Not up to date? Click here, and here, and here, and the last post here. Be sure and click the first posts headline for the comment left by J at the bottom.

Home Sewers and Industry professionals take heed and check it out for yourself. Unlike me, you probably don’t have the friends, contacts, or privates web servers to counteract her attacks. Information is a powerful thing, that’s why freedom of speech has had blood spilled on it’s behalf. Be warey of anyone who tries to squash it and read it when it’s available.

Here’s the links

http://delicious.com/kathleen_fasanella
http://delicious.com/network/commonreader

In case she tries to pull them – here’s her entries:

#
27 JUN 09
Buttercup Mercantile » Remodeling Our Store SAVE
gidget’s store. so scary I shiver all over. psycho home sewer. wish I had created a tag for just plain crazy.
TAGS

* sewing_hobby
* passive_aggressive

#
All Sewn Up » SAVE
oh my. Is gidget off her meds? wow. wannabe who pretends to work in industry.
TAGS

* passive_aggressive
* psychology
* sewing_hobby

—
Edited July 28, 2009 4:26pm. Oops missed her third delicious entry:

—

——–

Read for yourself and think twice before any associations with a woman like this.
Oh and I don’t take meds and if I did – I’d be sure to take them on time, thanks for your nurturing comments once again, Kathleen Fasanella. Anything else you want to say?

After 4 years as a member of the Fashion-Incubator.com forum (paying member, regardless of the mention that only one person has paid), I’m leaving it for reasons stated in my final post on their forum.

No doubt I will be slammed – as many other designers / contractors have been – some secretly – some very openly with attempts to damage their livelihoods in this tough economy.

If you enjoy wasting years, your money, your time, and valuable concentration and thought – hoping that forum members will be helpful and not spiteful – then by all means join, buy the book, donate money (don’t expect an acknowledgment that you did) – and go for it!

Me – I’d rather put my recommendations, money, thoughts, time, and energy into building truer friendships and allies while I develop my line. After all – there really aren’t any boogey vendors that aren’t going to let you buy from them because you didn’t buy into the forum. Too many real people in the industry have left the forum.

Here’s my final comment because no doubt it will be deleted – as I find most are:

“Well, goodbye folks after 4 years! Heads up to any other folks seen as a threat on here as [an_honest_and_ethical_contractor]* was.

Since my comment was deleted by Kathleen concerning how sad and heartbreaking it was that there was such an angry exchange between them under Software / Renting CAD, nothing more was intended other than to express a two-line sentiment. Now I understand why no one else has responded to that thread – most likely they did and it was deleted as well.

Obviously there is a great deal more censorship and back biting here than I was aware of and want no part in it.

As for me, I’ll take the money I’ve paid (yeah – I’ve paid over 100.00 + book as have others) and put it towards someone who is more sincere in their desire to help. Just a heads up to all the rest living in a bubble as I was.

Maybe it’s time for another forum.”

edited : *name replaced because it’s not necessary to the facts

edited: 2:26 AM Sunday June 28, 2009 For users that don’t know to hit the headline of this post to view the comments, here they are – unedited – for you to draw your own conclusions and to remove Evelyn’s full name. from:
———————
8 comments
Leave a comment »

1. Kathleen June 27th, 2009 9:22 pm edit :

Hi Gidget
Why would anyone slam you? People can disagree with your opinion without getting personal about it. Nobody is going to hold it against you that you got too personal. So far, everyone has said they’re sorry you’re leaving but they don’t agree with what you’ve said.

