# First annual SDMB Craft Exchange **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 1, 2011, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-annual-sdmb-craft-exchange/576879 "2011-04-01T22:59:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-annual-sdmb-craft-exchange/576879/1 "2011-04-01T22:59:47Z")
I know there are a lot of crafty types around here – let’s make stuff for each other! I’m basing this on something going on at Facebook: > [@](#): > > I promise to send something handmade to the first 5 people who leave a comment. They must in turn post this and send something they made to the first 5 people who comment on their status. The rules are that it must be handmade by you and it must be sent to your 5 people sometime in 2011. Let’s all work towards a more handmade life! Five is overambitious, but how about one? And let’s do it round-robin Secret Santa style, where you make something for person A, and person B makes something for you. Let’s keep the expenses reasonable – you can buy materials if you need to, but if you want to use something out of your crafting stash, that’s also okay. And the thing should be nice – not macaroni-and-pipe-cleaner art (well, unless you’re really amazing at macaroni-and-pipe-cleaner art) but not elaborate – I’m giving the people I’m doing this with at Facebook their choice of a hat or a scarf, not knitting sweaters or even socks. And, instead of element of surprise that we have in Secret Santa – should we let people contact their craft-ees to ask about color preferences and suchlike? Whaddya think? **Procedure** I. Send me an email at SDMBCraftExchange at gmail dot com Put your username in the subject line In the body of the email, give your username, your real name, and your address Indicate if you’re willing to ship US only, US and Canada, or worldwide II. Post in this thread, talking about what kind of crafty stuff you like to make so I make sure people don’t get something they could make themselves. III. Make something for the person whose name and address I send you. Deadline, let’s say by the end of the year, that gives you nine months. I’m sure I’m forgetting something … feel free to ask questions. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-annual-sdmb-craft-exchange/576879/2 "2011-04-01T23:04:18Z")
I’m in. I will knit something for my recipient: either a scarf or a hat (perhaps similar to [this one](http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g161/twickster/crafty%20crap/002.jpg)) in the color or colors of that person’s choice. ---
**Author:** ![xoferew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/e9a140/32.png) [@xoferew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xoferew)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-annual-sdmb-craft-exchange/576879/3 "2011-04-01T23:24:04Z")
I can make stuffed animals. Would that be okay? ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-annual-sdmb-craft-exchange/576879/4 "2011-04-01T23:26:15Z")
Sure, I love stuffed animals, and know I’m not alone in that! ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-annual-sdmb-craft-exchange/576879/5 "2011-04-01T23:38:33Z")
Ooh! Ooh! I’m totally in! I make jewelry. Here’s my [Artfire](http://bebopbeads.artfire.com) site. I will make my recipient a pair of earrings or a small pendant in the color(s) of the person’s choice. I love stuffed animals, too! ---
**Author:** ![xoferew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/e9a140/32.png) [@xoferew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xoferew)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-annual-sdmb-craft-exchange/576879/6 "2011-04-02T00:13:20Z")
I’m talking about taxidermy, you understand. …Just kidding! ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-annual-sdmb-craft-exchange/576879/7 "2011-04-02T00:23:27Z")
> [@xoferew](#): > > I’m talking about taxidermy, you understand. > > …Just kidding! Shoulda known better than to start this thread on 4/1 … ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-annual-sdmb-craft-exchange/576879/8 "2011-04-02T00:31:45Z")
I’m in. I’m not as talented as you guys but I like to make stuff with polymer clay and with 9 months, I can definitely make something worthy. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-annual-sdmb-craft-exchange/576879/9 "2011-04-02T01:26:31Z")
I crochet and I make stuffed animals, as well as scarves, hats, and rugs. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-annual-sdmb-craft-exchange/576879/10 "2011-04-02T13:25:44Z")
Don’t forget to sign up here in addition to sending me the email – I’m going to try to set things up so people don’t send to people who work in the same medium or media. Seems like the biggest group is the yarn crafters, so I need to know who’s a knitter/crocheter and who’s not. ETA: I’ve edited the OP slightly to clarify that you should do this. ---
**Author:** ![xoferew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/e9a140/32.png) [@xoferew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xoferew)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-annual-sdmb-craft-exchange/576879/11 "2011-04-02T13:28:24Z")
Okay, I’m officially signing up. My stuffed animals are cloth, not yarn. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-annual-sdmb-craft-exchange/576879/12 "2011-04-02T14:30:25Z")
Jewelry and boxes. Yeah, boxes. I like boxes. Why won’t that catch on in the crafting world? ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-annual-sdmb-craft-exchange/576879/13 "2011-04-02T14:38:29Z")
Ooh, I love boxes. God, I’m going to have such a hard time deciding who to assign as my crafter. 😉 Luckily **freck** and I are Facebook pals, so she and I are exchanging crafty stuff there. ---
**Author:** ![Brynda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-annual-sdmb-craft-exchange/576879/14 "2011-04-02T15:23:25Z")
I’m in. I make beaded jewelry. I don’t have any pictures to post, but this is close to my style: [http://www.michaels.com/Coral-Necklace/e08226,default,pd.html?start=65&cgid=projects-beads-necklaces-multistrand](http://www.michaels.com/Coral-Necklace/e08226,default,pd.html?start=65&cgid=projects-beads-necklaces-multistrand) I love to make earrings, so I hope I get someone with pierced ears! ---
**Author:** ![Daedelus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@Daedelus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daedelus)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-annual-sdmb-craft-exchange/576879/15 "2011-04-02T15:57:00Z")
I would like to participate in this. I can knit lace and regular patterns (though no good with the double-pointed needles, yet) and can make bad art (poems, paintings, photos). ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-annual-sdmb-craft-exchange/576879/16 "2011-04-02T16:24:48Z")
[Here’s a slide show of some of my crap.](http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v19/Biggirl/Jewelry/?albumview=slideshow) I mean, if we’re showing pictures. ---
**Author:** ![moi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@moi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moi)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-annual-sdmb-craft-exchange/576879/17 "2011-04-02T16:30:26Z")
I’m SO in. I, um, craft a lot: I’ve just recently learned to knit, so my knitwear gifts would likely be limited to scarves and dishcloths. I make mixed media paintings. I make altered boxes/shrines. I make handmade books. I make handmade paper. I have basic sewing skills. I embroider. I make metal-stamped jewelry. Thanks for setting this up, Twickster! ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-annual-sdmb-craft-exchange/576879/18 "2011-04-02T16:42:23Z")
I’ll give it a shot. Something made out of wood. Small box, decorative piece, something turned on the lathe. I’ll take suggestions. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-annual-sdmb-craft-exchange/576879/19 "2011-04-02T16:59:43Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > [Here’s a slide show of some of my crap.](http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v19/Biggirl/Jewelry/?albumview=slideshow) I mean, if we’re showing pictures. Ooh, pretty! ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-annual-sdmb-craft-exchange/576879/20 "2011-04-02T20:14:43Z")
Ooh, I wanted to do something like this a while ago but didn’t have the wherewithal to organize it. Nine months is a lot of time so I might be able to get something done. But I mostly dabble in stuff. I can do better than pipe-cleaners and Popsicle sticks\* but I am by no means a master of any trade. I do paper mâché, jewelry, polymer clay and other indescribable stuff. I’m learning chain maille. I have done some sewing but my machine needs repairs. I used to knit but I can only do basic stuff and I live in Florida so wouldn’t get much use from cold weather knits for myself. I’ll send my info later. \*Unless someone really likes pipe-cleaners and popsicle sticks.😃 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-annual-sdmb-craft-exchange/576879.md?page=2)