Washed up…
I’ve been wondering a lot about subject specific blogs. I think that spaces that are quite personal (& have an a real identity of their own) will ALWAYS be relevant. I think that spaces that leap frog or catalog & make things easy for the end user will continue to get the thumbs up from the crowd. But what about spaces like this? Sometimes craft, sometimes not, hardly ever personal or even thoughtful BUT maybe a bit helpful? I think that our day in the sun is probably over.
I think that pinterest & twitter & facebook & instagram have taken a LOT of the excellent content off the blogs & into more convenient (& somewhat anonymous) spaces. I feel kind of sad about that. When I started out people devoted whole posts to a 140 character update so you got to know your internetty mates pretty well.
I’m continually amazed by the stuff that shows up on pinterest without so much as a “how’s your father?” on the blog. Check that out here (they really love the crochet cuff eh?). I’m not a good pinner myself but I do sometimes check out who’s pinning my stuff & I always get a kick out of Shaz’s pins.
I’ve really got no idea or interest over on Facebook. Up until Pip pointed me to the new timeline I honestly thought it was the ugliest place on the internet.
Twitter obviously has it’s place but it’s just another thing I can’t really get on board with. Sure there’s some gold to be found but I also find there’s a LOT of pretty boring nose-picking-naval-gazing type updating going on there. It’s kind of a bit like A Current Affair – who really cares?
I’ve had a reluctant instagram (I’m kootoyoo there too) for a while. Something else I couldn’t quite get a handle on. BUT I’ve come around over there. I’m flat out loving it. I’m having conversations with old mates who’ve been quiet on the blog for a while & I’ve found a whole host of new (& clever girls) to fall in love with. It feels a bit like it did when I started out here…intimate somehow. Anyway…I’m enjoying instagram for the time being. As an added bonus it’s pretty. So even the aforementioned “who cares” updates become meaningful to me. It’s easy to give someone a pat on the back too…which is always nice. I understand it’s still just for iPhone users (?) but if you have an android phone you can always keep up with people over on web.stagram (I’m here). You can subscribe via rss if you’re really keen.
Here’s a little list of my clickers of the pics I’ve “liked” over on instagram…
Elf
Foxs Lane
Perennial
Hugo & Elsa
Kit & Nancy
Paintergirl
…just to name a few.
Things I’m enjoying about instagram…
- not feeling like a weirdy/stalkery/showoffy clicker
- not worrying about shooting to the right
- forgetting all about the histogram
- just making the everyday stuff pretty
And look to the right → yep there in the sidebar! It’s a sweet widget displaying my last few insta clicks. Obviously my widget is wordpress specific but I found one you can use for blogger (& customise too) here.
I’m really hoping that it doesn’t signal a whimpering end to kootoyoo… & that this space continues to be a bit craft, a bit drivel, a bit helpful & a bit of fun!
Maybe I’ll see you on instagram with a bit more of the drivel & save this space for the totally-amazing-blow-your-mind-(tongue-in-cheek)-content.
Happy New Year you guys…see you next year!
31 Comments
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[...] you know how I blathered on a couple of weeks ago about how much I was in love with Instagram? I wondered if something good [...]
Kate
536 days ago
You already know ALL my thoughts on the above..
I’m just sad I can’t play over at instagram too
“Hello instagram! Don’t forget the droids!!”
Happy new year to you mate, hope to see lots more content at kootoyoo.com…always a treat.
xxx
Kirsty
536 days ago
Yeah – it’s rude isn’t it? I guess they need to keep a few “buy apple” products/apps. BUT I don’t like it.
Love you though. xxx
Kate
536 days ago
I think you may be right, but I love blogs still – I love reading the ones with ‘a bit of everything and a bit of personal’ – they are definitely my favourite. I’d still write mine even if no one read anymore. I can never find a note book in this house or remember what pattern and size I used, but all the info is on my blog so it is a good way to record stuff for me.
Kirsty
536 days ago
Agreed Kate – it works for me too. I’m absolutely with you on the a bit personal & a bit of everything (& yet mine remains entirely about the making – go figure).
Vic
536 days ago
Okay, so the first & to me, most exciting thing is that I was able to click over here without my anti-virus software having a fit for the first time in months & months! Woohoo!
