Finding My Peeps

I've thankful for many things (I can't put a number on it, for fear of sounding like the Spanish Inquisition from that Monte Python sketch).  Among the awesome things in my life are cross-stitching and the radical crafts community. 

I've been making things for ages, in a bit of a vacuum.  Friends are supportive and inspirational, but for years I felt like I was alone in my interests.

But the Internet doesn't allow lonliness for long.  Crafting communities like Made It Myself, the American Craft Guild and Craftster offer forums and information for crafters.  I've met so many people with AMAZING creations through these sites.  Building my own business, I am no longer alone with my questions and issues. It's also great to share tips with others.

My absolute favorite on the Internet for sharing has to be Flickr.  Because I express myself mostly in visuals (though I seem to have developed a voice as a writer), it acts as my photo diary.  I'm able to share the pictures I snap around my neighborhood and in my travels.  By joining groups I'm also able to get feedback on my creations.  This has proved invaluable. Flickr also hosts an amazingly robust needlework and embroidery community.  I'm constantly amazed finding new artists and what they make. 

Yellow Springs Arts is part of this stitching community.  They're hosting a Radical Craft Show in September and feature one of my Fortune Cookie Designs on their blog.  No longer in a vacuum, I've reconnected with old friends, maintain established ones and have found some very cool new people.