Hello all!

6 people need angels in the "week in the life of... photography swap round 3"
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=319611.msg3682181#msg3682181

This swap involves you photographing one week in all it's excitement/routine/boredom/whatever. You take 36 photographs across the week, averaging 5 shots per day. Then you print, caption and bundle off the photographs to your partner.

I would ask that you stick the photographs in a small notebook or flat album to protect them and allow them to be kept together easily. it also makes them easier to caption.

This is a fairly low postage swap, since you're not sending a huge box. If you are reversing negative feedback for a larger swap, please consider angelling for more than one person.


Here are the swappers needing angels:
CervenaRose - USA  (angel Smittenheart)
Mrs.LindsayLoo - USA (angel myklia)
Avabrowneyes - South Korea (angel myklia)
bente - Germany (angel pkwj)
Lunamione - Australia (angel Hika-chan)
Lilliepop - UK (angel Schnerby)


Thanks!  

PS: Please PM me if you want to angel for these people rather than replying in the thread.

This was dinner tonight. I took a photo, but since it looks like vomit, I decided not to post the pic!

Ingreadients
3 large brown onions
A butternut pumpkin
5 medium carrots
3 sticks of celery
small head of cauliflower
5 cloves of garlic (Chinese garlic is really mild, you might use less)
A finger sized piece of ginger (peeled and grated)
4 lajiao peppers - Chinese peppers that look like chillies but are quite mild. Substitute capsicums, chillies, chilli powder to your liking
black pepper
Tinned tomato paste (medium tin)
Asian greens (I used quin cai, and I have no idea what to call it in English)
1/2 box instant  cous cous
Cumin

I roasted the pumpkin in chunks in my toaster oven then sliced it up nice and small. Do whatever you like to cook it a bit.

Cook garlic and ginger until they small delicious, then add onion and lajiao peppers. Cook until nice and translucent. Then add the carrot and celery.  Next was the cauli and pumpkin. I cooked it on low with the lid on and about 1/4 cup of water until the veggies were a bit soft. Next I added the tomato paste, pepper and cumin. Simmer the lot until the veggies are done. I added a splash of soy sauce here, but I guess you could add whatever you liked to flavour it.

So from this veggie mix I got a few meals.
Tonight I took a portion out, added some hot water and then added the cous cous. It soaked up some of the liquid, but was still quite moist. This meal can take about 1/2 a box of cous cous and very generously feed 4.

Tomorrow I shall stuff some more cous cous mix into some capsicums and bake them. Mmmmmmm

It's also quite good as a soup watered down a little, or left thick and baked with a mashed potato top. Mmmm for shepherd's pie!

EDIT: I forgot to say that I lightly steam the Asian greens and serve them with my cous cous mix for some freshness.

Ok, so I have 2 pairs of pointy-toes heels. One glossy red and one black. I'm a bit over the pointy toes, so is there any way to cut them off? Could I cut them ack and then ribbon over the edges to make peep-toes?

I can't really think of a solution. 

So, here are some ATCs I have been making. I'm rather new to the craft, but I really enjoy making these!

Anatomy theme (ATC swap). Embroidery on gold lame. Playing card base.

(Pic taken by recipient)

Music Theme (ATC swap). Coffee dyed paper on a playing card base. Inked edges


'Pinup' theme (ATC swap). It says meinu - or 'beautiful woman'. Ink on several layers of cardboard files glued together.

(Pic taken by recipient)

Bird theme (ATC Swap)

(Pic taken by recipient)

'Off the wall' theme (ATC swap)

(Pic taken by recipient)

Shou Symbol (ATC swap). Felt, transparent plastic and fabric on a playing card base.

(Pic taken by recipient)


C&C always appreciated!

So, here is my turned swear jar. It's Australian River Red gum with Danish oil.

I made it for a swap, but figured I should post it to encourage other woodworkers to show their work! There must be plenty of you out there!


 
to change your image viewing settings please click here

 
to change your image viewing settings please click here

It's braille on the side spelling out f***

I tagged it as mature just in case...

[How to use the gallery:]

Welcome to the gallery!

Original swap discussion thread: http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=319611.0

Please reserve a spot for your photos - even if you don't plan on using it.


How to use the gallery:
When your partners have both recieve please post 3-4 of your pictures. Feel free to put clickable thumbnails of more pictures if you like. Also, a link to a flickr/photobucket etc with the rest of your photos is welcome if you'd like to share them all - but still post 3 or 4 of your pics here for us all to see.

When you recieve it would help your partner if you tell them which pics you liked most. That way it will help them choose which ones to post.

Since these are pictures of your life they might be private. If you choose not to post any, that's fine. Just let us know in your reserved gallery spot.

