Secret Pal 9

Best Pal Winners

2007-02-11T09:30:00.000-08:00

We have 4 lucky winners in the Best Pal contest. They are...

ETOD_KNITS for spoiling The Bookish Knitster

Mei Flower for spoiling Zan Knits

exercise before knitting for spoiling BEBUNU

sassykrafty for spoiling RANDOM FIBER RAMBLINGS

Winners were chosen at random from the nominations we received. :-)

SP10

2007-01-31T18:59:00.000-08:00

Today is the last day of SP9, so I hope you all had a blast! If not, please contact your hostess ASAP and we'll try to help you in any way we can.

Now moving ahead, we're starting sign-ups for SP10 tomorrow!! If you'd like to join, come on over to our SP10 blog for more info.

Here's the timeline!
Sign-ups: Feb 1 thru Feb 28th
Matches by: March 15th
SP10 runs: March 15th thru June 30th

Come join in on the fun!!

Calling all Angels......

2007-01-06T13:58:00.000-08:00

We are nearing the end of this round of Secret Pal. Unfortunately, there is a need for volunteers who are willing to be angels to some participants of SP9.

As much as we try to ensure that all participants hold up their end of the bargain, there are always a few that do not for various circumstances.

Now we don't want to leave a knitter without some new goodies to play with do we? So if you can be an angel please leave a comment or drop us an email at SP9Hostesses@yahoo.com

Best Pal Contest!!

2006-12-19T15:45:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone!! We're more than halfway through SP9, and I hope you are all having as much fun as we are! We've decided to hold the Best SP contest once again! If you think that your pal has gone above and beyond, and is extra special, then please nominate them!! E-mail us to submit your nomination! Please include your blog address, and your pal's anonymous e-mail address that they've been using to contact you so we can figure out who they are! Once SP9 is complete, we'll draw a few names and prizes will be given!

2006-12-05T08:53:00.000-08:00

The vendors who have special discountoffers for SP9 verify your participation in this round with your blog and the participants list. If you have changed blogs or other information, please let your hostess know so you can obtain the discounts.

2006-11-23T21:18:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Black Friday!
After your early bird shoppinng, why not take a look at the vendors to see what they have to offer for your pal and other knitting friends. They may wrap and ship it for you! www.secretpalperks.blogspot.com

Be sure to find out which of the winter holidays your pal will be celebrating. Some of these fall before Christmas Day this year. Also with all the holiday mail, try out the shipping confirmation which USPS adds for 55 cents.

Special Pal Perks

2006-10-27T22:40:00.000-07:00

Posted on the lefthand colomn are a list of vendors who are offering special discounts to the participants Of SP9. You may not have noticed them.
There is a new blog just to showcase each of these artists and their products. On Tuesdays and Fridays a different artisan will be interviewed and their craft featured. They will be chosen at random over the next few weeks. You can check in on Tuesdays and Fridays to see the wonderful things that are available, and find out where they gather inspiration from.
There will be a few previously unadvertised surprises to watch for.
BUT you may purchase from any vendor at any time!
We look forward to getting to know the following vendors:

ANNARELLA
DIVA KNITTING
EWE HOO!
EXTREMEYARN
FLUFFENSTUFF
LUXEFIBRE
MAMA LLAMA
RUBYSAPPHIRE YARNS
SAVVYMINX YARNS
SCOTTS MOUNTAIN CRAFTS
SHELBY'S DESIGNS
Cherry Blossom Fibers
THE KNITTING ZONE
YARN4SOCKS
YARN PIRATE

1 more introduction!!

2006-10-24T13:17:00.000-07:00

And now, we have ChaCha! This is another colorway by Susie! Since not everyone likes pink we thought a third option would be a good idea!

This is painted on the Kona fingering and comes as a ~500 yards/skein of superwash Merino! The price...$20/skein, just like the other two colorways! All shipping info is the same. If you'd like to order this yarn, e-mail Susie! with SP9ChaCha in the subject! She should have the first orders ready to ship by the weekend!

Enjoy!!

Introducing...

2006-10-18T07:49:00.000-07:00

Waltz and Foxtrot!! Come meet our two Secret Pal 9 exclusive colorways!! These are ONLY available to SP9 participants!!

Waltz: Three shades of blue, violet and fushia!!

Foxtrot: Silver, black, and ice pink!!

