Creative Spaces Features - Lessons Learned?

21st February 2008

Creative Spaces Features - Lessons Learned?

So, there’s no creative space to feature today. Several people have sent me partial entries, or entries that need to be formatted differently in order for me to work with them. At the moment though, I’m “fresh out” of complete features!

Fortunately, there’s a bright side to this. The features this month have been amazing, and really inspiring. I hope you’ve been as engrossed in them as I have! I’ve made some new “blog friends” and subscribed to a lot of new websites, and “hearted” a lot of etsy shops.

I’ve also learned some things about how to host a feature:

Figure out what you want to do, completely, before you throw it out there. If I had had the interview totally prepared and ready to send, complete with directions for attaching photos (how many, what size, etc) BEFORE I asked for contributors, it would’ve been a lot simpler.
Make a deadline for submissions. That way I’ll know exactly how many contributions I have. I had hoped to make “creative spaces” a month-long feature, and I had over 60 people contact me about featuring their spaces. Unfortunately though, not all of them have followed through (and it’s very possible that some of that may be my fault, like if I’ve lost emails!) and I ended up with many fewer than I had hoped for.
Maybe not make interviews so long… the editing takes a very long time. A word/picture limit might be good, if it’s going to be a daily thing.

Does anyone else have any advice for me, or ideas, that could possibly make future features run more smoothly? I’ve had a blast with this, and I’d love to do it again, but not if it’s going to be so exhausting every time (I don’t know if you’ve noticed that my “personal” posts have dwindled in the last week or so…).

I’m also open to ideas for future features. Of course, anything domestic is fair-game. Don’t let this feature box you into a “crafty” mindset. I have a couple floating around in my head… and I’d love to add to my mental idea pool. No promises though!

PS If I have a partial feature from you, like only the interview, or only photos, or if you needed to change the format of your submission, go ahead and send me the rest! I’ll still feature your space when you get it to me (I’ll give you until March 3, which is a Monday, so you’ll have two weekends).

Meanwhile, check out one of my all-time favorite craft spaces.

creative spaces craft room feature on joyful abode (storage, organization)

This gorgeous space belongs to Tricia Royal of bitsandbobbins. I especially love (and have coveted for years) her card-catalog, which she uses to store … bits. You know, and bobbins. (Well, and zippers and buttons and such.)

This entry was posted on Thursday, February 21st, 2008 at 6:00 am and is filed under Creative Spaces, Web/Blog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

1 On February 21st, 2008, Sara said:

I’ve really enjoyed the Creatvie Spaces features. Thank you so much for putting time and effort into it. You did a great job! An idea I have would be doing a feature on kitchen pantries. Sounds crazy I know. I’ve had an obsession with my own pantry lately. I would love to see how other people organize their pantries or cabinets. I found that the better organized I keep it the less I spend at the store. Anyways just an idea. Love your blog and have a great day!

posted on February 21st, 2008 at 7:37 am

2 On February 21st, 2008, EmmaH said:

I also enjoyed the feature, and also thought of kitchens! Not as specific as pantries, although that’s a good idea. I have about 5 tins of kidney beans because I forget what I have and buy more, “just in case”!
Or maybe bathrooms? I find it hard to get inspired about my bathroom, even though I find it the best place to relax. Can’t beat a hot bath after a hard day, after all.
Anywho, whatever you do, I’m sure it’ll be just as fascinating as Creative Spaces

posted on February 21st, 2008 at 8:15 am

3 On February 21st, 2008, Anna said:

I recognized the last space immediately! I, too, have loved that card catalog for years. Tricia has such a way with color and making spaces look beautiful no matter what.

posted on February 21st, 2008 at 8:38 am

4 On February 21st, 2008, Wendy said:

I have to say for me I’d kind of like if your feed came with the option of linking it or cutting it, just because I watch it on my friends list and sometimes the pictures take so long to load, but I really don’t want to unsubscribe and start missing stuff either.

I’m sure you’ll come up with more great featurettes, I could see you doing closets (maybe not clothing closets, but my craft storage will mostly be in a closet one day, I think) but I don’t know, whatever you come up with will be fun to see!!

posted on February 21st, 2008 at 9:34 am

5 On February 21st, 2008, fourthmonth said:

I have a card catalog, and have wondered for a long time what to do with it (once I have the space to remove it from storage, that is!). I’ve loved this feature, I hope you can do more fun stuff like this in the future.

posted on February 21st, 2008 at 10:52 am

6 On February 21st, 2008, Blabby said:

I, too, have LOVED your Creative Spaces features, and not just because you included me. I can see why you love that craft space above, it’s beautiful and intimidatingly clean. Thanks again for all your hard work. I can’t wait to see what you come up with next!

posted on February 21st, 2008 at 6:33 pm

7 On February 25th, 2008, Karin Grow said: