BE FEARLESS. That's my only real advice to any fellow maker. Whenever I open PS, I never think of whether others will like or hate what I come up with. I just make whatever I want, and if others like it when I post it, that's awesome. If not, oh well. I enjoyed creating something and practiced my skills doing it, too. I've been told in the past that my texture use can be too aggressive or overpowering. I understand that, and I take it for what it is, but I never let it scare me from manipulating textures in whatever weird ways I see fit. I have to feel that the icons I make have some merit before I post them and start wondering what others think. Try to approach your text work in the same manner. Experiment with all sorts of fonts and decide whether YOU like what you created. If you do, show it off. If not, then maybe you can ask others on how you can improve that particular instance of text use.

Nope. Not a single bad thing's been spoken of you. I hope it'll always stay that way cuz you're nothing short of awesome and amazing, in terms of your own icons and as a very supportive person who regularly gives feedback to other people! (Also, being badmouthed is no fun, believe me. You deserve only fun.)