Personally, I don’t think craft blogs only need to be about crafting. I actually enjoy reading a little about the person and their life. I like knowing who’s behind the felt stuffies, knitted socks, and quilts! I do understand how someone would be the opposite and just want to see the goods though. There are lots of blogs out there for both, which is great! I’ve followed a few craft-only blogs and while I liked the projects, I found they were updated so infrequently that I stopped checking back. I guess I like the day to day style. My own blog follows that. I started it as a strictly craft/projects oriented blog, even including ‘craft’ in the title, but it has evolved into a mish mash of everything (which now makes the title a little misleading). I feel as long as people are having fun, it’s all good. Read if you like it, skip it if you don’t, even look at the pictures if that’s what you want to see.

With things like cooking, I do appreciate the ‘random house wife’ perspective. I’m no chef, so I like seeing what others are trying and what they found has worked or not. I’ve picked up a lot of neat tips and tricks. But again, I like the mish mash day to day stuff. If you’re looking for something specific, I can see how it would be annoying to skim through all those posts to find what you want.

As for comments, I do try to respond to them all. With comments along the lines of “that’s so cool!” or “I really like that!” I tend to give a communal “Thanks everyone!” instead of responding individually. I really do appreciate every comment, but how many times can you really say “thanks”? I do check out the blog of the person who commented and if I like it I’ll follow it. Like yours! I really enjoy your honesty, your writing style, and your crafts, so I was hooked.

Do people really refuse comments when they talk about copying the craft projects? I have based projects on things I’ve seen around other blogs and don’t see a problem with that as long as I’m not selling them. I find that a lot of projects are so generic or simple that many people have made the same thing without even knowing. I have gotten comments along those lines and I thought it was great that the person liked my project so much they wanted to make their own. I love the sharing of ideas that goes on in the craft community! I do have an etsy shop, but again, it’s just for fun. I have had a few people asking for a pattern on some of my items and I will offer up instructions. For example, the pet hammocks I make are very simple and if someone wants to make one on their own I will tell them how I did it. Most of the people who buy them from me are non-crafters, so I don’t mind the crafters wanting to make their own. I’m like you – if I can make it myself, I probably wont buy it.

I guess what this very long comment is trying to say is that it’s good there is something for everyone! Even though you probably could’ve written this post about my blog alone, it was a good read. I look forward to seeing your next craft project!

Got a real kick out of it and liked the concrete examples you gave. Also really liked the nice touch at the end, where you mention that the post was edited many times so that it isn’t too offensive .

Ah, yes… the links that do not work . I have noticed quite a few of the things you touched on. I don’t know why I always thought I was the only one who did, though (lol).

I must admit that I do post a lot of random stuff on my blog; that’s because I like to keep it eclectic, like a jar of oddly shaped buttons from the thrift store.

Weird thing is, I also like getting a little emo on my blog (even if others don’t read it or can’t relate). There’s a part of me that still clings to the old Holden Caulfield mentality I had in college/high school. I feel paranoid when I’m not fully myself, or even borderline fake. I try to avoid it, even if that means rambling or talking about strange personal things that others feel I shouldn’t advertise on the web. Blah, lay it all out! That’s what I say; keep it real.

…and that’s why I like this post, you lay it all out quite humorously.

Arts, crafts, music & video are such amiable companions.

PS: I enjoyed this rant! Sadly, I am a prime offender.

As for comments, I tend not to reply to them on my blog, though I feel bad sometimes that people might think I’m ignoring them. I always check out my readers’ blogs and comment when I see something I like. It’s not exactly a reply to their comment, but I see it as common courtesy to leave at least one comment on someone’s blog if they leave one on mine.

I also found myself with nearly 200 blogs on my reading list and most of them I was merely scrolling through, skipping the words and looking at pictures. Or not reading it because it was about something I wasn’t interested in. So I went spring cleaning and now I am down to a little over 40 blogs, not all of them post daily thank goodness or else I would spend my entire morning reading blogs!

I have been skimming through your blog and I am enjoying it! I first saw your ninja on Rosey’s blog.

Have blogs helped me get more viewers/buyers in my Etsy shop? I have no idea, but at least it gets my shop out into the “open”…wherever that is.

I haven’t read all the other comments, so hopefully I’m not being trite. I’ve had my blog for about 2 years, I think. I had another one before I got into crafts, so I can’t always remember when this one started. Anyway, it used to bug me a lot when people would not comment on my blog. I took it very personally, especially when I’d see certain people commenting on other’s blogs and not mine. But then, I comment on some people’s blogs, and not others. So, it balances out.

When I comment on other people’s blogs, I don’t expect a response. That’s just me. Some people do. For me, when someone responds to my comment (unless it’s a direct question about something), I wonder if they felt obligated, and I don’t want that. Obligation means nothing to me. There’s no need to thank me for commenting, because I comment when I’m inspired to comment. Sometimes I just read and leave it at that. I love supporting artists and crafters, and I love telling someone when I’ve responded to something in particular.

