GWJ Winter Craft Swap

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The idea of doing a swap came up in the Arts & Crafts thread, but this probably needs its own home. Let's do this!

I've been a part of a couple of these on Etsy and other sites before... it's a little different from a Secret Santa thing. Basically, x number of people get together and make one of their item for everyone else involved. So if we have 10 people, you would make 9 of your cool thing, so everyone ends up with a full set.

No minimum value or dollar amount. Just give us an idea of what you're making, so we don't all end up with ten potholders or whatever

Bonus points if someone makes a Stan amigurumi!

Who's in?

::

Current head count:

Clover
Katy
Kiri
Mimble
Momgamer
MysticViolet
Yellek

With special guest Duckideva (with cure time extension)
Bonus special guest: Momgamer's mami!
Extreme combo: Bonnonon!

I'm in!

I will make a dishcloth and tea towel to send out to fellow crafty Goodjers.

I can also make those little dice bags instead if someone else is coveting the dishcloth and tea towel crown.

The link to both of my creations is here, if anyone wants to take a look.

And you have my axe. Or crochet hook. Or whatever.

My on-tap thing is double-layered crocheted potholders.

I also just got my hands on my mother's pattern for crocheted covers for the extra roll of toilet paper if people are interested. They look like top hats, and can be decorated in any motif. When I finish my first sample, I'll post it.

We should also probably talk about colors. In my case, my favorite color is blue.

momgamer wrote:

We should also probably talk about colors. In my case, my favorite color is blue.

I like ALL the colours! (but esp. earth colours like brown, and grey).

I like to get in on this. Not really sure what I should do though. I can cross-stitch and work with jewelry and fuse beads. Maybe I'll just take requests?

Mystic Violet wrote:

I like to get in on this. Not really sure what I should do though. I can cross-stitch and work with jewelry and fuse beads. Maybe I'll just take requests? :D

My first thought was, "I wonder if she makes tiny shiny things...?" and my next thought was a "Mystic Violet's Tiny Shinies" marketing campaign (probably not a great title, but I'm on a lot of cold meds right now).

Anyway, I like small shiny things and they don't have to have any purpose other than being small and shiny. I have a small wooden box devoted to little things like that. It's like having my own horde of treasure.

Mystic Violet wrote:

I like to get in on this. Not really sure what I should do though. I can cross-stitch and work with jewelry and fuse beads. Maybe I'll just take requests? :D

Pixelated fridge magnets!

Myself, I think I might be doing some subversive cross-stitch for this swap.

Oooh. I assume due date is not til near the end of December? If so I'm in.

I make shinys. Usually that hang from ears.

I am not crafty, at all. But I love home made stuff and can't wait to see what people make! In fact, here is a picture of one of our twins in a hat that Katy made for them! The hats were awesome and are safely tucked away in their special first year bin for them when they are older and ready to pass on to their kids. My husband especially loved the hat and made me check and be sure there was no way they could fit them this year ha! So, if anyone makes hats, post please We need new ones!

IMAGE(http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h174/missy9579/babiesmonth1002.jpg)

Mimble wrote:

My first thought was, "I wonder if she makes tiny shiny things...?" and my next thought was a "Mystic Violet's Tiny Shinies" marketing campaign (probably not a great title, but I'm on a lot of cold meds right now).

Oh, I can do shiny! I really need an idea of what you all like... Like favorite colors, video games and stuff...

clover wrote:

Pixelated fridge magnets!

If I can find the right magnets, that's doable too!

I really need to think about this a little more. I may choose a theme and roll with that.

I'm in! I knit, and could make beanie-style hats or fingerless gloves.

Edit Some examples:
IMAGE(http://imageshack.us/a/img832/1642/55848637312261247931543.jpg)

IMAGE(http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/8025/documentupload57766medi.jpg)

IMAGE(http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/5284/mittssmallmedium.png)

IMAGE(http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/8065/documentupload7280mediu.jpg)

Katy wrote:

I'm in! I knit, and could make beanie-style hats or fingerless gloves.

I see your fingerless gloves and I covet them. A lot. I am only capable of knitting squares and rectangles. I particularly like the fancy cable work - looks fantastic!

Mystic Violet wrote:
Mimble wrote:

My first thought was, "I wonder if she makes tiny shiny things...?" and my next thought was a "Mystic Violet's Tiny Shinies" marketing campaign (probably not a great title, but I'm on a lot of cold meds right now).

Oh, I can do shiny! I really need an idea of what you all like... Like favorite colors, video games and stuff...

clover wrote:

Pixelated fridge magnets!

If I can find the right magnets, that's doable too!

I really need to think about this a little more. I may choose a theme and roll with that. :D

I like Space Invaders if that helps. Shiny Space Invaders would be really cool, no matter what form they take.

