I don't know about the rest of you, but I have fallen in LOVE with Pinterest.com and have been in love with it for several months now. If you haven't heard about the Pinterest.com phenomenon by now you certainly will be. It is by far the most wonderful way to organize everything and anything about "you."
What moves you, what you like, what you're keeping tabs on, things you saw online that you want to remember, things you want to try in the future, places you've been, what you consider "beautiful", your creations, your interests, foods you like, websites you like, blogs you like, your dreams, future plans for a wedding, dream home, your decorating style, must haves, things you'd like to make, inspirations, DIY projects to try, tips for everything and anything, tutorials to try, your bucket list, beautiful pictures, beautiful colors, things for your kids, nature at its finest, beautiful animals, decorations for the holidays, and your favorites - whether they are artists, crafters, movies, pictures, collections, music, recipes, favorite hobbies, etc. The list goes on and on. Your boards and your page give your followers and the world a pictorial glimpse into the essence of "you."
But, it's also become a great tool for small business artists and crafters online. In fact, in my opinion, it's become a "must" for artists and crafters. A "must" not just because it is one of the easiest ways to promote your creations online, but one of the best ways today for artists and crafters to promote each other. In fact, it could easily be called the best link exchange ever.
For example, I am a doll maker and doll pattern designer who loves dolls of every kind and creation, who loves doll pattern designs, who loves art dolls, teddy bears, cloth dolls, etc. However, I also LOVE artists and crafters blogs, tutorials, patterns, projects, sewing, quilting, handmade goods, beautiful pictures, animals, etc. As you can see my list go on and on and on. Yours could, too.
Well, what Pinterest.com does is it allows me to organize my "likes", "desires", and "inspirations" into boards containing whatever I want to put there. Everything and anything is fair game as long as there is a picture online and a page to link to.
So, of course I have boards for my "Favorite Art Doll Artists", my favorite "Teddy Bear Artists", my favorite "Favorite Doll Pattern Designers", "Favorite Art Quilt Designers", "My Victorian Dolls", and "My Doll Patterns and E-Patterns". But, I also have boards for "Handmade Dolls To Create", "Gotta LOVE Raggedies", "The Best Free Craft Articles", "Creative Embroidery I Love", "Handmade Crafts To Make", "Quilt Items I'd Like To Make", "Gotta LOVE Softies", "Gotta Love Prims","For The Love of Cross-stitch", "Sewing Ideas, How-to's & Tips", "Love "Felt" Things", "Adorable Ornaments", "Crafts Books Worth Reading", "Top Blogs By Crafters", "Wish I Could Paint", "For The Love of Punchneedle", "Fun Paper Crafts", "Crochet and Knit Projects", "Floral Beauty", "Mixed Media I'd Like To Try", "Crafty Things For The Kids", "Gotta Love Handbags,Totes,Etc.", "Home Decor", "Cute Ideas For Womens Clothing", "Crafting Tips & Tricks", "Sweet Jewelry", "Stitchery and Cross-Stitch Fun", "Baby Shower Decorating & Gifts", "Sewing Creations I'd Like To Try", "For The Love of Fabric", "Fabric Painting Tips and Tricks", "Beautiful Pictures", "Gotta LOVE Animals", "ATC's I'd Like To Make", "Crafty Edible Treats & Sweets", "Gotta Love Miniature", "Who Doesn't Love Quilling?", "Beautiful Paper Dolls", "A Little Bit of History", "E-Zines I Love To Read", "Victorian Images I Love", "Craft Classes & E-Classes", "Craft Tutorials & E-Tutorials", and "Craft Patterns & E-Patterns."
Just by looking at my boards you get a feel for who I am and what I like. And, it helps to keep me organized. For someone in the "baby boomer generation" any help in this area is always welcome.
So, how does it help one small business artist or crafter? Well, if you look at my "Favorite Art Doll Artists" board you will find that I have 161 pins. Each and every pin contains a picture of one of my favorite art doll artists creations along with a link to the page I found it on. Plus, I'm a firm believer in crediting artists and crafters with their creations so every one of my original pins contains the artist or crafters name and is linked back to their website and/or blog, their Etsy page, etc.
When someone clicks through my board to the pin and clicks through to the original source they wind up on that artist or crafters website, blog, Etsy page, etc. If they like my pin they can "like" it or re-pin it in which case the picture and all the links follow through to their board. If someone sees their re-pin and likes it they, too, can either "like" it or re-pin it to there boards. All of the descriptions, likes and re-pins for this particular picture are linked together on all the boards.
Talk about a beautiful way for all of us to help promote one another. It doesn't get much better or easier than this. My motto has always been, "What Helps One of Us Helps All of Us!" Pinterest.com is a fabulous way to do just that.
Posted by Linda Walsh Originals- "Doll Patterns for Grown-up Girls!"
Linda Walsh Originals E-Patterns - "Instant Download E-Patterns for Grown-up Girls!"
Linda Walsh Originals Dolls - "Handmade Dolls & Crafts for Grown-up Girls!"
A little while ago Pat had posted in her blog about wanting to dedicate a page of her Summer Issue to our "fur babies" and was looking for pictures. So, I sent her a picture of my beloved fur baby "Pepper." Hubby and I lost him last June after 13 glorious years. He was with us 24/7 and we miss him terribly. Every time I would sit down at my sewing machine he would run over, do a little jump, and stop short just looking at me with an expression that said, "For me! What are you making for me?" He thought everything was for him!