Next Swap Coming Up!!!

REALLY quick update here folks. Sorry for the lack of the fall swap, but hey, I had a baby. 'Nuf said.

There WILL be a winter swap with some changes that I'm sure will make a few people unhappy, but even with help, swaps are time consuming and a lot of work to run. (Although they are so fun, which is why there will still be another one.)

1. It will open in late January. Keep an eye on my blog for an announcement.
2. Only 50 people this time. That's about all I can handle (yes, even with help. )
3. I'm not so sure I want to even deal with running this blog for the swap. I would much prefer to just keep it over on Ravelry. Everyone can add themselves and it's one less thing I have to mess with. Not on Ravelry yet? The last person I heard from got her invite in 5 days. Sign up now and you'll be golden by January.

Questions? Comments? Go for it. Gotta run, baby's awake!

Important Updates

Hello Swappers!

-All partners are now out. People need to be in contact with each other by Sunday. It's helpful to let your hostess know how things are going, if you've been in contact, etc. Remember, the "send by" date is November 17th.

-If a swapper has not heard from her partner they need to e-mail their hostess by Monday so she knows and can take care of it. There always seems to be at least one or two people who mysteriously drop out, and we'd like the chance to fix that as soon as possible so that no one is left without a partner.

-Please try keep on top of the blog. We often make updates with important information that you may need to know. It can be easy for these to get lost in all the posts, so if you check the labels from "admin" or "swap info" you can easily stay caught up. I think some of the confusion for a few people about their partners was due to my announcements getting lost in all those wonderful contest entries!!!

-Contest #1 closes Saturday night. Contest #2 Starts on Sunday. We have over 20 wonderful prizes to give away this swap round, so make sure you get your entries in!!! I'll announce the first winners Monday night.

-I'm without computer this weekend, so I won't be able to answer any e-mails until late Sunday night at the earliest, more like Monday. If you have specific questions, e-mail your hostess directly. If I'm your hostess and you can't wait until Monday, just post to the blog and one of the other hostesses can answer your question.

-Thanks everyone for your participation and your patience as we get Swap Three rolling. Round three is a much bigger swap than the past two (I can't believe the first had only 50!) Of course a much bigger swap means there are always a couple things that need to get worked out, but I'm glad we are able to do it this way as we can include a lot more people. I think we're all set and ready to go. This is going to be a wonderful round. Have fun!!!

Peace,
Becca

Partners, email, etc....

Hello Swappers,

it has come to my attention that we are still experiencing some minor difficulties with swap partners. I have also noticed that several of us have different email addresses we use for blogger than the one used to sign up for the swap. If you still have not been contacted by one of us, please email me at asimplifiedlife at hotmail dot com. Please include your name, blogger id and all emails that apply. ;D

Thx for your continued patience and we will get this resolve as quickly as possible.

Dawn ;)

Dates

Also titled: "My Brain Is Full" or "Why Not To Work On Swap Business At Six AM"

Sorry about the mass panic with partners, everyone. Dawn e-mailed me a question about dates today, (I'll get to that in a minute) which made me realize that TODAY (Weds) is the 17th, the day that partners should be out. Yesterday, I was thinking that MONDAY was the 17th, and therefore partners should already be out. So when I posted last night that they were all out, I was in error and too early, sending many poor swappers and poor hostesses into a massive partner confusion!:-) (If you already have your partner, don't worry about any of that. Just go shopping)

Anyway, the real story is that today is partner deadline, and that although most are out by now, there are still a handful to finish up. If you don't hear by Thursday, drop your hostess a line.

I'm still learning a lot about hosting a swap, and now this round I'm learning even more, especially about how to organize it with hostesses. Thinking about it now, I should have had the hostesses post as to what day they would be sending out invites so everyone knows when to expect theirs. But live and learn, right? Next year we'll know:-)

As to the date Dawn brought up, there is a typo in the info section that I will go and edit right now. Just to clarify: Packages should be mailed by the 17th, not received by the 17th of November. That gives everyone a bit more of a cushion and time if they want to mail order anything.

Peace,
Knittymama

Partner Info

If you have accepted your Blogger invite but still don't have a partner, please e-mail us at coffeeswap AT yahoo DOT com to let us know. We've had to do some shifting of matches due to those who didn't accept their invite, but I think we are all set now. Thanks for being patient and understanding, we really appreciate it. It's a lot of work organizing 150 people between the five of us, but we're trying our best to make this successful and fun!:-)

Now, if you've gotten your partner, please be sure to contact them within two days of your match. If you don't hear back from your partner by this weekend, please drop us an e-mail as well.

Hope you are all enjoying the first contest as much as I am!

Peace,
Knittymama

Questions

Partners are starting to go out!!! You should have yours in a day or two, depending on your hostess. I think these got a bit lost in my last post, so here they are again:
SWAP QUESTIONS (Please post to your blog)

Here are the questions:
QUESTIONS
1. Whole bean or ground?
2. Fully-loaded or decaf?
3. Regular or flavored?
4. How do you drink your coffee?
5. Favorite coffee ever?
6. Are you fussy about your coffee or will any old bean do?
7. Favorite treats to have with your coffee?
8. Anything else about your coffee preferences?
9. Yarn/fiber you love?
10. Yarn/fiber you hate?
11. What's on your needles?
12. Favorite colors?
13. Allergies?
14. Anything you really love, really don't like, or just need to get off your chest?

One more swapper needed!

Edited to add: This spot is now filled!!!!


