Post offices will be closed January 2nd.

My after Christmas sale is on ebay.

My froogle export seems to work now. I'm working hard to get all my stuff on site for my grand opening, which may be tomorrow or the next day.

I'm trying to figure out my new power sellers unite store. It's kinda wonky in parts.

I put my ebay store on vacation. I shipped an item today, but it's just too close to Christmas now.

Etsy New User Guide.

Apparently they are laughing with ps3 sellers not at them..

Etsy items on google base! Woooot! To do this, go to your public store, right click, save as (whateveryouwantthefilenametobe).xml Go to google base, go to bulk upload, title your bulk upload file exactly what you titled your rss feed, and then upload it. Easy peasy!

I am pleased to realize that the google base store connector also connects one's amazon listings to google base. The new version gives me too many duplicates on my ebay items though. Also, ebay sellers, be aware of ebay's new anti counterfeiting policies.

Woah, now that's a game lot.

Penny books on amazon, explained. I have a lot of items to put on amazon and ebay today, but am having trouble getting started.

There is an 'upcycling' contest on etsy. Make your best recycled crafts!

Conspiracy theories about eBay stores are being debated.

I've finally figured out that etsy lets you put your store into sections. I've also added flower chandlier earrings to my etsy.

I've started a new amazon storefront and on etsy, I've added some new penguin earrings:

It seems that Candy Violet has come out with a new line of skirts and dresses. I need a lot of cash to get some of those.

It seems that ebay is ending preapproved bidders. Not an issue for me in my line of business, but others may want to beware.

I'm starting to make a more even distribution between my ebay and my etsy.

The Cassowary Buttons Gift Guide is up.

I've decided to integrate my auctions together by redirecting my website to an ebay store.

This week's recommendations list is up.

Sock Dreams has updated- now with paypal!

I've decided to make weekly lists of indie reccomendations.

The high cost of lampwork beads.This one is up to nearly $500

I wonder if replicating a design is easier when you are making clay beads. Roundbelly is having a sudden death sale.

Also, get a free wish list here.

I'm starting to make a lot of keychains, especially those with festive themes. I was a bit hesitant about rolling out the Christmas designs so early, but I saw Christmas stuff at the local grocery store so I said why not.

Earrings

Earrings
Originally uploaded by Shannon W..

A new design as a favor to my mother. Replicating a design is really tough.

My first cell phone charm.

Watch

Watch
Originally uploaded by Shannon W..

I have new watch faces! Making straps for them all will be fun.

I heart this sunsuit.

Craftiness is spreading. Sci fi author Nalo Hopkins is selling an altered doll on ebay.

New auction. I started this pair of earrings a long time ago, but then restarted them later. This often happens when I a)run out of material or b)run out of time. For this pair, it was a).

Now that I'm done with the crafts fair, I am starting to ramp up production for the cold weather gift season. This pair is new on my site.

star onigiri bracelet

star onigiri bracelet
Originally uploaded by Shannon W..

I'll be selling it at the festival next week.

Earthenwood

Earthenwood
Originally uploaded by Shannon W..

has good packaging design.
The indie coupons look great! I bet I'm probably missing out on the next cycle, as those sort of promotions always go by too fast for slow moving me.

I'm going to set up a booth at the Cordova Arts and Crafts Festival Sept 23-24. Look forward to it!

Dr Bronner's Soap

Also, I put a new bracelet on ebay:

In embarrassing jewelry ancedotes, my dad sold some of my jewelry at the office. A problem I have is that I'm too modest and self efacing to be a good salesperson.

Man am I tired. I finished working on a big order, and need to send everything out tommorow. I may reopen button making soon and start getting ads up.

It's Labor Day and so I'm reopening my business for business. New ebay auctions, new etsy and website sales. The ebay auctions are earrings, but I have new bracelets at etsy and on the website. Of course, everyone else is opening back up as well. Here's a notable seller: zombie kitten has hand painted cigar purses.

I still have plenty of beads, but now I want some more.

I'm amused. In ebay tips, if you're not famous, no one cares about your name in your auction title. Also, I have a ton of items on ebay ending today.

It's hard to get beads to recreate items. Now I have to start redoing my site as my long summer hiatus is over.

I put this bracelet up on ebay today. Now that I am no longer transient, and have access to my own car, I may in fact set up a booth at the Cooper Young festival(one of the many festivals held in fall in Memphis)

This holiday weekend, I finally came off vacation and sent a new version of my email newsletter. But I had to wake up early, and now I need to go back to sleep.