When you post pics please also reply to the thread so everyone knows it has been updated! Many of us only check threads using the 'replies to your posts' button - so this is really helpful  


I now declare the gallery OPEN!  

[A week in the life of... Photo swap round 3]

Swap name: A week in the life of... Photo swap round 3
Craftster member who is organizing this swap: Schnerby
Co-organiser: mljohnston
Sign-up date range: 2 - 16 September 2009
Date to send item by: 16 October 2009



Limited to a certain number of people? (optional): No

Restricted to people who all live in the same country? NO

Age requirement? Just the 13+ Craftster requirement

Swap Organizer himself/herself meets these conditions:
- Has fully read the Swap Info Guide: YES
- Has successfully completed two swaps as a participant: YES
- Is not organizing more than three swaps right now: NO,I'm not
- Will recruit a co-organizer or give all details to a Swap Moderator if this swap has more than 25 participants: YES

Swap Organizer will check each participant to make sure they meet these conditions:
- Has been a member for at least one month: YES
- Has posted at least 15 times: YES
- Has completed one swap successfully before signing up for multiple swaps at a time: YES
- Is not currently signed up for more than five swaps: YES
- Does not have any negative feedback: YES
- Participant has agreed that he/she is at least 13 years old: YES
- Participant lives in the United States: YES
- If yes, understands that Delivery Confirmation number is required for this swap: YES
- If no, understands that a mailing receipt copy is required for this swap: YES, if available.

Details of swap:
(plagiarised heavily in parts from the blurb from the previous rounds)

Please note: I'm not some hardcore control freak, so please excuse the demanding tone in this description!  

Take 36 photographs over the period of a week. That is an average of 5 shots per day. Both film and digital are ok - as long as you get digital ones printed. The pictures should represent your life that week, whether it is extremely interesting or quite dull. Feel free to be artistic, touristy or to take family snapshots - it's your choice. You will need to make 2 copies of the prints to send to 2 partners (plus an extra if you want to keep them or possibly angel). Please take the pictures yourself (or have someone else take them if you're in them etc) rather than printing other people's images or using postcards. It is a photography swap!

Here are your options for swapping the pictures.
1.Send just the pictures with captions on the back (or numbered pictures with captions on slips of paper so they can be put in an album)
2.Send the pictures in a thin album with captions
3.Scrapbook your pictures. If you choose this option keep in mind that I might have to ask you to re-select if you are the only one.

You will be paired people who have chosen the same option.  

For example, I live in China and am therefore an international send to pretty much everyone. Also, I have to take all my stuff home to Australia when I go back early next year to do some study. Therefore, it's not practical for me to receive albums.

Please think seriously about making yourself available for international swapping. In this case just the photos can be sent out, so it wouldn't necessarily be that pricy. It would also be interesting to share your life with someone from a different culture and place, so ideally I would partner you with people from different countries. If you absolutely cannot send an international letter with 36 pictures in it I do understand, but I may have to put you in limbo acceptance to see if I can pair you. International sending will get priority!

You are free to share whatever elements of your life you feel comfortable with, but please adhere to Craftster guidelines about nudity/drugs/questionable things.

Also, since someone is choosing to share their life with you, it might not be appropriate to post the pictures in a gallery. Your partner may send pictures of themselves, their home or their family and may not want the world to see this. Therefore, please PM both me and your partner when you receive and the SENDER will post some pictures in the gallery. I will set up a gallery, encourage everyone to reserve a spot for their pictures and once your partners have received you can post some of your images. Also, if you want to share your pictures using an online album like flickr or photobucket I'm sure we would all like to see. If you really don't want to post any of your pictures on here that is ok, just please let me know.

Chatty swaps are happy swaps, so please make some contact with your partners and try to check in to the swap thread. Please PM me at the beginning and end of your photo weeks so I know you are on top of it. Also, please PM me when you send and receive. This communication is important.

I'm not going to enforce any posting once per week rule, but posting is appreciated. It is great to share in the process and helps things run smoothly.

IMPORTANT
Your partners have chosen to share their images with you, but remember that you keep the intellectual property rights for your own images. If you want to use the pictures sent to you for anything else you must get permission from the sender.  

OK, serious stuff over. Let the fun begin!



If you want to participate, information to send to organizer:

QUESTIONNAIRE TO ANSWER:
Name of swap
Craftster username
Email address
Your real name
Mailing address INCLUDING COUNTRY EVEN IF IT IS USA
Would you be willing to ship to an address outside your own country?
Confirm that are at least 13 years old (yes/no)

Which option would you like (1, 2 or 3) for sending pictures/album/scrapbook?
Do you agree to reserve a spot in the gallery when requested (even if you don't want to use it)?
Do you agree to treat the photographs with confidentiality if this is requested of you by your partner?
Do you understand that you maintain intellectual property rights over your own images, and if you want to use your partners images for any other project you must obtain their permission?
Do you agree to PM schnerby at the beginning and end of your photo taking week?
If I need a co-organiser would you like to be involved?
You pretty much have free reign photographing your week, but is there anything you would absolutely object to receiving? Remember, Craftster rules prevent anything too questionable.
Is there anything else you would like your partners to know?




