Thursday, January 31, 2013

Working, working (sort of)

A quick check-in to let you know I am working on pairing people up as best I can.  I apparently have that "can't- move-even-if-a-stick-of-dynamite-was-lit-under-me" flu that's going around.  I slept all but two hours yesterday, and I mean, I do adore my sleep, but helllooooo, this is just bad timing.


Chances are your partner will be announced on Sunday.  Here's what goes into pairing people (and I can't get anyone to help but my husband at this point because it's a little complicated, and you'd have to be on a computer right next to me, as my husband does, reading things out).


An old grind stone.  Get it?  Nose to the grind stone?   Ah ha ha.. it's the Nyquil that makes it funny.


1) Visit all blogs. Why?  Some are just contest entry blogs and that's not cool.  Some blogs weren't entered correctly and I have to find them.  And finally, as I try to pair you with someone who doesn't work in your style, I can mark up my spreadsheet with what each person does.... seed beads, stringing, wire, mixed media, etc.


2) Highlight all international people.  There are 142 of them -- most in Canada and the UK, but we have Bahrain, France, Finland, Sweden, Germany, Luxembourg, Austria, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, and I'm blanking on the rest.  Once I highlight them, I see who wants to stay within their country and pair them (assuming their reveal dates are also the same -- this is where hubby on the 2nd computer comes in).  Then if necessary, I pull the US people who said they could ship internationally.

Last year's Party.


3) Separate the spreadsheet into three groups.  I need three groups to represent the three reveal dates.  Double check at this point for duplicates.


4)  Start pairing people.  


5)  Email each pair with their partners name, email, and blog.  (Even using cut-and-paste, that's 260-odd emails.  I don't list anyone's email publicly, but I will probably post pairs on this page to make it available faster).


So you see why I give myself a week to do this.  I do enjoy it, though, because there are lots of new blogs to see, and I've been remiss in visiting favorites, so I can catch up.  I am making myself not comment when I visit this time, though, because I'm behind.


Anyway!  While this is going on, please do start putting your soup together.  The quicker it gets out, the better.   Please read the blog posts below for more information you might have missed.


 Thanks!


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Lori Anderson creates jewelry and bead kits as well as collaborative mixed media art with her son, Zack.  Visit her shops by clicking here.  She is also the creator of the Bead Soup Blog Party®   and author of the book Bead Soup.

25 comments:

  1. Wow, logistics at its finest! And greetings to DH for helping. :)

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  2. Wow so much goes into the backround part!! Fair play to you and your patience!

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  3. That is alot of work just for pairing. Hope you feel better soon hun.. We all have been sick over here.

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  4. Whew! Thank you for all your work in putting this together. The effort you put into running a successful party is what makes yours so successful - hats off to you, ma'am.

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  5. I hope you get better soon! I read the list of names when you published it, and only then realized what a huge task you have with this. Not something to do while you're sick, and I'm happy to hear your husband is helping you with this.

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  6. So much work to do for you... I really hope you will be better soon. Take care and thank you so much Lori, chapeau!!! When all the work is done you will look at the results with a big smile!

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  7. Thank You Lori for all you do. I'm hoping I don't have the flu or a virus. I have a headache and have major nausea. Had to take me husband to the hospital and I think something hitched a ride on me. I really don't like hospitals. I hope you get better it is so hard to be sick and have other counting on you. Wish I had it together as much as you do.

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  8. Thank you for the chance to join in and all your hard work.

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  9. Thank you for all the hard work, Really am so happy to be a part of this one.

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  10. WOW...all I can say is WOW! And you do it all for free...amazing. Thanks so much for doing this, I and I know so many others enjoy it so much.
    Sonya

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  11. Lori, just feel better !!! we understand and we love you!

    xoxox jean

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  12. Lori my blog changed to www.beadsinspireme.com

    from http://bytameraleah.wordpress.com/

    I realized I totally dispize the way wordpress is set up. and am starting to learn blog spot a little better besides a .com is easy to memorize I hope this helps?

    Tamera Norris
    tln2940@Gmail.com

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  13. You are quite the hostess with the mostess Lori! I can't imagine doing all that essentially by myself, especially since you find yourself sick with that nasty flu that's making its rounds around the nation o.O Although kudos to hubby for helping the best he can! :)

    You just take your time and do what you've got to do and we'll all be patiently be waiting. Most importantly, just feel better!

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  14. Thank you Lori for all your hard work.... incredible

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  15. Can't express how grateful I am for all your work and your hubby too! Take your time and get well soon! Hugs!

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  16. Thanks for the update, Lori. And for all your hard work. I've been dreaming of what will go into my soup. I love that you're trying to pair folks with different styles.

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  17. So sorry to hear that you're under the weather -- my son and I had it a few weeks ago, then my hubby was down with it last week.....definitely not fun. Sending healing thoughts your way. And, a huge thank you (and your hubby) for coordinating this massive undertaking.

    FYI - while I created my blog so I could participate in this swap, I have been diligently adding a few photos of my jewelry creations and other related posts -- but, please feel free to drop me from the current swap if what I've put up there so far doesn't really fit or isn't robust enough to participate. I sincerely don't want to cause you more work or angst! I can always join in the next swap after I've got my blogging feet more completely wet than they are now. :-)

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  18. You poor thing! Being sick is no fun. Thank you and your hubs for working on this even while sick! Feel better soon.

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  19. You poor thing! Being sick is no fun. Thank you and your hubs for working on this even while sick! Feel better soon.

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  20. So sorry you are sick. A virtual hug and chicken noodle soup. I'm confused because I wrote on my calendar that sign up date is one day only.... Feb 9th! I really wanted to sign up for this one Lori :'(

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  21. this post just showed up in my email inbox.. 2-2-14. how odd is that? scared me I'd missed sign up!?!

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  22. Hi Lori. My thought are with you now. With all of your other health problems I am sure the flu didn't make anything better. I'm sending healing wishes your way. Thank you so much for all that you and your family do to make this happen. If there is any way that I can help please just drop me an email. Don't feel bad about taking the time you need to heal we all understand being sick.

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  23. Dear Lori, Sorry but I am confused ... I understood from the graphic that the sign up day is February 9th? Did I miss something? Best wishes, Natascha

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  24. Lori, I think somehow last year's post showed up. We're all marking Feb. 9 on our calendars. hang in thee. xx

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Thanks so much for taking the time to comment!