… not that is over, I’ll say I still love blogs & blogging; maybe because I’m not one of the cool kids with an iphone who can play on instagram? I don’t know but I do love my bloggy peeps; perhaps it’s a case of having more time to connect yourself or finding what works for you – if you’re super busy, liking this or that on instagram is easier than ploughing through blog posts & taking the time to comment?
Hope this isn’t a whimpering end… if you were going to end at all (which I hope you don’t), you’d have to do it with a bang. And perhaps a hot glue gun.
Kirsty
536 days ago
Thrilled about the virus thing – such a pain!
I still love the blog too but I think (maybe because of my wave) that a lot of my original community have signed off a bit. Yes, time is absolutely a factor…having it all in one stream is fabulous. If google reader had this functionality imagine how connected we’d all be? … look out I seem to be having a Mark Zuckerberg moment. Someone break out a million dollar cheque – quick!
Kirsty
536 days ago
Gawd – maybe THAT’s my bang!! x
CurlyPops
536 days ago
Thanks for pointing me in the direction of the instagram widget Kirst. Although I still love the blog, I’m really not liking FB or twitter at the moment…. but I’m completely obsessed by instagram. Telling a little daily story just with a few iPhone snaps is totally up my wordlessness alley.
Hope you have a fabulous 2012 and that Kootoyoo is around for many more years to come!
Kirsty
536 days ago
I reckon that’s why it’s working for me too!
It took me three days to write this post!
woolf
536 days ago
oh dear. i’m beginning to feel quite old now. i dig what you’re saying on these apps&taps taking over ‘good old blogging’, if this is a term i can use. and call me old fashioned for keeping up with that. a little tweaking here and there, of course, but fast moving, quick tapping buttons do not (yet) do it for me, and probably never will.
there. it is true. i am getting old(er).
‘s long as i can come back to the kotoyoo without all the trimmings, i’ll be happy as larry.
n♥
Kirsty
535 days ago
Awwww thanks. In true kootoyoo… style I yearn for the “good old days”. I’ll keep going as long as I love it.
Nic @ Yardage Design
536 days ago
Happy new year to you too! I’ve been wondering the same things about the social media space, after a bit of a dabble in the “blog-alternatives”. Just at the moment, I’m with you on Instagram – I love it – the outlet, the pics and the interaction seems more genuine than anything else.
Kirsty
535 days ago
You’re so right Nic. It does feel genuine over there. I like it.
Pétra
536 days ago
I have enjoyed this post. Partially because I feel like my blog is a little of this a little of that and I still love it but wonder what the future holds for all of us. I haven’t checked out instagram yet because I’ve felt like it’s one more thing, pintrest doesn’t do it for me and my fb took a nose dive when I started blogging, twitter is fun but I am not on enough to be in the “in” crowd. How many new forms of social media will divide our attention? It will just keep evolving although I hope our day in the sun isn’t over I’d like to think blogs offer a little more.
Kirsty
535 days ago
I think that they offer a LOT more. I hope that everyone doesn’t jump ship (writers & readers alike).
Pétra
535 days ago
You are right a lot!! I am staying on board!
Kate
536 days ago
I really have no idea about the whole social media thing. Blogging is good for me, so I do it. I really enjoy it too.
And I am really loving the IG thing. Its quick and creative and inspiring and informative. My family are spread out all over the world and we can keep up visually in real time, its ace for that. I can often even check up on my Indi when she is at friends’ houses.
Loving following your adventures too.
Happy and creative 2012 to you Kirst. xx
Kirsty
535 days ago
Kate – you’ve got it all going on over at Fox’s Lane. Precisely one of the spaces that will always be loved…personal with personality & written from the heart. It’s the rainbow ice cream to my rather vanilla kootoyoo. x
katiecrackernuts
536 days ago
Oh don’t say it’s so… I don’t have an iPhone so can’t waffle on in my digital little space over there. Damn you Android phone. Damn you Instagram. I’ll just have to plead with you every so often to update this wee lovely dot of cyberspace.
Kirsty
535 days ago
Yeah – I think the iPhone thing is daft but sadly it seems to be “the rules”. I promise I won’t let the place get too dusty.
