Craft Fair for TOYS for TOTS - Cancelled

Dear Vendors/Friends/Sponsors,

Due to multiple unforeseen circumstances our Craft Fair to benefit Toys for Tots will have to be cancelled.  We apologize for the inconvenience this may have caused you.

We had several vendors reserve spaces but then said they were unable to pay for the space.  Unfortunately one sponsor had over promised and therefore we were not able to get the space we needed for this event.   This was a strictly NFP event and can not be possible without the support of sponsors and vendors.   I thank you dearly for your help and willingness to participate.

We will do this event next year - but will start very early.  There will be corporate sponsors (already lining up) and we might already have a willing sponsor for the space.

Any payments made by PayPal you can cancel - or we will hit the refund button to initiate the refund.  Checks that were not deposited will be returned asap.  Any that were deposited will be refunded via refund check.

If you would like to have your check or PayPal payment stay as a donation for Toys for Tots please let me know no later than 3pm Tuesday Nov. 29th, 2011 otherwise I will refund/mail at that time.
I am one of the Coordinators for Toys for Tots via Marine Corps League #1009

YOU CAN STILL MAKE DONATIONS VIA DONATE BUTTON ON THE BLOG.
Also I have multiple items that will be auctioned/sold off that were donations from other artists / crafters and businesses throughout the year.  Look for the page soon.  you can find great gifts and support a great cause.  It will be a Virtual Craft Fair.  All proceeds will go to Toys for Tots.

Once again our sincerest apologies and THANK YOU for your help.
Anna

Challenges of illness and self employment

Challenges of illness and self employment.

So the title is pretty much self-explanatory right?!?
Sure.  Add being a Mom, wife, friend and everything else and it can become almost impossible. 

I have been dealing with Lupus (SLE) since i have served in the US. Marine Corps back in the 90's.  It has been an up and down battle with symptoms, a diagnoses and proper treatment since then.  Finally a diagnoses was made with SLE in 2002 while I struggled with major symptoms and bad headaches.  The doctors insisted it is a symptom of Lupus and nothing more.  I said i didn't feel right dropping things and slurring speech at times and was so extremely tired that one day I slept for 30+ hours after dragging my leg to walk up the stairs.  Days later it showed during a highly requested MRI by me that I had suffered a stroke (TIA).  This is something they thought could not happen since i am so young (in my 20's) & since I look so healthy and do everything right.  Not a smoker, exercises, no high blood pressure - no signs, right?  Wrong.  Obviously it did not discriminate in my case.

After my doctors at the time figured it was just a "little" stroke and I was so young they told me not to worry about it.   Well i was not about to wait for a big one to prove them wrong so I sought the advice or a Neurologist.  he checked to make sure it was not a tumor and after more testing said I was a BIG stroke waiting to happen with 5 clots in the back of my neck about to move up.  We were planning on having a baby but were struggling and could not figure out why.  he then said if you were preganant you would have never had this TIA but a major stroke.

WOW was all i could think of.
I guess sometimes things just happen for a reason & you have to Thank for those unanswered Prayers.  It so happened that I had a PFO which is basically a hole in the heart.  The combination of Lupus and PFO was enough to cause a stroke.  So after that order and the PFO Closure the recovery put a bit of strain on the finances and daily living.

This is when we decided to start our own business while my husband was still working nights and we were planning on having a baby.  he was very handy and I had worked in construction for years so naturally a Handyman & Remodeling company was a good fit.  Thank goodness we did since he lost his job a while later because he exhausted his FMLA to care for me and the baby.  Yes we finally had a baby - high risk but overall no complications for both of us.

Now some years later the economy is well......it just is in shambles.  Our business suffered as did my part-time job which was in construction.  I began to make crafts and jewelry as a hobby in hopes of someday being able to work from home.  That was so wonderful to do since I have been an artists most of my life. Only problems are that when i have a Lupus Flare it is very hard to do anything at all.  Now I am having some other issues that may or may not be related that basically debilitate me for hours to days or weeks.  This is not only difficult on me but my husband has to pull double duty and the kids miss their Mommy.  I say to myself everyday - if we only had someone to help with the daily stuff like dishes or cleaning it would be a God send.  What takes me 3 hours while i am ill takes someone just a fraction of that time.

So when you think of the "challenges of illness and self employment" I hope you think of not only the financial set backs (no holiday or vacation pay) but the other burdens that keep someone that is creative or full of energy from feeling the joy of doing their craft and providing for the family.

Anna

FACEBOOK UPGRADE - some results

Hello All,

So i am trying a test (several of them actually)  

i hope it helps you a bit while going through the "madness" of FB and their ever changing .....well changes :)

Some TESTS & RESULTS: 

1.  I posted one status as ARTIBILITY on ARTIBILITY page and the other as Anna and i wanted to see who sees what post and all.

Fan comment:

Eileen of http://www.facebook.com/paintingbyeileen says:

"Guess what, when I am signed in under paintingbyeileen I no longer see it, why is that? And I get notifications on my page, when I am signed in that way but not as Eileen, oh my Lord, how confusing is this? Maybe that is why no one is seeing me, this is not good!"

2.  I tried to post or comments on others pages that i AM A FAN of as ARTIBILITY and i could not - some i had to relike and some just didn't let me - said i didn't have permissions

Fan comment:

Stephanie M. of http://www.facebook.com/pages/Two-Little-Bluebirds/156287686067 says:

"Interesting...when I come to your page under my personal page I'm able to comment. I can't comment on this page under my fan page unless I "like" this page first. "Liking" a page while as a fan page adds that page to your page's "likes" and apparently we can only add 500 pages to our fan page "likes". No wonder my head is spinning!" 

