2011 and what I'm looking forward to...

Maybe it's a bit cliqué, but I'm very hopeful for this coming year. As the holidays have wound down, my reflection on the past year is this; me being more successful than I was in 2009 and looking to 2011 as a beckoning sign of hope for improvement to my business from the previous year.

I found a wonderful ebook by Tara Gentile, the editor of ScoutieGril on blogging my passion and mission statements and promoting myself more and after reading this, I am feeling SO empowered and positive. After a bit of mulling (not much really) I purchased the eBook (actually purchased last year but never got myself up and running with it) and am assigning this project of growth on myself.

Hey, let's see what *I* come up with for content and inspirations and such- this should be absolutely venturesome, sometimes vexsome...but NEVER vapid!

 OK...to my mission statement:

"Happenings with StudioDTQ is a quirky, multifarious blog, chronicling the intrepid journeys, ups, downs, discoveries, and all around musings of a jewelry fashionista with a fondness to and for metal and verbal manipulations.  It features the opportunity to share those observations and discoveries in and of the surrounding world and puts forth the notion of inspiration.


I submit to you- Be inspired, be inspiring but most importantly- believe in yourself!"

OK...on with the grow...ing...you know what I mean...*grumble....*

Artfire has got a really sweet deal going on...

Frank says, "Start spreadin' the news..."   Artfire says, "[We are] offering a limited number of people the chance to lock in a never-before-seen $5.95/month rate. In order for us to offer you this deal we need at least 20,000 members, including you, to opt-in for the exclusive $5.95 rate. Don’t miss your chance to lock in the best deal in e-commerce. Once this deal is over, it’s not coming back."  So I say, "Yeah...I'm DEFINITELY doing that"...and the best part...YOU can say "YES", too!

Oh no...I am NOT missing this...I have already signed up (being a Maven on AF has been wonderful...trust me) both my premium account...and my soon to be opened DragonTrollQueen- a jewelry supply destash store...which WAS basic and free but would not get as much exposure as a PREMIUM ACCOUNT.... SOOOOO.....Here's the Deal !

When you stop to think it's like 20 US cents PER DAY and not PER LISTING like other selling venues...that's DIRT cheap...and easy to take...depending on what wares you have in your store...one sale takes care of the month...not too shabby...

What have you got to lose - give it a try!

Cargoh is a CarSTOP...and a train wreck...

Image by jepoirrier via Flickr

Open bashing isn’t my thing but a duck is a duck and the feeling of a scam???  is in the air...

Shame on you Cargoh! What a disappointing and sad situation. (No, I will NOT put up a link to your site...you do not deserve that)

You offered a free store lifetime, got our hopes up, took ALL of our personal information including CREDIT CARD info and THEN email us, stating (I'm paraphrasing here) you bit off more than you could chew, took folks who don't fit your model, backpedaled like mad and preceded to delete our accounts. 

NO TOS violations, no qualifying info in the FAQ's...it feels like just another grab and run operation.  Between the sting of rejection to our chosen artful expression, whether you meant it that way or not, your choice of wording was hurtful.  THEN you decide to convert your site midstream to a juried one and in our parting letter, offer to look at our wares if/when we decide to make better quality items. I didn’t even have the time to populate my new store before it was taken away from me so how would Cargoh even KNOW what I offer?

"Unfair" say you, that we feel THE WAY we do?  How ELSE are we supposed to feel?  

Image via Wikipedia

On top of that, we also have to contend with the added worry of WHO now has all that personal info and we're left with a sense of WHO CAN YOU TRUST? I didn't give you my CC info thankfully, so I also feel relieved -like I dodged a bullet to the head! Others were not so lucky.

Thank you for taking what was supposed to be a promising, positive experience working with a new ARTISAN website and making it a distastefully stressful one.  Blunder doesn’t even begin to cover this mess. EPIC FAIL might.

Image via Wikipedia

I know *I* for one will not shop here and will actively encourage others not shop or sell here as well.   

Networking means what?

I guess I've gotten busy...

Between running both an on and offline handmade jewelry business, 3 Blogger blogs (AFPlurkies, Framework4Selling and this one...which is being transfered from WordPress and has been sorely neglected), a part time job outside the home, Moderating the Create-Your-Style site for Swarovski, running around after three teenage kids, and it being a murderously humid summer (if you followed my FB posts, you'd be in the know on my feelings for this *giggle), I'm busier than a one armed paper hanger!  Now bellyaching won't cut it here, so don't worry, I won't.  I have a wonderful network of associates and collaborators as well as family and friends that have been really supportive and that makes it so much easier to do what needs to be done. Not that I GET anything done, but still...oh did I mention I will be moving in a few weeks too?

Image via Wikipedia

Feng   Shui take me away...

How do you get yourself centered?  DO you have a network of friends you can bounce ideas off? Is there a close family member you confide in and helps you prioritize your doings?  Remember, before the internet there WAS life- moving, breathing, working life.  Remember, hectic, harried folks get run down and we don't want to see that; do what you can and the rest will work out.  Make sure you Stop and Smell the Roses, too...

Hope the day finds you well and Happy!

Heather aka StudioDTQ