Interview with Tracy of Scrap Happy Quilts

This week, we are chatting with Tracy, a super quilter and swapper/hostess! She has hosted numerous mini quilt swaps and has fabulous pictures of her creations on her blog.

SwapDex: Tell us a bit about you.

Tracy: Age 40s, southern California, Married 16 years
Pets: Cooper a year old Picardy Shepard (Winn Dixie dog)/kids Daughter Kaitlyn,13 Occupation: High school Psych teacher What type of crafts do you do: mostly quilt now...have been into embroidery,doll clothes

SD: How long have you been swapping? What made you decide to start?

T: About 5 years How did you first learn about swapping, Began swapping on Yahoo groups...then surfing the web.

SD: What is your range of swapping? Do you stick to swaps hosted by people you know or are you likely to swap with anyone, anytime?

T: I try to keep it down to 1 or 2 a month....but I am always organizing them. I swap mostly with people I "know" or have gotten to know from Flickr groups,but am up for newbie swaps too!

SD: Do you swap with any organized groups like yahoo groups, flickr, groups on swap-bot, other message boards, etc? Why or why not?

T: I have swapped with most of these....I belong to several flickr groups that swap regularly. I also organize swaps on my blog and participate in some I have found reading other blogs.

SD: What's your favorite swap you've ever been in or hosted?

T: I still consider the Doll Quilt Swap on FLickr to be the Cadillac of mini quilt swaps.

SD: What do you do to make your packages special?

T: I try to fill the packages with FABRIC cause i know that's what we all love!

SD: Do you have a good story about hosting or participating in a swap?

T: Several of the swaps I have done lately have gone bad, and I have ended up making 4-5 extra quilts for those who flaked. I really love getting partners from all over the world and my daughter collects the stamps from the packages.

SD: What do you think is the most challenging part of hosting a swap? Any advice for someone who is thinking about hosting a swap?

T: Keep it simple. Be prepared to step in and cover any people who flake along the way. For the most part, quilters as a whole are a wonderful breed,with huge hearts....but every now and then there will be a "swap gone bad."

SD: Any exciting plans for the near future? Swaps, projects, new products?

T: I am seriously considering trying to do a book on doll quilts and organizing and participating in swaps.

Excellent advice for new hostesses and I can't wait to see a book about swapping!!