CHAPTER 2 - SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING TRIANGLES (cont'd)

[sanquilt]

my HSTs are done. So. I am sending a bag with 137 of them sorted by color in baggies that are not sealed. My name and screen name and number of squares are to go on each baggie. What do I do about the extras for the other ladies? Should I just put several in to another baggie and label them " for brink and others"? Is this all correct?
This was fun to do, they go very quickly and I will enjoy making my Tree of Life. Thanks Sandy in NY

[sanquilt]

ooops wrong swap, this was for the batik HSTS but my sisterhood ones are almost done and I know it is more than 137 :-)

[pam7040]

Sandy, for the extra hsts on both swaps, Hanne-Grete's and those HSTs bound for Queensland go in seperate baggies, labelled for the recipient. :-)

[sanquilt]

Thanks Pam, great talking with you today and seeing you was even better :-) modern technology is so wonderful. What are we gonna do when this swap is over and we do not check the email everyday? gonna feel like something is missing.

[Margo]

Sandra there are many other topics right here on the forum that you can participate in!

If you need help navigating the TQS forum you will find some helpful tips here: http://forum/forum-questions-and-sug...-the-tqs-forum

So....don't stop visiting after this exchange is finished! Besides that, you will want to check back to see all the FINISHED SoTTT projects, and that may take a while!!

If you feel the need for another exchange to keep you involved, you are welcome to start another one yourself! If you volunteer to do the sorting, you can make up the rules you want everyone to abide by!

[pam7040]

Sandy, like alot of other people I spend way too long on this website every day checking the daily blog, members blog, quilt gallery, forum, watching shows. :roll: :roll: THere is just so much here. This year is the first time I have started the TQS Block of the month and I check the forum for that to see other peoples progress and get help and encouragement with mine. This website has changed my quilting and my life, without any exageration. I know many people who say the same.

[pam7040]

Dear Sisters & Brothers of the Traveling HST;

I can’t believe it! I cut my last HST today, number 700! And to think the post office is closed tomorrow! Arg-g-g! Oh well, I now have HST’s for everyone, Queensland, BrinkofNorway and ya’ll. Can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with for quilts! I have just never had so much fun as with all you ladies in doing a project before. I will definitely have to do another exchange in the future! Thank you all again for your patience, guidance and directions : )
S/ Barbara
Bluffon, SC

[pam7040]

my HSTs are done. So. I am sending a bag with 137 of them sorted by color in baggies that are not sealed. My name and screen name and number of squares are to go on each baggie. What do I do about the extras for the other ladies? Should I just put several in to another baggie and label them " for brink and others"? Is this all correct?
This was fun to do, they go very quickly and I will enjoy making my Tree of Life. Thanks Sandy in NY

Sandy, you don't have to put the 137 in separate bags--just put them all in one bag. Then in another put the ones for Brink and in another put the ones for Queensland. Thanks, ritzy

[Margo]

Just a reminder for shipping your HSTs to Debbie:

Hey all you SoTTTs!!

If it helps you to have a visual of what you need to send Debbie, this post's for you!
Depending on how many HSTs you send, your package may be smaller and postage may be less.
(This bubble wrap mailer, purchased at my local PO, is holding 616 HSTs.)

Inside the mailer of your choice you need to send to Debbie:

**A self addressed, STAMPED return mailer, at least as large and the one you ship to Deb in. Put your name and address as the return address so that if there is insufficient postage, it will come back to you. The PO box that Debbie is using will be closed so you don't want it going back there!
I'd like to suggest that rather than dropping your package into a mailbox, you take it to your local post office to post & mail. At that time you can talk with the postal clerk about what postage is needed for your return envelope.
PLEASE CHECK WITH YOUR POST OFFICE FOR SUFFICIENT POSTAGE!

You will need to use stamps on this mailer. The metered postage is dated, so it can't be used for return mailing.
Include your TQS screen name and the total number of HSTs you are exchanging on the OUTSIDE of the return mailer.

**A plastic bag containing all your HSTs, clearly labeled with your TQS screen name and the total number of HSTs you are exchanging.
Please keep your total an increment of 28! Squeeze the air out of the plastic bag, but DO NOT ZIP IT CLOSED!
It will save time for the sorters if they don't have to unzip 615 bags!!
edited for Clara: All I want to add is if the international quilters want to zip their ziplox I'm fine with that. Especially since they have so far to go and you just never know how many hands touch their envelopes. Clara

**optional - HSTs for Australia, clearly labeled in a separate baggie. (DO NOT COUNT THESE HSTs IN YOUR TOTAL!)

**optional - HSTs for Hanne-Grete, clearly labeled in a separate baggie. (DO NOT COUNT THESE HSTs IN YOUR TOTAL!)




On the outside of your mailer to Debbie be sure to put your TQS Screen Name and total number of HSTs you are exchanging.




Following these guidelines will make things much easier for the sorting team to get the correct total back to you! THANK YOU!

[kathyst2]

Oh, I didn't put my screen name and # of HST on the return mailer! Didn't think about that, sorry! Kathy ops:

[DebbieWolf]

If you are as far away as Australia, New Zealand or other distant countries, please get your HST's in the mail right away so they will hopefully arrive by April 1. One member sent me an email from Australia on Friday saying her post office said it could take 4-10 weeks for her package to arrive.

