Hello sisters and brothers, I has created it. 616 HST are ready and wait for the dispatch. First I wanted to sew only 112 HST, but then I have seen that I am the only sister of Germany and thought, I make for all sisters and brothers one HST, everybody has one from Germany. It makes me happily to member of this community to be.
So, I hope my English is not too bad, I write without translation programme.


Greetings
Sylvia

heartnsoulquilts wrote:

Thanks, Michelle. Sure is sounding like stamps should be the postage of choice for those who haven't mailed packages yet.

florence wrote:

Thanks, Florence. We'll see what happens...that wine is sounding good about now !

OK, here's what I learned from my Postmistress...
First, background: When I mailed them on a Saturday they were working both windows in our little sub-Post Office. I was NOT at the window with the full-time lady.
So, today I'm explaining to her what was done & the PostMistress makes a face when I get to "stuck the metered payment on the return envelope". Yup, not supposed to do that. I said "so I've heard" and explained that this was a large exchange and we were getting mixed signals. She says "imagine if it didn't get returned for several weeks". I said I KNOW it isn't going to get returned until some time AFTER April 1. So I said, I guess I need to buy some stamps, and she said "no, it really shouldn't be any problem." Me: Are you sure? then I explained that the return address was mine too so if it was returned it would come to me, I didn't even really get that statement finished she's still saying "it really shouldn't be any problem. It'll get here..." So even though it's a P.O. no-no, she didn't think it would affect the mailing. My thought is, think of the things the Post Office misplaces for great lengths of time, some of them could be metered!

So my thought is, if we've already done it, it's done. If you haven't sent yours yet, stamps are probably better.

And if Debbie runs into trouble trying to send the things back, I'll send her some stamps AND a bottle of wine!
Florence

Sent my package today and sent you an email too Nanee. I am lucky my postal lady worker is a quilter/sewer/crafter too... and she sees me doing fabric exchanges all the time and thinks it's really neat! And, yes, real stamps on the return envelope with a metered stamp on the outside envelope.

Thanks for doing all this for us!!

Michelle

HST UPDATE FOR TUESDAY, FEB. 22 - 185 PACKAGES CONTAINING 70,295 HST'S ! ! !

THANKFULLY OUR FIRST PACKAGES ARRIVED FROM AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND TODAY...THEY TOOK ABOUT THREE WEEKS TO SWIM ACROSS THE BIG POND.

Debbie

I have sent my 616 HST’s this morning; along with the extra HST’s for Australia & Hanne, Then I sent an e-mail to Nannewolf (I think it went thru) via her profile page letting her know they should be arriving, according to the postman, Thursday. I told him on the return envelope I needed stamps not metered mail and he looked at me like I was nuts and said of course! He looked inside my envelope and asked what was in it and I explained. I think he thought the outside writing was some sort of “code” with my on- line name & 616 below it was odd. So-o-o-o with the long line waiting impatiently behind me I went into an explanation about this being a HST’s exchange and so on and so on. Anyway, he peeked in a couple of times and was very controlling about the return envelope. He placed all the return stamps on & then started shoving it into the envelope with all my HST’s; as I can’t image what he did to my HST’s that were all neatly packed with love & care, all ironed & sorted by dark & light and all the bags opened to boot. I think I am going to have nightmares tonight! I said “Ah, it took me almost a month to do those.” To which he replied I’ll bet it did and jammed the envelope in again Oh boy! Hope they arrive in the condition I sent them; hope I followed all your instructions; hope I sent the e-mail to right person, hope they got the e-mail, hope they were all done right; hope ya’ll like them !! No anxiety here. . . . And then I see there has been a terrible earthquake, kinda put everything into perspective. I hope everyone is all right and if there is anything I can do for anyone to help, let me know. . .
S/
Barbara
Bluffton, SC

connieo wrote:

Based on this additional information, it looks like it will be up to each individual to decide the best way to handle their return postage once they talk with their postal clerk.

Debbie

dwynette wrote:
Ditto for me this a.m. When I told the postal clerk I needed postage for a return package he told me I would have to purchase stamps as he was not allowed to print the labels for furture mailings. The postmaster said if a business had a postage meter the label could be printed w/o a date and these were acceptable, but they (USPS) were not able to print w/o dates. I am thinking some areas just have so much mail they aren't as diligent as our little post office. I'm sure it will all work out. The worse that would happen would be the packages arriving with postage due.

Connie

mchart wrote:
I've received them both ways, but stacking them in piles will definitely keep them from getting wrinkled or distorted. If I had a choice, the neat stacking would be best all around and I think those will be easier to sort.

Thanks for asking...
Debbie

Debbie: I am getting ready to send HSTs. Do you want us to stack them neatly in piles in the ziploc or scatter them in the ziploc bag-- Which would
be better for you to remove/sort?

Thanks

connieo wrote:

It's wonderful to hear that your kids are OK, Connie. I hope all of our other members families have the same good news to report.

Hugs to you and your family...
Debbie

NaneeWolf wrote:
Heard from my kids last night. Thank God they are alright. Prayers going up for the many residents not so fortunate.

Blessings to all,
Connie

florence wrote:
Thanks, Florence. If you find out anything more that we need to know, please report back to us.

Debbie