I’ve just moved my blog over from blogspot to my own domain, a process which is definitely still a work in progress! I seem to have lost 3 sidebar widgets that were definitely there after the move last night, and the layout looks different this afternoon too. Interesting… but have no fears! I will soon get it sorted out!

After that, the first order of business will be profiles of the vendors who have already registered for the Have a Heart Bazaar that I am organizing, to be held in Richmond on July 31. More details TBA, but if you haven’t heard about it and you’re in the Richmond area, drop me a line and I’ll send you more info! That is, if the email link is still visible somewhere…

For the month of October, Artfire.com, another online arts and crafts marketplace, has been offering unlimited listings and some other features to their free account holders that are usually reserved only for their paid members. A while ago, I’d taken a look at Artfire and registered with them, as it’s always good to get additional exposure, but it didn’t seem worth the effort to list the small number of items that basic members are usually restricted to, especially since I hardly have time to list anything on Etsy these days.

Then I came down with strep throat and was sick in bed for 3 days. Down but not out! I spent a lot of the time editing photos I had taken back when there was actually sunshine and free time, and listings those items on etsy and artfire. Thanks to the artfire deal, currently all of my jewelry there is a bit cheaper, and that price break should last through the holidays, so be sure to have a peak!

Ripping It Down on Artfire.com

I think this earring and necklace set is my favorite new item, although the image at the top of this post is probably my favorite new product photo!

although this psychedlic photo of one of my mermaid bracelets is probably my favorite new product photo!

You know how a lot of restaurants these days have those little bowls by the register where you can drop in a business card for the chance at a free lunch? Well, I never really thought they actually pulled names, but apparently some of them do. Two weeks ago a manager from Chipotle called to tell me I’d won dinner for myself and however many of my friends or whoever else I wanted to bring. No strings, no advertising message to sit through, me and 15 of my friends ended up enjoying a very tasty, very free meal from Chipotle 😀 I don’t even remember eating there in the first place, much less dropping a business card in, but my friend says we went there for her birthday lunch and I dropped a card in, so there’s a very good reason to have business cards handy.

There are obviously other good reasons to have business cards like, you know, to hand out to the person behind you in line at the grocery store that asks where you bought your bracelet. Sorry, I don’t have 16 different reasons you should have business cards, and even if I could think of 16 they probably wouldn’t be any different reasons than you could find suggested anywhere. Still, my business cards more than paid for themselves Friday night! I bought mine free for the cost of shipping from vistaprint.com. I know a lot of people have had problems with that site before so I’m not really comfortable wholeheartedly endorsing them, but I will say that I didn’t have any problems with my order, and my business cards, promo postcards and magnets turned out very professional looking. The little self-inking stamp is pretty cheap, but still, it all came to under $10, around the cost of dinner and a drink at Chipotle, and I’ve enjoyed handing them out to friends and customers.

And now I have 15 people who owe me dinner if they ever win, now that they all know to drop their cards in too.