At long last, I actually made some jewelry. Whew!

And I am adding new ebay items.

I've decided to do more of my business on etsy and ebay, and maybe do some sales offline as well. I have redesigned my home page to reflect this, and are adding more items to etsy.

My camera's back and after finals, there's going to be trouble.

Elegant Wedding Dresses

I have a new item in my etsy store.

European Based Resales of Brand Lolita Items. Stupid grad school- if I wasn't saving up, I could buy some stuff.

Original Art Cheap. If you're broke, try the comics, they are free.

My etsy shop is having a free shipping sale.

I've finally sent my prize off to seekindie. They are the carnelain and sodalite earrings, which I made over spring break. Spring fever is so tiring. Man, I have so many pearls that I haven't worked with.

I'm in a business slump lately. My computer was messing up a week ago, and I am still camera less. Hopefully during the summer, I can work in high gear.

I'm tempted to open a business bank account with one united. But I don't know how internet banking works.

Are you spending outrageous amounts for mass produced shoes that you can't customize? Mohop has the answer.

Urban Trust will . . . bring more access to capital to individuals and families who need it, especially those that need help managing their assets and their wealth in a better way," Johnson said. "There's no doubt in my mind that a well-capitalized, well-managed black-owned financial institution will be welcomed."

While average household net worth of blacks is far lower than the national average -- $15,500 vs. $71,700 in 1998, according to the latest figures compiled by the Federal Reserve -- it is growing far more rapidly than the national average

From Afronetizen.

I've added a new design to my site. There also a new pair of earrings on etsy.

Hearing about new 'business opportunities'? Get the facts.

I totally hadn't noticed Sugar Kitty's handbags, but I noticed them today and immediately wanted to buy one.

You have to register to see the reviews at Oh, Honestly, but I think it'll be a useful site for small business owners once people submit more sites.

This article by Griotech( griotech at phatbytes dot net) may be useful to some:


When we started up African-American Resources the one key that got us
funding was that I had a proven track record of writing and deploying
applications and my partner was a filmmaker and was selling the hell
out of a video he made. Some of you may even have this video. If
memory serves correct it's called "Kwanzaa: An African-American
Holiday" or something to that effect. It's the one in the Kente'
colored box and is actually one of the best videos (if not THE best)
on the market today.

When when the angels (VC investors) looked us over we had nice
individual track records to the point that they had faith we could
upscale these skills into building a business. The key piece of the
puzzle is my partner and I had proven that we could sell products and
services to the majority (non-ethnic) market.

This I cannot stress enough. the Angels could care less what market
we eventually wanted to focus on, they only cared that we could make
enough money to sustain start-up and growth. Once we were up and
running we could then refocus so that eventually we could sell
specifically to the African-American market. Investors only want to
see a return on their dollars and if you can't show that on paper
then you're dead in the water.

To our favor, at that point in time (mid 90's) no other DOT.COM
startup had gone belly up. The whole VC picture would radically
change in the late 90's.

To digress a moment, this is why I tend to be particularly suspicious
of new-jack "socially conscious" businesses. It's also why I have
said in the past it's all about the money and the social
consciousness stuff should be left out of it. You can't quantify
social consciousness in a business plan and I doubt any angel would
be eager to bet their bucks on it. Outside of Ben & Jerry's, Newman's
Own, and the Body Shoppe you just don't see businesses intimately
linked to causes that are either startups or doing gangbusters
financially. The two goals just don't mix that well, at least not in
the sart-up phase of a business.

Many African-American entrepreneurs make the macro-micro mistake.
They take the micro approach and say "I want to start a business
selling products to the African-American consumer", or "to help my
people/community/family". Well good luck, IF you get funding
consider it mana from heaven. You have much better luck taking the
macro focus and saying "I want to sell products to everyone with
dollars and here's my strategy" then later on focusing on the African-
American market once the cash flow starts happening. In these skitish
times you won't get VC funds selling snow in Antartica.

As far as playing in the game, if you are not generating a technology
or product in-house yourself (which you can control) then you are
subject to both the whims of the market, changing technology/market
trends and any inherent limitations of your product(s). And that last
item, the limitations of your product(s) can sometimes creep up and
bite you in the ass when you least expect it.

The battlefield is littered with great products that either outlasted
their usefulness/functionality (anybody still use Lotus 1-2-3 or
Wordperfect?) or were eclipsed by a changing market (anyone still use
floppy disks?). Bet on the wrong horse and you're either out of it or
so far in left field it'll be hard to come back.

