[Marci MN]

I've been reading along under the Christmas ornament swap and have a suggestion to ponder on if you will.

I dont know if any of you have heard of ATC's. (artists trading cards). Its a very hot activity right now among painters/artists.

We could do almost the same thing here. Artists Trading Cards would do any type of art on a piece of paper 3.5 x 2.5...and they would trade them with other artists. Never to sell them.. just trading.

Those art cards must be signed, named, and dated. We do the same with our carvings right?

Now if we take that idea and put it to ornaments carved by carvers it could work. OCC's. *grin*

We already have our own galleries here on this site. We could carve ornaments all year long and post them. BUT.. on those perticular pictures we need to come up with a name for that picture so it stays clear its for trading only. Like the example above.. OCC's. Ornaments carved by carvers. (or something else we can agree on)

That way a person can say I'd like to trade an ornament with..for example Bob.. I would look in Bobs gallery and find one of his OCC's ornaments. PM him and ask him to look in my gallery and see if theres one there he'd like to pick out as a trader. He'd let me know wich one. And we would then do the trade by mail.

Folks could post in General Carving to let others know they have put up pictures of carvings to trade.

The ornaments can be any theme or for any holiday. All year long.

The only problem I know of would be if we can edit pictures out of our own galleries if we have traded out that ornament. That way we wont be asked about one thats already been claimed. And keep the storage of pictures not so high. If we cannot.. then we can post under neath that perticular picture to say its been traded.

Another idea along with this one is that we can take these same ornaments along to shows and trade in person with other carvers doing the same thing. This is was ATC's do also. They put all thier cards in those trading card sleeves and into a binder. Each go through each others binders to pick an art card and trade up. This idea could increase friendships among carvers at carving shows. Or at least bring folks to your booth. *grin* Just dont forget to come here and post under that ornament that they've been traded.

One more thought.. maybe pick a date at the end of the year that we all show our recieved ornaments from the year on a tree or wreath and wish all the folks we traded with, a Merry Christmas and a big thank you.

If you get the chance, google ATC's (artists trading cards) and read how that trend started. It is world wide now.

Ok.. I'm done sharing my thoughts. What say you?

[rick-in-seattle]

Marci, you sure have been giving this a lot of thought; haven't you.

I wish I still had that "beginning carvers" excitement for carving.

I do remember what it was like, but don't see it much except when giving a class. I truely enjoy the time I spend carving, but new carvers see a world of possibilities before them.
This is a very special time in your carving life; so enjoy it and don't start too many projects at once.
Be sure to wear your glove; it should be the first tool you pick up and the last you put down.

[artolver]

Originally Posted by rick-in-seattle

Marci, you sure have been giving this a lot of thought; haven't you.

I wish I still had that "beginning carvers" excitement for carving.

I do remember what it was like, but don't see it much except when giving a class. I truely enjoy the time I spend carving, but new carvers see a world of possibilities before them.
This is a very special time in your carving life; so enjoy it and don't start too many projects at once.
Be sure to wear your glove; it should be the first tool you pick up and the last you put down.

Rick, don't really wish that.... you WOULD have quit your job and found yourself sitting in the middle of a couple thousand unfinished carvings, large and small
art