Foreverpurple

I’ve been using Etsy to sell my bead jewelry as well as the vintage jewelry that mom and Misty have purchased. Their stuff is selling fairly well but my sales are slow. I keep hearing rumors of how Etsy is just too flooded and not well enough promoted. It’s easy to get lost. I’ve been checking some other beading sites and there is A LOT of buzz about Art Fire because they offer FREE selling! Yeah free! There are some limitations to a free account but nothing underhanded. They also have paid accounts which is $20.00 per month with zero limitations on your store and still no listing fees…ever. Right now they are running a special for the first 5,000 people to sign up you are locked in at ONLY $7.00 per month forever. I’m spending more than that on Etsy right now so I figure it can’t hurt me to try putting my pieces on Art Fire and still selling the vintage stuff on Etsy.

Someone on Beading Daily put together this list:

But what are the advantages of becoming a member and how could we generate more sales?

1. Google Analytics. Make sure you guys who signed up with AF activating this feature. Find it under MY ARTFIRE > MY STUDIO STATS. There you will find a link to sign up to Google Analytics. Follow the instructions carefully and when you got the code asked, submit it in AF.

2. Google Base. Now AF automatically fed our products submitted in AF to Google Base. The best part is that we need to do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! They’re feeding them for us. We just sit down and watch our products appear on Google Product Search. Etsy haven’t done this.

3. Google Alerts. The staffs recommended us to use this. By using Google Alerts, we’ll get e-mail notifications about who searched for our names in web, who featured us in their blogs, etc.

4. High in traffic. At the shy two months old, AF has proven itself to gain high traffic. It’s in the top 20 already!

5. One page listing. Everyone who has a shop in Etsy would know that there are 5 steps to accomplish spread in 5 pages to list a product.

6. 10 pictures per listing. This feature is only for Verified Members.

7. Unlimited place for tags.

8. Forum. Their forum is a great place full of information.

Your schedule is about to get busier and this should prove to be a positive change. It’s not just about introducing more activity into your life; you are anticipating all that you can learn with so much going on. This increased pace will continue to build and will probably last much of the year, so remember that you need to conserve your energy or you’ll burn out before you get to fully enjoy what you’ve worked toward these last few years.

Strange week for dreams. Both of them were about me saving a baby boy.

Wed:
Was on a wooden boat and it sank. I got out though. I think there were four of us on the boat but I can’t remember who besides a little boy who I managed to save from drowning.

Last night:
I was in a big old and I think with ghosts and they were like helping kill off part of the family who were evil, bad people. Hidden in a locked room was a little boy. Just as I went in to tell him it was safe, my boss showed up. I was trying to convince the little boy not to tell my boss what had happened to his family, to just go along that it was always just he and I. The boy was about 3 I guess but it seemed he understood that I had rescued him from his horrible family. I gathered him in my arms to take him to the bathroom to give him a bath.

Will have to look these up later.

Or maybe she just was stopping by for a visit and picked up my call. 47 minutes on with a customer service agent and I accomplished nothing. I simply wanted to inquire about adding a feature. I finally gave up because I was at work and had to get something else done. Wendy talked at a snails pace until I managed to interrupt her and tell her I had other shit to do and I would call back another day. Hopefully her day off.

On the 31st just as I was about to leave for the day, trying to go home 2 hours early, I was handed a Samsung EPIX that was misbehaving. 4 phone calls and 2 hours later I told the Cingular support tech (who was actually of some help AND sounded quite hot) that I had had all I could stand and I was giving up for the day. I missed lunch because I thought I was leaving early so by this point I was starving and had a headache.

I’ve used up all my patience. I need some chicken.

Sadly I’m back on the phone with Cingular for round two with the Samsung. Bob help me

WTF??? I opened my browser this morning and I see the YouTube Today’s Featured video is this gem:

Seriously people… WTF are you thinking???

