It appears that I have run afoul of a really frustrating loophole in the new swapper requirements. Specifically #3, “If you have never swapped on Craftster before, you can only sign up for ONE swap to start out with. Then when you complete that swap and get Positive Feedback, you can sign up for as many others as you want.”

Now, I signed up for the ongoing fabric swap as my first swap because it looked easy, a great way to get my feet wet and well, I’m a fabric addict. Figuring that since I obviously couldn’t get a positive feedback for an ongoing swap, perhaps I’d be allowed to participate in another small one, I asked to join one to both participate and get my positive in a timely manner. After a number of PMs being tossed back and forth it’s come clear that I really should not have joined an ongoing swap as my first one.

And this is where my frustration and issue comes into effect. It’s not made clear that joining an ongoing swap as a new swapper is a bad idea. Neither is it clear that gaining a positive in an ongoing means leaving the swap permanently if it’s underway. My impressions were that I’d join the ongoing fabric swap, swap with someone, get my positive and then continue in the fabric swap and try out other swaps as well. Instead I am faced with leaving and becoming unable to rejoin a swap that I enjoy so that I can fulfill the requirements of being a swapper.

Now, I have no complaint with the new swapper requirements. I think they’re smart and wise, and to paraphrase my fiancé, I know I won’t flake, but nobody else does. I just feel that there’s a loophole between the positive feedback requirement and the ability to join ongoing swaps. Even clarification within the Organized Swaps help page noting that joining an ongoing could be a problem would be helpful. Or perhaps the addition of another feedback option of “In Progress - Positive” would work as well.

Personally I've decided to stay in the fabric swap, it's where I want to be. But the entire experience of dealing with this loophole has definitely affected my interest in being a swapper in the long term, and as such, I thought it an important issue to raise.

Thanks.

Sharvanne,

Here's the Len's site, with addresses and directions to their stores: Locations!

I thought I remembered how to get there but then I checked the site and it's completely not where I thought.

Is this when I admit that I have metres and metres of these fabrics? *laughs* Well, no, not all but most.

I would like to claim #13 & #14 from meanbean, please. (Plus I’d love that brocade too. )

My fabrics:


1. Light weight Polyester – Washed – ½ Yard or Fat Quarters.
2. Cotton – Washed – ½ Yard or Fat Quarters.
3. Cotton with gold edging detail around the prints – Washed– ½ Yard or Fat Quarters.
4. Cotton – Washed – ½ Yard or Fat Quarters.


5. Cotton – Unwashed – ½ Yard or Fat Quarters
6. Rayon – Washed – ½ Yard or Fat Quarters
7. Polyester? Rayon? Some disturbingly artificial shiny fabric – Washed – ½ Yard or Fat Quarters
8. Cotton with a slight sheen – Washed – ½ Yard or Fat Quarters


9. Cotton – Unwashed – ½ Yard or Fat Quarters
10. Cotton – Unwashed – ½ Yard or Fat Quarters
11. Cotton – Washed – ½ Yard or Fat Quarters -- All gone!

(I pre-wash almost all my fabric as I get it, hot water wash, hot dryer. Preshrunk!)

Thanks guys!

Now that he's had time to get used to it... he likes the pillows and is OK with the table. The kidlet has taken to pulling the lace curtains back and leaving the ribbons loose, looks very cool.

Ryoruki, that sitting down for just a minute sounds awful familiar. *laughs* I have my final exam in a week and I've managed to keep my procrastination under control, but barely!

Thanks Amanelle!

Glad someone likes the table. The fiance saw it and frowned. *laughs* It's a bit too "girly" for his tastes.

So, I have a major exam Monday morning at 9am… perfect time to finally get to projects from years ago! About 4 years ago I bought this fabric to make into pillows for my couch. Voila!

http://www.skyworks.ca/new/pillows1.jpg

Another thing on my list for years has been “solve coffee table issue.” You see, for years we’ve had this uglyass rigged coffee table, created from my fiancé’s workbench he made with his father when he was a kid, and the piece of countertop that was cut out to make room for our kitchen sink. Yes, we had a chunk of raggdyass formica countertop as a coffee table.

My solution! Take that same top and cover it with the fabric left over from the pillows and then cover that with a nice thick clear vinyl. I hope my loved ones refrain from killing it tonight.

http://www.skyworks.ca/new/coffeetable.jpg

And finally, today’s major distraction from studying – finishing the curtains in my daughter’s room. I put up some sheers a month ago, but they were still a bit too see-through for my liking. Several yards of ribbon later, and we have something I’m much happier with! The ribbon colours match her comforter.

Backlit:
http://www.skyworks.ca/new/sbcurtain1.jpg

And with the flash (flash makes everything ugly):
http://www.skyworks.ca/new/sbcurtain2.jpg

Now off to study.  

Thanks guys! Glad you liked them.


Ok, found the book where I got the idea & pattern and *cough*crappy*cough* directions for the scarf purse. Making Handbags: Retro, Chic, Luxurious

The scarf was really easy to work with, actually. Lots of pins, and the interfacing (fusible) made the body section a cinch to sew. Basically you cut out the pieces for the bag sections in the lining and interfacing, then iron the interfacing onto the scarf and *then* cut out the scarf pieces along the edges of the interfacing. It makes the fabric much easier to work with.

I’ll do up a tutorial the next time I make one. No scarves kicking around at the moment, so no promises as to the promptness of this though.

<edited to remove advertising>

Two new bags to share!

First is the latest in my Vintage Tea Towel collection and the first calendar one:

Do you remember 1972? (I sure don’t!)

http://www.skyworks.ca/new/1972front.jpg
http://www.skyworks.ca/new/1972inside1.jpg
http://www.skyworks.ca/new/1972inside2.jpg

I made this bag out of a scarf I found at value village, based on the directions found in a handbag book. Once I remember the name, I’ll add the title. I would say though that the directions after a while appeared to be designed to make you *not* want to make the bag, so I tossed them and did what commonsense told me to do.

http://www.skyworks.ca/new/scarffront.jpg
http://www.skyworks.ca/new/scarfside.jpg
http://www.skyworks.ca/new/scarfback.jpg
http://www.skyworks.ca/new/scarfinside.jpg

Hope you enjoy!

Well to use the nose picker, you should either leave the end of the tube open or make sure you leave something for that hook on the end to catch onto. I usually catch it on 2-3 stiches. To use, you push it up the inside of the tube, latch the hook onto something and then close the little metal flap (this keeps it from coming lose or catching on everything else on the way out) and then start pulling. As you get some of the tube turned within the length, just push the length over while pulling the nose picker towards you.

Hope that makes sense.