The talented Susie has taken our ideas, and created two amazing yarns for us! We were thrilled with what she came up with and really hope you like them too!! Waltz does have more violet in it than the photo suggests. A single skein will be enough to make a pair of socks!

To order this fabulous yarn, send Susie an e-mail either with SP9Waltz or SP9Foxtrot in the subject line. The e-mail should include the name and address you would like it shipped to, as well as method of payment (Paypal is preferred, but if necessary she will accept money orders and checks- MO/check orders will be shipped AFTER they clear). The first orders will not be ready to ship until Monday October 23rd!

Here are the specs:
100% Superwash Merino, Fingering weight, 425-450 yards/skein, $20/skein, $3.50 shipping (US only, per skein, per address, will combine shipping of more than one skein to the same address, non-US shipping determined by destination), each will come tagged and with a Swarovski crystal stitch marker. She will gladly ship anonymously for secret pals, including the message of choice, and send a delivery confirmation number back to the buyer.

Susie will ship internationally. The shipping costs will be determined by the destination. Please email her for more information on this. International buyers are strongly encouraged to use Paypal as the method of payment.

Exciting things to come!

2006-10-13T08:06:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! We have a little teaser announcement for you all!

This is all I can say:
VERY talented artist!!
handpainted sock yarn!!
ONLY available for SP9 participants!!

We are SO excited!!!

How To Post A Button

2006-10-01T16:03:00.000-07:00

Several of you have asked how to post buttons to your blogs. One of our wonderful hostesses posted a great tutorial last round which many people found to be incredibly helpful. You can find that post here as well as over in the right hand sidebar under the Links heading.

Hope this helps!

Questionnaire

2006-10-01T07:53:00.000-07:00

Welcome to SP9!

Below is the questionnaire for this round. Please post your answers to your blog before October 15th. Be sure you post the questionnaire where your pal can easily find it. :-)

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products, etc.)

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

13. What are you knitting right now?

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

18. What is your favorite holiday?

19. Is there anything that you collect?

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

23. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)

Blog Listings

2006-09-27T16:54:00.000-07:00

As of early this afternoon we've had almost 550 people signup. Wow! This is going to be another amazing swap. I've been busy updating the Participants List today and I think I've got everyone. Please go take a look to be sure. If you've received a confirmation from us then you should be on the list. If not, drop me a note with your name and link to your blog so I can get you added right away.

I will be posting the questionnaire on the 1st so keep an eye out for it please. You'll need to have your answers posted to your blog no later than October 15th.

Hope you're all getting as excited as we are to get this exchange started!

Who's Got The Button?

2006-09-11T13:25:00.000-07:00

Many of you have already started sending in buttons for this round of Secret Pal and we'd like to thank you very much for that. Unfortunately, it takes a lot of space and time to download them all so we've decided to limit the number of buttons each participant can contribute to a maximum of 5. We'd also like to request that each button be unique instead of having 5 of the same button in different colors. Each participant who contributes a button(s) will receive one entry into the button contest. In other words, you get one chance to win whether you send 1 or 5 buttons. :-) We'll choose a winner at random soon after the 15th of October.

Good luck and a huge thanks to everyone who participates!

Editing your sign-up information

2006-09-08T07:05:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone!! We've already had 350 participants sign up, and more are coming in every day! Keep it up! This is going to be the best exchange yet!!

We have been getting e-mails requesting changes to sign-up information. We actually are unable to do that, with the new system. It saves us from accidentally deleting someones info, and keeps your info secure. IF you need some of your info changed, such as blog address, or e-mail address, or you've only included part of your mailling address, you need to go back to the sign up page, log in, and click the Edit link. You can then view and edit your sign-up info. If you do edit your blog address, make sure to e-mail us as well to make sure we get the participants page corrected.

Thanks! We're really looking forward to the start of SP9!!

Sign Ups are open!!

2006-08-31T08:45:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone! Sign-ups are now open!! To sign up, you need to follow three simple steps!!

1) Go to the following website: Sign-up
2) Create an account, it's secure, so don't worry!!
3) Follow the links to the Sign-Up form!!

You will hear back from the hostesses within 7 days with your confirmation. Please be patient and give us time, since this is a new system (written for us by my husband). With the holiday weekend here in the US, there will be a lag in my getting to access the database. I will be back Monday evening and will try to get as many people verified by that evening.

