Book Page Swap

[Ruth Lane]

It looks like we might have some interest for swapping book pages. If we're going to do that, we'll need to set up some guidelines in regards to size, theme if any, when to do it and how many pages we want to swap etc. If you are interested in swapping, please reply to this discussion and put your thoughts on how you would like it to work.

[Maya]

thanks for the explanation Elizabeth, that helps.
Maya

[Gayle Schipper]

One of the positive aspects of a swap like this versus a RR is that you can't have your whole piece lost in the mail or at the bottom of someone's workbasket. Even if we had a couple irresponsible members (can't imagine that with this group!) all we would be missing would be their page. We would still have"the book."
Stiff pages are OK with me. Different methods of finishing the edges are also OK with me.

Unless our group is unmanageably large, I would prefer to stay in one group. I could care less if it goes on for more than a year. As I looked at your pages and noted the diversity in style, themes, and part of the world you are from, I really want to "play" with ALL of you. Except for a little heart exchange with Cobi, all of you are new friends and I look forward to getting to know each of you a little bit.

Joyfully,
Gayle

[Elizabeth Woodford]

Just sending pages around is the ONLY Way to go!! I will never participate again in a RR where the whole book is sent around!

Elizabeth

[Juliette Coates]

I have only participated in pages before and you are right if some go astray you don't lose a precious book, plus the postage would be so expensive and with people on board from around the world i would personally find this way too much.

[Ruth Lane]

Hi all - I had a bit of time today so I changed the background on the blog. Go and check it out. Let me know what you think - you can just leave a comment on the blog. (You see what happens when I have too much time on my hands as I'm not busy at the store today.)

[Cobi Wittekoek]

I have commented and also introduced myself including lots of photo's plus a link to some collected pictures for my subject.

[Liz in Kansas]

I am following all this discussion and thinking how nice it is to see a group really talk things out like this!

Maya, I have used at least 3 different kinds of stiffener/base for this type of page. Timtex, a Pellon heavy-duty craft weight (probably Peltex), and something that begins with a "V". Can't think of the whole word right now (this grey cells turning into grey hair is the pits, sometimes!). I have also used Fast2Fuse if it is all that is available. They all work about the same. Some are a little heavier and make turning or hand stitching harder, but the end result is the same.

Chris, I have sent you a Friend invitation so we can talk about using the blog tools. Anyone else who wants some help can contact me on My Page, or send e-mail - whatever. I have been reading all your blogs and have grouped everyone together in my Reader. Don't want to miss any fun stuff!

Today is laundry day, so I have to run. Later.
Liz

[Trillian]

Hi Liz,
is it perhaps Pelmet Vilene?
Some of us use Pelmet Vilene S80 for fabric postcards. It is quite difficult to get. Haven't found a real life shop - so I bought it online ... but this shop closed ... have to find a new one....
Trillian

[Kath Walls]

Yes, I've had problems getting Pelmet Vilene, even in the UK. I used to buy it by the metre but the last lot was only in bands about 3 ins. wide.
I have been thinking about the stiffening problem - if we get pages with different stiffening may that complicate the finishing of the book? I am thinking that people from different countries will have different stuff available. I know we could buy off the internet, I don't usually as I make a variety of items so don't want to buy any quantity of one material.
Is there a universal material we could use for stiffening? Or won't it really matter?

[Elizabeth Woodford]

I don't think that the stiffener itself will make a bit of difference to the overall feel or appearance of the finished book. DIfferences tlike these are one of the many wonderful things that make these exchanges so fascinating and fun!!! Even if you just use two layers of a general stiff interfacing to add body, that will do the trick. Even using a heavy weight fabric will add enough body to the page so it does not flop. Don't sweat the small stuff, ladies!!!!
I don't like buying fabric on line either as I really want to feel what I am buying!! We have a problem here in the states with lots of fabric shop[s closing down and only having the big Chain stores left to buy from. The chains are ok but the quality is not great and all stores have the same stuff!! this is a big reason why I have started painting and stamping some of my own fabrics!!!!
Thank goodness you can still find some good quilting shops that carry the better fabrics, but they are not everywhere.
Elizabeth

[Chris Evans]

Hi I have just got back from a Quilting show in Malvern which is in Worcestershire. Had a lovely day and of course spent far too much but then i knew that before the day began. LOL I understand about not have many if any quilt shops near and only being able to buy in lagre stores, I am lucky in having a couple fairly near to me. What gets me like today is the price difference with the quilting suppliers, today i bought loads of fat quaters for £1. which for our USA friends is about $1.60 which to us is very cheap. Yet there were stall holders selling fat quarters for £4. I do understand about quaility etc but hey were not all on bankers bonus's are we?

I did buy from a lady who had lots of lace bits, keeping the book pages in mind I think i have the vintage page sorted LOL.
I am going over to look at the blog, night.

[Cobi Wittekoek]

sounds like a good day Chris. I went to a craft fair a few weeks ago and loved it. on the quilt fabrics: dd works for a craft wholesale and they also sell quilt fabrics. when she cuts FQs she usually has to cut a straight edge on the bold and I get that cut of. first of all to show me the new prints they have but I don't waste fabric so I sort them in colorways and put them together. makes lovely backgrounds. nowadays I don't really need quilt fabrics because I paint and print my own fabrics. when I started dyeing it changed my look on colors and I started using bolder/brighter colors. still quilt fabrics are highly attractive, esp. the batiks.
having a daughter with a job like that is great. I just put a note on the counter for her in the morning before she goes to work and when she returns she brings the goodies I need: beads, solufleece, embroidery yarn, pdf cotton, stiffener for fibercards/AAs/fiberbooks, fabric paint, whatever I need. what a treat!