IF YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE, REMEMBER TO SEND YOUR INFO TO ORGANIZER VIA PRIVATE MESSAGE AND NOT TO REPLY WITH IT HERE.


Also remember to read the Swap Info Guide to find out how to ship your item and other details about participating in a swap.

AFTER PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED UP AND BEEN APPROVED, LIST THE PARTICIPANTS HERE AND WHO IS SENDING TO WHOM:

1. schnerby (China)
2. mljohnston (USA)
3. piinkfeline (Germany)
4. Beki710 (UK)
5. Crafty_one (Australia)
6. Spunkybubbles (USA)
7. Edwards1 (USA)
8. Lilliepop (UK)
9. CervenaRose (USA)
10. chrispykreme (USA)
11. JadedJenn (USA)
12. Sandorfalot (Canada)
13. HarleyQuinn (USA)
14. ironic (USA)
15. edenkitty (USA)
16. cardboardrox246 (USA)
17. raesmom (USA)
18. Jillville (Germany)
19. Funkyskull77 (USA)
20. MeganMayhem (USA/Italy)
21. Nven (Canada)
22. Natasha38 (USA)
23. Mrs.LindsayLoo (USA)
24. Macnatalie (Canada)
25. CuriousCoffee (USA)
26. Jeniferpi (USA)
27. KiwiDragons (USA)
28. crafty minded (USA)
29. myklia (USA)
30. lvl0rg4n (USA)
31. PaleAngelLex (USA)
32. bente (Germany)
33. Hockamama (USA)
34. Avabrowneyes (South Korea)
35. amc- (Canada)
36. Monkeystuffer (USA)
37. Godfreja (USA)
38. Lunamione (Australia)

OK, I don't know if there are actually any other Craftsters in China, let alone any who swap. But, I figure this information might be helpful anyway.

China Post have been good to me, but there are some things that make postage go much smoother.

• If you have the address in Chinese characters it helps the post get through quicker. If you can't write characters, get your partner to email his/her address in characters and stick it to the package. Even if you have to fill in a customs slip without the characters, they are mighty useful. Without characters someone translates along the line.
• Also send the address in English or your relevant local language (at least write 'P. R. China'). The system for rendering Chinese using the Latin alphabet is called pinyin - an example is 'Beijing' representing the two characters 'bei' and 'jing'. This helps the outgoing country know where the mail is headed. Also, some countries freak out with mail that is all in Chinese except the country!
• Package securely. That box/envelope is going to cop a beating. They ain't gentle with packages 'round here.
• You can't send a package out of China without it being inspected thoroughly at the Post Office in front of all the customers. That means they will open zips on bags and squeeze things. Therefore, your partner cannot wrap things individually or be fussy about the packaging.
• China Post workers package the boxes at the post office. You can't bring your own box. That means your partner has no control over how things are packaged. Generally they will add more packaging to keep things from breaking, but will stuff things in any way they see fit. Also, they think nothing of adding newspaper or toilet paper as padding. Just one of those things.
• Smoking is legal, and common, everywhere. That means in the Post Office (and hospital) it is likely someone will be smoking. Considering your package will be packed in the post office, smoke and dust may be added. It is out of our control. Last time I posted a letter the clerk had a child sitting on his lap. It's just life here.
• There is no tracking available on letters. You just pay and some guy chucks your letter in a box to be stamped later.
• Tracking on parcels isn't available unless you use EMS, which is pricy. Shipping reciepts are available, but they are only in Chinese and French
• They aren't too strict about what you post in except for political or religious items. It sounds obvious, but don't criticise the government, post a Bible/Koran/religious tract or send anything that might arouse suspicion. Foreigners, like me, who choose to live in China are observed and we want to keep our visas! Locals also have to be careful, so just think before you post. 

I think that's all. Probably not something most of you will ever need to know, but you never do know. I am Aussie, so I know what it is to deal with strict customs laws!

The international boards all request us to write in English so you can moderate it. I totally understand this!

But... how do you find posts that aren't in English. I mean, to post addresses or something about where to find craft supplies I would have to post them in Chinese characters (or they would be useless to anyone here!). If you check for foriegn script my posts could go AWOL.

Just checking this is a human English-checker, not an auto-flagger that could take my posts down.

Any craftsters in mainland China?