This is a little earlier than I wanted to post but as there is some posting on Facebook going on about why the Mavens were closed down I thought I'd best address it right away.
When I approached Linda Jones about setting up a group originally we both agreed on some things that we both felt very strongly about. One was that we wanted to create something of interest and education to the beading community, not that we thought we knew it all just that we can all learn from each other. Another thing we both felt strongly about was that if we were to have any contests they would be juried ones as both of us had an intense dislike for the popularity driven contests that become more about campaigning for votes than about the beading.
It is the last point that brought about the downfall when other members of the group opposed this, previously agreed upon rule. I offered to go on a sabbatical from the group while they did this but that wasn't good enough, and I eventually offered to leave my own group as I would rather do that than see something that was appreciated by the bead community disappear.
Obviously I wasn't taken up on that offer and ended up closing the group.
Since then I have received many, many e-mails from people who wanted the group back, who felt it was worthwhile. So, after time to heal and after doing a LOT of thinking I have decided to bring back the Mavens although in a different format.
Obviously a group of very different personalities trying to agree on something didn't work so that needed to change. I got to thinking about those original conversations with the much missed Linda Jones. What we wanted to do, the goals we had.
This time around I will use what I learned from before.
One of those things was that a lot of people wanted to be Mavens and contribute to the beading community....so this time I've decided that Mavens will change each year. I want to bring in designers who are just getting started in the world of tutorial writing....because I know the free tutorials were something everyone loved. So what better way for you to test their tutorials out and get to know them here?
Right now I have four designers you may or may not know waiting in the wings to show you their way of doing things, to tell you how they design/approach things. There are two spots open for the first year so I may as well invite you to apply....if you wish :)
You will need to be someone who is fairly new to writing tutorials, willing to share a couple during the year and able to write six posts in the year also.
If you are interested e-mail me at MikkiFerrugiaro@gmail.com
My part this time around?? Mostly I'll be the emcee introducing the designers, doing the page graphics and standing in if needs be, and I do make myself available to the designers if they need help on the tutorial front. You can expect a free tutorial or two from me each year though :)
The bead community has been great to me, I have gone from struggling to live to being able to have a life I enjoy and can relax in.....I try to pay it forward and this is one way I think I can....though some may call me crazy for helping my competition....lol! That's the kind of crazy I'm happy to be.
We won't start again until I have all my Mavens even though I am dying to introduce you because I am thrilled to have them aboard and I think you will be too.