------------------------------------------------

I posted this as an education item from someone that has been down
the VC road. VC money is not a magic money machine. And believe me,
there are MANY strings attached. It's not uncommon for them to
completely re-write your business plan AND to take a majority stake
in your business. Our VC guy once told me "ideas are like assholes,
everyone has one. Some though are just bigger than others". And he
was correct. What's not common is funding and when you seek out VC
money you better believe you are in the gladiator pit slugging it out
with other gladiators and they will be making critical blows in order
to be the last man standing.

Although it's a little over the top, having a VC partner is best
described with a quote from the movie Goodfellas: "That's the way it
is with a wiseguy partner. He gets his money no matter what. You got
no business? F@ck you, pay me. You had a fire? F@ck you, pay me. The
place got hit by lightning and World War Three started in the lounge?
F@ck you, pay me." They always get paid FIRST.

Of course, I'm too much of a control freak for venture capital, so I use my own money. I'm a bit suspicious of the assertion that politics doesn't do gangbusters, since I'm in the land of Christian bookstores and Dixie Outfitters, but I understand that the money men need their money and they need it now. Of course, since buttons of the political sort are my biggest seller from my website, I am of course biased. Also, I agree about controlling your product inhouse, which is why I'm a designer of jewelry and buttons instead of a person who distributes for other people or dropships for someone else. It's pretty easy for the market to get flooded with identical mass produced items, but by doing it yourself you can move faster than the market flood.

I wonder if this company is marketing heavily to preschool teachers or not- I think the "10 things kid should know" activity pad would be very useful. I think people should support people who create products that go beyond the same old same old for children.

Professionalism Tips for Business Online

The internet is a well established place for business today, however, there are a few tips that can help you seem professional when you do business online:

1)Don't have gimmicks like mouse trails, loud music(especially when you can't turn it off, huge flashing text, and the like on your website.

2)In email newsletters or on forums, use standard text for most of your copy and use colorful copy to stand out.

3)Use spellcheck, and review your grammar. Don't use internet english(like U check OUT mi shop!!!!) or excessive puncutation.

4)Please don't spam. Even if you are allowed to post your ad once, that doesn't mean you can post it five times a day. Make sure ads are allowed in the space you want to post them.

5)Try to make your website easy to read. Busy background and text colors that do not go with the background can turn off customers.

6)Please reply to emails in a professional manner- don't curse and use complete sentences.

Interesting Possible TV station.

Hella Good Products has a pretty interesting marketing style. I like the advice column, as it reminds me of magazine columns with 'advice' from companies. It is also a recurring feature, so fans will come back to the site and maybe pick up some of the featured products.

It seems that Earthenwood has a new website design. Very unified.

People are getting ripped off on a new 'marketing' scam. Always be careful about 'work from home' offers. To really work from home, you shouldn't have to pay or buy something or recruit other people. I work from home making jewelry, but I do it myself without buying into any get rich quick schemes. It takes a long time to build up a business, but at least you're not being ripped off.

In The Starlight has started a new pirate line. I like the cross cultural fusion of Victorian fashion through an Asian lens reimagined into the pirate era.

My website needs a good redesign. Well, spring break is soon. I also got a myspace for my business and signed up for the seek indie contest that will be coming up in April.

EB Candles,a company that produces all soy candles, has pictures from a craft show. I also found a new beading blog.

Hey, my site is back up!

I don't get websites that don't allow you to browse for products without signing up. Is there a reason?

I put my newest designs in my etsy store while I'm waiting for my website to come back up.

My camera is now in the shop, so I'll not be able to show any new designs for a week or two.

I wish I had the money to go t the convention of the National Society of Black Engineers, but since I don't have $400 + plane fare, I'm passing on the information for others. I feel my business is rather underfunded. Well, one day I'll get a car too.

My domain expired, so now it'll take several days for me to be able to renew it. But hey, there's a new kid on the block for cosmetics for women of color!

Thanks to the shipment of supplies today, I was able to make a set. W00t. Also, I found my fork charms, so I'll be making a new earring design soon.

I've added a new item to my etsy store, and another new item to my regular store.

I've finally been able to make something after being blocked for a week..

A cool tip! If you have gmail, simply go to settings, web clips and search for Button Maker's Ball. This blog should be the first result. Simply add and get updated whereever you are. Of course, this will work for any blog that has an RSS feed. Try to search for your favorite blogs, and add them!

