sharing the love: mid-winter gocco swap
It seems that there's a bit of the gocco bug going around. The symptoms I've observed run something like this: discovering the wonder of the simple japanese screenprinter, wanting one's own device, thinking that they're no longer in production and than they can't be had, realizing that one can actually have one (found used or bought new), overcoming one's fear of messing up a screen or wasting bulbs, and then the falling in love. Complete love.
I've been thinking lately that I want to share the gocco love. And I'm wanting to experience a bit of the love affair others are having with their goccos. And, I have a hunch that others too are looking to have and to hold more gocco inspiration (or to have that one thing that pushes them to finally get that gocco they've been dreaming about, or to use the one they recently received). So, I'm proposing a mid-winter gocco swap.
Here's the skinny:
Create a mid-winter-themed image (or, if my winter is your summer, an image that you're excited about sharing), print a run for the swap (it could be a single print, a small set of notecards, bookplates, stamps, stickers, a notepad, a fabric printed something-or-other, really anything gocco-ed that suits your fancy), send one of each of your creations out to each of your swapmates (you'll have 10-12 folks you'll be swapping with), receive a gocco-ed creation from each of your swapmates.
The swap is open to anyone, anywhere with a blog and/or flickr account.
The sign-up deadline is January 15th. Sign up by sending me an email at clothpaperstring AT gmail DOT com with the subject Gocco Swap - be sure to include your name, mailing address and a link to your blog and/or Flickr account. I'll send out your list of swapmates later that week (again, you'll have 10-12 who you'll be committing to sending your gocco-ed bits out to).
Mail your gocco'd bits to swapmates on or before February 11th. Don't forget to take photos of your creations and post them to the mid-winter gocco swap flickr group.
Feel free to spread the word (and the love). Cut and paste the HTML in the box to add a button to your blog or sidebar:
Happy gocco-ing!
Update: The swap is now closed, with 49 gocco'ers on board! See who's participating here. And, check the swap's flickr group in the coming weeks to see the gocco goodness shared. Participants have received a list of their swapmates -- if you signed up and haven't received the email, please let me know. So many thanks to all for such enthusiasm for the swap!
How fun! Can a total gocco amateur join in?
Posted by: Sarah Jackson | 02 January 2008 at 11:32 PM
okay.
i am in.
and super duper excited.
i love gocco.
you love gocco.
and everybody else should, too!
Posted by: leslie | 03 January 2008 at 04:18 AM
hooray! i'm in. but you know that already.
Posted by: emily | 03 January 2008 at 06:51 AM
fantastic idea! i'm really looking forward to this.
Posted by: kathryn | 03 January 2008 at 07:54 AM
Oh, I LOOOVVEE this idea! I am totally IN! This will totally give me a good excuse to use the little thing again!
Posted by: Tracy | 03 January 2008 at 10:26 AM
i'm in.
Posted by: erin | 03 January 2008 at 11:37 AM
yes please!
Posted by: jen j-m | 03 January 2008 at 12:54 PM
I am totally in!!
Posted by: Sarah | 03 January 2008 at 01:44 PM
Super excited! I will email you :)
Posted by: Angela | 03 January 2008 at 05:49 PM
what a great idea but too bad i don't own a gocco! :(
Posted by: patricia | 03 January 2008 at 08:09 PM
Sounds fun!
Posted by: Molly | 03 January 2008 at 08:42 PM
I'm in and very excited.
Thanks for organizing.
Posted by: leya | 03 January 2008 at 08:50 PM
oh, i really have to get myself a gocco maker! damn!
Posted by: leslie | 03 January 2008 at 10:16 PM
oh, i'd really like to take part, and thanks for the heads up, but i've just found out i've got 4 weeks to do 3 big collages for a very important client, as well as two pieces of exhibition work for march...i'd love to have a go, but sadly time is my enemy right now...another time maybe? x
Posted by: lusummers | 04 January 2008 at 05:19 AM
ohhhh, unless i can use my little houses gocco print, is that mid winter enough?
