Celebrating the WOYWW anniversary

In previous years, we’ve marked the WOYWW anniversary with an ATC swap online in a big round circle that marks the occasion but more, celebrates the community. I can’t honestly think of anything nicer to do on the tenth anniversary either. Perhaps be a little less prescriptive and suggest that if you take part, you can send any sort of hand made memento to your swap recipient. It doesn’t have to be an ATC, but remember that you will have to post your gift, so an ATC is a fine and ideal gift.

Before I get complicated with the how to, I wanna point out that this is an entirely voluntary thing to do. You can join in the link up as usual on WOYWW 520 whether you participate or not in the swap. No one will mind if you don’t want to or can’t take part. It’s meant to be fun, so if it’s going to cause any ounces of anxiety or stress, please don’t bother. Can’t bear that. 

I should also add that as WOYWW has always been flexible in that we all have to dip in and out of participating, don’t let your lack of participation in earlier weeks/months be a barrier. If this is your first week or your 520th week, you’re welcome to join in with the circular swap.

So here’s how it works. Between now and 22 May which is week 520, make your ATC, card, gift, blanket, quilt.........and have it ready to post on the day. 

On that day, when you add your name to the link list include an asterisk * after your name. That will tell us you’re taking part.

When your name* appears on the link list, the person above you with a name* will get in touch with you to ask for your address so that’s who you’ll receive happy mail from. 

The next name* below yours on the link list is the person to whom you must send your hand made gift, so you should get in touch with them to get their address. Ideally, the gifts should be sent on the day, or at least within 24 hours. This gives all time zones a chance to wake and be erm, awesome.The last name* on the list will send to the first name* on the list which completes the circle. It’s far far simpler to do than it is to explain. 

Also, if you forget to add the asterisk * when you link, link again. I am the administrator of the Link list and will be on hand to delete incorrect links. It is staggeringly easy to forget the * so don’t worry about it, just link again! 

The first couple of Crops were very close in date to the anniversary ATC swap, and so some people were able to save some postage by trading at the crop or sending them to me or others for distribution at the Crop. There hasn’t ever been a specific ‘Crop’ ATC, the ones given and received were anniversary extras. I’m all for keeping things simple and I don’t think we need to do a Crop specific make. Indeed, I think it would just be another time pressure. So officially, there’s no crop give away to make. Phew.