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!