There's definitely something in the air.
My November 2022 post "Where are all the crafty blogs?" struck a nerve with the most interaction I've ever had on Instagram. Since then, I've noticed three people I follow -- a food blogger, a yarn publisher, and a podcaster -- all declare that they were bringing back their blogs. I also know two other creative people (both illustrators) who have started brand new blogs. Maybe at some point the tech bros and The New York Times might notice, but for now, it seems like some independent-minded folks are taking a quiet step back from ad- and algorithm-based interactions and retaking some of the control over their online presence.
This doesn't mean we'll necessarily see blogs back to where they were in their heyday where just the act of posting a few diary-like entries online were enough to land you a book deal with a major publisher. It also doesn't mean that video is going away. Video content has been a tremendous boon to crafters; there's really nothing like a new learner being able to see the exact motions of someone else knitting or painting. But I think there's still a sizable audience of people who aren't satisfied by videos or photos alone, who want to go a little deeper, who want a personal connection to an individual, or who prefer to be proactive, not reactive, in their online lives.
Blog Readers
It can be hard to remember all the blogs you want to read, so I find it handy to use a blog reader. This tool puts links to your favorite blogs all in one place so you can read them at your leisure. It's especially nice for blogs (like mine!) that don't have a standard posting schedule, as you don't have to remember to check periodically for new content.
I use the Feedly app, a free blog reader on my tablet. (It's harder now to find the free option on their website, but it is there. As of the date of this post, you can follow up to 100 blogs for free via the web or the mobile app.) This is a pretty good overview on how to use it. There are other free blog readers; you might need to experiment to find one you like.
My Current Favorite Craft/Art/Jewelry Blogs
Here are some of the creative blogs that I'm currently following that have posted a few times in the last few months:
- Allegory Gallery [jewelry supplier]
- Art at the Speed of Life [mixed media]
- Balzer Designs [mixed media]
- Barbara Briggs Designs [jewelry]
- The Beading Gem's Journal [jewelry]
- Cluck Cluck Sew [quilting]
- A Colorful Journey with Carolyn Dube [mixed media]
- Craft Gossip [crafts]
- CraftyHope [jewelry, mixed media]
- Heather Sellers Art Glass [artist]
- The Indecisive Beader [beading]
- Jane Davenport [mixed media]
- Jenny Davies-Reazor [artist]
- Jewelry Making Outside The Box [jewelry supplier]
- Kelly Kilmer [mixed media]
- Modern Daily Knitting [knitting]
- Nunn Design [jewelry supplier]
- Scrappy Sticky Inky Mess [mixed media]
- Sj Designs Jewelry [jewelry]
- Somerset Place [craft publisher]
- Spoonflower Blog [fabric supplier]
- Terry Ricioli Designs [jewelry, crafts]
- Yarn Harlot [knitting]
More Blogs
Need more? One quick way to find more blogs is to search for "best [craft] blogs," replacing [craft] with sewing, needlepoint, or your craft of choice. Feedly (the blog reader) also will suggest blogs if you do a keyword search in their app, although it does include a lot of inactive blogs. (Many, but not all, of those are marked as such.) I also like to look at the websites of people I follow on Instagram or elsewhere and add those blogs as I come across them.