I honestly can’t believe we’re here, 365 days later, celebrating the first birthday of this incredible global community. When I think about how far it has come, I get a little emotional… and maybe just a tiny bit nostalgic. It feels like yesterday that I wandered in, probably holding a cup of coffee in one hand and a half-finished craft in the other, thinking, “Let’s see what this new community is all about.” I had no idea I was walking into something so special, something that would quickly feel like home.
For those who don’t know me well yet, I’ve been crafting for over 30 years. Yup, three decades of glue sticks, glitter explosions, heat presses, laser engraving, and moments of pure joy (with an occasional mild crafting-induced meltdown, but we don’t talk about those). I’ve taught cooking and crafting classes across the country, and sharing knowledge has always been the heartbeat of who I am. But the day I joined this community… my love of crafting found a whole new purpose.
Here, I found people who understand the thrill of a perfect press, the chaos of craft table clutter, and the absolute pride that comes from creating something beautiful with your own hands. Here, I found encouragement on the days projects went wrong, cheers when they went right, and a whole family of talented makers who inspire me daily.
I’ve shared so many of my adventures with all of you, from testing new tools to building displays for markets, from laser-cut nativity sets to the chaos of stringing 100 ornaments while running on caffeine and determination alone. And somehow, every time I post, you all lift me up with kindness, support, and encouragement. It means more than you’ll ever know.
And that’s the magic of this space:
We learn together.
We grow together.
We cheer for each other (sometimes louder than our real families do).
And most of all, we create together.
Seeing the numbers, more than 30,000 members, thousands of posts and comments, loyal fans who have checked in over 100 days, it’s incredible. But what those numbers don’t show are the quiet moments: the friendships that formed in comment threads, the confidence that grew when someone shared their very first project, the laughter during Friday chats, the late-night “help me!” posts that turned into “I DID IT!” celebrations. Those moments are what make this place so powerful.
I’m honored to be recognized among the super loyal members this year (I promise I do step away from my craft room occasionally… mostly). But truly, the real honor is being part of this supportive, talented, creative family. You all inspire me in ways you don’t even realize.
So today, as we blow out the (virtual, calorie-free) candles on our anniversary cake, I just want to say from the bottom of my heart:
Thank you.
Thank you for every comment, every laugh, every shared project, every bit of support and encouragement. Thank you for making this community a place where creativity thrives and kindness leads the way.
Happy Anniversary, HTVRONT | LOKLiK Fam. Here’s to another year of creativity, friendships, surprising ourselves… and maybe buying a few more supplies than we planned. (It’s not hoarding, it’s crafting potential.)