I've been reevaluating

[Tela]

I even notice how quiet I have been.

I joined a site for cabbers and made some friends who cut rocks, but other than that I haven't been doing much. My Ruby Plaza store is very slow and I have been thinking of other selling options.

I was considering etsy, although I am loath to do it, and I am considering my own domain.

Once again, Laura has come to my rescue and I may follow her route. I love echwid, but it costs more than if I had my own domain and free cart software.

I am thinking of linking my blog to my own domain, too. I haven't been blogging much either. I guess you could say I have been in a rut. The one new piece I have done recently I messed up and have to redo. Wasted silver gives me cold feet.

I am reevaluating my membership at JL, too. I had a run in with Eni over her censorship and her insistence to allow tutes that make us serious teachers look bad. No, I am not making a general statement about teachers, but about one in particular who puts out crap tutes by the dozens and claims to be an authority on things she knows nothing about. It is very frustrating to know how very hard others and yourself work only to be lumped into the same group with those who strive to be substandard. I guess you could say I have become disillusioned. I thought the point was to teach, not to make money with all sorts of tricks, questionable marketing, deception and theft. Oh well, you know what they say about one bad apple?

I guess I should stop here before I sound too morose. Missing my muse will do that to me.

[Vicky]

Hey Tela,

I have no advice or comment about the website stuff - don't know anything about them and I'm happy to keep it that way - bit of a luddite, me!

You were conspicuous by your absence and it did cross my mind that you might have jumped ship from here for some reason, very pleased you haven't. I, for one, missed your imput.

I was once a huge JL fan, visited everyday, loved the whole vibe but now the vibe has changed and the influx of new people is ... off putting. I like to look at the eye candy but prefer not to participate. Note: I am pretty sure I know the Teacher you are referring to and I have seen her put in her place many times over by trusted Teachers on the site. For my 2c worth I think she has ruined JL for a lot of people.

I'm not sure how you can kick start you muse but I think you'd feel a great deal better about the world in general if your fingers were playing with wire. I have a fall back design that helps me out when I can't think of anything else to do - an hour or so working through that allows my imagination to kick start.

One good thing (yeah, a positive out of a negative) you have made friends with cabbers (it makes them sound like a who new species of the human race, or maybe that's just because I been watching too many Star Trek re-runs) - a new skill to learn, perhaps, or at the very least an excellent place to find beautiful stones.

[las]

Hi Tela,
I had missed you and I do agree with Vicky Re: JL.
I don't go their much anymore. Such a shame that one bad apple.......
On the up side I would love to hear about your new cabbing experience.
I will have to blame you for I am on the waiting list for a local lapidary club to do their Silver smith course and of course before I can do that I have to join and do their basic cabbing class.

So please don't feel dishearten and Muse less !
I for one am always happy to hear what others are doing . I live vicariously though others most of the time

BTW Vicky how is the Gallery going ?

[Kate]

I'm going to chime in too. I miss you too and your blogs.

[Renate]

Me, too. Miss your posts and your blogs.

My compliments to your muse, and could she please consider to get back home soon!

[christine]

I too feel disillusioned by JL. I checked in often to feel stimulated but then found my blood pressure rising over poor designs offered as tutorials. It makes the site seem more about money which I am sure is expensive to run. For the excellent instructors, it must be extremely frustrating. I am concerned newcomers will learn poor techniques or bad short cuts. I have missed being here and vow to be more present. Tela, I look forward to your new website. Maybe my muse is off somewhere with yours??

[Tela]

Awww.... Thanks everyone... you made me feel wonderful!

Just to give you an update- my muse is ok (I think). I haven't been making any jewelry, so I'm not sure.

I did, in fact, get my own domain and I've been missing because I am devoting all my time to getting it open. You can see it under construction here. www.telaformosa.com If you visit my blog and look in the address bar, you will see that it is now redirected to my own domain. It took a day to do that.

more l8er

[glenda]

Hey Tela!

I haven't been around for a while either. You can see why here jcicjewellery.blogspot.co.uk/- That was the first post I have done since January. I just haven't had the time!!

I have missed all of you. I hope you are all well.

Tela, I know exactly who you mean. She repeatedly spews trash both verbally and in the written word, she calls them tutorials I have another word!! ha ha ha

I read your muse has returned, that's good!

I look forward to checking out your new website.

I check JL occasionally. I loved it when I first found it but sadly it has lost its spark. If it were my website I would be embarassed to associate myself with some of the Tuts that have been churned out in recent times!

Anyway, on the plus side I met some fantastic friends.

x

[Tela]

Hi Glenda!!! You are forgiven for being tardy since that time was so well spent on your new venture. ;D

LOVE your studio! Congratulations I hope it works out well for you. How awesome and cheery it is!

Your little felties are too cute. So adorable and soft- they make me want to hug them.

I hope to have the site up after the weekend. It's basically my old shop just my own shop on my own domain. It has been a ton of work, but no painting LOL!

I hope you will be around more. I'm gonna try to be here more myself since I will be done with the store soon. I'll have more time.

[caeterle]

I haven't been here in a while because life gave me a real good, hard kick that I'll feel for quite some time, so I missed this thread.

Congrats on your own domain, Tela. Your designs are so beautiful, I hope you won't hide forever.

I have never been on JL, so I can't say anything about that.

[shiny]

On any website, I'm sorry to say, if your main goal is to make money, the bad tutorials sell just as well as the good ones, especially to newbies who don't have the experience to tell the difference.

I was very lucky. When I learned the basics, teachers were required to have some skills before they wrote tutorials. I learned to wrap neatly and to finish my ends ... because of the skill of my teachers!

Also, when a site only allows positive feedback, newbies post their first picture and everyone tells them it's wonderful, so they believe it and start writing their own tutorials.

If you've been making jewelry for less than two years and your name is not Iza, you're not ready to teach anything (just my opinion).

[Tela]

@cat- I'm real sorry about that. I hope things are getting better for you.

shiny- Yes, I believe that's half the problem. It isn't about the art anymore for some people. Shame.....