Guess it's the computer ...

I see the widget just fine on my laptop.

It's my desktop that the widget does not show. I wonder if it's the Verizon security. My FIOS service gives me all the typical internet security at a reduced fee which I use on the desktop, but not the laptop. I opted for the service after the desktop crashed, which wasn't too long ago. So now I need to troubleshoot the incompatibility between the widget and the security software.

I'm going to have a massive headache.

Something broke my Entrecard Widget

And it wasn't me! For some bizarre reason, the widget is not showing even though it is there in the layout. I don't have a clue. Entrecard doesn't have a clue. If someone does have a clue, I would be grateful for a fix!

This is the code:

< script id="ecard_widget" src="http://entrecard.s3.amazonaws.com/widget.js?user_id=21950&type=standard_200" type="text/javascript" >< /script >

Without the space after the < and before the >, which I had to insert to show the code.

Featured Artist

Artist and Blogger of the Week for Skwiggazine is Lily Wray of Tulip's Treasure Box. Click the link and check her out.

I've been laying low this weekend ... I had a networking event Friday afternoon to early evening and it sorta wipe me out! I made some nice sales, though, and treated the hubby to dinner at the restaurant where the event was held. The earrings below went to someone who won my gift certificate. Another pair is still available so I didn't take the Etsy listing down.

Now I gotta go and do the Entrecard surf thing.

Run! Don't Walk ...

... to Corrine's Daydream Art Studios and take a look at the fun one can have with spray paint! I mean need to "borrow" some ideas!

And to all those in the path of Gustav ... please RUN!

I'll be working on a special post of link-love to all those who have commented on my blog during the month of August. I'll get it posted tomorrow. It may not be fancy (I doubt I'll be nabbing all the graphics) but I really want to show my deep appreciation to everyone who took time to read and comment and what is better for a blogger than a BACKLINK?

After tomorrow, I plan to make this a weekly exercise. And I'll be sure to recognize the top Entrecard droppers too, shortly. Y'all have been so generous and kind! Also to all who have advertised ... I need to find if there's a history of advertisers somewhere in the Entrecard website.

Hard work pays off!

This picture has nothing to do with this post. Sure, it was hard work (relatively speaking) to make these since it took three different variations before I was satisfied with the final results, but I'm not talking about hard work in regard to my handcrafted jewelry.

BTW ... before I go any further, these earrings are NOT for sale; they are a commissioned work. But I really like how they turned out so I wanted to show off the picture, and I know people who visit blogs like to see pictures.

Getting back to the hard work. It's all about Entrecard. I have been working the Entrecard system for two weeks now. The past several days, I have dropped 300 cards. The first two days of dropping 300 cards took quite a while (I have a tendency to READ a lot of the blogs) but I came up with a system and time budget that works for me. (So far!) Yesterday I had 192 cards dropped on me, a nice 64%. Thank you everybody who reciprocates. I do my utmost best to do the same.

Needless to say, the number of hits to my blog has skyrocketed. Even the few who actually pause for more than 1 minute to read and or look at photos have increased. It's very satisfying to see hard work pay off.

Even better, I have come across a number of blogs that appeal to me on a lot of different levels. I'm beginning to recognize their calling cards and I look forward to jumping back to their blogs for their latest photo, story, joke, pearl or bucket or boatload of wisdom, and of course, I always drop my card.

I haven't had any handcrafted jewelry sales as a result of this effort, but hopefully they will come over time. I do excellent work, I use quality components, but that's not as easy to see on the 'net as it is in the non-virtual world.

In the meantime, increasing the visitors to my 'lil ole spot of the www is an achievement all by itself.

Again, my deepest thanks to all who stop by, even if it's just to drop your card. I look forward to the end of the month when I shall publish my first Top 10 list.

In the meantime, if you need or like or want handcrafted jewelry and you like my style, please visit my Etsy shop. If you have any questions about Etsy, feel free to drop me a line.

Duke Bloomed

My cat's take on the favorite saying "Bloom where you're planted."

Cats settle down in the strangest places!

Some new designs are done, surprisingly so since I sit under a halogen lamp while designing. It's been climbing to 105F outside so sitting under a halogen lamp inside isn't the coolest idea I can come up with, but one's got to do what one's got to do. Pictures and listing will be forthcoming.

Yesterday I finally broke down and started to switch my favorite links over to Firefox Mozilla. I'm fed up with Internet Explorer. I'm fed up with Windows. I've heard of only headaches with Vista. My next computer will be a Mac. But for the time being, I found IE7 tangling up as I blogsurfed dropping my Entrecards, but Firefox has been a true trooper.

BTW ... for all you bloggers on whom I drop my cards, I do take time to actually LOOK and READ portions of your blogs. And I'll drop a comment in a heartbeat if I'm so moved. There's some great stuff out there, informative, beautiful, funny, inspiring ... y'all keep up the good work!