Eleesa
535 days ago
Loving intagram too, such an easy and fun way to catch up with the ‘going’s on’. Sadly I have not as much time to blog even though I still love catching up when I can on others.
I did try getting the widget, but for some reason I cant get my own feed from instagram it is random, am I doing something wrong?
Kirsty
533 days ago
I think Cam http://curlypops.blogspot.com used snapwidget for hers.
Find that here…
http://snapwidget.com/
Cindy
534 days ago
Happy 2012 to you and your family, looks like you are making the most of the hols judging by the photos!
As always I do love this post and it rang true with me for probably different reasons. I think a blog is much more personal and perhaps why I have backed off doing mine. How much am I sharing and with whom, those harsh commentors and should I share family stuff which I was so happy to do in the beginning when naive. I also cringe at the thought of sharing what I have made perceived as showing off, that is the last thing I want my spave to be about.
I have also received many great friends from my blog too and it is such a great thing to do. Perhaps this is my inspire to not over think and get back in there. Feel free to charge me for the theorapy session.
Kirsty
533 days ago
Hi Cind
Yes it’s kind of tricky to work through isn’t it? I’ve also been pretty careful to steer clear of the family stuff & I know that for many that means the space isn’t “real”.
I’m with you on the not over thinking. Just do what’s right for you & yes to the mates. It’s still the best thing to come out of the blog. x
Tania
534 days ago
Like I’m one to talk, but I have everything crossed that the dust isn’t allowed to settle around here. You’re my giggle, my WHAT THE HELL IS SHE COOKING UP NOW?, my GODDAMMIT, I WISH I’D THOUGHT OF THAT!
xxx
Kirsty
533 days ago
Awww T don’t worry – I promise to blow in with some crazy half baked idea every now & then.
You’re tops. x
Lil
533 days ago
Hi, I haven’t commented what seems for ages on your blog, yet I do reguarly read yours and many others that I have got to know over the last 6 years!! Yes six years. I just love what you wrote Kirsty, as it really resonated for me too and something i have felt for a while. I have embraced facebook yet sometimes It feels a little ‘lurky’ & ‘privy’ to my friends lives in a way I don’t want to know. “twitter’ I have tried and got bored of yet appreciate it works for many, including my partner who loves it! Blogs are still my number one read and I so appreciate everyone’s journey. So Thanks for the thoughtful post, now I’m going to reignite using my instagram app… cheers, x
Kirsty
533 days ago
Blogs will always be number 1 for me too & this very post is one of the reasons…
It took me three days to write & I thought about it a LOT. That’s NEVER going to happen on FB, twitter, pinterestest or instagram. Those guys are just a quick fix but I truly believe that blogs is where the good stuff is.
Thanks for stopping in & for weighing in.
renata
532 days ago
This post seems to be striking a familiar chord with a lots of us, i dont like twit/face either, not my style. I like reading whats on your mind, its interesting, along with the odd crafty stuff, and fav pics, instagram isnt something i look at – droid user, will google it.
'Joyce'
530 days ago
Been blog absent of late myself but hoping to get back into it. Love your blog. I have no photos of my kids faces on my blog, and I promised I wouldn’t. So far so good. What I am discovering is that after so many years of taking photos of my kids faces which is great, I am now stepping out of that face shot and taking photos of their hands and feet and ‘stuff’ around me instead. It really is lots of fun, and I hope to continue fluffing around with my own blog. Yes, agree, typing the posts can be time consuming, however, just this morning, I went back to January 2011 to see what I was up to, and really enjoyed the read. I have always kept a journal, but this seems much more than a journal, it’s become a journey for me and I like it. I have met some amazing people, both crafty as well as inspiring in life itself and I do hope to continue to be able to read your lovely blog here too. Happy 2012 to you and yours.
Christina
515 days ago
I have slowly been working through a huge backlog of emails which mostly inlcudes blog subscriptions. I have to say that your is an absolute stand out. It’s interesting, real and unique.
As you say, I think that alot of bloggers are focussing on what they think that readers want and this seems to be a lot of same same across blogs.
I had been thinking about this the last few days as I am culling my subscriptions and thinking about which blogs I like and why. So I was very surprised to come across this particular blog of yours. One of the thing that I love about your posts is that they seem disconnected, out of step with others blogs. This is very good.
Thanks for sharing xx