We are very greatful for this form, since it will make managing sign-ups very easy. If you need to mention anything specific that is not on the form, there is an additional comment box. Please feel free to mention it there.

Thanks!!

The Rules

2006-08-24T10:19:00.000-07:00

Please take time to read through the rules as there have been some minor changes. :-)

1. Deadline to sign up: September 30, 2006
2. Matches will be distributed: On or before October 15, 2006
3. Secret Pal dates: October 15, 2006 though January 31, 2007

Who This Is For:
Knitters and Crocheters only please.

International Participation:
This SP event is based in the United States. The term "International" will refer to all participants outside the United States.

You are welcome to join no matter where you live!

Due to the high number of International participants, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to accommodate all requests for same Country/Continent pals.

If you are able to communicate in any language other than English please let us know. We normally have several participants who are more comfortable corresponding in other languages.

Blog:
Having a blog (or website) is mandatory for participating in this program. If you're new to blogging, please note that you must have at least 10 posts in order to join SP. Your blog must be public (if not, you MUST allow anonymous access to your pal and your hostess) and post at least 4 times a month throughout the 3 months (November, December, and January) of the exchange. This online journal is a great place for the SP who is spoiling you to find out who you are and what you like or dislike (do you like sweets? are you allergic to specific yarns?). It also provides a place for you to publicly thank your SP when the packages/cards start rolling in. Your blog certainly does not have to be a knitting blog, but you must have one fiber/hobby related post each month.

Anonymous Email Address:
You must set up an anonymous email address such as the free ones from Hotmail or Yahoo so you can contact your SP buddy without giving away your identity. Make sure to check the account regularly. You might want to consider having that accounts mail forwarded to your regular email account so you don't miss anything. If you do this, don't forget to reply from your anonymous account when corresponding with your pal!

Minimum Contribution:
$60 in US dollars over the course of the three months of the exchange. This does not include the value of your time if you make something or any postage costs. Establishing the amount should make it clear to all what a fair commitment should be, and no one should expect more, or less. $60 over three months is just $20 a month. If you feel this amount is too much or not enough, this exchange is not for you.

Your Pal:
Once you have been assigned a secret pal, please send them a quick note to say hello (from your anonymous email address) so they know they've been paired. Keep in mind that the fun of a Secret Pal event is to meet and get to know a random person who shares a common interest with you (knitting and/or crochet). There is a method to the madness of matching up all participants and you only get one match. Complaints about your secret pal of the "I'd rather not have a pal who..." variety are a quick way to have yourself removed from the event. If you feel you have a valid reason to request a rematch, feel free to email your hostess. Please remember though that you cannot pick and choose your secret pal and we will not hesitate to remove anyone who appears to be missing the point of a Secret Pal exchange.

What To Give:
Knitting and crochet related items are great but not the only thing you are limited to sending. Lots of participants also like to send their pal soaps, lotions, candy, cards, candles, and other special treats. Just remember that not everyone likes to crochet and that not everybody spins. It's a good idea to get to know your pal by reading the responses to their questionnaire and their blog entries. If you're still stumped, ask your pal what specific things they like. You can always ask your hostess for help too. We've seen lots of neat packages and will be more than happy to make suggestions.

***If you will be gifting items from your stash they MUST be in brand new condition.***

Number or Frequency of Gifts:
The number of gifts you send to your pal is entirely up to you. You can send one package a month to spread out the gifts, or one big package at the end. However, sending something snail mail to your pal once a month is a really great way to keep the exchange fun and exciting. Post cards, letters and cards are great, inexpensive ways to stay in touch with your pal if you choose to send only one package of gifts at the end of the exchange. If you do choose to just send one package, make sure to let you pal know your plans so they don't feel abandoned. Purchasing delivery confirmation for packages is a great idea. It's less than $1 at the post office or free when you use click and ship at the USPS website. If sending one package at the end of the exchange delivery confirmation is a requirement.

Contact:
You must make contact with your pals on the 1st and 15th of each month of the exchange (November, December, and January) to let them know you're still around with either an e-card, blog comment, or email. Of course if you'd like to contact your pal more often, you're more than welcome to do so. Remember to use your anonymous email when contacting your pal. If you're going to be away for more than 5 days you must let your pal and hostess know. It's an awkward situation when you think your pal may have dropped out of the exchange because you haven't heard from them. Remember to treat your pal as you would like to be treated.