I finally finished my myspace page. I also added my etsy store feed to yahoo Click the button to get updates on your my yahoo page.:

I liked this article on work habits. I have many of the same problems. I can usually only be productive 4 hours a day, but I have 16 productive hours a day worth of work- mostly schoolwork, not business work,though. Simply getting started is much harder if you have to pick through every single comma..

Here's a cool google page rank tool. My page rank is 4, so I'll try to improve it.

I went to Servanada Food Coop yesterday. The bulk foods section is truly impressive, especially their grains-red and regular quinoa, several types of flour, corn meal and corn grits- it's all there. However, be careful about some of their ready made mixes- they can be expensive- the regular stuff is not so bad. I also saw some heirloom potatoes, and I got a pound of organic carrots for 89 cents.

I also visited Criminal Records. I picked up volumes four and five of Love and Rockets, and maybe I have bad eyesight, but they should mark the Fantagraphics section better- who comes into a shop like that for DC/Marvel? Their magazine section, which includes zines, was impressive as usual. I love stores like this because that is the place where new horizons in art and music can grow. Also, they have a rare Ben Folds album, with a live version of Rockin' The Suburbs.

Here's the uplifting story of a young entrepreneur who went from sleeping in his car to building an entertainment empire.

How to get a small solar electricity system in your house for less than $700. Sustainability has to start somewhere, even if it's only using your backpack to carry stuff home instead of a plastic bag. I have to admit that I recycle packaging materials, because throwing away good bubble wrap is really wasteful.

Here's some money saving tips so you can afford to buy my stuff.

Tip: if you sell on etsy, remember to put a paypal email on file, or you'll end up looking like a prat. My store is all fixed now. I accept all forms of paypal.

Today I went to the store, and saw these seeds. When I get older, I might take up gardening. An apartment garden might be nice.

In other sustainability themed news, I want one of these! A US made bento box! Especially important because my student days are waning.

I've found some new blogs. One, Wearing Racism, is an incisive look at anti-Asian racism in the clothing industry. This is part of the reason that independent businesspeople are so important. Due to institutional barriers, many people of color may not be able to be in decision making positions in big corporations, but we can all make a button or a t shirt or a magnet or a ribbon that gives an alternative to the same old tired stereotypes.

Sideshow Cash is more for those who need an extra hustle on the side, but the writer noted that ebay is not the only game in town. My business started out on ebay two years ago. However, the fees are a bit high for many beginners. I would recommend that crafty businesspeople try etsy or even a selling journal on livejournal. If you're a college student, see if you can sell your wares at the college. I'd like to do this, but I'm too shy to sell things in public.

I also have created some new designs, and have massively updated my etsy shop. You can't beat clearance items starting at 4 bucks.

I've finally changed my mailing list from yahoo! Also everyone on my mailing list will be entered into the Happily Handmade Giveaway

Email Address:
First Name:
Last Name:
Country:	-- Select --Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua And Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas, The Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Indian Ocean Territory Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia Comoros Congo Congo, Democractic Republic of the Cook Islands Costa Rica Cote D'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) Croatia (Hrvatska) Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic East Timor Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) Faroe Islands Fiji Islands Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon Gambia, The Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Heard and McDonald Islands Honduras Hong Kong S.A.R. Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Korea Korea, North Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau S.A.R. Macedonia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, The New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Panama Papua new Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Island Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Reunion Romania Russia Rwanda Saint Helena Saint Kitts And Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent And The Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Georgia And The South Sandwich Islands Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard And Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad And Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks And Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States United States Minor Outlying Islands Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Vatican City State (Holy See) Venezuela Vietnam Virgin Islands (British) Virgin Islands (US) Wallis And Futuna Islands Yemen Yugoslavia Zambia Zimbabwe
Gender	-- Select --Female Male
Where did you find out about us?
I want to receive mailings from Cassowary Buttons and Jewelry

Tile by A Blush With Art


I'm in the middle of moving my mailing list around, so here are some cute tiles that you can hang on your walls(warning :NSFW) I have to admit that the geisha themed tiles are my favorites.

Hey, only 165$ per strand. Such nice pearls though.

Man, this dress is perfect for little big girls! It even has heart buttons!

Also, an article on African inspired jewelry.

I finally have my happily handmade giveaway page up. Of course, it's not very pretty, but you can still enter to win beautiful gift baskets.