Okay, we're off by one swapper and we need an even number. The next person to e-mail me all their sign-up info (see sidebar) gets the spot!

Monday Update

I want to thank everyone for their patience in getting their invites. I'm sorry we weren't able to send out immediate confirmations (I know, it's agonizing, isn't it:-). I'll have to think of a way to possibly streamline that a little bit next swap. But, if you're worried you didn't get in and you're still waiting for your invite, as long as you sent us an e-mail you're in. We were at 152 when we closed the swap, so no one was turned away and a couple of extras squeaked by.

You will have your partner by next Monday, maybe sooner. In the meantime you can start working on your questions to post to your blog. If you are blogless, just save them for an e-mail to your partner.

SWAP QUESTIONS

Here are the questions:
QUESTIONS
1. Whole bean or ground?
2. Fully-loaded or decaf?
3. Regular or flavored?
4. How do you drink your coffee?
5. Favorite coffee ever?
6. Are you fussy about your coffee or will any old bean do?
7. Favorite treats to have with your coffee?
8. Anything else about your coffee preferences?
9. Yarn/fiber you love?
10. Yarn/fiber you hate?
11. What's on your needles?
12. Favorite colors?
13. Allergies?
14. Anything you really love, really don't like, or just need to get off your chest?

Time for shopping!!!

We've got some very talented members here on our swap blog. I've put a list of them up in the sidebar. They have all offered up prizes and some of them also have some special offers. I'm going to ask that if they'd like, they go ahead a post about their shop and any special deals they have.

Be sure to stop over at their blogs and shops and say thanks (and hopefully put in an order as well:-)

Peace,
Knittymama

Swap Update!!!!!!

Okay, I'm going to try to do all swap information in blue so you can see it a little better in case you're skimming...

Anyway, a few things:

The swap is now closed. Blogger invites are still being sent out, depending on your hostess. Some of us have had very busy weekends and are still catching up. You should have your invite by Tuesday, if not, drop me an e-mail.

We will be spending the week reading blogs and finding the best partner you've ever had! Don't stress if you haven't gotten your partner info yet. Give us at least until Friday, by sure on the 17th.

In the meantime, we could still use a few more contest donations if anyone has any. We'd also love to feature any online shops you may have as well. I'll be adding another sidebar list this week, so if you sell stuff that our swappers would like, let us know. (A few of you already have, thanks!!)

Buttons!

Many thanks to Melissa and Tricotine for our lovely buttons! Feel free to grab one (save to your computer) and link us up. We still have spots for about 30 members left as of tonight.

Does anyone know how I can get Melissa's button back to its normal size? For some reason Blogger decided to spread it out and the poor button is all distorted...

Enjoy your weekend everyone! You should get your invite today or tomorrow. Please post an introduction when you join!

40 spots left!!!!

We have 110 people signed up so far! That means there is still plenty of room if you haven't signed up yet.

If you have signed up, thanks for being patient. You should be getting your blog invite in the next few days. You can also head over to Ravelry (if you're on it) and join the group there as well. I should also have our buttons up today or tomorrow, so feel free to spread the word!

We are also looking for prize donations. If you have something you'd like to donate drop us a note. I'll also have a spot on the blog for special offers if you've got a shop and want to offer a deal.

Let's Swap!!!

THE KNITTERS' COFFEE SWAP THREE SIGN UP INFO

-You must love coffee and be a knitter/crocheter, or course!

-This is an international swap, so be sure to let me know if you are NOT willing to ship internationally so I can pair you accordingly.

-While not a requirement, I do highly recommend having a blog for this swap. It makes it much easier for your pal to get to know you and it just makes it more fun. If you do not have a blog, you must post at least five times to this blog to let your pal know you a bit better.

-The box should value around $40 (not including postage) and at the minimum it must include:

-coffee! (about a pound, and we’re talking the good stuff here!:-)
-1-2 skeins of yarn, enough for a small project such as a hat, socks, a scarf, etc.
-treats to go with the coffee

Other things you could include might be a mug or travel mug, coffee accessories, knitting accessories, recipes...get creative! I've provided a few links on the side to get you started.

-This is not a secret swap. You will know your pal and your pal will know you.

-Please do not sign up unless you absolutely, positively know you will not flake on your pal and that you are going to put together a brilliant package. If you do flake, you’ll be barred from any future swaps and disappoint all of us, oh so very much!

-If you're under 18 please have your parents permission to do the swap.

-Sign ups will be open October 1st, at 12am Central, to the first 150 people who sign up. I will close sign ups on October 10th (earlier if we reach 150). Pals will be matched by October 17th , and you will have one month to get your package put together and shipped. All packages should be mailed by November 17th . (International? Plan ahead!)

Interested? To sign up, email the following info to me at: coffeeswap AT yahoo DOT com

Name:
Email:
Blog Address:
Country:
Any important allergies or things you want your pal to know?
Will you take an international pal?

Your confirmation will be the Blogger invite to this blog. Please be sure to accept the invitation and then post to the Knitters' Coffee Swap blog. Use it to introduce yourself and to share your package with us when you receive it. Also feel free to post coffee links, recipes, ideas, your latest project, or whatever is your fancy.

You will be grouped with a hostess and about 30 knitters. When you are matched up, we will provide questions to help you put together the best package for your swap pal. Be sure to check your bulk mail boxes in case your partner information gets stuck in there.

Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions or suggestions. There will be contests and I'd love suggestions and prize donations. Be sure to take a button and save to your own server.

Thanks and have fun!!!