Birth Bead Swap - Official Sign Up! « Back to Group Discussions

[bmcneal]

Hopefully, this isn't too soon after Christmas, but I was just thinking about it, so I thought I would go ahead and make a thread about it. If you want to join in the birth bead swap, sign up here! 

Participating:

1. Greenlea

2. BeanBean06

3. stormysky

4. Munchkin08

5. firespiritmelody

6. ironmam

7. JennJenn84

8. Rainey Daye

9. cagnew

10. cyclamen

11. bmcneal

12. bambihelton

13. magpiemind

Edited by bmcneal - 2/26/13 at 7:34pm

[Greenlea]

I would like to!

[BeanBean06]

I'm in!!

[Kara9080]

I've never particiated in one, can you tell me how it works exactly?

[JennJenn84]

Same here, what is it and how.does it work?

[stormysky]

I'm in :)

[Munchkin08]

Sign me up :)

[bmcneal]

Okay, here's the plan thus far.

I would like to have the sign ups end about the end of January/very beginning of February. When you sign up, please PM me your address. When I receive your PM, I will PM you my address.

When I get the final count of who all is participating at the end of the month, I will try and PM everyone and let you know the number of people participating (It will definitely be in a thread, in the case I don't get PMs sent out.)

Each person picks out a bead/beads that they like, one (or one set) for each participant, and send them to me. If you want, you can enclose personal note of encouragement, a quote that inspires you, or something similar.

I will go through, and separate beads, one package for each mama, with one bead (or one set of beads, if you pick more than one per participant) from everyone else.

When you receive your birth beads, you can string them onto a necklace, a bracelet, or any way that you would like.

These serve as reminder of other mamas due around the same time as you, your DDC support group, and that we're all experiencing similar, and thinking about you, while you labor. :)

[alaskanmomma]

About how much do beads run? I'm interested, but can't do it if beads are like $10/each or anything!

[BeanBean06]

Originally Posted by alaskanmomma 

About how much do beads run? I'm interested, but can't do it if beads are like $10/each or anything!

Oh good point!! We are on a strict budget and won't be able to participate if they are a lot either. Hadn't thought of that lol

[firespiritmelody]

Hmm, I can't get the picture to flip the right way, but this is the necklace I put together with the beads from the last DDC I was in. I bought the little silver spacers and the pendant in the middle. All the rest of the beads came from the other mamas. Some were simple plastic beads, some were fancy glass ones. One mama bought beads while on a trip with the peace corps in Africa long before she was pregnant and had them lying around. Another mama bought hers while on vacation in china. Most came from the local craft store.

I bought my beads at a local bead shop and probably spent about $10 for the whole lot. Another $3 or so was spent to ship the beads to the host, and $3 for the return shipping to me. A little note saying why you chose that bead and maybe an affirmation or well-wish for the mama who receives them is a nice touch, but not necessary.

I spent the first hour of my labor putting the necklace together and wore it for the duration and I do think it helped to know that there were so many other mama's going through it at the same time.

Oh, and I'm in!!

[IronMam]

I'm in. :)

[bmcneal]

Originally Posted by alaskanmomma 

About how much do beads run? I'm interested, but can't do it if beads are like $10/each or anything!

Originally Posted by BeanBean06 


Oh good point!! We are on a strict budget and won't be able to participate if they are a lot either. Hadn't thought of that lol

I think firesprirtmelody addressed this pretty well, but I was going to say, it can be any kind of bead, super fancy, or super simple, it doesn't matter.  To be honest, mine aren't going to be able to be super fancy/super expensive beads, but... I would really wanting to participate because I've never felt so involved and included with a DDC before, and it's something nice to do with this baby, when it's been kind of hard for me to enjoy this pregnancy much. 

[JennJenn84]

I'm in!

[IronMam]

I think I spent less than $10 total on beads and shipping last time I did this (with DD's due date club). I certainly hope nobody is spending $10 per bead! @_@

I've even seen some nice, unique beads on Etsy for far less than that.

[Rainey Daye]

I am in!!

[cagnew]

This sounds like fun! I'm in!

[bmcneal]

Sorry I've been MIA for awhile. I've been helping my mom move to a different state, and trying to get her settled.

So here's how I'm thinking. sign-ups will end January 31st. For those of you who have already PM'ed to verify you want to join, I will PM you when I get home (tomorrow), with my address. The deadline for getting the beads to me is going to be February 14th/15th. That will give me time to get them separated into each mama's package, and get them sent. When you send your beads, if you wouldn't mind including $2 or 3 dollars for shipping the beads back to you, I would appreciate it. Then I will send the packages back.

[cyclamen]

Bmcneal I pm you my address. I'm so pumped! I've been looking at beads at the bead shop near my house. I'm glad to hear I wont be the only one on a budget

[bmcneal]

BUMP!