For new members, the drawing works like gift drawings that big families used to do... I keep everyone's name/email address in a file. When we do the drawing, I print out this list and cut everyone's name into it's own little piece of paper. We then literally toss these all into one of Colin's hats, the old fashioned way. I sit with the list of everyone's name, and for each name, Colin draws a name from his hat. Then I notify everyone with the contact info for their swap recipient. So, every person mails one gift. And every person receives one gift from someone else.

Everyone sends to someone, and everyone receives from someone other than the person they send to.

The bead gift should have a retail value of 25.00 or thereabouts. Value is so subjective and variable anyway, depending upon the circumstances of acquisition. Bead Santas are welcome to contact their recipient if you'd like to find out more about their tastes….or, you may wish to remain a totally anonymous Secret Santa, the choice is yours!

What to give? Anything bead related..…a bead or multiples, bead books or calendars, finished jewelry using beads, or art using beads.

Please feel free to post here, but also PLEASE email me with your full name and mailing address in order to join the swap. This makes it easy for me to promptly add you to the list.

The deadline to enter will be high noon Pacific time Monday, December 1 this year, and we'll do the drawing that evening, and get the emails out by bedtime. This gives everyone a 2 week window in which to "get on board".

For international shipment, I strongly suggest getting your package in the mail by December 6.

For domestic U.S. shipment, I'll suggest a shipping deadline of December 15. Priority is generally 3 days, but with the holiday season delays can happen. First Class mail is a good deal cheaper for packages under 13 ounces, but slower, too. I sent one such package last year, from here in CA to New Mexico, and got tracking and watched with puzzlement to see that the package went all the way to Florida first, taking nearly 10 days to reach it's destination in New Mexico! ( Allow time for detours as the quality of our service declines.)

This is such a fun holiday ritual! This is about community and sharing in the fun of our common passion. The internet has enabled us to evolve as a global collector community; many international bead friendships have started here on BCN.

We had a record 47 participants from approximately 11 countries and multiple U.S. states in 2012. The more the merrier!

Please remember: what unifies the whole "event" is your follow-through with getting your gift in the mail in a timely manner. Please do not participate if you are so busy this time of year that the commitment you make when you enter could be forgotten.

Thanks to everyone for being part of BCN! Let's celebrate 12 wonderful years of bead talk on the net, and share the holiday spirit together in this small way!

Give Generously and with Joy!

Here is Art Seymour's beautiful 2008 holiday bead pic to put us in the mood once again!

Best warm wishes to you and yours,
Joyce, David and Colin