage to the swap coordinator. We will use a small Flat Rate US Priority Mail box to send swap pieces, so there will be no surprises in cost – the boxes are insured for value up to $50.00. (www.pirateship.com is a great alternative to using the post office and is a little less expensive).

Place the following inside the box:

○ Your name and address
○ Swap items
○ A prepaid self-addressed label for small flat rate box – priority mail (currently $9.20) or a check or money order made payable to the swap coordinator. ( Non US participants will have to work out postage details with the swap coordinator.)

Hint: To save some money, you can put all these items inside a USPS Small Flat Rate box. Gently tape it shut (or tie it with string) and pack that INSIDE a larger envelope, or wrap it in brown paper. Send your package to the swap coordinator (as long as you do it early) by any means you desire. Just don’t use the seal on the priority box – the coordinator is going to need to use that.

What Happens Next:

● The swap coordinator will divvy up the items received and create packages to ship to each participating member. They will be mailed out on the agreed shipping date and in a timely manner.

● Keep in mind, the swap coordinator is a volunteer with their own life, and is doing the best they can. Be kind.

● Let the swap coordinator know when you have received your swap box.

● When swap boxes are received by each participant, open them, admire and fondle them. Think about the work that went into making each piece and where that artist might be on their glass journey. Don’t give constructive criticism to anyone’s piece unless they specifically ask for it. And if they have, be as kind and informative as you can by suggesting solutions and not just problems.

Dates at a Glance:

● November 20 – last day to Sign up
● November 22 – last day to mail your box to the swap coordinator
● November 30 – coordinator MUST receive your buttons, or you will not be included
● December 7 – Coordinator mails swaps to participants