The Rules and Guidelines

Welcome to the Tote Exchange. We hope you will decide to participate. So how does it work? You will make a tote/purse/handbag for someone and your Secret Pal will make a tote for you. The "totes" can be big or small, felted or not - whatever you want to make. If you are interested please read the rules (below) and then send an e-mail to mailto:ToteExchangeHostesses@(no spam)gmail.com. Please include your name, online nickname (if applicable, i.e. Kim in NJ) e-mail address, street address and phone number. This information will only be available to the Hostesses and your Secret Pal. We will then send you an invite to join the blog. Once you have joined, you need to complete the questionnaire and post it on the blog. Signups will close on April 14, 2006 and all totes must be delivered by July 21, 2006. Let us know if you have any questions and we hope you will join in the fun. TOTE ON!

The Rules:
We hope everyone will have a good time, but to make sure things go smoothly we have a few rules that we ask you to follow:

1. You must sign up and complete the questionnaire by April 14, 2006 and all totes must be delivered by July 21st. Please only participate if you can meet this deadline. You will receive your SecretPal assignment no later than April 21st.

2. Minimum to spend: $25 USD for the tote or if you use handspun, please spend at least $15 USD on materials. Anything above these minimums is at your discretion. These minimums do not include postage. Please note that postage may be international, though we will try to honor requests for pals in the same country, if possible.

3. We STRONGLY suggest that when you send your bag you use a method that allows for tracking. It does not cost much but can alleviate the issue of all of your hard work being "lost in the mail".

4. You must post at least once in April, once in May and once in June. Additional posts and comments are up to you, but of course, the more on the blog, the more fun it is for everyone.

5. It is your choice if you want to reveal your identityto your Secret Pal. If you want to notify your Pal and keep your identity a secret, we suggest getting a new e-mail account that doesn't identify you. These are available for free on gmail and other sources on the web.

6. As they say in "Pirates of the Caribbean," the questionnaire isn't so much of a firm rule as a guideline. The answers to the questionnaire are to give you insight in to what your Secret Pal likes, but you do NOT have to slavishly follow it.

7. If something happens and you can not complete your project on time, please tell the Hostesses ASAP so we can contact the angels and your Secret Pal won't miss out.

8. If you sign up, but don't keep your end of the bargain (without telling us ahead of time) we're afraid we'll have to report you to the knitting blog police, who will ban you from future exchanges.

9. Try something new - challenge yourself and most of all - HAVE FUN!