Could be Norovirus.

That pretty much covers the symptoms. Do not like.

Thanks for the link Sue. The $15 one is extremely simple and the majority of the ones I looked at do not use Swarovski crystals but less expensive fire polished beads.

Yikes, I almost sound like I know what I'm talking about.

Suzi, here's more listings for the beaded covers:

[link]

Prices are all over the place, but yours do seem on the low end.

Those are so pretty, Suzi!! And since you make them, you do know what you're talking about!

Although I will admit to having been shocked last year when I happened to look up a cross stitch pattern I had just finished on Google, and I stumbled across an ebay listing for a completed version of it going for, and I am not kidding, $375. What.The.Fuck.

Thanks Kathy.

I have a completed scale cross stitch Monopoly board. I have never gotten it framed or placed in a table. I keep thinking one day...but maybe I should see about ebaying it.

Sue - the ornaments I posted pictures of are small - 1 3/8" round glass balls while the "standard" size is, I think, 2 1/2". I make some for those also, but those are a lot more work.

A stitched Monopoly board would totally sell on ebay!!

IcompletelyON, has anyone ever had anything delivered by a company called Ensenda? For some reason, Amazon is using them for my awaited-for package, and this is the second day in the row that they have not been by with the darn thing. According to their customer service rep, they tried yesterday, but I call bullshit because I was here when they supposedly tried and my buzzer was never buzzed. If they make that same claim for tonight, it's double-bullshit. When I called customer service again 30 minutes ago, they didn't know what was supposed to happen today, but I'm going to call back at 9:00 and see if they have any more info.

The anti-onerousness was an awesome idea, and I'd even be up for it weekly, although we should probably float between a couple of different times for maximum availability. Thanks, David, for getting the idea rolling - much easier to get through things with someone to have your back.

Suzi, I notice on that Etsy link that the seller did a really good job of framing the ad around the 'feeling' of the object.

"Your family ornament will be on the tree for many years to come..."

The pricing is less about the relative value of the materials, or your time, but about the sensation the object creates in the buyer. As such, lower priced objects of art sell less well than the higher priced because the value is completely perception based. Look at the J. Peterman catalog for another good example of this.

If you can create a background story for your works, I'll bet you can ask the higher prices with confidence.

Also in that first ad, the photography totally supported the sale. Very upclose, well lit and creating a Christmas tableau. So. When you sell at the employee event, it might do well to create a 'scene.'

The last trade event I did, I covered my 6 foot table with beautiful fabric, displayed the actual lamp and plant on my table, set up the tea cups I use with clients and included some candles (it was winter) and the books I normally recommend.

Even though the event was in a typical convention area, people were drawn to my table because I offered atmosphere before the sale.

I bet something like that would work for you too. I suggest xmas cookies!

Schedule for the next few days: drop keys off, work, fix timecard (I was going to do that today, but had to do my annual ethics training) swim, clean at least the kitchen. Saturday: market purely to get my ass up (I'll just get empanadas) then do the fucking leaves. Swim, shop for a dress, maybe at least join neighbors for dinner, late night not advisable. Maybe clean some more. Sun: clean, swim and more dress shopping if I have no luck saturday. Pack. Go to bed, leave.

The anti-onerousness was an awesome idea, and I'd even be up for it weekly, although we should probably float between a couple of different times for maximum availability.

Ditto (especially since I've already thought of some other things). My suggestion might be weekly or biweekly, with volunteers to ring the bell, so to speak. So if amych has first half of December and I have second, say, we each pick a day and time that works and let everyone know, then remind at the time. Jan volunteers would do the same, etc.

Monthly might be more realistic to keep it going and remember and all? I don't know. But at least monthly would be awesome.