KM from http://www.facebook.com/kraftymaxoriginals says:

"Here is the big things I have found out so far this morning. IF you are on as your FAN PAGE identity then you can fan up to 500 people, however, fan pages can NOT write on anyone else wall unless they are already a fan. YOUR favorite PAGES from your fan pages have now been AUTOMATICALLY LIKED and you are now FAN'S of them through your FAN PAGE - this will take away from the 500 listed above. That all being said I know there are MANY more things, issues and FUN to keep us going for about 2 years, but my best suggestion is that until all the kinks and changes are worked out DO NOT FAN anyone other than those you really need to. ...COMMENT on peoples pages - personal or fan pages - with your PERSONAL identity and try not to get so mad you through the computer out the window! I hope I helped. 

P>S> there are a couple of changes you need to make on all your FAN Page - you need to do these under BOTH your personalities!! THIS IS ALL VIA YOUR FAN PAGE 1. go to edit page make sure the ONLY ADMINS'... box is UN CHECKED. 2. make sure there are NO countries listed as COUNTRY RESTRICTIONS These are very important, and again, you need to do them under BOTH your personal and Fan page identity ON your FAN PAGE!! ~KM"

3.  I could not see peeps that were my favs in my feed as ARTIBILITY - what i do see is that when you are a page you have to CHANGE YOUR SETTINGS (where MOST RECENT IS) there is a edit options area - you choose whether you want to ONLY see pages/PPL you interact with the most - just favs or EVERYONE :) Even though you did it before - you might have to redo it

Fan comment:

Heather F. of http://www.facebook.com/thepineconeteacup  says:

"Ok, only the pages you had marked as favorites by your fan page will show in your feeds when you are in as you fan page. Does that make sense? So I can see you as both, but it's only because your page was a favorite of The Pine Cone Tea Cup."

4. Edit/review you PAGE settings - on mine it changed to something i didn't change it to (category) - my biz was listed as business/plumbing HAHAHAHA

Fan comment:

Christina K  of http://www.facebook.com/designsbyck said: 

"mine was airport! LOL"  

5.  Although you shortened your PAGE some of your page names are no longer short - you can do this by going to http://www.facebook.com/username

6. I just noticed too that if you fanned a page and hit like or commented you will get a notification when someone comments on that page or person under your PERSONAL.  if you do the same under PAGE - then you get separate notifications - don't forget to refresh when you switch or you'll get errors :)

7. Some apps like ARTFIRE & ETSY didn't work - on mine I redid the apps as ARTIBILITY - maybe that helps? Some just don't load at all some take long time (and i work on a very fast Mac) so if your landing page is your store CHANGE IT ASAP (suggestion of course)

8.   I commented on something, and it's showed my comment on my Wall. Who can see this story? Info from FACEBOOK PAGES/HELP - The only people that can see the story about your comment are those who can see the content you commented on. For example, if you commented on a photo that only you and your friend can see, only you and your friend would be able to see the story on your Wall.

9.  AWESOME - using page as ARTIBILITY when i hit share on my items i share with my fans instead of personal page - Kudos for the @facebook

10.  when ppl post to your wall - switch to ADMIN VIEW to see it - wonder how tagging will work now - also as ADMIN you see your hidden posts - this is in place of the SPAM - check often most ppl's posts ended up there

Thanks to all that commented and did my test and gave their suggestions, opinions and shared info.  FACEBOOK has a page for this - but as the kinks are straightened out we all need to share what our pages are doing - many of us have own FAN PAGES but we are also each other's customers and fans.

Lets hold hands (no not sing kumbaya LOL) but to help one another be successful.

Thank you & enjoy the ride,

Anna

Disclaimer:  comments - post & suggestions are merele just that and do not reflect the comment - opinion & suggestion of Facebook or any other individual-page or company unless specified

Not a good Day

Today is just not a good day ------ i am exhausted from being sick - as soon as i recover form a cold or flu i get it again.  Lupus really really sucks-always does but more so now.

Last month i was weak and clumsy again but it subsided.
It is so hard to make plans and be creative when you have trouble combing your hair because it hurts or you ca not grip a hair brush....let alone hammer and drill......and we all know i have accidents when i am well :)


I will be posting some great new ideas - plus the fundraisers I want to be part of or that are dear to my heart - new blog page inspired by "Julie & Julie" the movie - as well as a huge clearance on my already made jewelry........
I need to start fresh - clean and with a new look on the future.......
Well as soon as i can get my sickness somewhat under control.

Enjoy your week and (((Achooo))) stay healthy
Anna

New Year & Thanks

Hello everyone,

WOW this holiday season was the 1st really busy season I have had and i was not fully prepared for it but did my best with what i had.  I hope to have made some memorable gifts.  They all took some sweat, love & tears....at times more than i wished to share.  A couple of drilled fingers and nails, some glued pliers to hair .....ehhh it's all good :)

I hope everyone had a great Holiday, Christmas and soon to be New Year!
I don't like resolutions for end of the year since i try to do them as i "error" my ways or thinking.  But definitely wishing you a very happy, safe, loving New Year with lots of ideas, possibilities and most of all love......love from others, to others and for yourself.

I thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping me with this year's fundraisers and Toys for Tots (which money raised will continue to deposit into our T4T fund-i was told we can raise money all year long)

HOPES for the New Year:
I will have lots of new ideas, new jewelry lines and featured artists in the next year.
I am also looking into creating a custom high end line that i hope everyone will like.
Revamping and reorganizing some things for a more streamlined ordering process besides ETSY, ARTFIRE and well FACEBOOK

Thank you and see you in 2011
Anna