Hi, I will be posting the questionaire that you will have to answer to be part of the Secret Santa exchange for 2013 sometime this month...
What I am asking each member that wants to participate is to give me an idea here what kind of questions you would like asked that will help you put together your package to your recipient.
If you participated in past years, you have an idea of the questions we have asked in the past...
Also, I need you to put any rules that you want thought about for this year's exchange...
We will not have a maximum value to your gifts - but please realize that not everyone is able to spend a lot of money so those who love to be generous just need to scale it back... next there will be a minimum cost and that is the cost of 3 yds of fabric...
Next - we had some problems with packages from smokers in the past - please smokers do not take offense but when you send a package to a non-smoker the smoke does go with it - cotton is notorious for picking up any and all smells - so not just the smokers but cat and dog lovers - try to as much as you can keep the smells away from your gifts - I put my box I am filling in another room so that my fur babies don't think they can lay or it while I am filling it or climb into it as they do the boxes in the room...
One thing that I have heard works for making your package smell wonderful is putting in a dryer sheet when you package it - be careful that if you spray it with a scent or it is scented that your recipient isn't allergic...
Allergies: that will be one of the questions this year...
Also I have been asked to add a question about whether you wear pierced earrings or not... hmmm... quilty earrings - neat gift idea...
You should be starting to put some generic things together now prior to getting your name and then when you get your name you can do some specific wonderful gifts to thrill your recipient out of their shoes...teehee
I am starting to get excited and we only have - wait for it - 300 days till Christmas 2013 is here - and about 30 days less then that we will be shipping our packages... 300 days - oh my what do we do...teehee
But let me know your ideas here - participate please - if you don't let me know what you need or want then I can't let anyone else know and at that point I will take no complaints...teehee...
No Scrooge's allowed!!!
Not having participated previously I would find it helpful if I could see a copy of the previous questionaire so that I am not trying to re-invent the wheel.
these SS gift exchanges are so much fun, and the thing that really gets my anger going is when someone signs up for these and just disappears of the face of the earth, If you sign up be commited .your giftee is counting on you and it can be very dishearting when others are getting their gifts and you don't . So my big thing is if you sign up make sure you follow thru . If a person doesn't follow thru should not be allowed to ever take part again.
EAT!! SLEEP !! QUILT!!
I will post it over in pages. I think I still have a copy of it in my PMs from last year... thank you for asking Agnes
This might be too specific and off-topic, so it won't hurt my feelings if it doesn't get used, but one that's come to mind for me doing this last year and doing the mailbox surprises and whatnot is whether the person enjoys cooking. I love to cook and a lot of the handmade gifts that come to mind for me are related to cooking - and then there are also recipes and local ingredients and things of that nature that I think a lot of people would enjoy - but I realize that some people don't cook or it's just not their thing.. So it might be nice to know if the person is interested in cooking ahead of time, before diving into making aprons and pot holders and casserole carriers and whatnot. :)
Again, I realize that's pretty off-topic and specific, so I promise it won't hurt my feelings if it doesn't get used!
Carolyn, Nothing is too specific or off - topic - it truly helps each person to know what others are thinking and doing - and if you like something and do something like cooking for you - it would be nice to know if you sent something to your recipient in that nature that they would or would not be receptive.
Thank you so much for asking this - I will add it to our list when it gets all figured out.
I did post the questionaire we used from 2012 in pages for all interested in looking at it before they see if something they want to ask is on it. So look away all and let me know - love the fact I am getting some participation - feels great - you all are making my day!
Carolyn, I think that is a good suggestion, I use to do alot of cooking when My hubby was alive , but I don't do much anymore , Even though the gifts are nice , I have no use for a casserole carrier or some of the kitchen items I do like the pot holders though they make wonderful coasters. LOL
Barbara: these SS gift exchanges are so much fun, and the thing that really gets my anger going is when someone signs up for these and just disappears of the face of the earth, If you sign up be commited .your giftee is counting on you and it can be very dishearting when others are getting their gifts and you don't . So my big thing is if you sign up make sure you follow thru . If a person doesn't follow thru should not be allowed to ever take part again.
Thank you Barbara for bringing this up - it is truly something that you should follow through with if at all possible - life does throw us curves every once in a while though and all our good intentions get thrown out the window.
I am myself behind in getting my mail box surprises out - but I have sent a message saying that and they are almost ready to go out in the mail.
If you do have problems, please contact me as the administrator of this program. We did have 100% participation last year which was fantastic - I didn't hear from 2 people and sent gifts out to their recipients but then the senders did end up sending so those members got double gifting - which is fine... But if you just communicate with me it makes my life less stressful.
Everyone gives me their phone # - I do not give this out and I ask for your email address so that I can send you messages there if you drop or can't get into QCA but are still doing the SS program... I did not use the phone #s at all last year - but I did use the email addy's to get a hold of some people...
I so appreciate the spirit that everyone put into the program last year it was wonderful. There were some minor complaints but we can handle them and do it better this year - Live and Learn - right!!!
Hi;
I am new to this group just signed up. I love to sew just about anything I need a little more info on the gift or gifts or size box etc. can you help with some more info from the past. Also where do I find the listing of the projects for the month.
Thanks ever sew much
klaynegrimm
Hi, I am new to the group also and I am not sure how to sign up for the secret Santa. I love sewing and want to know how to get to the past projects too.
Thank you, Beth
not knowing what makes the person happy, smile would make a difference in what we send, for example, do toads or snowmen make you happy when you see them?
that way we know what fabric syle to use or trinket to get. . .
hope this helps, a newbie too
South of Boston, MA
Hi all, Welcome to the Christmas All Year Long Group. Please go and read the introduction to the Group and to sign up for Secret Santa all you have to do is say here that you want to sign up and I will add your name to the list.
This group has been formed to keep the Christmas spirit in your lives all year long. To remember throughout the year what the Christmas spirit is. I am trying to put up a simple project each month that will be simple for you to make that you could give to your recipient if you sign up for secret santa - or to give to charity - or to make for friends and family - or yourself.
We welcome you to our group and hope you join in and add your 2 cents to what is happening. If you have a project that you would like to share - we truly would appreciate that -
I request that all general discussion bedone on that thread though - not here... I am just adding this here because this is where the questions were asked - please ask all questions in general chit chat thread...
Please Introduce yourself in the Introduction thread - that thread is just for Introductions - all talk or welcomes will be done in general chit chat - this will make it easier when the time comes for get gifts together they can look through the introduction and find out something else about you - and they won't have to sift through a lot of chatter...
Just the few simple rules we have... and there aren't many - just have Christmas in your heart and enjoy yourself.
Carolyn,
I thought this was a great point, and if people enjoy cooking it can make a really inexpensive christmas pressie, as when you send a recipe to someone else especially an international it becomes something wonderful, what you may see as everyday in someone elses house is exotic.
lots of love
Francesxx