OT: Number of RCTN posts in 2005.

Looks like the numbers are way down...again. Hmm, is our needlework group slowly disappearing? I know I haven't been posting as much here, but I haven't been able to do much since I gave birth almost two years ago. Just picked up needle and thread again a few weeks ago...but nothing to chat about.

Happy New Year anyway!

Dannielle

I think you are right. Over the years so many names have disappeared. I also think the never-ending one-liners, arguments (called friendly discussion by some) also contribute to people being bored with it.

Before Darla catches you it is phenomenon ( phenomena is the plural). LOLOL

Gillian, who frequently mis-spells!

I believe that it is. There are many groups, now. From private web sites to places like yahoo groups. So, we are splintered. It's harder to get more general knowledge, or to learn about other techniques.

The reason for the splintering is numerous, but it's happened nonetheless. I notice that there are a few who post most days. It's always nice to come here and see names I haven't seen in ages. Or names that are new. But that's a phenomena that's getting more rare as time marches on.

Dianne

Gill Murray wrote: It's

It wasn't a misspelling but bad grammar. Should have said: " . . . those are phenomena . . . "

Interestingly enough, I belong to several other groups and it is extremely rare for people to correct others in any way shape or form. There are disagreements - sometimes huge - but no finger pointing. That makes a huge difference in the tone of the groups. It is unusual for anyone feeling intimidated to say what they feel, even if others disagree. And few walk away from a discussion feeling hurt and/or angry. It happens, but it is uncommon. There's a general undercurrent of understanding that without members, there is no group. Without diversity, it is lopsided.

Unfortunately, these aren't needlework related. :-) I did join a needlework group recently (I was invited) and it was most unwelcoming in that, everyone was talking amongst themselves with their own language evolved over time, which leaves newcomers in the dark. I lurked for several weeks but have passed it by, now.

Dianne

Every group seems to be down. I suspect it is partly all these chat groups, plus as Dianne said, there are now so many yahoo groups that hone in directly on a specific subject.

There is also the fact that aol dropped usenet and in addition, a few others have also. Sharon in NB had just changed to Rogers in order to have broadband, when they dropped usenet. She is now trying to set up with giganews, Xananews, or whomever in order to get back to her groups.

And so it goes ...

Goes with the apparent fall in bids on Ebay and the reduction of stitching magazines in the shops - I haven`t found half the variety that there was a couple of years ago.

Pat P

And I think this is a large reason the numbers are down in this group. I pop in from time to time, but often go away again without saying anything as it seems the moons are in misalignment and everyone's quite snippy. Certainly don't want to post and get my nose bit off!

And as with the group you recently joined, Dianne, there's a lot of cliquing (and that really is a word, according to the online dictionary - surprised me!) here which can be quite off-putting.

Thirdly, everything functions on a sine wave and obviously this is a down time on RCTN. While there has been a downward trend, it may have bottomed out in 2005 and will now begin to rise again. Only time will tell!

Happy stitching and happy year!

Helen

After mucking about a bit, I have settled in with giganews and Agent, and they have been working flawlessly. (hope I didn't jinx myself!)

Sara

I left the OT on this message, although it certainly seemed on topic...

I always find this newsgroup friendly and very helpful and I'm sure a lot of others find the same.

I worry that the numbers are down because people are losing interest in counted thread work. The people who used to be doing this kind of work seemed to have switched to scrapping and knitting. The city where I live has both of those types of shops but no LNS. It was heaven when I visited my brother in Portland and was able to go to Acorns and Threads, their LNS. I probably will mail order from them so I can support a brick and mortar store.

Do you all think we have something to worry about with the industry? Is there anything we can do?

Allie Orange snipped-for-privacy@comcast.net

I don`t suppose so - you can`t FORCE people to take it up! ;-) These things go in waves - enough people will stick at it to carry on the tradition, and in future years the enthusiasm will most likely re-emerge. At the moment, it seems to be all scrap-booking, and rubber stamping - which, personally, leaves me cold and doesn`t (with me at least) count as a skill or art.

Pat P

Allie,

There is a difference between counted thread work and crafts like scrapping that's probably always going to leave counted work "behind" in the economics. The difference I am thinking of is the time needed to complete a project. I've been doing xs for, gosh, 20+ years now. I started rubber stamping (cards mostly) about 3 years ago. I spend hundreds more on stamping supplies than on xs. Why? Well, it takes me

Put simply, I can make a heck of a lot of cards in the time it takes to do one small xs. This means I'm more likely to need stamping supplies often than xs stash, though I love both.

There's also life that gets in the way. Getting married and buying a house meant my needle and thread stayed in a closet for the better part of a whole year. I have health issues that mean needing more exercise. I can read or watch TV on an exercise bike, but it's hard to xs while riding :-) And there's just plain a lack of the spare time I used to seem to have!

So in my case, I'm totally interested in xs, but haven't made a xs-related purchase since my last piece was framed 2 yrs. ago. Sad, I know, but it's the truth. And not because I don't want stash, but simply need to use up what I already have.

I have also noticed a lack of finishing stuff compared to what there used to be. It's harder to find little boxes and stuff to frame work in, good quality pillow shams with aida, all the neat stuff I used to see 15-20 years ago. Even towels - it's hard to find anything of decent quality with the aida. It's all the cheap Charles Craft that's only fuzzy on one side and doesn't absorb water - decorative only, in other words. Those of us who really don't sew would *love* to have some of this pre-finished stuff to stitch on, but if it's there, I haven't seen it lately.

Barbara

Well, this group has always been about "needlework", not just counted work. Although I do admit that the vast majority of members consider counted work their main subject of interest.

In that respect, it has sometimes been difficult to keep other topics of needlework going . . . although in the last few years that has gotten MUCH easier, as there seem to be more members who dabble in other forms.

I sincerely believe that it is a result of splinter groups. People get offended here and go off and start a Delphi, Yahoo or other group. Many of them quite "cliqueish" (is there such a word as someone else said today?). I have my own forum at my site . . . another common occurance. Lots of long-time members. We just had an ornament exchange.

It's really important to stay here if we want to keep a broad interest alive. Take what you want, leave the rest. Goodness knows, I've said things over the years that I could bite my tongue for later.

Dianne

Allie, Would that be Portland, Maine or Portland, Oregon? I'm planning on a trip to Oregon in a few weeks, and I haven't taken the time to search out any stitching shops yet. If this one is there, I'll have to check it out. Thanks!

Jinx

Jinx - The shop is actually in Beaverton, or at least at that end of the world. If you're going over via 26, it'll be easy (relatively speaking). Do call the store, though, for directions. I knew the area relatively well and still had a challenge finding it. It's located in a two-story office building set off from the road a bit and on a curve, making it hard to see. Here's the link to the store:

Fortunately