Summer Spots and Dots Apron Swap

WAY TO GO!!!! Fun swap! Can hardly wait to give it a go!

Thanks! I got the idea of specific themes from another website. I thought that would add a bit of a challenge to the fun!

Oh, this looks amazing! I can't wait!

Hi! i'm interested in this but i dun know how to sew, anyone can gv me a link of apron making tutorial?

Hi:

I love this swap and I will love to participate, but today I found this: the post office is getting rid of Airmail Parcel Post when the rate change goes into effect. (In the past, that has always been the cheapest way to send overseas.) What cost $5.05 today to mail a kind of bulky package will cost me $16 something and change after the rate increase because of the shape of the envelope. (Which is the exact size of every swap I've sent out recently.) I personally can't pay such a high price for international postage and while I know some people are okay with the rate increase, there are some people who are Coordination Swap regulars that are on a budget and might have a problem with it.

Please check this out, because I think this is going to be a huge damage to the swap bot.

Thank You Margarita

I am going to double check, but if the post office continues to allow the global priority mail flat rate envelope, an apron could easily fit into even the smallest of those flat rate envelopes, yes???

Okay, so I did some postal research. Flat-rate Global Priority mail is no longer an option, as they have done away with the smaller flat rate envelope, so that Global Priority (now to be called Priority Mail International) has been increased to $11 for all countries outside of the US except Canada and Mexico, which will be $9. That's just WAY too expensive for mailing an apron.

HOWEVER, we now have the option of First Class Mail International. australia is now First Class Mail International rate group 4, which means that 5 ounces will cost $4.50 to mail. I weighed a simple apron with a padded envelope, which certainly would not be necessary since the apron is not fragile, and the total weight was 3.4oz. So unless someone makes a very heavy apron, I think it can be mailed to Australia for less than $5, as long as it is packaged simply.

But this definitely puts a HUGE kink in my personal ability to continue to mail internationally. The prices are just way out of reason now. For that matter, domestic mail is way over-priced! The prices are higher and higher and yet the service is slower and slower and slower. It took 12 days for a first class letter with delivery confirmation to reach me from the next state over just last month!! And so much of my mail has been lost. It's ridiculous. Really.

Still, I think this swap is doable for now, since I am in no others. If someone gets matched with an international swapper and can't afford the postage, contact me and maybe we can work something out for this one swap.

WOW! I have 2 Master's degrees, but I am TOTALLY confused by the new USPS standards......what were they thinking??? Who was smoking what when they came up with THESE rules??? For a laugh, or a cry, check out the new standards for how our mail will be charged when we ship it: http://pe.usps.com/RateCase2007/DMM300_HTML/101.htm

You might especially enjoy that little illustrations of how much bend a rigid flat must have in order to be considered machinable. Go figure. Really. and if you get if figured out, I'd love to hear your interpretations! ;-)

It's enough to make me just throw my hands up in the air and just forget about ever sending another parcel to anyone anywhere. There is even a minimum size for a parcel to be considered a machinable parcel. AND did you know that they no longer want us to use any periods or commas in our addresses? Also, if you use an envelope that has a clasp, string or button type closure, it's not machinable, so it costs more.

There is no way I am ever going to be able to figure out postage without going to the PO, and as a disabled person, I just can't do that for every darn little thing I want to mail out. That's why I have so much postage stamps on hand. Well, the new rules have put an end to that.

Can you hear my scream??? Can you hear me now?

Hello Everybody, In case you haven't read the email I sent out to everybody we are going to leave the swap as is. It will remain international despite the rise in postal rates because the overwhelming majority love swapping with international partners! Thanks Purplemorgan for doing all that postal reserach for us!

Here are some links to apron tutorials if anyone is interested. You can google "apron tutorial" or "how to sew an apron" for more ideas!:

full apron- Suzy Homemaker Apron - http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=2309.msg15734

dishtowel apron - http://cheekymama2005.blogspot.com/2007/02/dishtowel-apron-tutorial.html

Reversible Aprons: Reversible Half Apron - http://thelongestyear.typepad.com/myweblog/2007/02/post.html http://morganmoore.typepad.com/onemoremoore/2007/02/valentinetree__1.html#comment-60190726

Apron Pockets - http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=38097.msg332607

Simplicity has come out with a new cute apron pattern. It is pattern # 3752 and looks very much like a dress!

I got a terrific pattern for aprons by going to Hancock's and buying a panel of fabric with the apron pieces printed right on it. I loved the style so I traced the pieces onto tissue paper and now I can sew that great style with any fabric!

If anyone needs help sewing their apron feel free to send me a private message or email me!

