Six Months and Still Here!

I can't believe I have been at this blog for 6 months now. I started it as an extension of The Cracked Bead, so that I could write freely and when I wanted without having to bug Steve to add it to my website. I wasn't sure how long I would continue, even though writing has become sort of an addiction. I am always thinking about "what should I write next?" And I always worry that I will come to a grinding halt with nothing to say.

I never set out with the intension of being like other beading blogs that hone in on the finer points of beading. There are plenty of really terrific ones who do this. I wanted to set mine apart to be more "fun" (not that theirs aren't, just in a different way), informative, and hopefully to talk about things that would invoke your input and response. And perhaps talk about things in a way, most are afraid to approach.

I know that many just come to read, and are "shy", or just don't care to comment. Or perhaps you are a closet reader, and like a guilty sin, you don't want anyone knowing (least of all me) that you are reading my blog. I am happy for every comment, positive or negative. I don't mind a "friendly" debate. To a writer, feedback is hugely important. It lets us know what we are doing well, and what not.

The posts that I enjoy writing the most are the ones that make me laugh while I am writing. I love finding humor in unexpected places, and the challenge of painting a picture with words. But not everything is funny, nor should it be. The more controversial subjects dealing with scam artists, permissions granted by law, or by the artist on how one might use a pattern are important too.

I know I flip flop all over the place with what I write about. Most of what I write about is tied to beading to varying degrees, but some of what I write has nothing to do with beading at all. A bit about my life, present and past, and maybe even a few other non bead-related topics. I enjoyed writing all of them.

I also enjoy adding a "Bragging Rights" post for those who send me jpgs of the beadwork they did using my patterns. I am always so happy when I get the jpgs in my email.

Tipsy Tuesdays have been a lot of fun for me. I love answering the questions that people have, no matter how simple it may seem to be. Norm and Barney started as a whim too. At first I wanted them to be the voice of an opposing opinion, since mine is not always one that works for everyone. But then, they took on a life of their own, giving answers that sometimes have nothing to do with the question. I love writing answers from Norm and Barney, as ridiculous as it may seem to some.

The Mystery Mondays too, was an experiment of sorts. There are several people who really enjoyed them. The jury is out on the rest. My stats show me that many have downloaded them, and that many only visited on Mondays and Tuesdays just to download the free patterns, with no comment positive or negative. Again, it is the sort of thing that feedback is the driving force of my decision to continue with it or not. For now, I will keep it on the back burner. I am thinking of bringing it back for a nominal price of $2, just to keep those who "only visit to get the free stuff" away( as "Anonymous" commented).  If you have read The Cracked Bead chapter "If it's Not Free, Then I'm Not Gonna Buy it" then you know that some of my feelings about giving free stuff have been reinforced.

Still, even with that said. I will still pop in the occasional Trivia Question that will earn the winner either a free pattern, or dollars off towards and order. I do enjoy giving to people, but tend to enjoy it much more on a one to one basis than I do by the masses.

Since I have hit my 6-month mark, I would really like some feedback from you. What would you like me to spend time writing about? What have you enjoyed most? Least? Do you like the different topics, even if not bead-related? Should I have more beadwork on this blog? Any input at all is welcome (and needed).

Whatever your thoughts are, I do love the challenge of writing. I write this blog, and another (anonymously without my name attached so I can write even more freely) as well as on Helium.com, which I just joined. (My first few "articles" are "reprints" but I hope to add articles that only appear there).

Gee....I gotta find time for beading and designing too!!

Hopefully, I won't run out of steam. Or run out of time...well....sometimes that is another issue!!  :)