Announcing: New Perks + New Advertising + Policy Changes

[Crochetville LLC]

We've been busily working behind the scenes at Crochetville and have some new things for you! In this announcement we'll tell you about:

Increased PM limit for all members
Pixel Icons
Pattern Contributor recognition
Marketplace Shops is becoming Marketplace Subscriptions
Marketplace Subscriptions introductory offer: $1 for 1 month
Updated advertising info and free advertising policies
Changes to some Design Den forums

Increased PM Limit
We have increased the private message storage limit. Every registered Crochetville member may now store up to 500 private messages! Why such a drastic increase? The main strain on our servers is the number of visitors Crochetville has at any given moment (technically speaking, the number of connections). When we upgrade our servers to meet this demand, we get more storage space. Our need to meet the connections demand has far outpaced our need for storage space and we want to share some of the extra space with you! Don't worry, we promise we won't run out of space for everything else we need.

Pixel Icons
http://www.crochetville.org/misc_images/icon_ptn_nospace.gif http://www.crochetville.org/misc_images/icon_adv_nospace.gif
These are small icons that appear under your user title (on posts and private messages) and in your user profile. They provide recognition or identify special user groups. We're introducing two pixel icons now, Pattern Contributor and Advertiser (but at least one more will be coming soon!). Keep on reading below for more details.

Pattern Contributor Pixel Icon
We've long wanted some way to provide recognition to members who post their original patterns here. As our small way of saying thank you, we now have a Pattern Contributor Pixel Icon http://www.crochetville.org/misc_images/icon_ptn_nospace.gif for you! This is available to members who have posted their own original pattern in its entirety in the Free Original Patterns (http://www.crochetville.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=29) forum. For complete details, please read Pattern Posting Policies (http://www.crochetville.org/forum/showthread.php?t=76577) and How to Get Your Pattern Contributor Pixel Icon (http://www.crochetville.org/forum/showthread.php?t=76584).

Marketplace Subscriptions
We are happy to announce an exciting new advertising program here at Crochetville. Effective today, Marketplace Subscriptions will replace the current Marketplace Shops page and offer extended benefits to our advertisers. (The current Marketplace Shops page will remain active through 4/30/08).

Marketplace Subscriptions will also give our non-business members one central location to go to find out about the latest and greatest tools, yarns, patterns, and other items available from fellow Crochetville members.

Marketplace Subscriptions include the following features:

Ability to include a small business image in your signature
An advertiser pixel icon http://www.crochetville.org/misc_images/icon_adv_nospace.gif that will appear under your user title in all posts and private messages and also in your user profile
Ability to start threads promoting your business in the Marketplace (http://www.crochetville.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=181) forum
Ability to store up to 1,000 Private Messages (standard number is 500)

Special Introductory Offer: $1 Marketplace Subscriptions
From now through the end of April 2008, purchase a one-month Marketplace Subscription for just one dollar! You will enjoy the benefits of a Marketplace Subscription for a full month, starting on the day you subscribe.

EDIT: This special offer has been extended through May 31, 2008.

Please visit our Advertise on Crochetville (http://www.crochetville.org/forum/advertise.php) page where you will find complete details not only about Marketplace Subscriptions, but about banner ads as well. Please also read our updated Free Advertising Policies (http://www.crochetville.org/forum/advertise_free.php).

Design Den Changes

There has been some confusion about the Design Den (http://www.crochetville.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=72) original patterns forums and what should be posted in each one, so we have clarified those forum titles, descriptions, and policies. Although the policies have been clarified for all three of these forums, the only new policy is in the Free Original Patterns - Links forum: links are now limited to free patterns only.Free Original Patterns (http://www.crochetville.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=29)Free Crochet Patterns by Crochetville Members. You may post your own, original patterns in their entirety in accordance with our pattern posting policies (http://www.crochetville.org/forum/showthread.php?t=76577).Free Original Patterns - Links (http://www.crochetville.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=74)A Place to Promote Your Free Patterns. You may post links to your own, original, free patterns in accordance with our pattern link posting policies (http://www.crochetville.org/forum/showthread.php?t=76578).Original Patterns - Published (http://www.crochetville.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=75)You may post about your own, original patterns that have been published in books, magazines, ezines, leaflets, tear-offs, etc. in accordance with our published pattern policies (http://www.crochetville.org/forum/showthread.php?t=76579). Also feel free to give kudos to Crochetville members you find in print.Also feel free to give kudos to Crochetville members you find in print.If you've made it this far, thank you for reading! We hope that you will find these new features useful, whether you are here for fun or business or both. We are striving ad working to bring you a better and better Crochetville every day!

