I used to always use Google to search for username site:gardenweb.com. But it seems like ever since Gardenweb added "Recent Posts" to the right side of the page, I get too many useless results. The Gardenweb search feature at the bottom of each forum index page seems to work better for me. Type in your username, select "Entire Site" and click search. =========== Edit: Oh, once you get those results, look for: "Run this search at: HortiPlex Plant Database GardenWeb Europe GardenWeb Australia ThatHomeSite!" or similar underneath the results. The options vary depending on where you're at but you get the idea, click on the appropriate alternative to look for results there. This post was edited by chuggerguy on Sun, Jun 29, 14 at 17:19

Welcome to the THS Crafts Forum, BHBonnie! Yes, The Garden Web forums are free. Some of the forums here at THS are free, and for others there is a modest $15 annual membership that allows you to post at all of them. If you look at the list of THS forums linked above, you will see yellow stars by those that require membership to post on them. You can, of course, read them all, but to post at those with stars you must have a membership. Considering it works out to just pennies a day, most of us are members. Creating and maintaining a large forum like this is a time-consuming job (not to mention all the expensive equipment, utilities, etc.), and that is why there is a little fee... and you'll discover that the webmaster (Spike) does not look kindly on nasty remarks, fighting, etc. here, so the folks are all pleasant and helpful... surely worth the price in itself! Another benefit of membership is that members do not get the pop-up ads that non-members see!

The business of GW depends on people. They must keep people interested in coming here to keep their business going. Lucky for them there are lots of people, so they are less concerned about how we feel about all of this than we would like to think. I have been a member of these forums for years--yes, back in the days when it was Spike's world. I have always loved this forum. Personally I preferred it before there was a separate conversations area. Now that pictures can be posted within the messages, I forget there is a gallery. I like things simple. But, more important to me is the people and the sharing that happens. I have links to dozens of other quilting forums. Most of them are set up so that you you must go to specific forum categories such as swaps, or charity quilts, or applique quilts, or tips and techniques, etc. I seldom "visit" those forums, though I will go if I am searching for information on a specific topic or technique. I have to file and categorize and follow rules and be careful of the special requirements of various personalities all day long in my job. On my own time, I like things a little looser. This forum fit that bill. When I come to this forum, I LOVE the energy and the variety and the creativity that happens because of the free-flow of topics and conversations. I only click on the topics that look like they may interest me, whether they are on topic or off. Sure, having a discussions category and a conversations category is not a lot of separation, only and extra click or two, but frankly I never visited the conversations forum until all this started up--I forget it is there. In all the years I have been part of this forum, the only time I have not enjoyed my visits are times like now, when members get into a fight and snipe at each other. I am not saying there should not be a difference of opinion, but I really cringe and feel terrible after reading posts pointing a finger at one or two members, demanding they identify themselves, or naming them when complaining about the change. That makes me feel waaaaay worse than any of the rules we might have to follow to participate in this forum. I will continue to participate in the forum and I will click between the 2 categories if I must, but if I am not enjoying what's going on, I'll visit less often, just as many will do. Can we please just get back to sharing this fun and sanity-saving craft we all enjoy so much. I choose not to dwell on one thing that I do not like here, or to direct any negativity towards whomever may have felt more strongly about the set-up of our forum than I. I prefer to enjoy the fun and learn from each and every one of you as long as I can. I just couldn't keep reading and keep my mouth shut. I hope others feel the same and we can put more energy into the good things and let the bad go. Please.

I agree, but Houzz would have had to have a separate server to retain all those posts. I guess it set a time limit and space limit on retained posts, so we lost a ton, but every now and then, I see some older posts pop up from someone's search. I think they did away with all the 90s and only kept those from the 2000s, because I've seen a few pop up from 2003 and 2005. Sadly, the early days were the best, when there were so many more members and so much great information.