To avoid problems, it is probably best to only say what you know to be certain. For example, you said “because no doubt it will be deleted – as I find most are:”, how do you know most are? How can you know that? You can’t. That the forum is littered with so many criticisms of me kind of makes the opposite point. In addition, the mention about slamming and saying “real” industry people have left..is also untrue. In your email your email to me, you said ” I certainly don’t intend to fight any battles for anyone else” but isn’t that what you’re doing? The problem is, you don’t have all the facts. You really *don’t* know. You don’t know because I haven’t done exactly what you accuse me of, slamming. Speaking of slamming, did I tell a soul about that last contract job you did? I helped you get that job. Sarah came to me for a referral of you and I said she could trust you. That you ruined the whole lot, Sarah lost out and I looked bad for recommending you. But did I slam you? No, until this moment, I haven’t mentioned it to a soul. You’d said your husband was laid off so I passed your name out very liberally for awhile, I felt really bad. Sarah is the only one who gave me feedback. As with other referrals I’ve made that were bad (like Irv, who you also think is “real”) nobody wanted to tell me the referral I made was bad. So much for slamming.

The truth is, as much as you may like your friend, he’s …embellished… his history and if you read his earliest entries on the forum, he freely admits he’s never worked in the industry. I have a database of his contradictions with urls to the published entries by date. Certainly nothing I could fake. Are you sure you want to go toe to toe legally over something I can prove? Like I said, I understand you are upset altho I do not know why (there’s something else going on) but if you’re slanderous and libelous making unsubstantiated claims, it’s easy to have your host pull the site which is kind of a waste of everyone’s time. Say all kinds of horrible things about me you know are true, lord knows I have plenty of sins but back off what you cannot prove.

Here is the response I left to your comment:
———-
Wow Gidget, call me confused! I emailed you beforehand explaining I wanted to delete your comment (the only off topic one) and I thought we were good. I don’t understand why you didn’t say so. That seems like back biting to me. With all the personalized help I’ve given you, emails, phone convos, even getting you jobs etc, I’d say $100 for the book and only one year’s renewal when you’ve been on for three plus, is the deal of the century. I wish you continued success as you move forward
———
I still have these messages, coming and going in my inbox and can prove it legally if need be. What I don’t understand is, there’s got to be some horrible huge miscommunication here. You’ve never acted irrationally before. Gidget, what is going on? This reaction doesn’t make sense considering our friendly relationship thus far, what else is going on in your life?

Since I posted this, I searched my records and found a donation from you on March 12, 2009 for $100. Considering how you’ve repaid my many efforts on your behalf over the past four years, I really don’t want it. I have sent you a refund, Transaction ID #0XK054499E1155608. I have posted a screen cap of the transaction which anyone can see, assuming you don’t delete this comment that is. http://bit.ly/qLHb8

You know, one thing strikes me as odd. You have no problem benefiting from the referral system when it is to your advantage, such as when you wrote me about Evelyn (other than when you’ve gotten work). I told you she was a lovely person. That wasn’t good enough, I had to tell it to you again. I got too busy to follow up but I meant to write Evelyn at the time to tell her she should check with Sarah for a referral about you. I can’t give a referral for you anymore. I can only tell people to check with someone who did hire you. As you know, Sarah was very dissatisfied. That’s a referral network. But like I said, it works both ways. It’s kind of self serving to expect a one way benefit, imo.

2. Gidget June 27th, 2009 9:47 pm edit :

Kathleen,

This has to do with a personal issue – You deleted my post without saying you were going to do so. Nothing else.

I can state factually that you delete posts, because you did mine.

Here is the message that you sent me before doing so without my knowledge:

“I’d rather we didn’t get into a lot of controversy. J is still a member in good standing and you’re free to contact him. He is welcome to return at his discretion. I think he would be surprised at the warm reception he would get.”

Funny – I didn’t read that as: I’m going to delete your post. My comment was to only express sadness at the obvious (by then) argument that you were having with a fellow contractor.

As for Sarah Mxxx – she got her money back – value-added embroidery. She never completed a proper sample with binding. I made it clear to her that I was new and if she was willing to take a chance on me, I would take a chance on her.

I was left with a week and half (after she had to send more fabric and the masks I cut out and fused had come back from the embroiderer – for whom I paid the expense of btw) which covered a holiday to figure out what satin to use and try to make it work.

