When are you most likely to take part in exchanges?

[soyloquesoy]

As suggested by Antiquarian, this is a poll intended to get a feeling for when we would prefer to have exchanges.

[carolivy]

Did you forget the Poll part of this post?

I would love to take part in more exchanges/challenges, but with the Farmers Market starting in late April and not ending unitl mid December keeping up with all my baking, tatting and card making for the Farmers Marke, trying to keep up on my design work and trying (ha!) to do some housework, I don't have time anymore to participate...sigh

[soyloquesoy]

yep, something went wrong when posting. Sorry! Have you ever started a poll, Carol?

[carolivy]

Yes, you start out by clicking Poll, then make your post, submit, then it is supposed to go to a page to allow you to enter the info for the poll.

[crazytatter]

I like June to August as that is when it seem things are slow, in summer vacation mode eventhough not really taking a summer vacation.

[IdahoCanuck]

For me it is not a certain month or time of year.... It is just how busy I am at any given time. So, I guess it all really depends on how much time is allowed for you to accomplish the required tatting.... And how involved it is. Given enough of a time period I feel that even if busy I can find a few evening hours here and there to get something finished.

[MercyPres]

There's not a "anytime" check box. Depends on where I am not the time of year.

[GraceT]

I decided not to take part in Antiquarian's summer exchange because my family are coming from UK to Singapore, and I think I won't get much tatting done while they're around! And, of course, I'll be making Christmas gifts in the run-up to Christmas. Apart from that, I don't know when would be best, really.

[Ireneho]

When its not school holidays! Nephew likes to stick his head in my face and peer at whatever doing! If its not peering, its verbal diarrohea of "what are you doing" "what is it for?" "why are you making it" etc. He'll go outside, come back in 10mins later and asks the same questions! And when he comes in again for the umpteenth time, I say, "You know what Matty, u asked me earlier where its going, well it went in the bin cos you kept disturbing me and i made mistakes! Now i have to start again!"

[Judy]

Oh Irene,.. Is nephew there every day? Would drive me crazy, too. Unfortunately, he's getting his way, by disturbing you and gaining attention. Is he 2? or 5? If he's 5, you may be able to make a deal with him. He's obviously bored and doesn't know how to entertain himself. They've brought back those great "scout" books from a century ago about things boys like to do. You could try a couple of things from those... He gets to sit down and pick ONE each day, but in between he has to let you work from your "scout" project.

[Anke]

After Christmas, in the cool winter months I like tatting and I have time to tat so that's the most possible time for me to take part in an exchange.
(I voted for Jan/Feb.)

[carolivy]

Since this poll doesn't accept multiple responses, I went with Jan/Feb but really anytime after the Market closes in December and before it opens in April (I start getting ready for it in early April)....but this also depends on what other orders/designing I am trying to get done at the time too....and what the exchange is.....

[soyloquesoy]

Oh, well. I should not try to do new things when I am tired at night. I *wanted* to leave the option of multiple votes open! Maybe we can mostly talk about it...? Or I can start a new poll.

I agree with someone who said it is not so much if the time of the year is busy for me, as how long the exchange is open and if the theme interests me at that moment...

[Fiona T]

I'm happy for anytime too. A seasonal exchange (as has been happening) is a good idea...that way those who are interested can take part. Need to remember this is an international group, so peak times, holidays and seasons differ between countries. I am still considering if I'll take part in the clover exchange, start a new job next week and am traveling at the moment....will have to see :D

[soyloquesoy]

I like seasonal too, knowing that if I can t get in one there will be a next one in a few months time... of course, that may have the opposite effect of always putting it off or getting few participants...? I don t have an answer to that...

[Antiquarian]

Hey thanks for making the poll I checked the FAQ and looked and looked for the "Make a poll" button to no avail *sigh* I had suggested the 2 month breakdown because I that's about how much time I've seen most exchanges give.

I didn't know about the markets. They are May through October in my area. And as my DH is a teacher I have my hands more full during school months Sep - May. This poll may just prove that it doesn't matter when, but it's nice to have the non scientific data *laugh*

[soyloquesoy]

I agree! No time is going to be perfect, but we will take part too anyway!

I think you have to be either a paying member or an admin to post polls. I am not sure, though.

I have lots of ideas for exchanges, just can't make the time commitment to organize one... I think having one around the end of the year is nice, but it is wise not to have the deadline too close to Xmas - either mid January like last year, or mid November. I think about a month to join and then 2 weeks to post is a good time-frame, in general.

[carolivy]

I didn't know about the markets. They are May through October in my area. And as my DH is a teacher I have my hands more full during school months Sep - May. This poll may just prove that it doesn't matter when, but it's nice to have the non scientific data *laugh*

The "normal" season for the markets IS May-October but we have quite a few vendors that have Hoop Houses and are able to stretch the growing season by a couple months both ways and we have vendors (like me) who have no grown produce but baked goods and crafts, which can be produced any time during the year....hense our longer season.

[Ireneho]

Oh Irene,.. Is nephew there every day? Would drive me crazy, too. Unfortunately, he's getting his way, by disturbing you and gaining attention. Is he 2? or 5? If he's 5, you may be able to make a deal with him. He's obviously bored and doesn't know how to entertain himself. They've brought back those great "scout" books from a century ago about things boys like to do. You could try a couple of things from those... He gets to sit down and pick ONE each day, but in between he has to let you work from your "scout" project.

He's 8. He comes to stay during school holidays cos his parents are working and no one is able to take care of him.

[Antiquarian]

This exchange ends in August...if people want one and if no one else wants to host it I'd be willing to do another one starting in mid September or the first of October into Nov/Dec. *shrug* I have a good system for sorting exchange info and getting it back out.

[mmccurry]

Any time during the year...4 times a year is great with me. When I see an exchange getting ready to take place, I start my tatting. Then if I get too busy during the exchange time, I'll be done. If there is a theme, and haven't covered it, I can tat something extra to go with the theme.

[tatting margaret]

I really don't mind when the challenges and exchanges are, as long as they are not in November/December as I have too much to do and I struggled with the Christmas exchange we had last time. I could not put more then one month on the poll as I would have liked to press more then one.
Margaret

[coretta]

I normally would have participated in Antiquarian's exchange (was planning on it) but we took a three week "vacation" and missed sign ups due to other priorities. I love exchanges and like to participate when ever I can get to the sign up. :) I like to have an "excuse" to take some time for myself and tat. :) so I guess it's not the season but the level of busy and distraction for me. I think it would be nice to have little exchanges going on pretty much all the time but I am sure that's a lot of work to organize. Thanks to all who do the exchanges.

[PattyD]

I sign up when I know I won't have a mountain of distractions to keep me from fulfilling my obligation.

[LaurieE]

On a crocheting forum I'm on, they list all the exchanges for the year in one stickied post in January. Granted they had a lot more exchanges. What I liked about that is I could plan ahead on which ones I wanted to participate in. In some cases, I could start on the items ahead of time because some of the exchanges were the same every year (i.e. ornaments, scarves, etc) because they were very popular. Perhaps that is something that could be considered for next year.

[Liyarra]

Looks like the southern and northern winter months are the most popular.....way too hot to tat here in Australia over summer without the benefit of air conditioning!!!