I think it’s a great idea. I used to spend a lot of time on Folksy Fridays when I had the time to do them and genuinely enjoyed it, but since they became pretty invisible on Instagram with the hashtag search no longer effective, I gave it up.
I’d definitely be up for joining in and having asked ChatGPT about Mastodon, I think I’ll go and do it there. Very different platform, isn’t it? Which group are you in Marina? Chat has recommended a couple for me that it thinks would suit my approach and aesthetic, just going to check them out now 
In case it helps anyone else, here’s what Chat told me about Mastodon (as always, don’t take everything it says as gospel!):
Mastodon is a social media platform that looks a bit like Twitter/X — you post short messages (called toots or just posts now), follow people, and reply or boost (share) their posts. But underneath, it works very differently — and that’s what makes it special.
Here’s a quick, plain-English overview:
1. It’s decentralised
Mastodon isn’t owned by one company. Instead, it’s made up of many independently run servers, called instances.
- Each instance has its own community and rules — like a small neighbourhood.
- But all the servers talk to each other, so you can follow and reply to anyone across the network, not just on your own instance.
This overall network is called the Fediverse (federated universe).
2. You choose your “home” server
When you join, you pick a server (for example: mastodon.social, mstdn.uk, or toot.wales).
It doesn’t hugely matter which one you choose — you can still interact across servers — but some focus on particular interests or regions (e.g. artists, writers, tech folks, or local communities).
3. You control your experience
There are no algorithms deciding what you see.
Your timeline shows posts from people you follow (chronologically), plus optional local or global feeds from your server and others.
There are also no ads, and moderation is handled by the volunteers who run each server.
4. Posting and etiquette
- You can post text, images, links, or polls.
- Each post can have Content Warnings (CW) — a polite feature that hides sensitive or off-topic content until someone chooses to view it.
- You can use hashtags for discovery, and you can “boost” posts instead of “retweeting.”
5. Privacy and safety
Mastodon gives you more control: you can limit visibility of each post (public, followers-only, unlisted, or direct).
There’s no data mining or advertising model behind it — it’s funded by donations and community support.
In short
Mastodon is like the community garden version of social media — calmer, slower, kinder, and built for people, not engagement stats. It takes a little getting used to, but once you find your niche, it can feel much friendlier and more genuine than mainstream platforms.
What it recommended for me (ignore all its sucking up to me commentary - I know I do!):
Best overall fit: mstdn.art
This one’s full of artists, crafters, illustrators, and textile folk.
The mood is creative but not pretentious — lots of people share process photos, studio updates, and works-in-progress. It values the making journey as much as the finished piece.
It’s also visually friendly: you can post photos.
Why it suits you:
- Warm, supportive culture — no hard selling or algorithm-pressure.
- People often post about materials, tools, markets, and creative routines.
- Your gentle, natural aesthetic will fit right in.
This community leans slightly more toward independent makers, small online shops, and sustainable living.
If you like occasional chats about Etsy, Folksy, web presence, or ethical small business practices, this could be a lovely second home.
Why it suits you:
- Kind, thoughtful conversations about creative independence.
- Occasional practical tips for running your own shop or site.
- Posts about craftsmanship, gardening, and slow-made things fit right in.
Also worth peeking at: mstdn.uk
A friendly general UK space — you’ll find other crafters and gardeners, though it’s more mixed.
If you’d like a slightly more local community feel (and maybe fellow fair-goers!), it’s a nice option.
Runner-up: