SoTTT's CHAPTER 3: THE SORTING AND BEYOND!!

[Katie G.]

I love all my dups, trips and quads. Thank you Debbie, Clara and all sorters. However I can be just as happy giving up what might be needed so that those without will have what was hoped for.

[Katie G.]

Maybe I'm slow, but I don't really understand how you ended up with an 'extra' bag of Hsts. But I'm used to lots of mystery in my life...LOL Don't worry about trying to expalin it, unless there is someone else out there who also doesn't 'get it'.

Debbie and Clara - there are enough wonderful people who have offered, that even if we each sent a few to the one who is so short, she will have enough. Please do not deprive yourselves, we are so thankful to you both. Let us enjoy 'giving' as much as you have enjoyed it.
Hugs,
Terrie
still waiting.....

Terrie:

As I read it, basically someone international had sent in her HST; and when the sorting began, they set up a bag of HST to return to her/him in the exchange. That bag was set aside to be mailed later. However, instead of the bag getting mailed internationally, she had her return envelope addressed to a place in the US (maybe she was traveling here and would just pick it up when she arrived in the States, whatever . . . . ) But because she sent a SASE addressed to a different destination, when the sorters went to check off internationals who needed HST, they must have missed that she was a "special case" (her package was not to be returned to her overseas address). Does this make sense? It does to me, but then I could be all wrong in explaining this based on my conjecturing. Nonetheless, it explains what likely could have happened.

On to the other issue being discussed: if the goal was to get the exact number of HST returned to you that you sent in with no replication, then I think that was an assumption made on the part of individuals. Debbie and Clara explicitly stated that they would do their best to ensure as much variety as possible; they never promised we would each get uniquely different individual HST with no duplicates. I myself joined this community exchange for the thrill of connecting and receiving works of art from quilters around the world. I am thrilled I even received a package back given how things can get lost in the mail or in the sorting.

Last point to make -- I counted my half-squares more because there seemed to be so many, and also because I need an actual count to plan a quilt. Was I short a few? Yes. But that is OKAY. I am just grateful to be a part of this exchange, especially as I came so close to missing out. What fun it has been, what a blessing.

Hope you all feel likewise.

Diana

Thanks for the explanation - NOW it makes sense to me. You must be a teacher!?
As for duplicates - I'm waiting for mine, and I dont care if I get duplicates, triplicates, whatever - never thought about it, really. However, you're all gonna hear about it when the darlings arrive! Just glad to be a part of this wonderful FRIENDSHIP Exchange . Our leaders have been stellar! Even role models for the rest of us!

[Katie G.]

Bless your heart, serin10!! You win! Whatever you decide to do will be fine. Anyone who wants to help, and/or offer suggestions for the secondary sorting, or needs to make an exchange, please get in touch with serin10.

serin10, you might want to start a new topic on the forum for this. Let me know if you need some help with that.

Way to go serin10!

[Katie G.]

Bless your heart, serin10!! You win! Whatever you decide to do will be fine. Anyone who wants to help, and/or offer suggestions for the secondary sorting, or needs to make an exchange, please get in touch with serin10.

serin10, you might want to start a new topic on the forum for this. Let me know if you need some help with that.

There is already a wayward topic set up - is there anyone out there already organizing the exchange of over and under? I don't want to step on any toes ... or have two similar actions happening at the same time.

[Katie G.]

I will modify my post in the beginning of this thread (something I was planning on doing anyway) hopefully no later than tomorrow and will put on there things that worked out great and things I would suggest to make things run smoother. We all have to start learning from the beginning and what a beginning we had! No regrets. I can't if I'm looking at this forum and all the connections that have been made by so many with the same passion.

Clara 8) 8) 8)

[Maureen A.]

To be a clearing house for anyone wishing to return extras or exchange duplicates or to catch up with what they sent in???? :

Listening to all the talk that is going on about everyone in the US having received their HST and being so thrilled about it is making us International sisters, although delighted for everyone and really enjoying all the excited posts, a bit envious that we have not received ours yet. It took mine nearly 4 weeks to arrive at Debbie’s (and the Australian ones will take much longer) so I thought, maybe being the furthest away, the international ones would have been the first to be posted back as they would take the longest to arrive at their destination. Not criticising here, just stating a fact. Now you have all be swapping and exchanging and are even starting a clearing house for anyone wishing to return extras or exchange duplicates or to catch up with what they sent in. All well and good but by the time we get ours and maybe wish to swap or exchange, there will be nobody left to do it with as you will be all swapped out.

I know you are still in the height of excitement and joy but please remember your international sisters that have not received their HST’s yet when you are thinking about swaps and exchanges and maybe keep some back for them.

Just wanted to add that I am sure that whatever we receive we will be truly grateful and be very happy with what we get. It has all been a once in a lifetime adventure that I wouldn't have missed for all the world. I feel that a lot of friendships have been made over the months and hopefully we will all continue to be quilting sisters. Debbie and Clara you are the best, thank you

[Margo C.]

