Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Secret Sisters Stitching Group - Anyone Interested?

I just read a very exciting post this morning written by The Inspired Stitcher on her delightful blog, the name of which is The Inspired Stitcher   : )   In this post she tells about her local cross stitching group & how every year they have a Secret Sisters group.  In early December each person wanting to participate fills out a questionnaire telling their stitching likes & listing their special dates (birthday, anniversary, etc).  Each person participating is assigned someone to randomly show stitching kindnesses to throughout the coming year starting in January & ending the following Christmas.  The gifts include things like floss, charts, fabrics, embellishments, something made by you, etc.  This is a secret group meaning you don't know who is sending things to you until the year's end at which time there is a  "big reveal" meeting.  At this meeting you bring a stitched ornament for your assigned person which tells her your identity at that time.  It's really cute the way The Inspired Stitcher's local group does this   : )

I have been hostessing Secret Sister, Secret Santa, & various exchange groups online since the early 1990s & have aways enjoyed doing so.  I am wondering if any of my followers would be interested in attempting such a group here on Blogger?

The rules would be simple.  You would be emailed a copy of your assigned person's questionnaire listing her special stitching likes, other interests she might have, & her special days.  You might receive a questionnaire that looks something like this ...

_______________________________

Mary Smith
123 Snowfall Lane
Mountain View, AK  98765

Phone:  123-456-7890
Blog:  abcdefghijk.blogspot.com

Birthday:  1/1/60
Anniversary:  2/2/80

Pets:  1 cat, 2 dogs

Crafting Passion:  Cross Stitching

Other Crafting Interests:  Rug hooking, punchneedle

Crafting Likes:  DMC floss, counted linen fabric, wool felt squares, 100% cotton fabric

Other Likes/Collections:  Pinkeeps, buttons, snowmen, gingerbread men

Favorite Colors:  Burgundy, gold, dark blue

Allergies:  Scented candles
_______________________________

Throughout the year you would send a little package with a gift or two to your assigned person.  There is no set time you would be sending these things but you wouldn't want too much time to go by without sending something ... no longer than 2 months.  Of course birthdays should always be remembered.  The most important thing, whatever you send, is to pay attention to what she has written on her questionnaire & to send things like you would want to receive.  Things that are clean, unused, well made, etc.  There will be no set amount that you should spend on these items.  That is entirely up to you.  Do remember, however, that old adage ... "tis better to give than to receive."  This is a group you would be a part of in order to bring joy into someone else's life every now & then ... not a group where your main interest is "what am I gonna get."

If you sign up for this group, it is a year-long commitment.  Don't sign up if you are not going to follow through.  This group is open to all my cross stitch followers.  I think I know all of you well enough to know you will all follow through with your commitments.  

The question always comes up ... how can I keep my identity secret?  This person might realize who I am because she might be familiar with where I live.  This actually rarely happens.  Some people get a bit creative when they mail their packages.  They use a friend's or relative's return address on the package, create a special email account so they can correspond with their assigned person, &/or make up a fake name.  I have had people who travel or know someone who does & they mail their packages from a variety of places.  On the rare times that people have figured out who is sending things to them, it really hasn't mattered.  You wouldn't want your person to know that you have realized who they are though ... let them have their fun   : )

Are any of my cross stitching followers interested in participating in a group such as this?  If so, just post a comment here saying you would be interested.  If I get enough interest, we can get started.  I'll see where we stand on Saturday morning, December 10th, & that will determine whether this will happen or not.       

11 comments:

~*Sharee*~ said...

Sounds like fun hun, count me in...

Hugs, Shar

Tricia T said...

Yes, yes, yes! I emailed her about that post, too, and was so sad that we didn't have any stitching groups in my area. I would love to be a part!!

TheCrankyCrow said...

Sounds like lots of fun Shirlee. Wish I could commit to something like that, but, alas, this coming year is going to be full of challenges the way it is - and as quickly as I stitch anything, my poor partner would end up with just flosses and patterns and such! So, I'll have to pass - but hope you gets lots of folks to sign up....I'm sure it will be all sorts of fun! Smiles & Hugs ~ Robin

The Book Barista said...

Shirlee, this sounds like so much fun! I would love to participate~
grandmakringle@yahoo.com
grandmakringle.blogspot.com

Jessica said...

Hi Shirlee, you can sign me up! I think it would be fun to do this. I love to give, and doing it secret sister style just adds to the fun. :)

hugs, Jessica

Kaisievic said...

Hi Shirlee,

I would love to do this but it will be too hard for me to keep where I am from a secret - posting from anywhere in Melbourne will give it away. Maybe if you only get a few people it doesn't need to be a secret - we could just have someone we are paired with?

cheers, Kaye

Lisa Clarke said...

I would love to do this and I am a new follower!! Sounds like fun and I need a pick-me-up right now! Thanks!!
Lisa C.

Kendra said...

Shirley,
First, I got your ornie today, thank you so much, I needed that today and it looks great on my prim tree in our family room. Second, I am not a cross stitcher but I do do stitcheries as I call them, would that be ok for participating? Let me know because I would love to do this. See my blog to see what I do thestonehouseprims.blogspot.com and let me know! Thank you again for the lovely ornie! Kendra

Lisa V said...

I would love to be included in your new group, please count me in.
LISA V

diamondc said...

I would love to participate pleaseinclude me in your group.
diamondc@lakedalelink.net

DaisyGirl said...

I'd love to participate too! I'm gonna need it this coming year!
bearthread1@yahoo.com
Daisygirl Stitching