Hey folks,
Last year when I first rediscovered my love of crafts (I've only been sewing and crafting since around November last year but became obsessed quite quickly!) I found a website called Cut Out + Keep, which is a site for crafters to share projects and ideas with each other, I ended up a regular on the site in no time, using the discussion boards to chat about project ideas, and sharing photos of stuff we were working on etc- this is where I found my newest hobby- Swapping!
I've always really enjoyed gift giving, and who doesn't like receiving gifts? Cut Out + Keep members organize group swaps- the idea is that a theme is set, the host will pick how many items you want to send to each other and a deadline and away you go, a board is set up and members of the website opt into the swap.
Other the last half a year or so, I've met some nice girls with similar interests and even received a few birthday cards and presents from them recently, I think the thing I like the most about swapping is the time and effort you go into making your items (things like plushies, jewellery and stationary mostly) you totally get back in return- especially with a site like CO+K where most people are experienced crafters. Everything you receive in the swaps is hand made just for you, and if you swap with someone experienced you usually get a lot of extra goodies and everything is nicely wrapped with a card, so its pretty much like receiving gift packages on a regular basis AND you get to make a load of goodies to send out to people too.
A certain level of trust and proativeness is needed for it, you don't want to be flaking on people as you would soon get a reputation for being unreliable- I recently hosted a Studio Ghibli themed swap and there was a little drama with a girl that wanted to join it but I was contacted by several members of the site to say she was a flaker- Oh no! We ended up compromising in the end, but it showed how vigilante and serious people take the hobby- which as silly as its sounds, I kinda like, it's almost like a little self running QC department, and again it shows a nice sense of unity and respect (uh getting a bit bored of myself here)
Back to the facts, there are several big swapping websites, just dedicated to swapping fans alone- some are letter/pen pal based or you swap something called "Artist Trading Cards" or ATC's and Item Swap websites as well, for example the famous Red Paper Clip Story.
I dont know much about these personally as I'm terrible at drawing, and don't have any items I need in particular, Im all about the craft swaps.
To date I've done around 50 swaps (I may have a problem, I am trying to cut back), some group swaps, some personal swaps for a whole load of themes, I did a cat themed swap with a lady named Martha in Surrey, a Pokemon theme swaps with a girl called Joss in South Africa, and regular swaps with a lady named Pam in Hawaii for all sorts of things. Another type of swapping I'm into is Candy swaps, I do these and a few other types of swaps on my second favourite place to swap Swapbot. On swapbot there is less visibilty on who you are swapping with, and there is less emphasis on the crafting and more epmphasis on the swapping itself, many people from all over the world swap candy, local food, stationary tea, coffee, make up etc, so it's got something for everyone (if you're into swapping that is).
Anyway, I thought i'd share, and encourage any crafty people (with the time to take on a new hobby- it is time consuming as you are always working to deadlines) to try and get into swapping. Heres what I received from Pam in Hawaii last time: A aloha tote bag, a personalized notebook, a little make up bag (all handmade) coffee, cookies, sweets and a bunch of felt (I freaking love felt):
I'll be posting the items I made for the Studio Ghibli Swap soon, oh and I think as I'm getting a new laptop soon i'll probably be posting way more often, sharing project ideas and inspiration as well as just my own crap.
Toodle-oo
Hayley X
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