Once again I'm just merrily ripping this from Satori's original post (with changes, so apologies to Satori). However, I have been blessed with her magic wand as she is the Fairy Godmother of the Flotsam & Jetsam swap. Our swap last year worked out pretty well because we had some basic guidelines. I've tweaked these since we've had the experience, but it's basically the same as what we did in 2010.
1. We'll split into SEVERAL groups which I will randomize. Group size will be around 4 or 5 per group. I'll try to place Europeans, Australians and Americans who don't want to ship off continent together but it does depend somewhat on who signs up. (Please know that if you sign up you may be sending a little package or two overseas if we can't break out the groups per continent, but the packages are so small that it's not very expensive.)
2. Start collecting your items as soon as you sign up! Find a big box or basket and start tossing stuff into it. Really challenge yourself to find unique weird, hyper strange things. You DO NOT need to send everyone in your group the same things!!!! We want as many one of a kind objects as possible.
3. Items should be smallish. If you would like to include a small cup or other scattering utensil to someone in your group this is fine. What you send to the others in your group is up to you.
4. I'd suggest shooting for sending about 7-10 objects to each of your group members. We tried for 3-5 last time and that's what I sent; however, everyone else in my group was very generous! :embarrassed: The number that you send should be up to the group members; once groups are assigned, I have no problem with the groups deciding amongst themselves how many objects to send or to iron out other details.
5. Once everyone has collected the amount of items they will send, at a specified time we will mail little envelopes of goodies to one another, post about sending and receiving on the individual threads, and also do readings on those threads. So if you are in a group of five, you will mail out four envelopes.
6. I will give this a few weeks to percolate and then set a deadline. I know the forum will be shut down for a few days in the meantime, so I don't want to set a date then we've got no means of communicate. I'll allow another week after we close the sign-ups for people to build their collections up and to ear mark oddities, or discover treasures for to send.
You do not have to spend money for this project. In fact, the only money that needs to be spent is on postage. Get your creative juices flowing, search through your drawers, cupboards, jewelry boxes, crystal kits, button boxes, Aunty's house, cellar, husband's sock drawer, toy boxes, maybe even your attic and find cool stuff! I will confess to having resorted to the bargain bin at Michael's crafts store of late, but that is only because I had totally ransacked my house of all the "junkable doo-dads".
But you should see my oracle - she is Mighty, Mighty!!!
JUNE 1 TO JUNE 7 (or so)
*Check to see what group you're in and click on the link to find your group's thread.
*Go post in the link and start visiting with one another there.
*Exchange addresses with one another. Everyone in your little group will be sending a package to everyone else.
*Continue to gather items. As you get to know your partners a bit you'll get a feel for what each one likes.
*We'll start shipping in a week but no big deal if it takes another few days; don't panic.
*Eventually we'll use our new oracles to read for one another; we'll do that right from our group threads as well.
Sign-ups
Kaleanna
Mathki
Elven
Witchy Woman
Aulruna
Horace
Quester
GryffinSong
Satori
Lady Seishou
Bodhran
Flaxen
Mellaenn
Silverwings94
Linnie
Morticia Monroe
(jk)