Fallen Fruit is a group in Los Angeles that is fighting for an increase in free food resources. I have to admit the idea of planting fruit trees is good, although I usually don't eat things I see in the city though, as I'm not sure if the pesticides wash off easily or not?

AA Energy Firm Celebrates 20 Years in Business. It makes me glad to see such a success story! This is only my second year in business. My 'anniversary' for business is this month. Maybe I should have a sale?

I'm so happy! I have a blog ad up at flea's blog, which I've admired since like forever. ee! eee!

Well, I know what I'd buy if I could afford it.

Shortcake Petite Fashions is closing shop- but it has a fabulous closing sale going on too.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 31, 2006

SOPO BICYCLE COOPERATIVE BENEFIT RIDE AND PARTY CELEBRATES GRAND OPENING OF
ATLANTA'S ONLY NONPROFIT BICYCLE SHOP

Contact:
*Rachael Spiewak, Director (404) 392 4597
*Jay Varner, Shop Manager (404) 217 9648

Sopo Bicycle Cooperative is celebrating it's first year of being open to the
public for low-cost bicycle repair with its second annual Broken Hearts and
Bicycle Parts rally and benefit party on Saturday, February 11. The theme
of this year's celebration is Chain Breaks and Heart Aches. The rally is a
scavenger hunt style game played across the city, and is open to anyone over
the age of 18.

The benefit party, featuring local favorites Hope for Agoldensummer, Ocha la
Rocha, I would set myself on fire for you, the Almanac, No Brakes, and
Cipher Kenni, will follow the rally at Lenny's Bar (307 Memorial Drive).
Doors open at 8:00 pm. The bands are sponsored by Southeast Performer
Magazine, and the party is sponsored by Pabst Blue Ribbon.

There are prizes for ralliers and partiers, including items from local and
national sponsors: 13 Roses Tattoo, Cadence Clothing, Charis Books, Criminal
Records, El Myr, Flying Biscuit, Ground Up Designs, Intown Bicycles, IRO
Cycles, Microcosm Publishing, PlanetBike, Rare Footage, R. E. Load, Savage
Pizza, Spicer Cycles, and Village Pizza. Other sponsors include Sevananda
Natural Foods and MadRatz Infoshop.

Sopo Bicycle Cooperative is a 501(c)3 nonprofit bicycle shop whose mission
is to create equitable access to cycling by providing low-cost bicycle
maintenance services and education. The shop is located at 465-C Flat
Shoals Avenue in the East Atlanta Village. The shop is open on Tuesdays and
Thursdays from 7:00 pm until 10:00 pm, and on Saturdays from 1:00 pm until
4:00 pm. Sopo specializes in programming for youth, and is developing
programming for seniors and people with disabilities. Please visit the
website for more information: http://www.sopobikes.org.

No Sweat is having an amazing clearance sale.

I added another item to my etsy store. I'll have a small line of items on my etsy, and a better line on my regular one.

I feel a bit torn about these findings. On one hand,it'd be good for Americans to save more, but on the other, I'd like to encourage them to spend money with me. Maybe the answer is to get more people from other countries to buy my products :D

Here's a good advertising venue- thousands of people every day read this site, and they have money to burn. If I had the cash, I'd advertise here.

Apple fruit leather is amazing. Also two pieces of fruit leather is only 90 cal. This airplane lamp is pretty unique. The creator could benefit from using his title space for keywords, though.

Tip for small business people doing kid's designs: Today over forty percent of public school students in the US are minorities. The number of minority children is expected to increase, and in 2050, America is expected to be fifty-fifty between whites and minorities. You are missing a large part of your customer base if you decide to only have white faces on your t shirts, your blankets, your toys or your dolls. A more diverse approach can also get you cash from parents who may not be of an ethnic minority but are interested in their child getting to know about the world as it is and accepting differences. It's the small things that help you profit. Also, if you're working in a local area, try for underserved niches. If you're making handmade rag dolls, and you notice that there are many black people streaming by looking at your display longingly- try a black doll design. Small business works because we can respond to the needs of our communities. Let's use our strengths.

Have you been ripped off by a large company? Report to this blog.

I was torn about whether to put this new design on my website, on ebay or on etsy. Ebay won, but it was probably not a totally logical decision. Part of me loves the excitement of checking to see if I've got a bid...

Rings and Things is having a jewelry making contest. I can imagine how much prestige and attention you'd get for your jewelry business if you won this contest. And yea, $750 of supplies too.

