It's been awhile again since I posted here, but please know that I am still trying to work on making things to sell at Autumn Comforts when and as I can. Life has been pretty hectic and complicated lately, but I'm still here.
I've entered a contest that I could really use your help with, and all that you need to do is vote for me on Facebook. It does take approving using a Facebook app, but if you're willing to do so, and you can cast even one vote for me, it may help me get into the next round. Your daily vote through March 15th would help even more... but even a few votes along the way will add up with others and help me tremendously.
Docker's is sponsoring this contest, and entrants have submitted their own "Plans" for their future; things they have always wanted to do but have lacked the funding for; that type of thing. And I have submitted a plan that, if I am fortunate enough to win, I would use the funding to greatly expand Hannah's PinKeep: My fabric & needlework supply business.
Those who know me know that I have rheumatoid arthritis and other conditions, most of which are autoimmune. This means that I am permanently disabled by progressive (and incurable) conditions. And, because I am on drugs that suppress my faulty immune system (to try to slow the damage process to my body), I have to be very careful about infections, as I can't fight them like normal, healthy people can.
Furthermore, because of my symptoms of pain in my joints, muscles, and nerves, plus the symptoms of intermittent impaired hearing, balance issues, and even attacks of vertigo (spinning sensation) caused by Meniere's disease, I'm sure you can understand that I simply cannot work for anyone else ever again. But because of the timing of my development of RA, doctors thought I had just developed a rare (but serious) side effect from a medication my doctor had just put me on for cholesterol. It took a couple of years before they finally realized that rather than a temporary medication side effect, I actually had developed rheumatoid arthritis (which is a permanent and progressive autoimmune disease). During that time, I'd missed enough work that, once the accurate diagnosis finally came, I no longer qualified to collect Social Security Disability (in spite of a solid previous work history spanning decades). And now, due to the recession and the failed housing market, my husband has been on reduced hours at work for almost 3 years.
I'm explaining all of this and hoping you don't mind reading through it because I want you to fully understand just what this contest could mean to me.
Because it's getting more difficult to make things on my own to sell through my Autumn Comforts web site (rheumatoid arthritis is slowly but surely damaging the joints in my fingers and hands, as well as other parts of my body), I recently opened a separate web site, Hannah's PinKeep, where I sell fabrics, patterns, and needlework supplies. This is a way for me to still be involved in the industry that I so, so love without having to strain my sore, weary hands by still trying to make the things I've always loved to make. And in spite of being operated in our 2 sons' old bedrooms at this point, and being started and, thus far, operated strictly out of pocket (no business loans; strictly re-investing every penny made back into the business), it's actually going fairly well for me so far. I haven't been able to pay myself a salary at all yet; but I have been, slowly but surely, expanding the Hannah's product inventory.
But I'm sure you can imagine how much better I could do with Hannah's if I could afford to invest in greatly expanding the inventory of goodies I sell, and perhaps even open a real "brick-and-mortar" shop to operate from... and, maybe even hire a couple of good, deserving people to help me run things. My goal with Hannah's has been to eventually carry the kind of inventory where I'm not only selling a huge variety of patterns, but also ALL the materials one might need in order to make the items... and, Hannah's is primarily a "primitive/colonial" type business, sticking mostly to a specialized style of items that so many of you love. So many of my customers have expressed how difficult it is for them to find certain items they need (for making their own craft items to sell) in their areas, or even online. I want to have the store that carries all of those items... and offer them at very reasonable prices, to boot! :-) And if I could win the Docker's contest, I could grow my business and even begin to pay myself a salary for running it! :-)
If you've stuck with me through this lengthy (but heartfelt) explanation, you can understand just what that funding could mean for me, my family and loved ones, and even for a few potential employees I could hire to help me out... and for Hannah's customers, as I could actually carry a vast supply of all the products they love, want, and need for their own hobbies and/or making their own products for sale.
So if you're willing and able to help me out, here is what to do: Visit this link at Facebook: http://dockers.contextoptional.com/entries/871. You'll need to be logged in to your own Facebook account. And, you'll need to accept using the Facebook app (I know many folks don't care to use apps there, but this is how Docker's set up the contest. If you'll just approve the app this one time, which I've approved and had absolutely no problems with at all, I'd greatly appreciate it!). Then, you'll be taken to my page at the contest (Jodi Farm is my name). Click the button to vote for me. That's it! And, you can vote once a day through March 15th.
Enough votes will help me get into the next round of the contest. At that point, I'd submit a more detailed explanation of my plan. And then, a final few will be selected for the final round of voting to determine the winner of the $100,000 in funding to realize their plan! :-)
With your help, I can continue to work (and feel useful) in spite of multiple chronic, progressive, and incurable medical issues. And, I can better serve my customers. And, I can open my business in a real local store, allowing me to greatly expand the product inventory and serve local, walk-in customers in addition to my customers who are online. AND, I can even hire a few local, deserving folks to help me operate Hannah's and continue to serve our customers' needs.
I can't begin to thank you enough. Blessings and best to you and yours.
Jodi
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