Tossing around some ideas for improving stitchin fingers

[sharonb]

Hi all I want to toss around a few ideas for improving the site  and see what people think.

I hope to be able to turn Stitchin fingers into a resource rich site for fiber and textile people and I am interested in members ideas.  

These are a few ideas I have 

A copy of the the stitch dictionary combined with all the TAST and TAST 2010 stitches could be hosted in one spot. It makes sense  to have the resource on site so that people can use it here. 

Start a book review section 

A directory for fiber folks, of annotated links to various resources online such as ebooks, tutorials, blogs, book reviews and information that people find useful. I would annotate each link so unlike many directories it would be created to contain real useful information to members. Links that are purely commerce driven I will not allow. Quality not money is what would get a link listed.  I think if each link is described honestly it will be useful.

On the site I might start playing favourites and highlighting members and their work. I have mixed feelings about this (simply because I don't like playing favourites)  but I think it could be interesting as we have a huge range of really talented, high quality, interesting stuff going on and it is easy to miss if you don't pay attention to the photo feed. 

I would love to reward active members any ideas on ways of making people feel special for their valuable input? This one really has me stumped but apparently NING themselves are working on ideas too. 

On my to do list is to write a few tutorials on how to use the site, so that people who are new to the site don't get quite so lost.

I am not going mad with all options and new stuff and changing everything at once because I think all the bells and whistles in the world, and hyping the site won't make a real community. 

With that in mind I would love feed back on these ideas and love to hear any others ideas, thoughts comments, feel free to add your two cents worth its a community space after all etc  

[Lena Ferrier]

The directory sounds great and the book review too. I don't buy many books nowas I buy on-line and can't see inside. I have so many books already and they are so expensive nowadays that I hate to waste money on something similar to what I already have. On the other hand an inspirational book is worth buying. I still love my Jan Beaney Art of the Needle and Julia Barton's Art of Embroidery. Still there are so many new products out nowadays that I probably need a more up to date version or your tutorials.
What is TAST? Probably the first of many newbie questions from me!

[sharonb]

Lena TAST stands for take a stitch Tuesday which is a challenge run from my blog. The idea is that I propose a stitch and people explore it. There is a new stitch each week. This years TAST is called TAST 2010 (original name I know) but you might want to check it out people drop in and out of the challenge all the time. For those folks who did not do the first one and want to it is being re-run in one of the groups here and called Take a Stitch Tuesday

Hope this answers your question
I have also edited the original forum post and added links so that people know what I am talking about! It's not good practice as it makes folks feel excluded! So sorry

[Marilyn Nepper]

Sharon, I think your ideas for the list are great. Although I have the stitch dictionary bookmarked and refer to it often, it would be nice to have it here, with the TAST stitches. And the book review would be most helpful as I buy all my books on-line because I live out in the country and don't have access to stores, nor have I found anyone here who does crazy quilting. And the links would be great too, to help reduce searches on the net. I do check out a lot of the ones you post on your blog in the A-Z feature. I don't have any new ideas to offer but you seem to have thought of a lot of things.

[JoWynn Johns]

Good heavens, Sharon! Now you're adding all this to your to-do list? When do you sleep? :-)

[Michelle Wilkinson]

Sharon your ideas are wonderful ! The book reviews would be wonderful as i also buy nearly all my books online. Having the stitch dictionary in one place and here would also be great especially for new embroiderers like myself ! ( might make me trymore lol ) I have to say this is such a wonderful site and i am so glad to be of this community ! You are already doing an amazing job and i am sure it will only grow from strength to strength with your fab ideas ! thanks Sharon for providing such a wonderful place for us all to come together and share our creations !

[Cynthia Bonnell]

You have some great ideas, Sharon. The idea of having the TAST stitches with the stitch dictionary is a great one. Most of these stitches from TAST 2 are hard to find anywhere else. It would be great to have them all in one place.

I would like to see a list of online embroidery classes. I'm sure your blog readers would be glad to point you toward any they find.

[sharonb]

Thanks for the positive feed back particularly about the stitch dictionary and TAST stitches as this will have to be built page by page and its pointless doing it if people are iffy about it.

