Finally, after all these years....a

Finally, after all these years, I have a posse. Ok, maybe not a posse, but...peeps?

After being on Etsy for over a year and trying to get the Etsy going and the shows going and the designing going, I found a break in my schedule to actually attend the Rochester New York Etsy Street Team (RNEST) monthly meeting in August. I'd kept wanting to for months and months but it never quite worked out until then.

Now, we've all been to the meetings and we all know the drill. Nothing gets done. It's mostly a whine and moan session. It's not productive, it's fairly negative and you leave, usually trying to dodge that person who's trying to rope you into some committee, vowing never to return.

I can't tell you how thrilled I was that this simply was not the case here. These people are not only happy with what ever success they are having, they are interested in the success of everyone in the group, not just themselves. There was a vibrant exchange of ideas, resources and the welcome I got was warm and genuine. There was no uncomfortable hierarchy that can come with these sort of groups and there was no "artiste" trying to run the show.

These are real people, with real talent, who are investing their time to help and support each other and it's positive and I am delighted to have finally put the pliers down and attended a meeting.

The talent at these meetings is astounding. You've got Jackbear, who's making really different and interesting rubber stamps, Michelle, who's shop The Quilted House, features amazing quilts, Buenahelena, who upcycles one of a kind items from the most amazing things and a whole host of others who I'll mention in another RNEST featured blog.

These are people like me - passionate, creative, and looking to network and befriend others in who are doing it hand made.

I feel so lucky to have finally started to go to the meetings and see more of my peeps, familiar and new.