This post is in response to Gina's (Scrappinology) YouTube video posted today. I had way too much to say about this in the comments section, so I thought the best way to say it was to create a blog post and link it from the comments section under Gina's video.
Firstly, thanks to Gina for making me go back and re-live the good old days :)
So here goes...
I just want to add my two cents worth here. Let's break it down people. Remember 'the good old days' when people actually shared their knowledge and their love of crafts - before all the 'show & tell' videos started appearing. We'd participate in swaps so that we could have a piece of someone's art to admire and examine the techniques used so we could attempt to create something so very different to our own style. This is how our styles grew.
So how did these people get such a huge following? By
people subscribing! Doing giveaways on behalf of their SUPPLIERS. So as a human
being it is part of our nature to imitate others. So we then think that if we
get a lot of subscribers maybe we could be selected to be on a design team? So
we then do a giveaway to get MORE subscribers? Why not go and buy some things
to giveaway (I won't eat this week), then I'll get more subscribers, and so on
and so on.
I gave up on watching HAUL videos because I got so jealous of what a lot
of crafters were able to get their hands on so readily and cheaply.
Some haul videos are letting us know what company has a sale on, deals,
bargains, etc, but as I do not live anywhere near these stores I just
cannot bear to watch them LOL.
Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of deserving crafters
on design teams and businesses market their products any way they can to keep
their business running. I'm just saying that it's easy to get caught up in all
this.
I personally have almost 400 videos here on YouTube. The
only reason I started making YT videos was because I was a member of Marion
Smith's Girls Gone Scrappy group of which Kathryn (the scrapbeach) was a
member. Kathryn then started her Scrapbeach Ning site so that we could have a
place to chat (Gina, you also were here at the beginning), upload pictures of
our projects from swaps organised through the Ning site.
I gained enough courage to do non-talkie vids which
developed into 'talkie' vids LOL. I have always tried to SHARE ideas, I never
sell anything. I have done giveaways at certain 'milestones' and currently have
a giveaway vid on YT. I have always said that I would never stop showing 'how
to' videos, start to finish projects, etc. because when I first 'found' YouTube
and all the great crafting tutorials, it was those tutorial videos that helped
me create projects I never thought possible.
So to all the 'newbies' out there, there are still some
of us oldies left who actually want to SHARE their love of crafts to this amazing online
crafting community. Yes we 'copy' but I would like to think most of us
acknowledge the person from who we learned the project or technique.
On a negative side, we've had a few instances where people have come on with sob stories and lied their way into receiving 'RAKs', at the moment we've got others talking about libel and copyright infringements!!! Get real people - it's not about who does what the best - it's about SHARING this love of our craft that keeps us here!
But YES YES YES Gina, I long for the good old days, but I'm glad most of us have grown during the years :)
Smiles
Jen
I now understand some of the history being new to this arena. Have worked out what ATC is but what is a RAK.
ReplyDeleteStay true to yourself. I am one of the people who love a true sharer.
Thanks
Oh Jen, this is so true To me sharing is what it is about. I have learned so much from you and yep, I end up doing it my way. And yes swaps are so fun, like you said it is a way of sharing what we do and our way of doing it. xxxxxxx
ReplyDeleteAmen sweet Jen. I have learned so much from this community and appreciate everyone's individual talent(s). Almost everyone that I have met through this online community would give the shirt off their back if someone needed it and rally behind or become the strong shoulders anyone of us needs. I love you for that. Blessings to you and the family darlin.
ReplyDeleteHey Jen you got it right. In the grand scheme of things I am sort of a newbie... Maybe a Sophmore as comapred to a freshman as I ahve been at this "crafting" thing for 4 years now. Everything I have learned about scrapbooking and crafting has been from YT and Ustream. SO I am thankful to those who still do "how-to" vids. ANd I hope to add some vids to my channel this summer.
ReplyDeleteIf I see a link to a giveaway on YT I purposely do not sign up if I am not a follower of that channel and I don't plan to follow them as I am not in this for the "Random Acts of Kindness" RAKS but for the knowledge I can gain from other crafters.
Jean
YES! and to add to your point, we learn everything by 'copying'! it doesn't matter if its talking, writing, soccer, or brain surgery. You watch someone do it, you 'copy' it, you practice it, and eventually, if you are interested enough, you follow it through, and make it your own. When the gelli plate 'boom' hit, the first couple weeks, they all looked the same. now there is some amazing work out there. I am a little tired too, of hearing the word 'copy', because the other options is never learn anything or grow...
ReplyDeleteand thank you for posting this =D
Wow I had no idea it was so complicated. I think the word would be "inspired" because everyone's work will be different.
ReplyDeleteoh and you can't copyright an idea, only a specific design, so yeah.....
ReplyDeletetotally agree with you my friend!!! which is why im hesitant in putting up a vid. I would share what i created and if anyone wanted a toot then i would put one up. some people took what gina was saying about old subbies wrong but i took it to mean this nothing is for free you have to earn your respect and that was why when i came on youtube am an oldie now lol those that shared their talent and always commented on vids received the lusciousness. yes you have to earn your way in the world and develop a reputation. thats me anyway
ReplyDeletetake care my friend
shar
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ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this post. Metal joints may seem a very small part in the huge industries filled with heavy and complex equipments; however its importance could not be neglected at any part in the modern industrial purpose where the main aim is to minimize cost and save resources.
ReplyDeleteMetal Joints
Jen, I have been seeing you "around" the blogosphere for a few years now but just found your site last night via a fellow PITA babe. I know that this post is old but I still want to reply. I LOVE anything to do with papercrafting. I am self taught. Several years ago I stumbled upon Kathy O. and I was in heaven. I learned how to do things so much easier than the way that I was trying to do them. I loved her videos BECAUSE she gave the measurements and walked us through the process. I totally get that people pay a lot of money to join a KIT Club and I am so envious...I am not able to do that at this time. I know that they don't want to have "me" get free what they had to pay for. I am a single Mother who is helping her son go through Law School. I buy my supplies with a coupon or a gift card. I try and make do with what I have. I surely "lust" after all of the new toys but I know that I cannot have it all...yet. I loved getting Kathy and Jim's measurements from their shows and making the project with my stash. I have purchased my share of tutorials and they are fabulous! But it is not always possible. So right now I am not buying patterns but I will one day...so sad that it is not "the good old days!" Just wanted to give my 2 cents worth. P.S. I am NOT saying this to get someone to give me anything, I am merely commenting on a great subject. Anyway, my weekend will be spent watching your videos. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your thoughts on this subject Konnie, it seems that on the whole "we" are a great bunch of sharing crafters, and I am thankful to be a part of this while it lasts. I too buy "some" tutorials, but also I am lucky enough to be able to "trial and error" a project shown without measurements. BUT some of the products used to create these projects I simply cannot obtain here in Oz, and are too expensive for me to purchase online from overseas - so I improvise and sometimes even make my own products LOL. There are still so many crafters out there willing to give measurements and tutorials so I am thankful for that at least.
DeleteThanks again
Smiles
Jen