When we finally get down to the business of making things and sending them, everyone who's in will have to let me know dice bag, or tea towel/dishcloth set. I will try for specific colours if you have a preference (esp. for dice bags, those seem to be a very personal thing) - otherwise, you'll have to trust my (possibly) good taste.

I'll post a few pictures as I make more of those.

I already started working on some pieces. Everyone will get something unique and shiny. I'll do my best to make everyone happy.

If it helps, my primary color is purple (dead center between red and blue) and secondary is blue (blue to aqua).

@Katy I love the way that second beanie looks!

@Mimble I'd like a dice bag!

I suppose I should list some preferences --

Colors -- darker jewel tones on the blue-green-purple end of the spectrum. The kitchen is kind of light green, though.
Games, Hobbies, TV -- Doctor Who, Portal, bicycles, cats, reading, medieval music
Project ideas --
Mimble: Dishcloth/tea towel rather than a dice bag, please!
Momgamer: potholders would be grand
Yellek: I don't wear earrings, but shiny stitch markers for my knitting always come in handy
Clover: can I request PG-13 subversive cross stitch, the sort of thing that wouldn't be inappropriate to display in front of your average fifth grader? And do you do bookmarks, or teeny little wall hangings?

Unless I hear otherwise, I am going to assume average sized hands and heads.

Mystic Violet wrote:

@Mimble I'd like a dice bag!

I can do that! Do you have a colour you'd prefer (or one that you know you'd really hate so at least I won't send you anything awful)?

And I'm stealing Katy's idea (and will absolutely send a tea towel set, I've got something that will suit your kitchen colour nicely.):

I suppose I should list some preferences --

Colors -- pretty much anything, though I am quite fond of earthy colours (dirt, grass, storm clouds...those sorts).
Games, Hobbies, TV -- WoW, Space Invaders, PacMan, GoT, anything on BBC, Sherlock, Jane Austen, Rilke
Project ideas --
Momgamer: potholders would be grand (+1! Potholders are always very handy)
Yellek: I don't wear earrings, but shiny anything else would be really cool. Maybe a small pendant (and I have loads of silver chains here).
Clover: I like zombies, and the slimes from Dragon Quest in particular, or Space Invaders, but anything will look really awesome - I love subversive cross stitch.
Katy: I've actually got rather long hands and a bit wide. Something you'd make for an average sized guy would fit better than slim lady's gloves. I blame my father for giving me man-hands. Though, a piano teacher I used to know said I'd have made a good player as it wouldn't be hard for me to reach all the keys easily.

Looks like I better be a little more fulsome in my description. I will begin full-scale production of potholders.

Colors -- darker jewel tones on the blue-green-purple end of the spectrum. My kitchen is mostly delft blue due to my mom sending me a bunch of stuff.
Games, Hobbies, TV -- Minecraft, Anime, writing, Final Fantasy, Tolkien, Comic books, Doctor Who, Portal, Halo, 7 Wonders

Project ideas --
Mimble: Dice bag would be awesome. Dark blue or black (both with silver if you need an accent color) would be fine.
Yellek: I don't wear trail-y earrings, because I end up spending forever peeling them out of my hair. I much prefer silver to gold-tones. Mimble's pendant idea sounds awesome, too.
Clover: I need better direction than "subversive" for the cross stitch.
Katy: I would really like one of those Dr. Who beanies. Pretty please, with sugar on top.
Violet: I'll Nth the request for Space Invaders magnets. Mine appear to have gone adrift in this move. I love your phone cases, but I don't have an iPhone.

I would really love to do this maybe in the spring; or after the holidays, but looking at the calendar, there's no good way to have soap cured in time to send it out by Santa time, even if I could start it before Turkey Day, which I totally can't. But if we consider doing one in the spring; I'm totally there.

I'm good with either holiday or spring swap. And I have a new idea for pendant style shinys that should work for everyone, maybe a pendant can also be used as a stitch marker? I'm not sure what those are.

Here's my preference list:
Colors -- black/earthtones/darker jewel tones

Project ideas --
Mimble: dishcloth/tea towel in black/earthtones are hopefully my kitchen colors (still in process of acquiring new kitchen/house)
Clover: whatever you come up with
Katy: Love those fingerless gloves, black/dark jeweltones preferred
Violet: Whatever you're making already is fine
Momgamer: potholders in black/earthtones would be great

Stitch markers are little things that stick into your project to help you keep counts. I have some of the plastic things that are fourth over from the left in the top row, but as you can see there are all kinds of cool things.

Stitch markers are just something that you hang over your knitting needles to mark your place in the pattern, especially a repeating pattern. They need to be non-snaggy, as yarn does not go well with rough things, and fit over a knitting needle, with enough spare room to fit the tip of your other needle inside to switch the marker from needle to needle as you get to it.

Commonly used knitting needles come in sizes from 2mm diameter up to 6mm diameter (there are larger and smaller sizes, but those are the most common.)

