For the past several years, many MDPAG members have participated in organized swaps of their artwork. Each year the group has selected a theme, established guidelines, and worked to produce swap items. In addition to participating in the annual swaps, members may contribute whenever they want to an ever-growing strand of beads. Some members have several beads on the strand while others have not yet donated a bead. The beads provide members an opportunity to share their work in new areas of interest or in areas of their expertise while using relatively little clay. Bead Strand 2007