Swap Stories

May 2025

• a young swapper explained in great detail to a new swapper friend the plans for the project she was shopping for (“but don’t tell the lady with the backpack” - her mom - "because it’s for her") 😍🥹 

• a swapper at drop offs asked if we knew anyone who could repair jewelry. She had a special earring related to a loved one that needed repair.  We connected her with a jeweler and new swap volunteer that we met at early drop offs.

• Allison from Studio49 tested a sewing machine for a curious swapper. The machine arrived from downsizing 25 years of crafting. Allison helped a swapper learn how to use it, then it went home with him.

• “I have a lot of stuff from my father who was an artist. Am I really going to take up calligraphy? It’s time to let go.” A swapper took home the set to keep it together and learn from the artists' collection.

• swappers, new to the area, came to early drop offs and stayed to identify specialized tools -- then offered to volunteer for the next swap!

• a young swapper arrived at a dinner party the day after the swap, introducing a stuffed sewing project she made by herself from a swap find

• "The swap was awesome last time. This time is more awesome."

• “One of the things I was impressed with at the last swap was the quality of what people brought. People didn't really bring in junk. It's all quality.” 

• “It amazes me how much money we all spend on this and then don’t use it.”

• At drop offs, a swapper asked, “Do you have stamps? I gave all my stamp supplies away years ago but now I’ve started stamping again.” (We directed her to the growing table.)

• At drop offs: 

  • “I’ve been waiting to bring these somewhere that they would get to people who would use them.” 

  • “We got all of these earring display cards and don’t need them. This seemed like the place to connect them with people who will use them.”

• Gardiner drop offs showed out once again, needing an early pick up - and a volunteer was able to bring them up!

• Museum of Unfinished Projects struck a chord -- and were welcomed thanks to the partnership with Allison from Studio49

November 2024

• swappers asking for scissors so they could take only what they needed and leave a usable amount for someone else

• kids excited about trying a new material and finding diamonds (sequins) in the piles

• supplies from mothers and grandmothers who had passed and that folks were holding onto until they found the right place to share them

• three generations attending together. This family recently moved from far away and a crafter was unable to bring their supplies in the move. They were able to recreate some of what they left behind with swap materials. 💖

• a volunteer drove 40 minutes from a neighboring county to help as well as swap

• the Gardiner satellite drop-offs got an overflowing amount of donations almost immediately

• swappers were curious about the people who would take certain supplies (“I would like to know them”)

• swappers wanted a space to spread out and take a break

• a Swap Day volunteer offered to store the unexpectedly large volume of leftover supplies

• swappers offering each other finds from their treasure piles

• kids making amazing color choices ⚡️

• a couple of dogs got some cute, handmade Christmas bandanas made with leftover fabric from people who happened upon the swap while exploring downtown

• “I’m not an artist” - we heard this more than a little, but it is not stopping us from participating and making our things!