Nov 25th 2008 06:24:36 pm

Exciting press coverage today: Swap-bot was mentioned on Mashable.com as one of the top five websites for Secret Santa gift exchanges. Very sweet! Mashable is a popular tech blog that covers internet news and up and coming websites.

1 Comment » Categories: press

Oct 28th 2008 06:34:54 am

CraftStylish.com is a crafting resource site where you can discover new things, connect with other crafters, and share your crafty creations. From the site:

It’s the destination for fabulous inspiration and expert instruction on the latest trends, projects, ideas, and materials. Whatever craft you love—knitting, crocheting, sewing, quilting, embroidery, jewelrymaking, and more—you’ll find the best information and community at CraftStylish.com.

CraftStylish is run by Taunton Press, publisher of such magazines as Fine Cooking, Fine Gardening, and Threads. You can create your own CraftyStylish profile, share photos of your craft creations, and read or contribute content to the site’s wide selection of crafting info and tutorials. You can sign up for a CraftStylish eNewsletter or subscribe to one, or more, of the topical RSS feeds.

Recently, Diane Gilleland, of CraftyPod fame and now a CraftSylish contributor, interviewed me for a CraftySylish article on Swap-bot. She chose some beautiful swap photos for the piece and I think she made Swap-bot look like a fun place. Thank you, Diane!

If you go check out CraftStylish, be sure to look me up! I am racheljohnson over there, too.

1 Comment » Categories: press, website review

Sep 24th 2008 09:06:42 pm

Quick announcement! I am going to be interviewed LIVE tomorrow for the TerriO Radio Show about Swap-bot. TeriO is the spokeswoman for the Craft & Hobby Association and she hosts an online radio show called “Empowering Creativity” on wsRadio.com. I am going to be on tomorrow’s show (Thursday, September 25th, 2008) which is broadcast live from 1-2 Pacific Coast Time (4-5 EST or 3-4 Central). If you are by the computer tomorrow afternoon, listen to the program here. I will be interviewed during the final segment (last 15 minutes) of the program. It should be fun! (The show is also archived as a podcast for a year, so I will post a link to that later.)

UPDATE: You can download the MP3 of my exciting interview here. Swap-bot was featured in the fourth segment and the interview is only 6 minutes long. Check it out!

1 Comment » Categories: press

Sep 9th 2008 07:43:35 pm

Associated press reporter, Holly Ramer, interviewed me a few weeks ago for an article about internet swapping. Her article has now been released online on MSNBC and other news outlets. Read it here. Thanks for the coverage, Holly! We love press!

The swap-bot section of the article:

At Swap-bot.com, a site devoted exclusively to swaps, the most popular ones tend to involve artist trading cards — small works of art that let participants share their artistic styles with others. At any given time, the site features 500 active swaps, and it has hosted more than 20,000 since 2005.

Swap-bot uses a computer algorithm to mix up participants and assign partners, sends out reminder e-mails to participants, and includes a feedback system to deter “flakers” or cheaters who don’t send their packages.

But why go through the trouble of making something for someone you don’t know?

“I think the number one thing is that the lure of getting a package in the mail is pretty strong,” says Rachel Johnson, 27, of Eugene, Ore., who founded the site with her husband. “But I like to think it’s also a way of connecting physically with someone you only know as a screen name. People are meeting and connecting with people from different countries and different cultures.”

3 Comments » Categories: press

Jul 26th 2008 11:46:05 am

If you are interested in indie artists, crafters, and designers, you must check out PurplePinkandOrange.com. The site’s curator and creator, Amy, reviews fabulous indie shops, products, and designers on a daily basis. Readers of PurplePinkandOrange have access to an impressive monthly list of promotions and exclusive sales from indie retailers. Plus, there are always amazing giveaways going on. Definitely go sign up for those giveaways!

PurplePinkandOrange was one of the first sites to organize public swaps through Swap-bot over three years ago. Amy was a great supporter of Swap-bot and we have missed her fun monthly swaps… but guess what! A new PurplePinkandOrange swap is going on right now! Sign up for the Friends of purplepinkandorange.com postcard swap! The swap is international and everyone is welcome. Each participant will send postcards to three partners by the end of August. The sign up deadline is August 15th. Have fun!

No Comments » Categories: blog review, press

Feb 23rd 2007 01:59:01 pm

A little while ago I was interviewed by Sister Diane of CraftyPod. We talked all about Swap-bot and how it relates to the craft community. I am so excited because the podcast of the interview is now up on the CraftyPod website! It is only 16 minutes long and I think it turned out quite well. Check it out!

CraftyPod is a great website where you can find craft related podcasts as well as daily bloggings about crafty goodness. Sister Diane is the organizer of a chapter of the Church of Craft in Portland, Oregon.

3 Comments » Categories: press

Feb 8th 2007 09:52:28 pm


Thanks to Swap-bot member Gem for sending along info that we were mentioned in February 2007 issue of [Quick and Simple Magazine](http://www.quickandsimple.com/). I tried looking for the magazine last night, but didn’t find it. Their website has a [list of locations](http://central.hearstmags.com/gemini/service_files/qas/qas_primary_faqs.html#finding) to get the magazine, so I’ll continue my search tomorrow.

1 Comment » Categories: press

Jan 22nd 2007 06:16:35 pm

The Magic Yarn Ball swap and Swap-bot were featured on the Craft: blog today. So cool! We love Craft: magazine and Natalie Zee Drieu, the associate editor. For all of you crafty swappers out there, Craft: is hosting a handmade, recycled Valentine’s Day card contest. Sounds fun… and there are prizes!

1 Comment » Categories: press