Wouldn't you know it? I hold 3 contests in 4 days to draw new fans to my Alisun's Custom Crafted Jewelry FB Fan Page, hoping to find nonAFA customers and networkers, and the first winner is Creative Cove! Now, if you know me, you know that I know Cove well and enjoy her company.
The second contest (because the first was my first large contest and I was unfamiliar with FB and skewed the contestant pool) was a gaming FB acquaintance, Mary Brown. Didn't know until three or four days before the I decided to have a contest that she is a talented photographer, and I didn't know she'd fanned me until I was compiling the second list. Bingo! Just what I was looking for, but unfortunately she also works in the media. I was beginning to feel like I was doomed to being viewed as a fixed contest administrator!
During that second contest, I was stuck in my chair WAY too long and begged AFAs to fill the last few slots so I could end the contest. I mean, 14 hours sitting in a computer chair most of the time watching a fan counter was enough! I could see even before I had the requisite slots filled that some AFAs were hurt that they weren't included. So I initiated a 3d contest in 3 days. This time I only notified AFA Forum readers, and kind of hoped any of my old friends would win.I mean, my contest reputation was on shaky ground already right?  Shazam! A new FB acquaintance who is not an AFA won, Pamela Perkins!
Such is this random contest administrator's life of the last 4 days!

After months of emails, personal tragedies and personal celebrations, my web designer, BlueWolfGraphics, has turned loose my web page. You can see it at www.alisuns.com. If the style looks familiar, that's because I asked VaL to make the page compatible with my ArtFire stores. I've actually begged her to give me a quote on maintaining the site for me. I haven't heard from her yet (which is a good thing: she would be making a major commitment if she quotes and I accept) but if she says no then I will just beg her for a quote on lessons. Hehe.

I really love the creation, incorporating everything I asked for, some things I forgot to ask for, many things I didn't know I needed to ask for, and even edited pictures! Well, I know some of those pictures are hopeless, but she did as much as possible :) 

This is the second year that I've owned a domain name. Finally I'm doing something other than redirecting with them. I don't even feel guilty about farming out the work instead of finishing the classes that I had signed up for (free, online) because my life is filled with time-consuming commitments: Husband, babies, grandbabies, nieces, in-laws, creating, and... um... buying :) 

I'm doing more with my time in the AF Forums now. I try to limit it, and hope that I can learn to manage that compelling activity.

I'm doing more with my Facebook page too: I've conducted a "fanning" contest. I went about it all wrong and apologized and began a second one to amend the mistakes I made in the first: It's almost over! Last time I looked there were only 11 fans to go!

The trading week for the trading guild brought many many opportunities to be grateful. Exquisite Studios, SilverRiverJewelry, and TheHobbyRoom all made trades in which I feel I got the best end. I boo-booed there, too. Shipping one of the items cost more than the purchase price of the item traded, but since the shipping cost was much less than I would have paid for the item, I feel fine about it. And now I have about 2 sq feet less of storage space to find. Had to rearrange my budget, though!

There was one other trade that I made outside of the auspices of the guild and although it's not completed as yet, I get the bonus of hand-delivering my trade item. I met the artisan last month, and she's a wonder! I don't have permission to identify her so I won't yet. I'm sure the mystery guest will be happy to sign in after we've chatted.

I tried to get people interested in a SF meet-and-greet, but had no luck. I'm hoping it's because this is a critical time of the year for all of us. I'll probably try again next year just after Valentine's Day. I love to meet my friends from online, although I still remember almost five years of refusing to give my real first name to people with whom I had chatted all five years... Since then, I've had a positive experience every time it's happened, and I've even got a date to meet another couple of artisans. I'm honored to be so trusted :)

Here's hoping that all of you derive the deep satisfaction in your art that I have in mine, albiet temporary...stuff happens... and there are so many techniques I envy! LOL! 

 

My Web Designer is sooooo close to being finished with my web page. I love it! Unfortunately, I've got the flu and can't help her as much as I should. No, I'm not constructing the page. But there are some pictures I should be taking, etc. I can't wait to show you when it's finished!

 

Happiness is realizing the item you made a boo boo in the pattern is linked, not strung. Ecstacy is when you must get out the magnifying glass because you can't find the join in the jump ring to fix it.

I started promoting my FB fan page today, but I just don't have much luck with those kinds of things any more. I checked on my website for the first time hoping to be surprised and I was: there was no content. I've emailed the web designer. She had a computer crash not long ago, so I wonder if she had planned to upload it in one fell swoop.

I received two items that I'd purchased here: one from Buttonwilloe (yes, they are even cuter in person) and another from catdancingranch, some beads. Both items are for Christmas presents, and I can't wait to give them to my family. The gemstones have some assembly required, however :)

I'm making progress on my organization and have done some billing chores. I feel like I've accomplished a lot today even if it doesn't show in concrete items.

My sweetie is going to work early today and tomorrow so I get to see him earlier in the day (he doesn't wake me at 5 when he leaves for work, so he certainly won't wake me at 3). 

Nothing very newsworthy today, huh? Some days are like that, yeah, they are!