On ebay, there's much discussion about the anticipated ebay express. I don't have a store, or often use fixed price items, so even though I would probably meet the criteria, it probably wouldn't effect me. Although I'd probably try more fixed price items- they never seem to get as much interest as my auctions it seems, though.

I've decided to change my ebay approach. This week I am getting rid of stuff that I've had a long time, like a Curious Girl Lunchbox, and a green frog koosh animal.

I've moved my clearece section to etsy, and will now preview new designs there as well, I think. Hopefully this will keep my bills down.

Pet Peeve: Don't use other people's patterns to make stuff to sell. Some places selling patterns are just one person working out of their home. I of course make jewelry and buttons. My button slogans are mostly original, although there are one or two quote buttons. My jewelry designs of course are not the most original in the world, but I don't sit there slavishly copying off someone else's. If I like how someone has used chain in their jewelry, I'll put my own spin on it, and make it new- not just copy someone else's for god's sake.

I've never heard of hot dog on a stick, but if this is what their uniform looks like, well, count me out!

It seems that ebay is lowering .01-.99 cent listing fees to 20 cents. I generally don't start my auctions at 99 cents unless it's something that I'm sure will get bid up.

Having half.com problems? Here's some ways you can actually maybe get to a live person: Seller payment problems: sellerpayment@half.com Other questions: service@half.com Also a phone number if you're one of those people who prefer to actually talk to people on the phone: 1-800-545-9857 (M-F, 7-5 PST)

It seems that Urban Outfitters not only thrives on the racism of young white teens, but also rips off young designers. There are many other places you can get t shirts that aren't total rips. In related news, the American Made Alliance has videos of entrepreneurs talking about their ripoff experiences.

Dolls Like Me has a lot of cute dolls of many ethnicities. Perfect for parents. To the left is one of my favorites. Try the discount code IZANIA for free shipping.

Half.com is tricky. I had been listed as on vacation. Well, I hope that people will buy my old textbooks.

I think I've gotten over my jewelry block. I think doing creative things with wires will be my thing now.

I wish!

I love Asiajam, and I especially love this shirt. Of course, it'd be nice if I had a blowing my cash budget that was more than $30.

Heh, I checked "ok to send into outer space" on my craigslist ad. I wonder if extraterrestrials will actually get the transmission...

Here's a fun clutter sale. I'd buy some of the hello kitty stuff if I wasn't broke.

I have some auctions ending tomorrow. My favorite one is the one with the fruit enamel earrings. I have the orange, cherry, grape, and banana ones for myself. Banana isn't in this set because I sold it separately. Banana is my favorite, so I wear them the most.

This seller has a nice variety of checkbook covers. If I used a checkbook, I'd buy one.

Could this chalk mat keep little ones quiet during road trips? I don't know- I'm childless. But it's cute though.

The postage increase takes effect today.

For my 400th post on this blog, here's a new design. I'm having a jewelry block lately. I actually have been working on this one for a week... Most of the problem was finding beads that would work. It's hard to get beads with uniform holes sometimes.

MTCoffinz has a new DIY trim section in her ebay shop. It's interesting that she has an ebay store and a webstore. I wonder how it works out for her?

I have four auctions ending today- mostly jewelry overstock, but also a cute necklace.

One of Pink Loves Brown's cute thank you cards. I love it!

One of my new button designs.

I'm a broke businesswoman, so I use the GIMP as my graphics program. It's free and awesome.

What a great dress. I'd buy it, but my blowing my cash budget for this month is only $25. At least my business budget is 75, and I'm spending 20 to be in the Happily Handmade Giveaway. '

Lovely. One day I'll be able to buy something like this.

Boshii-Basiik is offering lucky packs! Get 3 surprise items for $45. As a not so ex geek I have to admit I love the mog hat! I also like the bunny hat.

I made a new necklace today. I have to admit that I was inspired by a necklace design in Tramps like Us, although this necklace has three dangles instead of one... Oh, yea, and it's available!

It seems that iZania, the black business networking site has created a marketplace. Lots of ebay contenders have come and gone, but the secret I think to being successful is to draw buyers in- if you can do that, then you'll have tons of sellers.

Yesterday's Kwanzaa value was Faith. Faith doesn't have to be religious, it can be faith in your fellow person or your community. Speaking of community, I've found a very large interstate black owned bank with branches in California, Florida, and Massachusetts. I remember seeing Tri State bank, and hearing mom tell me of its proud history as a black owned bank. It's hearing stories like that that have given me the courage to open my own business.

EEEE! Kitty Ear Headdresses.