As to a list of classes - classes are commercial ventures and since I teach online some might see this as me being hypocritical - saying no commercial listings in the directory then creating a list of classes.
I will advertise on the site - for the simple reason if I am not a "sponsor" I don't know who is! That said it will be a clear and honest advert for what I offer but the same size etc as other advertisers. If other teachers want to advertise they can contact me. In most cases (if they are teaching a fiber related topic) I am happy to see their support.

[Carol-Anne]

Hi Sharon, your stitch directory is a great resource. In many ways it doesn't matter to me whether it is here or on your blog, I have it book marked and use it frequently. However, I think new members, especially those who are not already aquainted with your blog, will benefit from it being on Stitching Fingers.

I hear what you are saying about missing things in the gallery. If you don't log on for a day or two, or if someone uploads a lot of pictures in one go, pictures can soon disappear from the front page. How about a 'grab-a-cuppa' type round up, or themed round ups, to highlight some the weeks new items.

But this could lead to a massive work load for you, Sharon. Perhaps you could consider some 'guest' contributers to suggest items that have caught their eye for that week. Either a different writer each week, so we regularly get a different flavour, or a small team of reviewers who highlight a small sample regularly, so we have a 'pick-and-mix' each week.

CA

[neki rivera]

very cool to have the stitching dictionary and the TAST here. it will help me be less scattered :)
the book review also sounds great.
maybe highlighting and not favying .
perhaps the stitch or concept of the month and spotlighting people who are working out interesting things w. it/them.
a tools of the trade section with useful tools and how to use them ??

[chitra gangadharan]

Your ideas are wonderful,It'll be great to have the stitch dictionary and TAST stitches here, The directory will also be useful,It'll encourage people to add more input,
Do suggest some ways where we can also share your responsibilities, since you have created this platform - to share our hobbies, ideas,inspirations,. the only reason I have been able to pursue this hobby of mine,is because of this community .

[Cynthia Bonnell]

I was being naive. I didn't think about others using it for commercial purposes, but I can see how that might happen. There would be no conflict for me because I have already taken all your classes. Just haven't been able to find many others and would like to. Although I don't know if I would find any I like as well as yours.

sharonb said:

Thanks for the positive feed back particularly about the stitch dictionary and TAST stitches as this will have to be built page by page and its pointless doing it if people are iffy about it.

As to a list of classes - classes are commercial ventures and since I teach online some might see this as me being hypocritical - saying no commercial listings in the directory then creating a list of classes.
I will advertise on the site - for the simple reason if I am not a "sponsor" I don't know who is! That said it will be a clear and honest advert for what I offer but the same size etc as other advertisers. If other teachers want to advertise they can contact me. In most cases (if they are teaching a fiber related topic) I am happy to see their support.

[sharonb]

Hi all I have been carefully reading the replies - actually made a cuppa and then read them!

Carol-Anne your idea to ask people to guest as "what's happening in the photo gallery" - round up type of post is a good one. We could have a forum thread (although I am not sure I can limit the posts to Editors only - I will have to check that out)
Or I can look into a blog/news type section (on the front page of the site) that logs/highlights what is going on and have some key valued people who are able to contribute a grab a cuppa round up and even other news.

Actually as I write this, I think the site needs just that sort of news feature - rather than trying to bend the forum to do that.
OK its on my look into/todo list need to look into it...

People interested in contributing to this news part of the site please contact me

Niki
I really like your idea "perhaps the stitch or concept of the month and spotlighting people who are working out interesting things w. it/them."
I have often thought of asking people to post photos of items that use such and such a stitch (made anytime, anywhere - so older and non TAST challenge stuff can be shared) then highlighting some of the more interesting things done with it.
I held back however as up until now I have felt that although my personality is here I don't want to treat a community space like a blog - ie make it about my interests and likes only. Obviously stitching is great love of mine and I worry that I shove it down peoples throats - So thanks for your suggestions as in a way it gives me permission to do something I have been interested in doing!

The directory idea seems popular as well as book reviews. I can link to an Amazon affiliate scheme which will also help the site pay the rent. I am sure people will not object to this as long as the reviews are honest.