I received notification that a package was mailed on Feb. 4 from Australia. Today is Feb. 21 and I still have not received it. If you're cutting it close, check with your post office to see they can offer a suggestion on how to get it here sooner. And please don't forget to send me an email letting me know the package is on it's way.

Thanks so much,
Debbie

[DebbieWolf]

I don't read all the posts about the SoTTTs, but have noticed conversations about extra triangles for Queensland, and Hanne-Grete. I'd love to participate. I've finished my triangles, but haven't sent them in yet. So, I still have time to include extras. I will put them in separate bags labeled. My question is are they to be batiks, or cottons? Also, do you need a little extra mailing expense money?

[DebbieWolf]

I don't read all the posts about the SoTTTs, but have noticed conversations about extra triangles for Queensland, and Hanne-Grete. I'd love to participate. I've finished my triangles, but haven't sent them in yet. So, I still have time to include extras. I will put them in separate bags labeled. My question is are they to be batiks, or cottons? Also, do you need a little extra mailing expense money?

Thank you for including extras for Hanne-Grete & Queensland. There are no limitations as to what fabrics you can send to them. We've already received a variety of HSTs for them, and I'm sure that whatever you want to include will be greatly appreciated. If you care to add a little extra for mailing or other expenses (like packing tape, etc), you can be assured it will be put to good use.

Thanks, again...
Debbie

[DebbieWolf]

For SoTTTs Members within the United States...VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING RETURN POSTAGE. PLEASE READ WHETHER YOU HAVE OR HAVEN'T MAILED YOUR HST'S!!!

Margo included this in her recent Forum post, but I'm repeating it here separately in hopes that everyone will see it.

Margo spoke with her local post office when she mailed her HST's and was told because metered postage is dated so it cannot be used for return mail. Hopefully when the packages that have already been mailed were taken to the Post Office, the postal worker provided the same accurate advice to the 'sendee' as Margo received and recommended the use of stamps instead. I am pleased to say the the great majority of packages I have received are posted with stamps, so most everyone is probably fine.

However, if you've already sent your package and you DID use the metered postage on your return envelope, you will need to send replacement stamps for your return postage. If you do need to sent stamps, be sure to include your name and screen name so I'll know where they belong. I ordered a small supply of Tyvek (Priority Flat Rate 9-1/2" x 12.5"envelopes) from the post office, so you don't need to include another envelope unless, of course, you need a larger one. Check with your P.O. to confirm the cost of that particular envelope since it is 'Priority Flat Rate'. Please be sure to include a new address label in case we have to use a new envelope.

For those who have yet to mail packages, please remember to use stamps on your return envelope and not dated metered postage.

Thanks so much for your help in assuring that your HST's are returned to you as promptly and safely as possible.

Debbie

[DebbieWolf]

VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR OUR INTERNATIONAL SoTTT's members regarding Postage and Pay Pal for packages that have and have not been mailed.

Also, if you haven't notified me by email that you've mailed your package, please do so as soon as possible so I can let you know when I receive it. If we don't know it's on it's way, we won't know that we need to wait for it if it's delayed for any reason


When you are paying Clara on PayPal, please keep in mind this information based on how many HST's you are sending. This has also been posted on the 1st page of the Forum for several weeks, but I think it would be helpful to repeat it here again. If you've already made a PayPal payment, please read this to determine if you might need to pay for more return postage. We will only be using International Flat Rate envelopes & boxes for returns.

HOW MANY HST'S FIT INTO A FLAT RATE BOX/ENVELOPE???
Thanks to Carol, who already sent me her 700 HST's, I was able to determine approximately how many HTS's will fit into the flat rate envelope and boxes. Carol had them sorted into lunch size baggies with 28 in each and she sent them in a medium sized box that did have room for maybe another 300 or so.

Here's what I came up with:

A flat rate cardboard envelope (12-1/2" x 9-1/2") can hold approximately 308 HSTs. The Small Flat Rate Box (1-1/2" high x 8-1/2" x 5-1/2') will also hold about 308 HSTs. I kept the HST's in the eleven baggies they were already in and that filled up the box pretty well. If they weren't in individual baggies, but maybe only one or two, there should be enough room for 308 (eleven increments of 28 HSTs). Remember to pack them carefully so they don't get scrunched and wrinkled!

The above International smaller envelope and box to Canada/Mexico is $11.95 US and to all other countries, it is $13.95 US. If you are sending more than 308, because it costs a lot more to send one medium flat rate envelope than two small ones, you might want to consider having two small boxes/envelopes returned to you instead of one medium (see the medium cost below). Just be sure to let us know your plan
__________________________________________________ _____________________________-

The Medium Flat Rate Box (5-1/2" high x 11" x 8-1/2") should hold 700-1092 comfortably (remember increments of 28), but that size does cost significantly more Internationally. The cost to Canada/Mexico is $27.95 US and to all other countries, it is $45.50.

Here's the link to the U.S. Postal Service for International Flat Rate:
http://www.usps.com/prices/priority-...nal-prices.htm