Here's a picture of some of my stitch markers. The fancy ones were made by a friend, and was the sort of thing I had in mind as an earring alternative.
IMAGE(http://img811.imageshack.us/img811/9902/photonov1280815pm.jpg)

I would be fine with moving the swap around, though I suppose anyone who wants a hat would want it for the winter! If duckideva needs a 6-8 week cure time for her soaps, maybe we could push things back and aim for a mid-February swap date? Or we could include ducki in the swap, and just expect her surprise package to show up later than others' packages.

I have no particular attachment to dates... maybe let's finish round one by New Year's Eve, and do a second one around March?

Time to update my stats!

Colors -- Primary color is purple (dead center between red and blue) and secondary is blue (blue to aqua). I prefer mid to dark purples.
Games, Hobbies, TV -- Mega Man (MMC, MMX, MMZ), Old school Final Fantasy, Ace Attorney, Phantasy Star IV, Darksiders, Knuckles (Sonic the HedgeHog), Metroid, Portal, Yoshi (Super Mario Bros.), drawing/penciling/cross-stitch/photography/various crafts,

Project ideas --
Mimble: Dice bag!
Yellek: Shiny!
Clover: I trust your judgment!
Katy: Beanie!
Momgamer: Potholder!

duckideva wrote:

I would really love to do this maybe in the spring; or after the holidays, but looking at the calendar, there's no good way to have soap cured in time to send it out by Santa time, even if I could start it before Turkey Day, which I totally can't. But if we consider doing one in the spring; I'm totally there.

How long does it take to cure soap? I have no problem waiting until after Christmas.

Just a head's up - the markers are different for crochet than they are for knitters. I can't use those closed-loop ones.

Yellek wrote:

I'm good with either holiday or spring swap.

Same here, and I don't mind sending stuff out anyway in time for the holidays and waiting on things like soap curing properly. I really, really like my skin attached/soap to not dissolve/etc., so I'm definitely OK with waiting on that.

So far I've got the following (and if I've got it wrong, let me know):

Momgamer: Dice bag in dark blue/black w/ silver accents
Mystic Violet: Dice bag in mid to dark purple
Katy: Tea towel set in light green, or shades that go with a light green kitchen
Clover: Dice bag in dark purple
Yellek: tea towel in black/earth tones

If I don't hear otherwise, this is what I'm going with.

Ducki, I didn't hear you weigh in on a preference (though you might have in the other thread and I missed it). Let me know what you'd like and any colour preferences you have.

Well, I've got two tea towel sets and a dice bag made up - two more dice bags to go!

Momgamer, I looked at silver beads today as the accent colour for your bag and they were ugly and cheap looking. I will find something else as close as I can that's nicer. Unless you like ugly, in which case I'll go get the ones I saw.

Hey Clover, skulls, space invaders or snowflakes?

Mimble wrote:

Well, I've got two tea towel sets and a dice bag made up - two more dice bags to go!

Momgamer, I looked at silver beads today as the accent colour for your bag and they were ugly and cheap looking. I will find something else as close as I can that's nicer. Unless you like ugly, in which case I'll go get the ones I saw. ;-)

I more than trust your opinion. Surprise me!

momgamer wrote:
Mimble wrote:

Well, I've got two tea towel sets and a dice bag made up - two more dice bags to go!

Momgamer, I looked at silver beads today as the accent colour for your bag and they were ugly and cheap looking. I will find something else as close as I can that's nicer. Unless you like ugly, in which case I'll go get the ones I saw. ;-)

I more than trust your opinion. Surprise me!

Muhahahahahaha!!!! Foolish Goodjer!

Actually, it won't be too far off what you asked for - no vomit-coloured surprise with hot pink beads or anything.

Oh, I have decided to do game-related stitching instead, since I have a ton of great patterns and it sounded like a better time than the other ones. Here's most of what I have, so if you would like something specific shout it out, otherwise I will just pick something fun for you.

Mario (various), Yoshi's Island, Pokemon, Katamari, Totoro, nyan cat, chocobos, Hamtaro, Portal, Ocarina of Time, Duck Hunt, Pusheen, PacMan, Okami

Colors -- jewel tones or earth tones. My kitchen is Mexican-tile colors, so if it's kitchen-related anything fun and Latin-bright will go.

Games, Hobbies, TV -- anything old Nintendo or Commodore 64, I like maps, I crochet but can't knit, watch too much Futurama, Archer, Daria and related stuff. I think most memes are funny.

Misc -- I have a long neck and short hair so super-dangly earrings are A+. I like hats. Oh, and I have big piano paws like Mimble.

Katy wrote:

Hey Clover, skulls, space invaders or snowflakes?

Oooh, space invaders!

Count me in. Love these

I'm partial to blues and purples and love Totoro.
My kitchen is in the process of being redone. We are going with a French Country style using Terra Cotta and Delft Blue.

I think my contribution will be cards. The designs will be the suprize
I tend to make blank cards so folks can write in a sentiment. Let me know if you need something specific.

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