How to Create a Community (a final tutorial)

Jeffery Rudell, contributor

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After nearly a year of being a contributing writer here at CraftStylish.com, my contract has come to an end. The editors of CraftStylish have explained the reasons for this and other changes in their post to readers earlier this week. Suffice it to say, that the web is not immune to the effects of a faltering economy.

I will miss greatly the work I did for this site. I will miss the talented and passionate people with whom I shared the masthead, and I will miss the regular interaction with readers who were so generous in their comments, their support, their encouragement, their loyalty, and the deep sense of community that arose between us around the work we produced. I consider you all an audience of mentors, compatriots, and my brothers-, and sisters-in-arms when it comes to crafting and creativity. Whatever successes I had online are due solely to my engagement with you. (My failures, alas, have all been of my own making.)

All of my posts will remain on view here and I hope you find some pleasure and guidance in them. However, though some of the regular faces will be disappearing from this site, the site itself will still be here. This presents you, the readers, with an incredible opportunity to begin taking a more active role in creating content to share with your peers. The audience at CraftStylish is comprised of some of the best and brightest crafters working today. They want (and need) to see your work, hear your comments, and engage with you in making the craft community a stronger and more supportive place for all.

So, as I say goodbye, I'd like to be the first to say "Hello" to the next group of crafters who will soon rise on this site to speak about paper and crochet and sewing and embroidery and jewelry-making and felting and all the other disciplines that we collectively refer to as "craft." Now, more than ever, it falls to all of us to help keep CraftStylish going, and growing, and getting better. I will be eagerly awaiting your arrival here, ready to follow your tutorials and happy to leave a comment on your posts. Though I don't yet know who you are, I know you will be great. In the last year you, YOU, have built CraftStylish into a valuable and exiting place for crafts. This site belongs to you and I cannot wait to see what you decide to do with it. I encourage you to be bold, to leap in, to share and discuss and extend the bounds of what this site can be.

As for me, I have a few books to write, a long list of clients (who will be thankful for the few extra hours of time I will be able to offer them each month), and a roster of new and exciting projects that will be launching in the next ten weeks. I have not yet settled on a new online home but I'll keep you posted. In the meantime, I hope you will consider staying in contact with me through whatever social media application you prefer. I'll continue to monitor comments on posts at CraftStylish.com (and will be back to post an occasional project every now and then if I think I  have something you'll enjoy). If you like, you can always reach me by email or Facebook, or Twitter. I'm always eager to follow what you're doing, and help out wherever possible.

Thank you all for an incredible year of crafting and conversation. Thank you for letting me be a part of the discussion. It has been my pleasure (and a great honor) to craft with you all. I can't wait for our next adventure together.

With best regards,

Jeffery

Email: jeffrudell@gmail.com
Twitter: @jeffrudell
Facebook: jeffrudell

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Comments (16)

Sunshine43 writes: Oh Jeff I just found you and your leaving. I hate goodbyes.
I have your email and will send you an email. Thank you for what you did on here. You will be missed by me. I can't say goodbye.
Cheers,
Barbara
Posted: 1:56 am on February 23rd

Tracy230 writes: You are the best, Jeff, a wonderful artist who shares his talent. I value all your posts and tutorials and will have my eyes out for whatever you create next. Thank you so much.

Posted: 9:33 pm on August 16th

vickibo writes: This is the first time I have come across this site and already I am missing you. Have spent most of my morning checking out your projects and sent the links to my friends and now, sadly, I see you are leaving when I have just found you. Good luck in all of your endeavors.
PS I even made a contribution on my first visit.
Posted: 8:42 am on July 6th

whiskeydaisy writes: I too, am sad to see you leaving. I check out your site first. You have made my day when all the rest of the world seems so sad. The ideas were cheerful and a joy to make. All the very best. Hope to see more of your stuff in the future. Paper is a wonderful medium to work in. I do origami, so its fun to see your ideas.

Whiskeydaisy
Posted: 8:20 am on June 13th

gravityworks2 writes: Out of all the contributors in here, you are by far my favorite and the only crafts from this site that I have attempted. Thank you for all that you have shared. I will defiantly miss your posts and the opportunity to show my young daughter that nothing is impossible, just look what he did with a simple piece of paper! Good Luck with the next phase of your amazing career.
Posted: 7:35 pm on June 11th

Sweet_Meats writes: I'm so sad to read about these changes, and especially sad that I won't be hearing from my favorite contributor. Any plans to start a blog of your own, perchance? I think it would be incredibly popular.
Posted: 4:17 pm on June 6th

eveh writes: I always look to see what you have posted, the first thing, when I come here. I will miss you terribly. I am happy that you have so many things that you love to do and wish you well. I have been sick for the last year and unable to do the heavy crafting I used to do. The good thing about paper, is how easy it is to work with and not a lot of things are required to make something beautiful. I am able to keep crafting because of your lovely creations. You made a difference in my life. I just wanted you to know.
Posted: 11:26 pm on June 4th

KraftyGirl writes: Thanks Jeffery for taking CraftStylish to unimaginable heights of creativity. Looking forward to what you do next!
Posted: 10:06 pm on June 3rd

freckldface writes: Hiya
Just wanted to add my $.02 to this discussion, and say that I too really only logged on to see what cool things you have been working on. Your posts are always inspirational and motivating. I'm anxious to see where we can find you next.

em
Posted: 2:24 pm on June 3rd

hemidemisemiquaver writes: This leaves me so sad and yet I am so proud of everything you have come forward with to inspire us every month. You have brought a great many people joy on here, and don't think I didn't grab your e-mail address! I hope you start your own personal blog one day. I really enjoy your intensly beautiful designs.
Thanks!
Becky Oehlers
Posted: 10:00 am on June 3rd

Josefly writes: I'm so disappointed that you'll no longer be a regular here, but I'll eagerly look forward to the occasional postings you mention. Good luck with the books and other projects. Your work is phenomenal!
Posted: 9:04 pm on June 2nd

Maureclaire writes:
No, it won't be the same without you, Jeff... but, will defintely looking for you elsewhere ! I recently sent all my crafty friends a link to you here... sigh...
Posted: 8:00 am on June 2nd

brookebethany writes: Dear Jeff, I am so sad to read that you will be leaving CraftStylish. Your posts were always opened whenever I surfed the blog. I know the future will hold all sorts of interesting and challenging projects for you and I hope all good things for you. Thank you for sharing your talent.
Posted: 7:05 pm on June 1st

Jen_W writes: Beautifully put, my friend.
Posted: 12:05 pm on June 1st

Luceida writes: Jeff,

Though I am fairly new to Craftstylish, I found that your post and tutorials were the main reason to sign in tho this community... I'm sad that you all have to sign off of your posts and hope that you will let all of us know when you find an internet "home".. I will definetly follow you and wish you the best.

Thank you for your posts.
Posted: 11:57 am on June 1st

VINTAGE2GLAM writes: Dear Jeff, I am so sorry to hear of these changes. I have been addicted to your posts and others on this site and have to check it every morning, looking for that wonderful craft project that I would love to try. But like all things during these difficult times there will have to be changes. I wish you and all the posters and crafters much luck, and thanks for all the terrific projects. As an art teacher I found so many projects to share with my students and have introduced them to this great site. I will be visiting all of your sites. Hang in there. Good luck to you all in your new ventures....You all will be missed here. I hope you continue with your passions, and thank you again.
Posted: 6:18 am on June 1st

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