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Image by katybird, via Flickr
WHOOOSH! goes another month, and it’s time to report on how I supported some Free. Can any of you do something about the velocity of this new year? It’s kinda freaking me out.
OK… I have three things to report this time. First, I eagerly signed up for Hanna’s annual DIY Postcard Swap. It’s a huge swap that crosses countries all over the world. You make ten postcards to send out, and you get ten amazing handmade postcards back. I did this last year and loved it. (And you still have time to sign up, if you hurry!)
…And I was super glad to see that this year, Hanna is charging a small entry fee. She organizes this thing herself, and with so many participants, it has to take a lot of time. I absolutely got lots of value from the experience last year, so I’m more than happy to support it.
(Does this mean I think everyone should charge for group internet projects? No, of course not. But when you’re providing a proven experience, and doing that consumes a lot of your time, then why not get compensated a little?)
Image from Greek Art
Next, I was inspired by a tweet from my friend Elizabeth to check out these crazy insane amazing stitchable pendants on Etsy. I promptly ordered a selection, and when they arrived, I sent half of them to Elizabeth as a surprise. She provides so much value to me every day in the form of insightful tweets, beautiful shared photos and thoughtful comments here – it was great fun to play Santa. In February.
Image by uochi, via Flickr
…And that experience inspired me to my third act of supporting Free, but I can’t tell you about it because it hasn’t arrived yet! But suffice it to say, I found something really cool to send to a dear friend who’s always a cheerful presence in my internet landscape.
I’m really loving this little mode of saying, “Thank you for being out there every day.”
…And thank YOU, as always, for witnessing this little project! I’m happy to say that others are participating in this monthly effort now! Pam, Fanie, Tsoniki and the Dyhanaverse are all stepping up to support the cause of Free.
Are you? Please share your link in the comments – I’d love to know!
I need to post an update! But first, thank you for sharing the stitchable blanks! I instantly thought of something to try with them and am going to order some this weekend when I do my “what should I order from etsy this payday” thing. LOL
I’m with Hanna’s postcard swap, too. And I’ve been announcing it to everyone! It’s a lot of fun.
I may have to play with them tonight – that circle is taunting me from my bookcase!! And it was totally like Santa in February! I’m delighted that this conversation continues and that you managed to make me a part of it. What a great idea for supporting crafty friends in a way few would get!! You rock.
Thanks for the update, Diane. :-D
By “having” to do this every month, I found put that it made me more engaged in the online community. I just don’t want to get something from Etsy (althought I love the idea!), I want to get something from Etsy from someone with who I have a connection with.
I also try not to encourage the same person over and over. But it’s not easy as not everyone offer options to support them, financially.
Great post, again! :) Let’s keept this conversation going.
Agreed! I hope we can also inspire more people to offer more ways to support them. I may love a blog dearly, but the bloggers’ products aren’t something I can use. So in those cases, a Flattr button or donation button would be so welcome.
Hey Diane, I tried that link to iHanna’s swap and it gave me an error. I’d be in for something like that, so I googled iHanna’s blog and still I failed to get through… :(
It may very well be just my complete lack of computer savviness, darn it.
I’m getting the same error right now – so it must be something with Hanna’s server. Maybe try again in a couple hours? I’d love to have you in the swap!
I love that you sent Elizabeth the pendants – that is so sweet!
very nice.
And I’m in Hanna’s swap, too!
[...] also mentioned me in her Supporting Free post for February. Receiving those wooden embroidery bits really did make my week and I can’t wait to show you [...]
This has inspired me to look around for what I can do. For this year it will have to be mostly non-financial, as I’m moving once or twice in the next few months and can’t have “stuff,” but I did take an online class in February from a certain craft pod-caster who’s podcasts I’ve become a huge fan of.
I was happy to pay for the class both b/c I knew it would be useful from the “free” I was able to listen to, and because I wanted to keep that “free” coming.
For now I’m planning to write one review a month of a book, blog, class, etc, that someone else runs as a show of support. I’ve got it all planned out for the next few months.
Thank you so much for taking the class, Rachel, and I love your plan of sharing reviews. A genuinely enthused post about someone’s business can really help them. Thank you for supporting the community!