♥ I began my shop in 2006 , I opened a small boutique which was very successful., however during the winter months, the pipes froze, broke and I sustained water damage which the landlord failed to correct. I was forced to move downtown, (A CHARMING location but it did not generate the same income the previous high traffic location did )I reopened two locations, one an art gallery for female recycled artists and the other a vintage clothing boutique.

My concept was simply , since I was struggling raising my two girls (I'm married , not single) but take that job very seriously, cooking , cleaning, running them to dance, friends home, etc I found it nearly impossible to run a full time business. I mistakenly took a partner, whom I thought shared similar morality, such as basic honesty, I solicited other women in the same situation, moms who were artists and wanted a venue for themselves...I tried to form a sort of coop. Everyone was required to work one day a week, at a minimum one day a month, in exchange they could sell what every they wanted for 60 percent profit , I also paid commission on any thing they sold. My tale is sad and disappointing. the women initially were gun hoe , and worked the commitment they gave me, but slowly once their art and other items were for sale, they gave me little to no time, mostly excuses why they could not work. my partner ran off with a man, and left town, giving me no notice. I was working nearly 60 hours a week and my family was suffering as a result greatly. I was physically falling apart. I made the painful decision to close both of my beloved stores. ( I won best of Wausau 2007, my city loved my store too and was very sad to see it go )

And so I came to etsy. the prefect venue for me. I never had to worry about in store theft, staffing my store, I can work when I can. I worked very hard for two full years. I knew nothing about the internet , Facebook, blogging, I struggled. Now it has served me .

However, two years ago, my little girl (11 yrs old) was diagnosed with a leg tumor. I have been caring for her for the past two years, Surgery, radiation, we lived in the Ronald Mc Donald House for 4 months in Milwaukee. Since this has happened, I have been unable to list new items, or create art for that matter. However my store is still here. I had to close 2 other on line stores as it was too much to keep up. Make no mistake, on line selling IS HARD WORK, and you must be determined and very diligent to succeed. Praise God for the blessing he has given me, for I needed to close my retail stores , it was in preparation for my daughters illness. Her last MRI her tumor is in remission and I am hopeful that I can resume re-listing and creating my art . I am thankful to etsy and its patrons for the understanding they have shown me during the last two years of this difficult time. ♥