Please remember that keeping in touch with the pal spoiling you is just as important as staying in touch with your spoilee. A quick email to let your pal know that a package has arrived will ease their mind as to whether or not it got lost in the mail, not to mention it's just plain old good manners. A public post to your blog to thank your pal is required within 72 hours of receiving your goodies. Part of the fun of Secret Pal is the joy of giving and that includes knowing your gift was received.

Stuff Happens:
If for some reason you are unable to follow through with your responsibility with the program please let us know immediately so that we can find a replacement for you. We realize and completely understand that things come up some times that are totally out of your control which might prevent you from participating but you need to let us know instead of avoiding your pals and your hostess. If you stop participating and don't respond to your hostess you will be replaced and your name will be added to the banned list for future SP programs.

If you have not had contact from your pal as outlined above, please let your hostess know immediately. Do not use your blog or the SP blog to blast your pal. We will try to find out what happened to your pal and if they have flaked we will get you a replacement.

Angels:
If someone does fail to participate as they agreed we will remove their name from the participation list and replace them with someone else. This means we will need a list of "angels" who are willing to jump in as replacements. As an angel, you might come in after the person you are replacing has already received a package. This means you might not receive the full $60 in goodies you would normally receive. We will also be accepting monetary donations through PayPal as well as tangible items to be used this round. If you're interested in donating either or both, please let us know when you sign up.

Final Note:
It's an important one! Please keep in mind that we are volunteering our time to run this event. We all have participated in past Secret Pal events and know how much fun they can be and want to help continue the tradition. This takes an incredible amount of time and effort. If you think something is amiss please let us know. We're perfectly open to constructive criticism and we'll gladly respond to any civil and respectful queries.

*Anonymous comments on the SP9 blog will be immediately removed no matter what the content of the post is.

Thank you and have a wonderful SP experience!!!

Addressing some concerns

2006-08-17T13:12:00.000-07:00

Hello all future SP9 participants! We are wrapping up SP8 as we speak and sign ups for SP9 will be here before we know it.

There has been some feedback about the design for this blog. We have heard your concerns, and have changed the font to black so that it is easier to read. As for the colors, with 500 + participants, it will be impossible for us to please everyone :-)

We are incredibly grateful for Michelle making this template for us. It may not be everyone's favorite, but then the world would be incredibly boring if we all liked the same things!

Here She Is...

2006-08-06T15:12:00.000-07:00

Michelle Lee. Remember I promised to share the link to her blog? Stop by and thank her for all the hard work she's put into our blog thus far. I've seen the first draft for our header and I gotta tell ya that Michelle is amazing!

Thank you again so very much for taking this on Michelle!

Lots of Updates

2006-07-31T08:48:00.000-07:00

I'd like to thank Michelle Lee for volunteering her time to give our blog a facelift. I've misplaced the link to her blog (if you're reading this Michelle please drop me a note) but will post it soon. I can't wait to see what she does with the place! :-)

Also, Shelby's wonderful husband has volunteered his time to create a new signup program for us. This will make things so much easier for the hostesses when it comes time for matching and it should eliminate the risk of missing applications too. How cool is that???

We have dates in place for SP9! We will open signups September 1st and close them October 1st. SP9 will officially begin on October 15th and matches will be distributed on or before that date. The exchange will end on January 31st.

I will post rules for the exchange as soon as we have them.

We have decided to open a PayPal account for SP9 and will accept donations to be used to purchase items for participants in the event that their pal bails on them. Donations will be totally voluntary and anonymous. I will post the email address closer to the 1st of September in case anyone is interested. Shelby has also volunteered to accept donations of gift items such as yarn, needles, candles, or anything else that is in BRAND NEW CONDITION that you'd like to contribute. These items will be used for the same purpose as the cash donations. I will post an email address closer to the beginning of the exchange so you can drop us a note to let us know you'd like to make a donation and we will respond with Shelby's mailing address. Anything that is left at the end of the exchange will be used as prizes for the best pal and button contests.

That's all I've got for now. :-) I'm so excited to see so many of you psyched for the beginning of SP9! We're going to have a wonderful time!

Don't Adjust Your Computer

2006-06-25T17:52:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the official SP9 blog!

I wanted to get this reserved for the next round BUT I'm no html wizard so we'll have to wait for a hostess who's more tech savvy than myself to brighten up the place. :-)

Be sure to check back around the end of August for more information and sign up information for SP9!

Have a great summer and hope to see you soon!