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Post by ♥Jan♥ on Jul 20, 2010 12:43:03 GMT -5
Just being out here and being judged on our work constantly is not an easy task, being as we put so much of ourselves into our projects.
Is it important to you to actually win a challenge, or do you find enough satisfaction in your work to never care ? If you have done something you think is amazing, and no one else seems to think so, is it enough to keep you creating ?
And how can we continue to encourage others without resorting to empty words and exclamation marks ?
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Post by sweetcrafteachick on Jul 20, 2010 17:19:13 GMT -5
It's always a nice thing to be recognized with an honor ;p'. I love crafts so I think I will always keep creating, but what brightens my day is support from my fellow crafters. That's really special and makes me smile ! I think that's what we have to do to encourage others.
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Post by emoradesigns on Jul 21, 2010 8:32:14 GMT -5
I agree, it's nice to be recognized for you work, but it isn't why I craft so it won't keep me down. I think having other crafters there to help you when your stuck or to be honest and supportive is encouraging!
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Post by Kristina on Jul 21, 2010 8:47:39 GMT -5
Interesting Jan, that you would post this comment right now. I was just talking about this on Monday! For me, I don't have to win. But I will admit that I get frustrated when I create something that I think is FABULOUS and no one even leaves a comment. Especially from your own team mates. It does hurt my feelings, but then again I am a sensitive person I won't let it make me stop creating though, I do it becuase I love it...not because I want a pat on the head from anyone. (However, pats on the head...and even cookies are nice)
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dddcort
Flying Papercraft Star
Posts: 97
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Post by dddcort on Jul 21, 2010 9:50:42 GMT -5
I was talking with the hubbs about this last night. I asked him how a layout looked and he said 'fine.' of course I dug at him trying to find out why and all he said was 'it's not your best work.' well, I thought it was pretty good, so I'm just going to ignore him. lol.
As far as online, it's hard to even know who looks at things, so I feel like I can't base how people feel about what I do on an internet post. At least, I try not to and if I do need the attention I run to the people I know will give me positive feedback!
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Post by Beth Moore on Jul 21, 2010 11:24:30 GMT -5
I can imagine that, especially given our style of challenge blog where people actually vote on the submitted projects, this can make everyone feel very "judged" and put the person who designed the piece at risk of feeling badly if their project doesn't receive any votes or fewer than they hoped for... however, I think we need to think about the fact that first... you never know how many people will vote and what their specific tastes will be upon voting. It's similar to the same reason some Designs Teams will pick you up...while others won't. It's all about the particular taste of the viewer (or Judge, so to speak). (Not to mention the fact that some people are going to vote for a project because they know the Designer...not necessarily because that is their favorite project!).
It is an interesting situation for me when I post a piece that I think is fantastic and it gets very little interest in the way of comments and yet, there are other pieces that I post that I think were just this side of a load of crap (like all those shape cards I end up doing for BBTB2) and people seem to really like them (say WHAT??!!!)....
Anyhow, for myself, because I know that for the most part people who do comment are going to say nice things... I don't necessarily feel it is honest feedback that will make or break my desire to be a papercrafter. I mean there is no telling if the comments are genuine or if that person simply "likes" me and so they feel they should say nice things to me... you know?
I think I am actually more motivated by NOT getting postitive feedback or lots of comments ... it makes me re-think my work and try harder to perfect my craft... there is so much I need and want to learn, I am not afraid to admit that, or have my lack of expertise in any area prevent me from continuing to strive for GREATNESS! .... I have a DREAM! :-)
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Post by emoradesigns on Jul 26, 2010 21:26:06 GMT -5
I can imagine that, especially given our style of challenge blog where people actually vote on the submitted projects, this can make everyone feel very "judged" and put the person who designed the piece at risk of feeling badly if their project doesn't receive any votes or fewer than they hoped for... however, I think we need to think about the fact that first... you never know how many people will vote and what their specific tastes will be upon voting. It's similar to the same reason some Designs Teams will pick you up...while others won't. It's all about the particular taste of the viewer (or Judge, so to speak). (Not to mention the fact that some people are going to vote for a project because they know the Designer...not necessarily because that is their favorite project!). It is an interesting situation for me when I post a piece that I think is fantastic and it gets very little interest in the way of comments and yet, there are other pieces that I post that I think were just this side of a load of crap (like all those shape cards I end up doing for BBTB2) and people seem to really like them (say WHAT??!!!).... Anyhow, for myself, because I know that for the most part people who do comment are going to say nice things... I don't necessarily feel it is honest feedback that will make or break my desire to be a papercrafter. I mean there is no telling if the comments are genuine or if that person simply "likes" me and so they feel they should say nice things to me... you know? I think I am actually more motivated by NOT getting postitive feedback or lots of comments ... it makes me re-think my work and try harder to perfect my craft... there is so much I need and want to learn, I am not afraid to admit that, or have my lack of expertise in any area prevent me from continuing to strive for GREATNESS! .... I have a DREAM! :-) Well Said Beth!
