It's been a crazy week. I went to work on Monday and while Matt and I were sitting there working, the power went off. I had just finished reminding him that we had been slated for shut off due to non-payment of the bill when boom, off it went. He ran out and tracked the guy down and got him to turn the power back on. Wednesday while we were working, it went off again. It was off Thursday and Friday as well. It's my understanding that it's back on today, but I was told not to come in until at least noon because Matt needs the computer. Well, I have to pick the boys up at 2:15 so it doesn't seem worth it to clock in for only 2 hours........ So, I'm home again today and enjoying it very much, thank you!
Well, one of the last things I said here was that "someday" I would be selling in a second store. Well, I need to announce that that particularly "someday" has arrived. Kinda funny how all that happened. We received a new router as a gift from Jennifer and Jason. It was supposed to be the cure for my communication woes at the NDISB store. I finally screwed up my courage and tried again, only to find I was just as blocked from communicating with the store as I've always been. I was so frustrated and upset I went to bed at 8PM. The next day I e-mailed the owner at NDISB and asked if she would recommend me to any other store owner as I just could not go on paying someone to upload my products. She has known all along the problems I was having and both she and her husband have checked on their end to be sure nothing is blocking me from there. However, when I wanted to leave, she apparently got a new realization....... In the meantime, I fired off an e-mail to the owner of a store where I've shopped some for commercial supplies. She wrote back, being totally honest that her store was going through a difficult time due to their server going down and the need to reconstruct everything. But, she loved my designs and welcomed me aboard. I couldn't afford to be choosy--after all I was "homeless" as far as stores go. Now, back at NDISB, Theresa began telling me how much talent she thinks I have and how there had to be a way to work things out. As it ended up, she offered to post my stuff in the store--free--until we get this mess figured out. Well, it was never my intention to leave NDISB; the problems I've had are certainly not their fault. But, the situation was just untenable. So, now with Theresa promising to post my kits, the situation is eased. Okay, I decide I'll stay. However, I've accepted an offer at the other store and I can't just turn my back on that store owner when she was good enough to offer me a spot when I needed it. So, I am now in two stores!
It is more work to be in two stores but not a whole lot more. Each store has a certain style of preview that must be adhered to, so I make one general preview, then "wrap" it in each store's wrapper and save it to the file. The second store does require one exclusive kit per month; NDISB has no such requirement. And, there is now another collaborative kit in which I must participate monthly. That works out a bit differently as well. At NDISB, you make your small portion of the collaborative kit and after the month in which it is featured, you're free to take your portion and sell it separately, either as a mini kit or, by beefing it up with a lot more papers and elements, as a full kit. At Designing Moments (my second store), your contribution to the collaborative kit is really not yours anymore once it is made. The collaborative kit stays in the store and is sold at a reduced price to help support the site. But, with collaborative kits, all I have to cough up is something like 3-4 papers and 4-5 elements so that's not so bad.
I have given the owner of Designing Moments a real workout. Because of the communication problem with NDISB, I've never really been able to learn or use the store system. So, I was totally new to all that. I had a zillion questions. She sent me a step tutorial with screen shots and all. What a gem she is, and SO patient. I got my kit for this week and its coordinating set of Quick Pages posted in about half an hour this morning and only had to ask one question. Progress is being made.
Speaking of stuff in the new store...... I tried to post here last week and Typepad just wouldn't let me finish or save my post. So, I'll catch up a little. First up is Bedazzled. This was actually one of the first kits I posted at NDISB. I love the color scheme, but apparently not many other people do. At least there hasn't been a big run on the kit at NDISB. I reworked it a bit, added some elements and here's what it looks like now:
My new kit for last week I titled Flowers in Her Hair. I loved how this came together as well.
There are a lot more elements than show up in the photo!
At NDISB, I put up Chambray which was slanted more or less toward the masculine market. We ladies love to scrap pages about the men in our lives. I DO think this kit would be wonderful for anyone with a blue-eyed person in their family or for a lady who loves her denims.
This week, with Theresa's help, I will be adding the same kit to both stores. Actually I took my contribution to November's NDISB collaborative kit and turned it into a full kit. I have to tell you I hated these colors until I started working with them. This is such a rich looking kit. AND, it's huge. I had to package the elements in 3 separate files! Otherwise, anyone on a dial-up internet connection would have one file that would take FOR-EV-AH to download. Let's see what you think of this one:
Of course there are quick pages to go with each kit.
This weekend I also completed 8 quick pages with LaWanna's new kit, Wintry Mix, and 12 quick pages with Amanda Rockwell's new collection called Renew. The pages for LaWanna have already been packaged up and sent to her, but I've still got some work to do on Amanda's pages.
Signings at the escrow company have picked up a bit. I am so grateful for that. I've been telling Joe for a long time now that he needed to go down there and hang out. That seeing him hanging around would help the escrow officers think of him when they had a signing to be done. And, he's fought me tooth and nail on it. He has kept telling me that he's so close that shouldn't be necessary. And, truthfully, if we catch all the traffic lights wrong, we're about 8 minutes away; if we catch them right, I've done it in as little as 3 minutes. All that is true. But it doesn't take into account the fact that some people react to visual stimuli and being seen works! So, last week he earned just about what we need to make the bare minimum payments on our bills (assuming he makes as much each week of the month). That amount does not allow us to pay our taxes on what was earned, just pay the mortgage payments, car payment, and the utilities. But that sure does beat NOT being able to pay those things.
With the holidays, the cash flow problems, etc., the status of my paychecks is still a mystery. Will I get paid this week? Will there be any money in the bank to cover the paycheck when it's written or will I have to hold it for days on end? Should I run straight to the bank and cash it before any other outstanding checks hit the company bank account and wipe out the available cash? It took me almost 3 weeks to get my money for the week before Christmas.......... It's nice to have the paycheck but oh so frustrating when you can't cash it! I should be okay for a while now, because we landed a sizeable job with the MGM Hotel and Casino, re-doing part of their pool area. Praise be! Joe and I have prayed a LOT over that deal!
So, anyway, I'm outta here. I have the boys this afternoon and evening and I MUST get some work done before they need to be picked up. If you like the kits or quick pages, you can find them at www.ndisb.com or at www.designing-moments.net. I operate under the name of HotFlashDesigns.
Later, gator.
