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[amlikam]

Just wondering if anyone would be interested in doing a bead swap like some of the other DDC? I would be willing to be the point person for this if any Mamas are interested??? Wouldn't it be nice to share something since we are supporting each other through this journey. I am participating the swap for the May DDC since I am due so early in June, but would love for one in this DDC as well.

How it will work:

Similar to how the other groups have worked it out: Send me a PM with your address and that you are interested by say April 1 and I will send you my information- then you will be in the count. I will then post here how many bead each of us need to send by April 8, the you will mail your beads to me by April 29 (sooner the better!!!) and I will mail them back to you around May 6.

How to mail the beads:

Get a bubble or padded envelope or 6"x9"or so. Put beads in, notes if you want to. Put your address on it and stamp it with as much value as you sent it to me for. Leave it unsealed. Put that envelope in a larger paper envelope 9x12 yellow ones are common. Address this one to me. This way the padded envelope gets used twice and nothing pops out. If you send stamped addressed envelope no money exchange is necessary.

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Here's what April club said,
"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, 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. "
 

http://www.mothering.com/community/t/1371152/birth-bead-swap-official-sign-up

 

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In the May club did it like this, which is how I would want to do it:

Get a bubble or padded envelope or 6"x9"or so. Put beads in, notes if you want to. Put your address on it and stamp it with as much value as you sent it to me for. Leave it unsealed. Put that envelope in a larger paper envelope 9x12 yellow ones are common. Address this one to me. This way the padded envelope gets used twice and nothing pops out. If you send stamped addressed envelope no money is necessary.

[spotty4]

I think I am missing something fundamental.  What exactly is a bead swap?  Sorry, I am new to all of this DDC culture!

[amlikam]

Ahhh good question!!

The idea is we would each contribute a bead for each mama who signs up for the swap. Then I would send a collection of beads to each mama for her to string into a necklace or bracelet to wear during labor, postpartum, nursing.... It is often a reminder to women that they are surrounded by a network of people who care about them. Here is a picture of a necklace I made for a friend. Each bead was sent to me from one of her friends and I put them all together. She often talks about how meaningful it was to have this during labor. She still wears it and I love seeing her daughter play with it while she nurses.

[pokeyAC]

Thank you for organizing, amlikam!  I'll send you my info.  So basically, you will tell us how many people are participating and we will send you enough beads for everyone, right?

[amlikam]

That's correct though no one else seems interested :-/ but I would still LOVE to swap with you.

Last night one of my circles of friends gifted me a necklace with beads they gathered - I was shocked. I love it and it made the news of my sisters cancer returning easier to receive when I got home. I just remembered how strong I am and how open I can be to the moment.

I will get a picture when it isn't the middle of the night. I love the idea of this necklace being with me during labor and the last few months.

[Ponyomum]

Definitely interested if you can post to Australia?

[amlikam]

I would send to Australia for sure!! I am just asking for return postage to be included on an envelope but I see where that will be an issue for you- I do have PayPal or we could think of an interesting barter. :-) lets inbox details.

[amlikam]

Anyone else interested in joining us for the swap? I promise I am a real person. :-)

[Sweet Huck]

I'm in! I'll pm you later today.

[Sweet Huck]

Hey folks! I'm gonna risk being annoying and boost this thread over the next few days! Please consider joining our bead swap. So far interest has been slim, and the deadline for "signing up" is MONDAY!  Contributions don't have to be fancy or matching. It's not meant to be complicated--- just meant to be a creative way to share the love/support!

I'm really interested to see what my beads will be like and how I can string them together! Would be FABULOUS to have more mamas involved. Once again, Monday is only the deadline for expressing interest. We have a bit more time to accumulate and mail out our beads!

PM amlikam for more info!

[amlikam]

Wow thanks!!! Hopefully we get more mama's to join in!!!

[pokeyAC]

We would love to have you join in!

[kitteh]

Ok I'm in! I've been meaning to reply but keep forgetting, but I would love to do this. I wanted to last time with DD, but we were so broke that I couldnt afford to send them out. I love the idea that when you are in labor something like 3,000 other women are also laboring or delivering babies (or something like that, not certain of the figure) and these beads kind of represent that to me.

[amlikam]

Yay!

[kitteh]

C'mon mamas! We need a few more takers or these will be some awfully short strings of beads!

[Sweet Huck]

yay! Kittehs on board! Now who else can we bully into participating?!

[amlikam]

Maybe those if you who have sent me your address and gotten mine back should let others know inam indeed a weirdo on the Internet but not that psycho kind of weird, just your typical weirdo. :-)

I wonder if we mention it on the chat thread?

[JaiMaMaV]

I'm totally in! I'm glad the ladies have been "boosting" this because I've also been meaning to sign up and keep forgetting and had no idea that monday was the deadline.. woops!

[JaiMaMaV]

Also... how awesome that we will be able to look at our beads that come from alllll over... i'm stoked that one of my beads will have flown all the way from australia! 

[spotty4]

I can participate, but I must admit, I don't know the least in how to string them together into a piece of wearable jewelry.  What kind of string/thread/cord do I use?  How do I get the clasps/hooks integrated?  Where do I even buy the beads - a craft store?  I promise I am not an imbecile, just naive.