To be a clearing house for anyone wishing to return extras or exchange duplicates or to catch up with what they sent in???? :

Listening to all the talk that is going on about everyone in the US having received their HST and being so thrilled about it is making us International sisters, although delighted for everyone and really enjoying all the excited posts, a bit envious that we have not received ours yet. It took mine nearly 4 weeks to arrive at Debbie’s (and the Australian ones will take much longer) so I thought, maybe being the furthest away, the international ones would have been the first to be posted back as they would take the longest to arrive at their destination. Not criticising here, just stating a fact. Now you have all be swapping and exchanging and are even starting a clearing house for anyone wishing to return extras or exchange duplicates or to catch up with what they sent in. All well and good but by the time we get ours and maybe wish to swap or exchange, there will be nobody left to do it with as you will be all swapped out.

I know you are still in the height of excitement and joy but please remember your international sisters that have not received their HST’s yet when you are thinking about swaps and exchanges and maybe keep some back for them.

Thanks for the reminder Maureen! We will keep that in mind!
Hugs...

SERIN10, PLEASE TAKE NOTE! You may have volunteered for an extended job!

[Margo C.]

I know you are still in the height of excitement and joy but please remember your international sisters that have not received their HST’s yet when you are thinking about swaps and exchanges and maybe keep some back for them.

Thank-you for that reminder. We do tend to think that once we have received ours, that most everyone has also gotten their package. Have the international sisters started to receive theirs yet? When was the last of the international packages sent?

[Debbie W.]

To all of you wonderful generous and caring SoTTTs...

It is absolutely not necessary for you to send additional HSTs for JuanitaB. We have enough to send her all the MIAs. Clara has put them in the mail to me and I should receive them today or tommorow. As soon as I can get them packaged up, I'll put them in the mail to JuanitaB.

Juanita...if you are reading this and you haven't seen your emails yet, I do need to get your address so I can send them to you.

If members do want to exchange HSTs or send overages to those members who are short, please use the Wayward and Adoptable HSTs Forum to do that. It will be much better to keep all that information in one location, so that this Forum thread doesn't become too confusing. If it is all kept in that location, members will know exactly where to go look. It would be nice to reserve this Forum for members to post information about their projects and photos.

Thanks again to all of you wonderful members...you are all truly remarkable!

[Pamela O.]

I will modify my post in the beginning of this thread (something I was planning on doing anyway) hopefully no later than tomorrow and will put on there things that worked out great and things I would suggest to make things run smoother. We all have to start learning from the beginning and what a beginning we had! No regrets. I can't if I'm looking at this forum and all the connections that have been made by so many with the same passion.

Clara 8) 8) 8)

Clara and Debbie, no regrets. Y'all did the best that you could with what you had. We are all human and make mistakes. I sent my extras on to someone who was minus. That is what the sisterhood (brotherhood) is all about. We solve our own problems, not you.
We have too many disasters going on presently to complain about who didn't get a triangle from whom. I don't believe that anyone died during the sorting. The Southeast and the Midwest have been hammered, but no one lost their life during the sorting.
SoTTT's, praise these ladies for what they did that no one else would do.
If you have too many, swap with someone who has too few.
I was feeling sorry for myself that I didn't get one marked from Debbie. Well while brushing my teeth, I had an epiphany. I realized that in those unmarked HSTs, one must have been from Debbie. And you know what, I was happy because I know that hard work went into this sorting. Happiness has to come from within me, not anyone else.
I am happy with the exchange. I could have bought more fabric for what I paid on postage, but I am glad that I did not and that I participated in this exchange.
Okay, I'll get off my soapbox.
Thank you, Clara and Debbie.

[Pamela O.]

Very well said, Pam!

[Maryjo K.]

DEBBIE and CLARA - I certainly hope your resolution isn't to send her yours!!! I'm joining the voices that will be glad to send triangles to this lady. If 40 ladies of the 540 or so participants send send 10 triangles each - that is 400. That should work no problem.

LEADERS - we want to help - you have done enough! Get us an address and let us step up and help! I'm sure I speak for other ladies as well. Will wait to hear - we just don't want to hear that you two - don't have any left!!!

I definitely agree with all of you! I sent Juanita B an email last night asking for the address so I can get them off by the first of the week. And Debbie & Clara have done more than we ever expected to make the a great experience now we can step up and do our part! Peace & Love to all,
Maryjo

[Debbie W.]

I will modify my post in the beginning of this thread (something I was planning on doing anyway) hopefully no later than tomorrow and will put on there things that worked out great and things I would suggest to make things run smoother. We all have to start learning from the beginning and what a beginning we had! No regrets. I can't if I'm looking at this forum and all the connections that have been made by so many with the same passion.

Clara 8) 8) 8)

I agree 100% with Clara...absolutely no regrets! If we had it all to do again, in hindsight, we would definitely have done things differently and set more limits, etc. from the beginning. However, not having any other exchanges to go by, we did it on a wing and a prayer and never once did we dream that it would grow so enormous. We did the best we could and I am very happy to readthe many of the wonderful comments and receive the positive support from so many of you. Unfortunately things happened that may or may not have been avoided, but be assured that we are both trying to make things right all around so that we can make as many people as possible happy that they joined this exchange.

I will always treasure the wonderful friends I'm made around the world and throughout the U.S. and I sincerely look foward to our continued friendships.

[Maryjo K.]

Debbie and Clara you are such a blessing to all of us! Your positive can do attitude is so enriching in our lives!
Peace & Love can't wait to meet you in Houston,
Maryjo

[Maryjo K.]

Maureen, I have some to share so when all the International ladies get theirs they can let us know and I will be able to help.