So, there's a small debate going on in the online lampwork circles about whther having a bolg on your business website is a good idea.  Or even having one connected to your business website.  Some say it's foolish - that personal blogging can hurt the business reputation or alienate potential customers. 

Others say that since the majority of lampworkers are artistic types and tend to be creative, emotional souls, we feel the need to open up our personal selves to anyone who might view or purchase our art...after all, bits of our souls are injected into each and every bead we make.

For me, I tend to see both sides of the argument.  On the one hand, just how much personal stuff do you all want to read?  Are you here just for the beads and only the beads, or do you honestly want to know my views on, say, the Iraq war? The Paris Hilton debacle (seriously?) Religion?  Do you feel closer to me as a person when I talk about things like last year's flood in my neighborhood?  My serious dislike for yardwork of any kind? My husband's and my frantic search for land to put a new house on?  My kitty's hyperthyroidism?

On the other hand, I really do feel like some people like seeing the personal side of the artists they buy from. And then there are people who visit the site not to buy, but just to look around and see what's going on in my world. After all, I think my mom still looks at my blog from time to time (hi, Mom!!). 

So.....I'll continue to write in this blog....sometimes being personal and sometimes being all about the business and the beads....and most of the time a little bit of both.  I'll continue to make an effort not to cross the lines into a complete rant-fest about what's wrong with the world these days. And most of all, I will continue to try and connect with you, my visitors, for whatever reason you're here reading this.