[Triskele]

Increased PM Limit
We have increased the private message storage limit. Every registered Crochetville member may now store up to 500 private messages!

WOW!!! Thanks Amy, thanks Donna!!!!!! This is great! I promise not to abuse this privlege. WAHOO!!!!!!!!!

[Gran]

Wow! You have been busy. This is super. Thank you very much.

[AmyS]

I'm glad you like the changes!

[Donna]

I'm glad you like the changes! Me, too! :c9

[ldyer1]

YAY, I always run at about 45 PMs and have to agonize over every cut to leave room. Thanks so much!

[Momcrochets]

I love the changes! You have been working hard for us! Thanks a bundle. :hug

[crochetsal]

Such wonderful ideas, love it! Gee, feels almost like Christmas...
Thank you! (but nuts, Amy & Donna, I didn't get you anything!)
Sally

[AmyS]

Oh, look, the first post by someone with the new Advertiser pixel icon by their name! :)

[DreamsOfYarn]

Great additions and changes Amy and Donna.
Many thanks to the both of you for giving us such a great place. I'd be lost with this site, especially with still being on bed rest.

Thanks and hugs to you two :hug:hug

[ldyer1]

OH I just realized that the PTN one is PTN and not PIN. I was wondering why it would say PIN. Guess I need a new glasses script!

[RachelG]

Sounds great!! (I rarely use PMs and haven't contributed any patterns posted in their entirety here on C'ville, but it still sounds great!)

[alwayscrafting]

You've been busy!
Sometime in the not too distant future I plan on doing some designing...

[Donna]

Thank you, everyone! Amy and I have been so excited about this project for a long time. It's been hard to keep it under wraps! :lol

[Donna]

Such wonderful ideas, love it! Gee, feels almost like Christmas...
Thank you! (but nuts, Amy & Donna, I didn't get you anything!)
Sally LOL, Sally, you are too funny! Your presence here is enough! We :heart our members!

[Donna]

OH I just realized that the PTN one is PTN and not PIN. I was wondering why it would say PIN. Guess I need a new glasses script! Hmm... would it be better if it said PAT? :scrachin

[Selune]

Thanks for updating Design Den with clarifications. It's nice to have a place for links that are just free patterns. :) Glad about the PM increase, too!

[2kute]

this is so cool... I love it... thanks Amy... thanks Donna
:manyheart

[catheryn]

Thank ya'll so much....but, just like I needed somewhere else to buy stuff!!:eek:eek
Something tells me I might need to hide the checkbook register from dh!!!:lol

[AmyS]

But think of all the wonderful new projects that will hopefully start showing up in Show-and-Tell threads! :clap

[AmyS]

Hey, everyone, scroll back up to Post #8 (http://www.crochetville.org/forum/showpost.php?p=1243879&postcount=8). Crochetsal has added her advertiser graphic to her signature, so you can all see how easy it will be for you to know which members are advertisers here. (And make it easy to check out their sites, too.)

[kazily]

:manyheart Love the new changes! ALL of them. :cheer

Now I have to start learning to write down my patterns so I can get a icon :lol
I also thought it said PIN but now that I know it's PTN, it's ok as long as people know what it means right? :hook

[nana_k]

Love the new stuff! Thanks Amy and
Donna for all your hard work! :manyheart

[Terri/LadySorce]

:clap:yay:clap:yayGreat Job you 2 :yay:clap:yay:clap

[LegalWoman17]

That's wonderful !! Thanks so much to Amy and Donna for working so hard for us.

