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Sunday, July 20, 2014

August Fat Quarter Friends Swap - Time to Swap, Who's with me?!

Let's keep the ball rolling with another successful swap!  We're consistently holding onto about 20 swappers per month!  I hope we continue to grow.



I'M HAVING PROBLEMS ATTACHING THE JULY SWAP PICTURES.



WHAT THE PARTICIPANTS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE SWAPS!:

"I just wanted to share my beautiful Fat Quarters that I received from Carla!  I'm so glad I did this swap because it got me back into my sewing room and motivated me to get back to my quilting!  I'm looking forward to the next swap! I wish I knew more people that quilt so that they could join in!"
*
"Thanks for putting this together! I would love to do another one!"
 *
"April, look at this attachment and see what Heather sent me for the April FQ Friends Swap!
Isn't that a sweet gift!  Thanks for organizing the Swap and sharing with all us others!" 
*
"Hey I got my package from Amber and LOVE what she sent.  Count me in for doing this again in May."
*
 "This is my first swap ever and I am now hooked.  The fabrics my partner choose are perfect."
*
 "Thanks for organizing it & can't wait to do the next one!"


TO SIGN UP FOR THE AUGUST 2014 SWAP, CLICK HERE!


The FAT QUARTERS FRIENDS SWAP allows participants to add their own personalization if they choose by decorating the outside of the package, using decorative wrapping for the fabric itself, including a personalized note/card, including any small gifts that their FAT QUARTER FRIEND would be totally excited to receive.  

You don't have to include any extras but some ideas are maybe:
  • A Matching Spool of Thread
  • A Cute Sewing Notion
  • Sewing Pattern you no longer want/need
  • Yummy candy
  • Anything else you would like your new friend to have!

THE DETAILS / MEAT N POTATOES / INS & OUTS OF THE SWAPS

* The Fat Quarter Friends Swaps will be open to Canada & USA Only.

* This will be a monthly swap but you only sign up for the months you want to participate.

* There are no fees other than buying Fat Quarters, extra goodies & shipping costs.

* The link for the online Sign-Up Sheet is above and you have until July 31st to register.  There are 3 slots on the online form asking for favorite colors, favorite designers and favorite collections which will help you pick out Fat Quarters that your FAT QUARTER FRIEND will love!  

* I will then pair everyone up by August 2nd then send out emails to let everyone know who their FAT QUARTER FRIEND is.

* Please make sure that you ship your package by August 10th, which gives you about a week to go shopping from your local/online quilt/fabric shoppe.

* Send 4 different Fat Quarters that are unwashed &  are "quilt quality".  You can send Fat Quarters from your own stash as long as they are in like new condition and are full sized & selvage not trimmed off.  Or buy new Fat Quarters.

LEARNING SEGMENT - CRAFT FABRIC VS QUILT QUALITY FABRIC
* Some new swappers have asked me what is the difference between "craft fabric" & "quilt quality" fabric.  Several years ago when I started sewing I thought all cotton fabrics were the same and didn't know the different between "craft" & "quilt" fabrics.  Most newbies have this thinking, and it's perfectly okay not to know any better.  Not all cotton fabric is the same.  There is "craft" fabric and "quilt quality" fabric.  There are some national chain stores that carry fabric but you have to know the difference between "craft" and "quilt quality" fabric.  "Quilt Quality" fabric is softer and has a tighter weave.  "Craft" fabric has a looser weave and most of the time you can hold it up to a light and you will see the light between the thread weaves.  Plus "craft" fabric is stiffer & feels rougher.  Wal-Mart carries "craft" fabric.  Joann's carries both "craft" & "quilt" fabric.  The long colorful wall where the fabrics are in rainbow color order is considered "craft" fabric.  The fat quarters in the slots on this wall is "craft" fabric.  Though the rainbow wall does have some great looking patterned/designed fabrics, it's not what we are aiming for with our swaps.  Joann's does have some "quilt" fabric and it will be labeled on the price sign with the word QUILT.  Hancock Fabrics carries mostly "Quilting" fabrics.  Most cities and towns have at least 1 Quilt Shop.  There is no doubt that Quilt Shops carry only Quilt Fabrics.  I have been to some towns that were so small you would pass it if you blinked and they had a Quilt Shop!  Most Quilt Shops have baskets or bins of Fat Quarters already cut up.  What I like to do is if I like a fabric I think is perfect for my swap partner then I will get a half yard so I can keep a fat quarter for my stash.  If you are shopping at the Chain Stores, ask the ladies/gents in that department who quilts.  Then confirm with them that a fabric is sonsidered "quilt quality".

* If for some reason you are not able to participate after signing up, PLEASE let me know by July 31st so that I can rearrange pairs.

* I will ask that all participants email me in August when they receive the package from their FAT QUARTER FRIEND so that I can keep track of who has/hasn't received theirs.

* For those participants that have blogs, I think it will be awesome to show in a blog post what our FAT QUARTER FRIEND has sent us!

*For that that are swapping for the 1st time, I will add your email address to our special E-list so that I can notify you right away when I announce the next month's swap.



IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS AT ALL, PLEASE LEAVE THEM BELOW!  NOW, LET'S SWAP!  DON'T FORGET TO GRAB A FQ FRIENDS BUTTON BELOW (STILL TRYING TO FIX THE ONES ON MY RIGHT SIDEBAR).

PLEASE SHARE ON YOUR BLOGS OR WITH ANY FAMILY/FRIENDS THAT LOVE FABRIC TO HELP INCREASE OUR PARTICIPANT NUMBERS!  I WILL BE SHARING THE SWAP ANNOUNCEMENT ON INSTAGRAM IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED IN REPOSTING IT.  MY INSTAGRAM IS SEWKOOLBEENZ.

KoolBeenz
KoolBeenz
KoolBeenz
KoolBeenz
KoolBeenz
KoolBeenz
KoolBeenz
KoolBeenz








Friday, July 11, 2014

Pics of Swap Packs from the June Fat Quarter Friends + My Cancer News

As many of you may know from past blog posts, I had been having problems with my Uterus since last Fall.  My March 2014 Biopsy showed that the cells in my Uterus were borderline Cancer.  My doctor put me on meds to help clean out my Uterus.  I went back again last month in June for a follow up biopsy.    The cells finally turned into Early Stage Uterine Cancer which requires a full hysterectomy.  I'm 39 with no kids, almost married 2 years and I emotionally freaked out about not being able to have at least 1 biological child with my husband.  So we go on Monday to speak with an Egg/Fertility specialist to see if my eggs are a good candidate for embryo freezing, due to my age.  Then on Tuesday we go to see a Cancer Specialist to get a 2nd opinion.  The results of those appointments will determine when I have my hysterectomy.  I will post updates as they happen.



These are some of the swap packs there were received from the June swap last month.  AUGUST SIGN UPS WILL START IN 4 DAYS, WILL POST AN ANNOUNCEMENT.









THIS IS WHAT I RECEIVED!  I FREAKED OUT!  IT'S A HANDMADE CHILI PEPPER RISTRA TO GO IN MY KITCHEN!
 PLUS A FULL YARD OF CHILI PEPPER FABRIC!






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