Stashbuster No-Buy Group

No-Buy Challenge 2009-2010

1. Participation in this challenge is voluntary. Participants are on the “honor system”.

2. Challenge Dates: The challenge will be in effect from November 1, 2009 through October 31, 2010. You can join at any time and be eligible for the drawings that remain in the challenge year.

3. Charms Required for Participation: Each participant joining at the beginning of the challenge year will send in twelve (12) six-inch charms (these can be cut from one FQ). Those joining later in the year will be pro-rated the number of charms needed. (For example: if you join in January 2010, then you owe 10 six-inch charms.) Charms must be 100% cotton, good quality fabric, pre-washed please.

4. Quarterly Drawing: Each participant will then be eligible for the quarterly no-buy drawing. One name will be drawn from the list of those who were ‘good quilters’ for that quarter. The quarterly prize will consist of a portion of the charms sent in. Quarterly drawings will be held on or close to February 1, April 1, July 1, and November 1, 2010.

5. End-of-Year Prizes: There will be 2 prizes this year - One for the NO-BUY QUEEN and another for someone from the rest of the participants. The NO-BUY QUEEN will be someone who bought no fabric for the entire year (exceptions can be found in Rule 6) and will be determined by a random draw. After the NO-BUY QUEEN has been determined, all other participants will receive 1 “chance” to win for each month during the year in which they did not buy any fabric. The majority of the “penalty” charms will be awarded to the Queen (along with something extra from me), and the remainder will go to the 2nd prize winner.

6. No-Penalty “B-word” purchases: the following items are allowed without penalty. Background fabrics Binding fabrics Border/Sashing fabrics Batting Backing fabric BOM program (if you are already enrolled) Fabric to finish a project that has already been started. (In the spirit of Stashbusters, I am willing to support the goals of the UFO Challenge. If you have a UFO that you cannot finish unless you buy some fabric, then I will allow this purchase. But use your own judgment – if it feels like “too much”, then you will need to send penalty charms.) Other allowable purchases include: Fabric specifically required for a swap or challenge Gifts, inheritance, and/or donations Gift certificates that you may use for Fabric Notions and thread (they aren’t fabric after all) Books (unless you included them in your No-Buy pledge) If you are not sure if a purchase falls in the “No Penalty” category; use your best judgment. Remember, you are playing ‘on your honor’ and trying to bust your stash.

7. Penalty Charms: let’s face it, we are human and sometimes Quilters fall off the wagon. The penalty for falling off the wagon is one 6-inch charm for each yard of fabric purchased. If you buy less than ¾ yard for the quarter, you are OK. (You are actually getting a break if you buy less than a yard, but remember, FQs and half yards do add up). The charms do not need to be cut from the fabric purchased but can come from your stash. And remember, they must be 100% cotton, pre-washed, and good-quality fabric. If you have pledged No-Buy on additional items (books, tools, etc), then you will need to send 1 penalty charm for each item you buy.

8. Postage: Please include one US first-class stamp with your initial mail-in of charms. International players please include 4 extra charms.

9. Sign-up: There is a database where you can sign up. Anyone can play along. But you are not an official challenge participant until I receive your participation charms. Mail your charms and stamps to:

Kathy Greene

10988 Ivy Hill Drive #3

San Diego, CA 92131 USA

Please be sure and let me know when you are mailing and I will let you know when they arrive. Please ship the charms in a plastic baggie inside your mailing envelope and be sure to put your name, address, and email inside or on the baggie. There is no need for special shipping. You can fold your charms in half and fit them into a regular first class envelope. Please mail the penalty charms to the same address. Please also include a note (this can be written on the baggie) that these are penalty charms. Remember that we are on the honor system and it is up to us to send in penalty charms when appropriate. I wish everyone a great year of NO-BUYING and BUSTING THAT STASH! PS: Most of the people who have joined the Stashbuster group at Yahoo.com have done so because they have too much fabric (and each of us will have our own definition of what “too much” means) and/or because they need to economize. The No-Buy Challenge is a tool intended to help motivate you to reduce your fabric purchases. It should not feel like another burden. We hope you enjoy your efforts to bust your stash by *not* buying more fabric. If you are undecided about joining the challenge, why not sign up? If you decide later that it is not for you, you can drop out of the challenge. On the other hand, if you do not join the challenge now, you can always change your mind later and we will welcome you to the challenge.