Heard this on BTLS:

I only worked a half day today and when I left work I was hungry. Figured I would stop at White Castle and since I had pee, I went inside. On my way to the bathroom I passed an older guy eating alone but didn’t really pay any attention to him. I placed my order and was filling my cup. I looked up to step away from the fountain and the guy was standing there so I couldn’t easily step around him. He was scruffy looking and his teeth were a mess, he was balding. Probably in his late 50’s.

Him: “You look like a woman I used to work with.”
Me: “Oh really?”
Him: “Yes. Carol something. We worked together for the US Government. USDA.”
Me: “Yeah? So I have a twin out there somewhere?”
Him: “Well she is older than you. I had such a crush on her. She had red hair like yours.

At this point a guy says “Excuse me” so that he can get to the fountain. I use this opportunity to position myself closer to the door and to try to put some distance between he and I. His unwavering gaze was creeping me out. He was looking at me like the big bad wolf looked at Little Red Riding Hood!

Him: “She had a son. He was this tall (lifts his hand up to about 6 feet off floor) and she always called him her little boy.”
Me: “Aw, well to her he was. That’s a mom for ya.”
Him: “I don’t know where she’s at anymore.”
Me: “Ah you didn’t stay in touch with her.”
Him: “Well we only worked together.”
Me: “Yeah I guess we don’t typically keep in touch with ex co workers.”

All the while there are three other people loosely circled behind us. I’m sure they were watching this exchange with great amusement because I was crazy uncomfortable and struggling to find polite things to say to this man who was hovering so near me. I was constantly looking over at the counter trying to will them through sheer desperation to call my name.

Finally my salvation… or so I thought… my order was up! I quickly dashed over to grab my bag but had to hand it back cuz they gave me the wrong one. I got my order and headed for the door. Only to find my new ‘friend’ waiting for me.

Him: “I’ll get the door for you. I’m leaving too.”
Me: “Okay thanks!”

I pass through the door and walk briskly towards my car trying to put some distance between us.

Him: “So are you going back to work?”
Me: “No I’m heading home. Only a half day today.”
Him: “What are you going to do there?”
Me: “Just relax and watch tv.”
Him: “Do you want to eat here with me?”

Dumbfounded, I paused and looked over at him and he gestured towards his car. I swear my eyes widened in shock.

Oh yes… This crazy little man was inviting me to sit in his car with him and eat my lunch. The urge to head for zee hills at a dead run was only quelled by the fact that I was standing at the back of my car.

Me: “No thanks I’m just going to go home.”
Him: “Oh okay… bye”

I couldn’t get my car unlocked fast enough and then I promptly locked it behind me. I was stunned but laughing at the absurdity of the entire situation. I wasn’t frightened. I was creeped out by his unwavering but somewhat vacant gaze, as well as his close proximity. He wasn’t intimidating but definitely not aware he was being creepy.

I’m going to stick to the drive thru from now on. Bob forbid I run into my admirer again.

Can you guess which one is my oh so adorable Matty?? This is the cutest pic and I’m so happy his mom sent it out this year.

No snow Last night Misty and I went for dinner with Aunt Rose. When I got home Matt and I opened our gifts as we weren’t sure he would still be home this a.m. (he was for awhile). I’m still waiting for Misty to come over so we can have dinner and exchange gifts. On the drive to Rose’s we called home and talked to everyone. Matt’s parents called this morning. I think we both got everything we wanted. :D We both got a new computer. Matt got a Sony Handycam and I also got my purple vacuum.

I normally post pics of Cynthia over at Ban Puppy Mills but this is Christmas related so I’ll put it here. She is happily sleeping away next to daddy’s presents.

We both got a lot of great gifts this year and are very fortunate. Matt is gone to work so I’m setting up both new computers :P

Matt’s new HP computer

My new Acer Aspire One mini laptop in PINK

Despite some assholes attempting to put a stop to the giant snowman in Anchorage, it mysteriously reappeared at a glorious 25 feet tall this year! The city plans to take action after Christmas. Can you be any more of a scrooge? The guy isn’t doing a damn thing wrong.

Long live Snowzilla!!! Fuck the haters.

http://www.snowzilla.org