If possible I think it would be a really good idea for participants (or
as many as feasible) to put up a little web page and just give the link
to the coordinator. They can then list their ten favorite colors and
their five allergies without increasing the coordinator's work load. In
addition to the info contained on their regular website--presumably if
someone's regular site has dress diaries for their Viking costumes
people can figure out they like that era without being told much about
that on the gift list. I'm talking a simple list here; but if, for
example, someone morally objects to wearing fur, and also has no moral
objection to animal fibers but is allergic to mohair only, just that
gets too complicated for the "one dislike" slot on a list.
And then they could just give the link to the coordinator.
While it's kind of tacky for people to put so many requests and
restrictions on gift lists that it's practically a mail order, most of
us know by heart our various friends' and relations' allergies, favorite
colors, etc., so the holiday season is just a matter of finding out what
they want or need this year. Which is not true of a stranger.
On the other hand, of course gift situations always involve the risk of
getting or giving something unwanted and knowing it's the thought that
counts.
If people are worried about monetary value or gift-making time, we could
just make it a "stash and duplicate tool/book/etc." gift exchange.
Giving, of course, something in new condition that we really believe the
recipient would want. Just the giver faced up to the fact that they
themselves shouldn't wear that color fabric; or they somehow acquired
two copies of a perfectly good book or DVD and one is still new; or they
have several yards of lovely trim that it looks like they'll never use
in their lifetime; that kind of thing.
So people could give something perfectly nice without spending anything
but postage.
Fran
Lavolta Press
http://www.lavoltapress.com
Carol Kocian wrote:
Hi.
I would like to participate in this also, but wouldnt there be problems?
If i get someone who has interrest in medieval, i would not be much
helpfull, have never done any medieval and what then?
Bjarne
It's funny that some people are suggesting gift categories
without even getting a recipient! If Bjarne got a name of someone who
likes medieval, for example, he could go to a museum shop and get some
post cards of medieval paintings with costume. The person would
likely not be from the same country, and probably not be familiar with
those paintings.
The idea of a $10 limit is that it's a token, and a cultural
exchange. Much as we admire each other's work, I would not expect
someone to make something that would sell for $50, even if it only
contained $5 worth of materials. Time is valuable too, and especially
close to the holidays when a lot of people are shopping for/making
gifts for family and friends already.
I like the idea of several "clues" that someone suggested earlier
- besides time period(s), also a favorite color and animal, and maybe
another thing or two? Maybe one dislike, such as "nothing gray" or
"allergic to wool".
Say somebody lists 5th century, red and dragons. The giver might
find a stack of postcards, or a red dragon figurine, or a yard of
white linen (which is not specific to any of the clues but a 5th
century person could use it). You may decide to shop, or you may have
the perfect thing ripening in your fabric & trim stash already.
I think once names are distributed with their clues, a gift idea
will be obvious. And if not, perhaps some people with different eras
of interest could advise.
It may be more complicated for the organizer, but if some people
are concerned about customs or postage perhaps they could specify
getting a name of someone in their own country.
Great idea - take a chance! Where do we sign up?
-Carol
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