I’m sure I’ve mentioned it, but I’ve been suffering from migraines for many years now. In the last few years, I’ve also had chronic sinus pressure. I’ve spent the last 3 years (OMG – has it really been that long?!?) seeing my GP and going through all sorts of stuff trying to resolve the constant pressure in my sinuses. I’ve taken all kinds of meds, squirted all kinds of icky stuff up my nose (don’t know why that’s supposed to work anyhow), and have been on decongestants for ages.

In the last month the sinus pain has been constant – I really mean every day. It makes it hard to work, to think, to be any kind of sociable. I finally got my doctor to give me a referral to an ENT specialist. My appointment is on Thursday – and I’m totally freakin’ stoked! He better be able to do something for me, or this is going to be one heck of a letdown!!

Keep your fingers crossed for me folks – news on Aimée’s head as it developes!!!

Sadly, I will be closing my ArtFire shop by the end of this month. If you aren’t a seller over there, you probably aren’t aware of what’s been going on over the last few months. I opened up my shop on ArtFire thinking it would be a nice secondary space to compliment my Etsy store. All the hype and word-of-mouth sounded great, and things seemed good for the first month. Then suddenly there seemed to be no more buyers and no one even looking. The admin over at ArtFire blamed a Google update, blamed software glitches, even started blaming the sellers (we weren’t writing our descriptions and SEO properly so Google couldn’t find us).

Now, frankly, the bottom line is that I was paying for that space with the belief that there was a certain amount of traffic. I did not appreciate being told it was my own fault, especially when the changes they suggested I make made no difference. This went on for the last 4-5 months with a lot of folks getting very unhappy. Many have already closed up their ArtFire shops.

The final straw for me, however, came this week when they announced there would be a $1 increase in fees to cover a “buyer assurance plan” that was for all intents and purposes unnecessary. Customers are already covered by PayPal’s buyer assurance, which we as sellers already pay for. This redundant service was being forced upon sellers by ArtFire admin – by blackmail no less! Because if we don’t want this “service, we can “opt out” – but ArtFire will put a notice in our shops to that effect AND we will be eliminated from their searches! Blackmail, plain and simple.

So this long story is obviously not short, but the upshot is that by the end of the month I will have cleared out my store on ArtFire. In the meantime, just to see if anyone’s looking, I’m running a sale! I’ll have a coupon code for 10% off any purchase!! Use code CLOSE10 at checkout – but hurry, things will start disappearing soon!!!

Well, my shopping is done (I hope!), my husband is in decorating mode, and I just have to plan for the big family dinner. There is still some question as to whether both of the kids will make it, as my youngest stepson works in retail and apparently has to work on Christmas eve. But we will all get together one way or another (or one day or another!), even if only for a short while.

I haven’t been getting as much bead making done as I would like – too many holiday preparations! I’ve managed to keep a few things on eBay each week, and always have a few new things in my Etsy and ArtFire shops – but if I don’t get back to work soon I’m gonna run out!!

Don’t forget – my Free Shipping sale is still going on through the end of the year!!!

Free Shipping in my Etsy store, my ArtFire store, and for all my eBay auctions through the end of 2011!

I can’t believe how fast this year has gone – is it really time for Thanksgiving already?!? I’ve barely recovered from the Bead Extravaganza less than two weeks ago, and now I have to cook a freakin’ turkey!!

What’s worse, I have barely started my Christmas shopping. Scary thought – Christmas is only a month away! And no, I have NO intention of hitting the Black Friday sales for presents. I’ve seen the mobs that show up, I’m not that crazy! Cyber Monday, on the other hand, is my kind of sale…

Speaking of sales, starting on Cyber Monday (the 28th) I will have a sale going on through the month of December. More news on this as it develops – so be sure and check back!!!

This weekend, the 12th and 13th of November, I will be doing the Bay Area Bead Extravaganza show at the Oakland Marriott Convention Center in downtown Oakland. I have been preparing for it for several weeks! It’s the biggest bead show on the West coast, with lots of artisan beadmakers as well as supplies and finished pieces. Check out the website here for all the show info, as well as a discount coupon.

If you’re anywhere in the greater San Francisco Bay Area this weekend, DO try to make it to the show! You won’t regret it, it’s a feast for the (beaders’) eyes – and stop by my table and say Hi!