Friday, October 31, 2014

GHASTLIES SWAP - 10 LESSONS LEARNED - Friday

I did it...hosted my first on-line swap!
It was definitely a challenge, but a good challenge!

This post is wordy...well sometimes words 
(as in lessons learned)
are worth a thousand pictures!




#1   PARTICIPANT INFO 
Need easy repository for participant info. Sew much information is needed...some for me...some for participants.  I used a spreadsheet that ended up looking like I was monitoring a space flight!   

Make sure to double check the information your are sending is indeed the correct info.  I sent two participants the same partner and one participant had no one.   I did NOT catch it til I was posting photos on my blog...someone was missing a partner...YIKES!
I own my mistakes and found a remedy to ease my guilt

One of these went to Tammy who bailed me out and made Michelles swap package at the last minute.   And one to Michelle for having to wait so long for her package.






#2   NAMES OF PARTICIPANTS
Swap mama needs an easier way to track participants NAMES. Participants have a "real name" an  "email name" and many have an "IG name" Most of the time ALL had different names!  Nightmare!


#3 EMAIL COMMUNICATION
Ask participants to always include their real name and their swap partners real name when communicating to swap mama.  I got dizzy looking up names.

#4  SWAP PARTNER INFO EMAILS
Ask participants to KEEP the original swap partner email. Print it off, hang it in your sewing area!   Subject line should read KEEP THIS EMAIL - Swap Partner Info

#5  PACKAGE SENT AND RECEIVED
Have a simple swap rule to email the swap mama when the participant sends and receives their packages.

#6  EMAIL -  
This one is My Bad...I have two email boxes - a personal inbox and a Kwilty Pleasures inbox.   I needed to make sure all emails around the swap were "sent" from the Kwilty Pleasures email in box! I goofed a couple times. Had to move a lot of stuff from my personal inbox to the Kwilty Pleasures inbox to keep emails organized and easy to find.   

#7 PHOTOS
Find a repository for project photos (not everyone uses IG).  I had asked everyone send me a photo of their swap package before they mailed it, thinking this would be an easy way to gather them for my blog posts.  Ughhh....with all the instant social media...well..thanks to those who did this.   

I captured a lot of the photos I used in my  posts from IG. Some were posted in IG from those who "made" the project...others from those who "received" the project.   I had to screen print the IG photo, crop it, mail it to my inbox, save it to my laptop with the name of the person who "made" it.  THEN put it in my post.  That's a lot of work my friends!   I did ask permission to use all photos on my blog via email.  

#8   DEADLINES FOR MAILING
Make sure the deadline to mail the swap package is no where near ANY holiday that the post office might be closed.    And not a Saturday...folks are busy on weekends.   Make the International deadline for mailing two weeks earlier than other.    

#9   TOUCH POINTS
If you have touch point emails and need an answer...Subject line should read -  NEED RESPONSE - Ask your question(s) but keep the response to simple yes or no answer(s).   

#10  IN THE END
Remember...not everyone is as organized, or timely as the next person.   Some people will procrastinate, over commit, misplace info and find themselves in a bind trying to stay on track.  People will have personal issues that are out of their control.  

As the  swap mama, I was glad did curse a few times, but in the end...it all worked out... just GHASTLIE!



Have a Happy and GHASTLIE Halloween!

Thursday, October 30, 2014

GHASTLIES SWAP REVEAL - DAY 4 - Thursday


Hang on to your GHASTLIE socks...
Day 4 of the Ghastlies Swap Reveal begins right now. 
  
Tammy @karamatsews 
Tammy blogs at Karamat Sews
sent this to Melinda @meilinda24  




 Melinda @meilinda24 sent this to 
Tonia @toniaconner





Tonia @toniaconner
Tonia's Blog is All Thingz Sewn 
sent this to Wendy @theprintedstitch  


Wendy @theprintedstitch
Wendy's blog is The Printed Stitch
sent this to Christina @sewbrewtiful  



Christina @sewbrewtiful
Christina's blog is Sew Brewtiful
sent this to Renata Prazeres @reprazeres 


Renata sent this to Tiffany @sewlongsanity  
Tiffany's blog is Sew Long Sanity




Tiffany @sewlongsanity  
sent this to (me) Kathy @kwiltypleasures
Tiffany was sew good not to post pics on IG 
sew I would be surprised...and I was!



