Update - May 2021
I've since depreciated my Patreon page after finding it very difficult to keep updated to an acceptable point.
Instead, I am going back to using my already-existing Ko-fi page which allows you to view sneak peeks at my work, get a say in what I work on next, as well as show your support for my work.
Thanks so much for your understanding!
Supporting without the stitching. Or finger pricking.
Happy new year! Let's all hope that 2021 is a much better one than the last. We all know how it ended, am I right?!
For a while, I've been toying with a membership idea to allow people, who have the disposable income available (because we all know the last 10 months have been rocky for most!), to support my little venture. It's been more than a year since I turned my regular cross-stitch patterns into PWYW pricing and I see no reason to change it back to what it was. I love the idea that cross-stitching newer, more modern patterns are accessible to people.
But I have had people voice that they wish they could do more. Outside of setting a larger final amount when they check out (and for those of you who have, thank you so much! It fills my heart) or citing their pattern source when posting their pieces online, there isn't really a way for people to say thanks.
So that's where Patreon comes in. I considered using my current shop to do a membership-esque subscription but after using Patreon myself to support artists I enjoy, I can definitely see the benefit of using a dedicated platform for this, rather than try to wrap my head around embedding it into my website. Yikes - that would make things so complex to keep up-to-date!
If you've never heard of Patreon before, it's a website dedicated to memberships. It's a platform for people to show gratitude, acquire tools/information, get behind-the-scenes "stuff" or anything, really; whatever the creator wants to provide for their patrons. I plan on using Patreon to allow people who have expressed their gratitude and wish to continue their thanks, with a small monthly payment.
As you all are probably aware, the majority of my library is 'pay what you want'. This has opened up the love of cross-stitching to so many people who may not be able to afford a sweet pattern, after forking over their cash to pay for materials and tools, just to get started.
But not everyone is in that position. And if you're one of those people who can afford to pay for that sick pattern about your favourite fandom, then this is for you. I want to keep my library PWYW, so those of us who are less fortunate can still enjoy this awesome hobby we all have.
I'm also going to be setting up behind-the-scenes stuff, doing requests for patterns and figuring out other cool shit for those who do sign up to be a patron. It's a win-win, really.
Want to see behind-the-scenes work that I can't share publically? Want to vote or even suggest patterns that I should work on? Wish to be the first to know when stitch people spots open up? Just like what you see from my previous work and want to support me? Jump on board! I can't wait to have you join me.