After a couple of years, I guess I’ve come to terms with why I’m blogging. I like the interaction and the communication, and I like finding resources and ideas. And I know that people who care about me are going to read my blog, so I also like giving information out to multiple readers at once so everyone knows what’s what at the same time. Some of them are other artists, some are friends. My friends often won’t comment because they think I have plenty of comments. That always makes me laugh. I don’t want your comment because I have plenty of comments? Well, maybe I want to know what you have to say? Go ahead and say it if you feel like it!

I’ve come to terms with the whole comment thing because, for a long time of reading blogs and following my favorites, I realized that there’s a certain atmosphere around some parts, that blogs are meant for publicity and marketing. I don’t care about that. I honestly don’t know how much of a difference a blog makes, but if I was blogging for publicity it would be work, and I don’t want my blog to be work. That doesn’t mean I can’t blog. And that doesn’t mean I don’t read artists who DO wish to market and publicize.

I came to terms that I don’t have to blog for the same reason someone else blogs. I get to blog whenever and about whatever I want. And so do you. And if someone doesn’t like it, they don’t have to read it. They’re busy. They have lives. Maybe they would rather be watching TV or sleeping.

But I will admit, it took me awhile to get to that place of not comparing, keeping track, or analyzing. It took me a long time. Because blogging can be a trap. You’re public, but you aren’t. You’re reaching out, but you’re in a large sense anonymous. None of us knows each other unless we’ve met each other physically. We can like each other’s virtual persona, but it’s very different from being in the same place at the same time. Who knows what would happen then? Would one of us be bored? Would the other one be a control-freak? Would someone curse too much, be too messy, be to anal, be too self-involved, be too shy, wear the wrong clothes, drive horribly, or smell? We don’t know each other. Maybe if we did, we’d get along famously. But let’s not imagine we would. We all have to know that this blog thing is a few steps reserved from a real relationship, and stop taking it personally.

I’m blabbing here because my point is, the only thing we can do is what we want to do. If we don’t do it, that means we really don’t want to. If someone wants to read my whole post, or just look at the pictures, that’s none of my business. And it’s none of their business if I read every word they write, either. If I want to comment, that’s my business. If they don’t want to comment that’s not my business. The only thing that’s my business is what I choose to share on my blog. That’s it. And if I decide not to blog, that’s my business. No one has to do it. It’s totally up to each of us.

That’s the cutest damn cupcake.
Today I have pictures of plants on my blog. I didn’t make them myself.

For many years, even before blogging was popular, I had a blog over on Live Journal. Almost all of my posts there are friends only. I talk about my home restoration, my husband, my pets, my grandkids, my crafts, etc. It’s almost like my journal. I know everyone on my FL through my other hobby, bookcrossing.com. Even though I haven’t met a lot of them person, people I have met have met many of them, making them my friends too. Two years ago, one of them from Australia spent the weekend with us, and last year, we had lunch with two friends from New Zealand. I like my LJ.

But, most of them are readers, not crafters–at least not the crafts that interest me, and I wanted a wider audience to talk to about it. So, a few weeks ago, I set up on blogger. I love blogger. But, I shut that down and opened a wordpress blog, because my bookcrossing.com support site supported WP. I had some built in traffic to get me started, and it seemed like a good idea at the time. Except I hate WP and I can’t figure out how to comment.

Anyway, most of my comments so far have come from my LJ buddies, who graciously trudged over when I gave them a link on my LJ.

My first responses from strangers were for the giveaway, and I admit I got overwhelmed and haven’t written almost 200 emails. Truthfully, I realize that most won’t bother to visit again, and those that do will be welcomed and treasured.

My intent is to stay with crafty topics, but I’m used to LJ, and I may stray, but not too much. I won’t put pictures of my grandkids on it–unless they are the ones making the craft, which does happen. I have some cool grandkids.

I don’t sell anything (although I did raffle off a toy for the benefit of the RSPCA during the Australian fires–made $185 Aussie! I sold it in USD, it was won by a lady in Ireland, and by the end of all the money exchanges, it ended up $185). I’m not looking for a book deal, I’m just looking for people who like to make fun things.

I like your blog, even without the giveaways, and I think I’m going to enjoy following it.

That said–I know, you are wondering if I”m ever going to shut up–I don’t mind the other blog styles. I live a quiet life in a small town, and I enjoy the peeks into other people’s lives. I like seeing how much prettier, smarter, and wonderful my grandkids are than anyone elses (Kidding!!!), and sometimes, the crafts are things that I can use in this old rambling house of mine.

I’d love to have you visit often, and if I stray from my goals, you can kick me off your blog list.

For instance, it is a bit hard for me to understand how people can share so much of their personal life. I’m a pretty private person, so I don’t get into my life too much on my blog. It’s just not something that comes naturally to me. The fact that I even have a blog surprises most people who know me because of how introverted I am. But as I state in my little “About Me” description, my blog is for what I make, what inspires me, what crafty things I find and other creative rambles.

However, I do like it when people share photos of anything craft related, even unfinished projects or supplies. Art and craft (and life) are just as much about the journey as the destination, if not more so. I’m a visual person and enjoy photography, so I personally like seeing what other people see through their camera lens—even if it’s pictures of muffins or yarn or other domesticity related whatnot.

I guess that’s the nice thing about the blogosphere. There is no shortage on variety for different tastes.