And she signed her masterpiece on the back!



What grabbed you attention today?

Tomorrow  
10 Ghastlie Lessons Learned
and a couple more photos!

Day 1 here
Day 2 here


Wednesday, October 29, 2014

GHASTLIES REVEAL - DAY 3 - Wednesday


 Day 3 of the Ghastlie Swap Reveal
and the creativity just keeps coming!  

Cheryl (no IG or blog) 
sent this to Amy @houseofbadcats  


Amy @houseofbadcats 
Amy's blog is House of Bad Cats
sent this to Abby @Argyle24


Abby @argyle24
sent this to Jennifer @craftyjenny 



Jennifer @craftyjenny
Jennifer's blog is Crafty Jennifer
sent this to Tina Albright 




 Tina who blogs at Sew Sassy Quilts  
sent this to Tracey Brown @traceyquilts



Tracey Brown @traceyquilts 
sent this to Cheryl  (no IG or Blog)


Rhiannon @raebirdhri
sent this to Brandy @M3_quilts






Brandy @M3_quilts sent this to 
Jeanenne (no IG or blog)


Jeanenne sent  this to Rhiannon @raebirdrhi



 

And what is your fav project for today?

Tomorrow is Day 4 of  GHASTLIE projects




Tuesday, October 28, 2014

GHASTLIES SWAP REVEAL - DAY 2 - Tuesday

It's Day 2 of the GHASTLIE SWAP REVEAL 
 I hope are ready for some special projects!


Michelle @boopsie42 sent this to Tammy @karamatsews
Michelle used markers to color the fabric!
How creative is that!




and Michelle included some goodies for Tammy's little girl
now that is sweetness on both sides!


Tammy @karamat sews
sent this to Rebecca @sewpixie  




Rebecca @sewpixie
Becca's blog is Sew Pixie
sent this to Carmen @miraclesbydesign

The bunting was NOT part of the swap but don'tcha luv it!




Carmen @miraclesbydesign 
sent this to Michelle @boopsi52






Kim @jkimr
 sent this to Belinda @stitchingatthegreendesk  



Belinda @stitchingatthegreendesk
Belinda's blog is Stitching at the Green Desk
sent this to Cindy @sewingmoxie  


Cindy @sewingmoxie
Cindy's blog is Sewing Moxie
sent this to Kim @jkmir


And what is your GHASTLIE choice for today?

Stop back tomorrow for Day 3 Ghastlie-ness

 Day 1 here
Day 3 here


Monday, October 27, 2014

GHASTLIES SWAP REVEAL - DAY 1 Monday

This week is full of GHASTLIE-ness as I post 
all the great projects from my first on-line swap!
  
  
Rules were simple...you can read them here
  
31 Ghastlie designers signed up and 
and lemme tell ya I am overwhelmed with 
the talent and commitment  everyone brought 
to my GHASTLIE house!

Because there are so many GHATLIES photos 
I didn't want to blow up your feed...
so I have a post each this week thru Halloween!
  I have permission from the participants to use their photos. 

I am using only the first names of the participants (designers) 
and IG handle or Blog name.  
Hopefully I got it all "right" and if not
I am asking for your Ghastlie forgiveness now!



GHASTLIES SWAP REVEAL - DAY 1

Me, myself and I @Kwiltypleasures 
sent this to Heidi @heidileann



Heidi @heidileann sent this to Michele 



Michelle at Quilts From My Crayon Box 
sent this to Laura @lauramcjohn



Laura @lauramcjohn sent this to Jill @thequiltmistress


Jill @thequiltmistress 
Jill's Blog is The Quilt Mistress
sent this to Karri @karriofberries 

I still can't get over this masterpiece!



Karri @karriofberries 
Karri's Blog is Karri of Berries
sent this to Olivia @pumpkin_patch_quilter



Olivia @pumpkin_patch_quilter
sent this to Maxine @bluefigquilts  


Maxine sent this to Jordan @mylons86


Jordan sent this to...Tammy @karamatsews  
Tammy's blog is Karamat Sews



Come back tomorrow for 
GHASTLIES SWAP REVEAL - Day 2

What is your favorite project today?


Day 2 here
Day 3 here