[Donna]

Now I have to start learning to write down my patterns so I can get a icon :lol Cheering you on! :cheer:cheer

[Donna]

I also thought it said PIN but now that I know it's PTN, it's ok as long as people know what it means right? :hook At least a couple of people have already said this, so I want to do something about it. I made the T wider. http://www.crochetville.org/misc_images/icon_ptn_nospace_widerT.gif Does it look better? Or is it still too reminiscent of PIN? I could change it to PAT. Input, please, everybody! :D

[RachelG]

At least a couple of people have already said this, so I want to do something about it. I made the T wider. http://www.crochetville.org/misc_images/icon_ptn_nospace_widerT.gif Does it look better? Or is it still too reminiscent of PIN? I could change it to PAT. Input, please, everybody! :D

Looks fine like this to me!

[Donna]

Thank you, Rachel!

[wiz3283]

WooHoo!!!!!! now I dont have to clean out my messages so often. Thank You!!!!!!!!

[carovan]

Great changes!!!:yay I contributed only one pattern about a year ago, so I don't think that really qualifies me for the PTN thing, but I think it is great.

BTW I prefer PAT.

Thanks again for all your hard work on keeping this the best site on the net. :hug

[Donna]

Great changes!!!:yay I contributed only one pattern about a year ago, so I don't think that really qualifies me for the PTN thing, but I think it is great. That does qualify you for the Pattern Contributor icon. :yes I searched the Free Original Patterns and found your pattern. Thank you for sharing it with us! I'm on my way over to give you your icon now! :yay

BTW I prefer PAT. Thank you for your input! :yes I am working on one with PAT, but haven't yet gotten the A to look quite like I want. I'll be interested to hear more opinions, folks! :D

Thanks again for all your hard work on keeping this the best site on the net. :hug Aw, thank you!

[yarnaholic214]

Wow!! You 2 ladies sure have been busy bees!! I luv the new changes!! Thank you so much for all your hard work. I know I have been here for about 2 months, but, sometimes I do get confused. (Its my nature). I luv the new PM benefit! I always worry about exceeding the limit, so I delete my messages. Then regret it later. :(

New store site! Cool!!!!! I can't wait to start my "shopping"!!! One can not ever have enough of "crochet essentials". At least me! :)

Thank you again ladies for all the hard work you put into this site. Because of this wonderful site, and wonderful people, you truly have saved my sanity. And, I am crocheting patterns I did not think I ever would. Plus, I am learning new stiches!!

[DesertCrocheter]

Excellent changes, ladies! Thank you! They are much appreciated. Patty

[Kelle]

:manyheart Thanks ladies for all that you do for this site!

:2c I, personally, would like PAT better, but that's just me ;)

~k

[pineapplequeen]

Great ideas :clap
Thanks for all the hard work.

Betty

[kazily]

At least a couple of people have already said this, so I want to do something about it. I made the T wider. http://www.crochetville.org/misc_images/icon_ptn_nospace_widerT.gif Does it look better? Or is it still too reminiscent of PIN? I could change it to PAT. Input, please, everybody! :D

Looks much clearer! :clap

It may be different monitors & resolutions that change how the letters look. I can see the T clearly now that it is "spread out more". I have a flat (LCD) screen using 1024 x 768 pixels if that makes a difference.

[TheLadyWind]

Thank you Amy and Donna! Such awesome changes in an already awesome site!

[Ladycrochat]

Thanks Donna and Amy! Great changes:yay! Crochetville just keeps getting better and better! We appeciate all the hard work you ladies put in on this site! Thanks again.

[Gran]

PAT might be more obvious, but now that I know PTN means pattern, it's fine.
Either way. It's a super idea. Clicking on the little icons is so much faster and easier than searching through threads to find what people have designed or are selling. Thanks again! :hug

Also, the PM limit increase is a big help. I was hoping for a few more. This makes keeping track of things much easier. :cheer

[pat54]

Thank you for a wonderful site. I've only been here a couple of months now but I don't go a day without checking out what's going on. I've received awesome help from people on this site and I just love it. Thanks again to both of you for all your hard work.

[Real Deal]

Oh, these changes are wonderful!!! Amy and Donna ~ you have been so creative with this!!!

For the pattern icon ~ I think PAT is slightly better, but only because so many people have already used it as an abbreviation for a long time. My mother and her mother used PAT, plus I see it the most in patterns.

