About the US Postage rates - I asked the gal at my post office about the Flat Rate envelopes - she said those rates had already gone up on Jan 1 of this year, so she didn't expect they would change in April, and had not heard that they would. Currently $4.95 will allow you to use either the flat rate letter size, or the flat rate legal size envelope. The letter size easily held my 280 HSTs, and the legal size held 200 strips for the Sensational Stripper exchange!

In any case, I would think that if we have all put our own address in the "sender" area of our return envelopes, our Fearless Leaders and Organizers should not have to worry about the postage...

I am just about ready to send in my HST (616) in 22 small baggies of 28 plus some for Hanne-Grete and for Queensland into a larger Ziploc bag. I am following the instruction precisely and have been able to put them in a size 4 Jiffy bag (approx. 10” x 13”) with room for quite a few more HST. I think that is roughly the size of a Priority Envelope. I will let you know Debbie when I post them.

I have never sent anything to the US before so have a question that maybe one of you can answer. What is confusing me is what to put on the customs declaration? Gift? But then what do you put in the quantity and detailed description of contents? I know the weight but how much value do you put on it? I can probably work that out myself.

In the UK we have to pay Import VAT on goods with a value that exceeds £18 (which in practise means we have to collect our parcel from the post office to pay the VAT and pay the post office £8 for the 'convenience/pleasure' of paying the VAT. :shock: So can I please remind Debbie, not to put a value of more than $28 to avoid VAT when she send post back to the UK.

Another question is – do you get stung for Import duty from abroad and at what value it comes into effect?

msscho wrote:

I hope at some point everyone will have a chance to go to one of Edyta's presentations in person. She spoke at our Quilt Guild last April and I took an applique workshop with her the next day. And then I was able to hear her speak at Quilt Market in Houston last fall. She is such a delightful, warm, caring person and very talented artist.

Debbie

I was very fortunate to be able to spend most of my day listening to Edyta talk about her quilts and showing them off to a wonderful bunch of quilters in the thumb of Michigan (Decker) today. It was a wonderful event filled day with lots of fun and friendship and even a strip exchange.....Anyhow, I wanted to share that Edyta said that she has over 600 HST's with her signature on them, and almost ready for the mail.

How wonderful is it that we will be able to have signed HST's from Edyta, Alex, and Ricky!! I am just so excited and so greatful for all of the work that the sorters will be doing for all of us. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!

Marlene
Freeland, MI

Basically I did a lot of playing around in Photoshop until I got a graphic I was happy with, and then pulled the image into hubby's computer and he tagged it onto his website (not sure about this part myself) then he gave me the web address, then put that address into my signature area on the default setting. Under "User Control Panel" then select "profile" then select "edit signature".

Select "Img" then in the block you will see a cursor blinking that is were you will add (by copy and pasting) your web address "http://www.????info".

When done click on "board preferences" and then click on "Edit posting defaults" then select "Yes" next to "Attach my signature by default:".

Then you're done. Clara

How you do your signature? I like it.
Katiezquiltz

RiverOwl wrote: Not to be picky, but that was me with the deck work. Hee Hee. We've got the framing done, main support beams up and floor down for the entire front section. Now it will be trim and railings next. My hubby (the engineer) built it with some help so this sucker is solid. Clara

Dear Miss Debbie;

Thanks so much for all that you have done for the SoTTT ! It definitely would not have been possible w/o you ! Have a great weekend! Hope your deck got done!

S/
Barbara
Bluffton, SC

CowtownQuilts wrote:

I'll let you know, Ida, but I think everyone is going to be fine with their postage. I looked on the USPS website and I couldn't find were 1st class postage is going up on April 17. Other rates appear to be going up, but I don't think that is.

Debbie

NaneeWolf wrote:
Debbie,

: If I don't have enough postage to cover the return trip, can you notify me how much more money I need to send to cover the cost for the price increase and also hold my package until you get enough from me to cover it? : I don't mind one bit, as I'm afraid you are going to get to the post office with everyone's packages and get a wallop of a bill to cover the cost of those 615 packages. :shock: :shock: :shock: You are already doing a phenomenal job of keeping track of everyone's packages, etc. I believe it is an astounding amount of work, and I'd hate to expect you to also cover the cost of the postal increase on everyone's packages, too.

Ida

Thanks Debbie and Margo. Ok Debbie, the pressure is on. Your turn. Clara

DEBBIE - YOU'RE THE WOMAN!!

ClaraLawrence wrote:

Wow...that's very impressive!!! Your determination paid off.

Yea!!! It looks great Clara! OK Deb! Your turn!!