Craftster Site Announcement

[rackycoo]

So many Craftster memories, so many ways it touched all of our lives. Thank you to everyone for sharing. 

[Acadian Driftwood]

This site has enriched my life immeasurably since I joined in 2008. The over 100 swaps in which I participated encouraged me to try new things and connect with people. My house is decorated in craftster swap beauty. The generosity of our members is legendary (aren't we always saying "wow I got so spoiled!")! The craftalongs pushed my creativity and I will always be grateful to the organizers, mods, and everyone who joined in by posting projects and comments. You're fantastic. 

[Lothruin]

I have only been around sporadically for YEARS, but I joined just 6 months after Craftster was founded, and spent years as Knitting mod and co-mod of Crochet, and I have so many friendships here.

When I started at Craftster, I USED to crochet, in the past-tense. Craftster is the reason why I picked up the hooks again, and it's the reason why I taught myself to knit, which is the reason why I taught my MOM to knit, which is the reason SHE worked in a yarn shop teaching classes for several years and made numerous steadfast friends THERE... And Craftster is the reason why I learned to spin, too, which is the class I was at when my grandmother died, which is why I took my drop spindle with me on the trip for the funeral, which is why my aunt saw me spinning at the wake, which is why she knew what she was looking at when she found (and sent me) a hand-made drop spindle in Grandma's things, that we believe my great-grandpa made for my great-grandma. Craftster is the reason I was inspired to get out my sewing machine again, which is why I got into costuming, which is why I got into boothing at ren faires, which is how I really reconnected with my best friend from FIRST GRADE, which is how I met a BUNCH of my best friends, and how my kid got on the cast as a fae, which is how I started getting costume commissions.

Here I am, an avid knitter, crocheter, designer, general fiber artist, costumer, someone who wants to open a needlework museum and archive and crafting space (really, it's a goal), someone with more than one crafting side business, and I really do owe it all to Craftster. It has rippled up and down the generations of my family, in ways I never could have predicted when I joined, and I am astounded by it's closing.

I am going back through my own posts to archive my work on my own blog, just in case, and I've joined several of the alternative social media spaces already in place. As a former mod, I'll put in as much time as I can helping Sweets and Racky and Pam and everyone find a way to recover from this.

I love Craftster, I love Craftsters. </3

[irid3sc3nt]

I was crying earlier and now I'm just mad.  I'm mad at the flippant "Bee Tee Dubs, we're closing", I'm mad that this site can be thrown away like that.  I've been here since 2005 when I was in college and I needed a place of peace.  My crafting ability has grown by leaps and bounds.  Most recently, my son has gone to school full time and I'm back to getting more involved with the site.  I never even knew what ATCs were until I saw the swap and joined.  My Halloween Chunky Houses swap is my crafty baby.  I just.... RAAAAAAAWRRRR!!!

I would throw money at whomever to save this place.  I'm going to join the Reddit.

I don't know what more to say other than thank you all for being a part of my life.

[greybird]

I have seen a few posts mentioning that the mods are updating the FB group and talking about the future there.

I do not have a facebook, nor am I willing to join facebook, so I have no way to put in my thoughts about the future there.  I don't want to lose touch with everyone from Craftster.  So I want to put in my vote here:

Please do not choose facebook as the future of Craftster.   

[kittykill]

I have seen a few posts mentioning that the mods are updating the FB group and talking about the future there.

I do not have a facebook, nor am I willing to join facebook, so I have no way to put in my thoughts about the future there.  I don't want to lose touch with everyone from Craftster.  So I want to put in my vote here:

Please do not choose facebook as the future of Craftster.   

It will not be a permanent home. Just a temporary place. Keep the faith. If you are comfortable with Reddit, there is a group there too.

[tattooedcrafter]

this is so heart breaking, i have been part of this community for so long and met some amazing friends through this site, even some in real life.

[greybird]

Thank you!!!     I was really worried!  

[Mistress Jennie]

Please do not choose facebook as the future of Craftster.   

Greybird, no one is planning on moving there permanently.  It's simply the easiest temporary landing spot, since so many members do already have a Facebook.  A way to keep some sense of continuity between Craftster, and whatever wonderful thing comes next.  For example, the HP Craftalong is in the middle of it's term right now.  The best way for me to keep the most members spirits up over the holidays, is to keep the Craftalong running there while we work things out. 

#CraftstersNeverSayDie 

[bethntim]

OMG I just realized I'm gonna have to start working at work!  AAAAHHHHHH, sad day indeed