a number of reasons are in play here - so let me give you my reasons for this.
on the personal level - my hands are not functioning at anywhere near full capacity - so my jewelry making days are hampered... and for that, i owe several kossacks major apologies for taking so long to fulfill their orders - jakedog42, mnemosyne and zenpaws - you were patient beyond reason - thank you so much!
now, everything sitting in my shop is completed already before i face yet another surgery on my left hand to try to remove the scar tissue from the incompetent negligence of the physical therapist who was "too busy" to schedule the work mandated by my surgeon after the intitial joint replacement (tip: NEVER schedule elective surgery right before a major holiday!).
last january, my hand was put through a "forced bending" to try to see if i could regain use - it didn't work. if this next procedure (to be scheduled sometime after may 19) doesn't work - i'm looking at both joint replacements being redone.
in the meanwhile, my right hand is slowly getting less functional - that one SHOULD have been done first as it was the worst - thankfully, at the last minute, i decided to do the left one.
okay - that's the physical reason to shut down the shop - or put it in hiatus.
now the OTHER reason: etsy has become the new version of ebay. and we, the artists and crafters have been played.
come over the fold for a fuller explanation: