The Business of Paper Crafting

I've come to the conclusion that there's not much fun in the paper crafting world…especially the business aspect of it.  About two and half years ago I discovered (quite by accident) a very talented woman who specializes in 3-D projects and albums.  Mind you, these projects are made completely out of paper.  Absolutely nothing is pre made.  I was stunned, awed, impressed…you name it!  This woman has some serious talent, but what was more important, I would be given the foundation to make these awesome projects, too!
I anxiously waited to become a member of her monthly club. Sign me up.  Here's my money.  I'd get all the materials to make a project and I would also get written and video tutorials.  I didn't care about the cost and neither did my hubster.   I was in heaven.
I made quite a few of the projects.  I bought every tutorial she offered.  I was a member of her Facebook group. I watched her videos.  I participated in the discussion during those videos.  I met many very creative ladies and became very fond of a few of them.  In fact, even today I think of some of those women as the daughters I never had.  Then about a year ago, things changed.
You see, the ladies in the Facebook group are humans first; paper crafters last.  Many, including myself, became disenchanted with the products and the customer service.  Projects were delayed for various reasons, and our kits were held hostage while we waited for the trinkets used in the kits to arrive.  {Enter a visual of a slow boat from China}  People grumbled about this.  People shared their disappointment. People wrote of their problems.  Then all hell broke loose.
Word of our concerns got back to the owner.  Denial.  Anger.  Grief.  You name it.  The Facebook page was removed.  What was once a happy group of crafters split in two.  We now had a crafter equivalent of the Hatfields and the McCoys.
During all of this, I learned of other paper crafters who offered to share their creativity.  I discovered the talents of The Gentleman Crafter and Laura Denison.  Both of these creative geniuses were/are on the Graphic 45 Design Team.  Believe me, you've got to be damn good to be on that design team.  The detailing and preciseness of their creations is abso-fucking-lutely amazing!  But what's most important is that they know they're humans first; paper crafters last.  There's no over-inflated egos, no blind promises, and no "Praise me because I'm so fucking wonderful" attitude.    There's just fabulous creations…creations that they want to share with us and teach us how to make.  They inspire us.  They guide us.  They support us.  And because of that, we don't see them as a business; we see them as our friends.  Ain't that wonderful!