Posted by: lusummers | 04 January 2008 at 05:20 AM
Thank you so much for the invitation, I'm honoured :)
I will try very hard to meet the deadline; I do love the idea, would love to join in - and good on you for organsising it - can't promise anything but will try my best.
Carson x
Posted by: Carson | 04 January 2008 at 07:11 PM
I am so in! Yay!
Posted by: Guerilla Embroidery | 05 January 2008 at 09:22 AM
Thanks for the overview - I wondered what all the Gocco rage was about. Just what I need - another type of craft! Have fun!
Posted by: Nicole | 07 January 2008 at 04:14 PM
I want to get in too!! Where do I sign up!?!
Posted by: andrea | 07 January 2008 at 08:48 PM
oh this sounds fun! I am in :)
Posted by: kat | 08 January 2008 at 06:50 PM
I'm in!
Posted by: briana | 08 January 2008 at 10:24 PM
Emily just invited me - so yes I'd love to join in :)
Posted by: charlotte | 09 January 2008 at 02:34 PM
why am i so afraid of the gocco?!!
Posted by: Grace | 09 January 2008 at 08:34 PM
i'm so excited and i just can't hide it!!!!
Posted by: carolyn | 09 January 2008 at 09:29 PM
thank you for the invite on my flickr! i'd love to join in. it would bea great way to celebrate my first northern hemisphere winter. :) (and to justify bring my gocco all the way here instead of more clothes and such!)
Posted by: melissa | 10 January 2008 at 11:55 AM
Ohh Ohh, can I play too????
Posted by: KJax | 10 January 2008 at 03:46 PM
such a great idea! i'm so excited, i just home my gocco gets here in time! i'm hoping mr. ups will arrive before the 15th!
Posted by: traci | 13 January 2008 at 09:13 PM
I'd like to participate too! Great idea :)
Posted by: mariss | 14 January 2008 at 10:06 AM
I'm in...SO EXCITED!!!
Posted by: Kate | 14 January 2008 at 01:53 PM
sigh...
if i only had a gocco!
Posted by: equisetaceae | 15 January 2008 at 04:30 PM
Hi!
Thank you for your comment on my blog. I have re-sent my personal info to your gmail from my personal email. Thanks!
Posted by: Jamie (Pixelpurrfect) | 16 January 2008 at 07:26 AM
bah. I'm too late! Sad. I'm totally in if you do this again!
jacey
Posted by: insubordiknit | 17 January 2008 at 02:09 PM
I'm too late too! Maybe next time.
Posted by: Fanny | 18 January 2008 at 12:56 PM
Shucks! I can't believe I missed this. Well now I have found your blog and look forward the next swap!
Posted by: becca -mycatlulu | 02 February 2008 at 09:57 PM
I have been thinking about investing in one of these for a long time...I am so on the fence...Will I love it so much that i want to hug it and kiss it? :) They look so fun!
Posted by: amy | 05 February 2008 at 08:06 PM
"overcoming one's fear of messing up a screen or wasting bulbs, and then the falling in love. Complete love"
I'm still in this phase - scared of wasting the bulbs - I have to overcome it. Your flickr group will serve as inspiration and motivation. Great! Thanks!
Posted by: Blooming | 08 February 2008 at 10:36 PM
Ok, yes, you and others (house on hill road, glittergoods, swallowfield) all contributed to me caving and spending $300 on a new gocco set (plus extras) from here: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5072634.
I am SO excited to get it; handmade cards are just so lovely. Can't wait to see what you all come up with!
Posted by: kate | 13 February 2008 at 02:36 PM
As a newcomer to Gocco love, I hope you run another swap one day as I'd love to take part :)
Posted by: Sarah van Wijck | 19 February 2008 at 07:50 PM
me too!!
i'm an avid swapper, and although i haven't done any for some time, it's something i'd love to get back into.
i'll keep my eyes open and watch for the next one.
gracias!
angie
Posted by: creativeredhead | 29 February 2008 at 10:27 AM