[chrissyf]

Amy and Donna,
All I can say is wow!!! You two do alot of work to keep this an awesome site. Being out of work I have alot of free time and would you beleive that Ido three things on my computer daily. 1. Email 2. Annie's for the pattern of the day and 3.Crochetville. I had posted a pattern about a year ago and was getting ready to pm for my icon when to my surprise it appeared. Thank you for the labor intesive work it was to search through all the free patterns and find those of us who have only one or two. That was very thoughtful. Without Crochetville I would not have had the courage to branch out to try wearables and purses or even had the courage to design my own patterns for sale. I have been a member for a little over 16 months and I havet o say it is a great group and site thank you for making this shy solo crocheter come out of her shell.

[AmyS]

I am so glad to hear everyone is enjoying getting to wear their http://www.crochetville.org/forum/images/ranks/icon_pat.gificons. I love looking for them and seeing how many different people have contributed one or more patterns to our site.

I'm hoping that as word gets round about the new advertising perks(http://www.crochetville.org/forum/images/ranks/icon_adv.gificon, business graphic in your signature, ability to start threads about your business/patterns/etc.), that we'll start to see lots more people proudly wearing the http://www.crochetville.org/forum/images/ranks/icon_adv.gificon, too.

We all know how crazy our members are here about finding new pattern sources. For all those members who sell patterns, the Marketplace Subscription option (http://www.crochetville.org/forum/advertise.php) really is a good way to let all Crochetville members and visitors know about what you have to offer! Yes, all the advertiser postings can be seen by unregistered visitors in addition to all our registered members.

In addition, Crochetville results usually come up pretty high in search engine results for pattern searches, so even people who have never been to Crochetville have a good chance of learning about patterns posted here if they're searching for a specific type of pattern!

[Donna]

Thank you, everybody! :ghug I'm glad you are happy with the changes and that you are enjoying your Pattern Contributor icons!

I had posted a pattern about a year ago and was getting ready to pm for my icon when to my surprise it appeared. Thank you for the labor intesive work it was to search through all the free patterns and find those of us who have only one or two. That was very thoughtful. You're welcome! I am going through the Free Original Patterns forum page by page. I've gotten through about page 11 right now.

Without Crochetville I would not have had the courage to branch out to try wearables and purses or even had the courage to design my own patterns for sale. I have been a member for a little over 16 months and I havet o say it is a great group and site thank you for making this shy solo crocheter come out of her shell. I love to hear stories like this! :c9 I am so glad for all the good things you have gotten out of our community!

[Catlizg]

Terrific changes - I think they really clarify things quite well. Thank you so much for all your hard work. This is my all time favorite site - heck, it even beats Ebay shopping!!:hook

[AmyS]

To all our members with a crochet, fiber, or craft-related business, don't forget that from now until April 30, you can sign up as a Marketplace Subscription advertiser for only $1.00!! (We would have let you sign up for free, but the forum software won't let us set a price of $0!)

When you sign up, you'll get one whole month of:


a business graphic in your signature
the http://www.crochetville.org/forum/images/ranks/icon_adv.gificon in your profile and posts
a PM limit of 1,000, AND
the ability to start threads advertising your business and products in the following forums in the Shopping Strip: Marketplace (http://www.crochetville.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=181), Patterns for Sale (http://www.crochetville.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=184), Sales and Coupons (http://www.crochetville.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=185).You can try this $1.00 trial month with no obligation to renew. It's a great no-risk way to see if advertising here at Crochetville can help you increase your sales. Our members always want to know about new patterns, new hooks, new yarns, new gadgets and tools, whatever!

If you have questions about what you can and cannot do as an advertiser or questions about how advertising can help you, feel free to post them here or ask me via PM.

Starting on May 1, the Marketplace Subscription will revert to our regular price of $10.00 per month.

[Eliea]

those little pixel icons are so cute!

[CraftyGal]

Wow, thanks. It has only been about the last year that I have branched into designing. Thanks to the 'ville and other places, I feel more confident in my skills to present my original patterns. Next is to branch out into selling the patterns.

Cora