I wear a Size 8(womens) So, I believe my waist to be 33"-34" Hope this helps My partner!

That's about right Bee. I wear a 10(for my big butt..lol) and my waist is 34" inches(and growing...dangit!)

Robyn, What's your waist measurement? Thanks!

Whom ever my partner is... I am proud to say I am a US size 14. I love long strings cause I like to tie in the front!

Thanks ever so much!!!!

Anna

To my partner: I wear an American 18 or 20, but my waist is REALLY small (33" or so). The larger size is to accomodate my bootylicious arse. ;-) (am busty also, if that matters)

I had this in my profile, but I'm gonna go take it out, because it feels like TMI for general info.

Morgan- your went into the post today. Hope you enjoy it!!

to my wonderful partner~ i wear an american size 20W (40 inches). i would like the ties to be extra long so that i can tie them in front.

chickenlil!!!!!! WOW WOW WOW!!!!! You went WAY above and beyond!! I LOVE those wild chicken socks, the apron is so fabulous, too!! The strings are long enough to bring back around me and tie in the front, which is so wonderful since my disability challenges me in tying strings behind my back!!! Plus the pretty red bow in the front looks so cute! The Godiva chocolate is way beyond yummy... it's just the best! The cheery cherry fabric and cute apron design is just so so so wonderful! Love the purple pen, and look forward to trying the chai teas.... you matched me so well to my profile, I would give you ten stars if I could!!! WOW!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! You have restored my faith in Swap-Bot being a gathering of truly fabulous people!

Awww, shucks Morgan, ....you make a girl blush. Glad you liked it.

Well, I'm starting to get pictures of the aprons people are sending/receiving, and I just read the posts above. I am so happy! This is what makes hosting worth while. You all make my day! What a great group of ladies you all are. :)

smartcakes your apron is about to leave BEV

It is passed the 6th june and 9 people still have not sent, Please don't disappoint your partners. It really spoils swap bot for those who are pasioniate about it Bev

SniffSniff. Still looking forlornly at my empty mailbox.

It makes me very disappointed in people when you see 6 not sent in this swap well after the dead line .If you are one of those people , havev=n't you got any pride in your self to keep your name good? How can you receive and not send.If we all signed up for swaps but didn;t send what a mess it would be Bev

Hi Everybody, I just wanted to check in with you all. I am having computer problems right now which make it extremely difficult to check on this swap, but we are working on fixing that . . .

I see that there are several people who still have not sent and it is well past the "send by" date. Some people have contacted me about this, but not all. If you have not sent yet, please contact me!!!

I am a bit perplexed. I have hosted other swaps before and have never had a "no send" (as far as I am aware - and I do check up!). I thought that by setting the rating requirement high we would avoid this problem. There was some concern about letting new swappers in, but the new swappers HAVE sent. It is some of the more experienced swappers (with good ratings) who have not sent. Any thoughts on why this is? It can't be due to the rise of postage because I mailed an apron out for $1.11 last week. An apron can be folded into a pretty small envelope.

In future apron swaps I will ban anybody who does not send in this one. If anybody has feedback for how to avoid this problem I'd love to hear it! I'd like the apron swaps to be a good experience for everybody!

I think some of the experienced swappers have lost the passion and just don't care if they are late or send at all and I still believe that no one can handle 20 swaps and do them all justice, it is a burden both finacially and time wise.I said this on the forum and got howled down with everyone saying how they could handle large lots of swaps ,but one of them happen to be one that had not sent. Bev

Bev, I had a wonderful time planning for this swap, shopping for fabric with both the swap requirements and my partner's preferences in mind, and choosing a pattern that I thought would work for both her and the fabric. I had an even better time actually sewing the apron itself! Thank you for hosting this. I think this has been my favorite swap so far. :-)

And with that said, any future apron swaps planned? I keep checking the swaps list and hoping for another.

Oh, I'm a doofus. I just realized that in my post above I got Bev mixed up with TQ, which is insane because I've been partnered with each of them in other swaps. Sorry, Bev & TQ!

I still have't got my apron and am so disappointed.I can't understand anyone signing up for a swap they can't do to the requirements.Sure it is great to receive an apron but there is another side to the swap, you have to do your bit. I have had emails in other swaps. saying my swap is coming ,it is late due to all sorts of reasons and nothing has ever come, so maybe I am a looser again. Bev

Hi Everyone, If it seems like I went AWOL for a while, well, I guess I did. My computer crashed and it seems like it has taken forever to get it going again. I noticed that as of today only one person hasn't sent. If you are that person, please send. If you have not received an apron yet, please let me know so that I can look into it! Thank you!

Alina Joy