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tracy
Papercraft Star Design Team
Posts: 174
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Post by tracy on Jul 26, 2010 21:45:05 GMT -5
I'll be honest and say that I am a competitive person and I like to win, but I totally agree with a lot of what Beth said. I learned quickly after I started doing things online that personally creating something and putting it out there for others to critique can be tough sometimes. Shortly after I started making cards I found Jan through Kristina's blog. We traded comments for a little while and then she left the following statement on one of my posts and I've never forgotten it. "Yes, you are always encouraging, and your comments are so well thought out - I know you always mean exactly what you say, no empty words." That stuck with me. I really did mean exactly what I said, and I've tried really hard to do that with every comment I make. I wanted Jan and whoever else I'm commenting on to know that I found value in their work. What she said changed the way I looked at blogging and contests. Don't get me wrong, who doesn't like to win, but I've found that I get more satisfaction when I see the same old friends who've been commenting on my work coming back again and again and telling me that they found something worthwhile in my project. The World Wide Web is not some magical place of fairness. To be honest the judging on some of the challenge blogs just baffles me. Nor is it somewhere that everyone is a clone of each other so all their tastes are the same. How boring would that be! And judging . . .well that's abstract in any realm. So being recognized once in a while is just a little icing on the cake of being able to be part of a group of people who enjoy crafting and making new friends. The support and encouragement we get from our fellowcrafters makes winners out of all of us! And I'll keep creating--win or lose--because I love the challenge to my own self.
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Post by Beth Moore on Jul 27, 2010 17:34:52 GMT -5
We've all made a lot of good points here... it certainly help me rethink the way I comment on blogs and how I feel about my own work as well.
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Post by stephanie on Jul 29, 2010 9:13:10 GMT -5
I agree with you all. It is tough, but I love to create and submitting is just the icing on the cake. I'd love to be on a manufacturers design team (or 2) and it does get frustrating when you know you've done your best work and don't get selected and yet some of the designers chosen seem to create just so-so work (in my opinion, of course). So there is no telling what anyone is looking for. I guess the rationale is do your best, what you love to do, and keep submitting. At some point the acolades will come through (at least that's what I keep telling myself!!!!!).
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Post by Beth Moore on Jul 30, 2010 16:48:10 GMT -5
I agree with you all. It is tough, but I love to create and submitting is just the icing on the cake. I'd love to be on a manufacturers design team (or 2) and it does get frustrating when you know you've done your best work and don't get selected and yet some of the designers chosen seem to create just so-so work (in my opinion, of course). So there is no telling what anyone is looking for. I guess the rationale is do your best, what you love to do, and keep submitting. At some point the acolades will come through (at least that's what I keep telling myself!!!!!). I hear ya!!! :-)
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Post by Kristina on Jul 31, 2010 10:42:30 GMT -5
I will say...JAN....that after you made this post I really started thinking hard about the comments I was leaving on blogs. I decided that for one whole week I was NOT going to use an exclamation point. UUmmm..it was kinda hard at first, you just get so used to doing it. It's kinda like cussing, you don't even notice how much you do it until you try to quit. Not that I cuss a lot....but you know what I mean. ;D Anywho, I feel like I made better comments during that week. At least, I truly meant what I said and I tried to use words that really expressed how I felt rather than !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you
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Post by sweetcrafteachick on Jul 31, 2010 11:22:03 GMT -5
Well put Tracy! I really mean everything I write...I think I probably cannot articulate in words how I feel sometimes. I am learning so much through the challenges and loving it ! Have a great weekend, girls!
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Post by doxieluv01 on Aug 8, 2010 10:25:47 GMT -5
it used to bother me when I'd post a project on a MB or blo and get few comments thinking wow I guess it was terrible. Then I started talking to people about it and it was mentioned just cause they don't post a comment doesn't mean they don't like it. it might be that they are just looking and like it but don't have time to leave comments or whatever. So when I started thinking about it, why do i make the things i make .... cause it makes me feel good to create, it's my "me" time, it's what I want to do. So that being said winning is great, comments are great but i don't let it determine the "worth" of my work.
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liz
Papercraft Star Design Team
Posts: 406
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Post by liz on Aug 19, 2010 19:24:38 GMT -5
Wow, sooo many comments here. I have to agree with what everyone says. I craft for myself and for my family. I know my style doesn't appeal to a lot of people as I like clean and simple. But I do it for the fun of it and to learn new techniques. I mean everything I say when I comment and always try to find that one thing that I really like about the project and mention it.
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