I guess you could say my online business began by accident. I am a proud Navy wife and I have been following my Sailor around this country for 15 years. Military spouses learn to fend for themselves pretty quickly, and I was looking for something to keep me busy while my Sailor was out to sea. I happened to find a class teaching Basic Painting Techniques and I decided to sign up. The class was taught by a fellow Navy wife, and we hit it off right away.

I started out painting things for my home. As I gained confidence, I painted gifts for friends and family. Next thing I knew, I was getting requests from neighbors and co-workers to paint gifts for their friends and family. Before long I decided to start selling at local craft shows and farmer s markets. In March 1999 I was laid off from my job due to downsizing. Initially I felt this was the worst thing that could happen, but I quickly realized I was looking at a golden opportunity. Due to the lay off I was eligible for a Worker Retraining Program. Rather than just brushing up on my office skills, I decided to learn how to design web sites. I was able to combine my education with painting to start my online business, Wendy s Whimsies Hand Painted Gifts. My website has allowed me to reach customers far beyond the local craft venues. As a result, I have artwork displayed around the world.

Running my online business Wendy s Whimsies Hand Painted Gifts is a constant learning experience. Early in my journey I was very fortunate to find Qflea, a Yahoo Group for small business. This group of small business owners has helped me more than I can ever repay. The Qflea members freely and generously share their knowledge and I thank them everyday for their wealth of information.

I love what I do and I hope it comes out in my artwork. Painting is therapeutic to me and I hope my pieces bring joy to those who receive them. I love to work with people to create one of a kind, custom pieces, so if you are ever in need of a special piece of art or an unusual gift, please stop by my website. I look forward to meeting you!

Visit Wendy's Whimsies at www.wendyswhimsies.com.