I returned her products, all remnants and a check for her deposit back to her at my own expense (84.00 for shipping) overnight in case she could find someone else to finish the job.

As for Evelyn – I asked your opinion because she stated she knew you. Oh Yeah – and I only asked it once! Wanna check that email again?

Anyone wanna see any letters? I’ve got copies too.

As for your return of the 100.00 I wouldn’t touch it with a ten foot pole. You keep that Kathleen, it’s been earned with blood, sweat, and tears.

Don’t threaten legalities either. I’ve made no libelous or slanderous comments, I’ve merely stated the facts as they happened to me.
This is my personal blog. Last I checked – I have a right to my own opinions and to post reviews.

As for taking down my site via web service provider? Well – we are the service provider and it’s our server.

Thank you for showing your colors. I don’t need to prove anything.

Oh, and I am healthy and happy and busy – Thanks for asking.

3. Gidget June 27th, 2009 9:55 pm edit :

Oh – and I forgot to mention since you seemed confused about it in your last two emails:

My legal name is :

GIdget Joyce Lynn O’Hara Barrett
My company’s name is : Buttercup Mercantile, LLC
Buttercup 149 is a division of Buttercup Mercantile, LLC

And it was 85.00 for the book in 2005 – maybe it was 2006 – by my lovely husband, Michael Barrett
It was also two donations 1 around 2007 when you began expressing the need to charge a fee to forum members, of 25.00 and 100.00 in February of this year when I read that you were charging 45.00 a year to catch me up to that point. Do I want a refund? Not at all – services rendered – fees paid.

4. Gidget June 27th, 2009 9:58 pm edit :

— On Sat, 6/27/09, Kathleen wrote:

> > From: Kathleen
> > Subject: Re: from Evelyn xxx the author in Atlanta
> > To: “Evelyn “xxx
> > Date: Saturday, June 27, 2009, 6:24 PM
> > Hi Evelyn
> >
> > Gidget (joyce barrett, buttercup 149) came to me and asked
> > for my opinion of you. What I meant to do but got too busy
> > and forgot to do until now, was to suggest you contact a
> > forum member who hired gidget to do some work. The forum
> > member you should talk to is SarahM, her profile is here:
> > http://fashion-incubator.com/phpbb/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=8703
> >
> > best
> > Kathleen
> >
> >
> > http://www.fashion-incubator.com
> > ~~~Nurture people, not products~~~
> > Twitter: kfasanella

Thanks for the email Kathleen. Glad you could find time to nurture people.

5. Kathleen June 27th, 2009 10:23 pm edit :

Wow. It is really low of you to post private email. I really don’t need to say anything. Your actions speak louder than my words ever could. I really can’t help you with your problems Gidget and I’m sorry. But you shouldn’t take them out on other people.

If you paid $85 for the book, you didn’t buy it from me or Amazon. The list price is $60.

6. Gidget June 27th, 2009 10:24 pm edit :

Funny – After just receiving yet another inflamed email cc from Kathleen of an email she just happened to remember to send to Evelyn, maybe I should remind Kathleen that I’m not in the CMT Shop business anymore. Continue to send more fun emails to Evelyn, she’s no doubt thinking, “What the ?”.

Hmm.. let’s see – anyone else you can send an email too? Nope – don’t think so.

7. Gidget June 27th, 2009 10:28 pm edit :

Yep – Actions do speak louder than words, Kathleen. That was my whole point all along. Sad but true.

8. Kathleen June 27th, 2009 10:39 pm edit :

Gidget, I can’t find it in my heart to be “inflamed”. You are obviously very distressed and I really don’t know what to say to you. It does not seem possible to have a rational and fair conversation with you.

I wish you well. i hope you attain all that you feel you deserve. I hope you and your family are prosperous and healthy. I send my sincerest wishes for a full and happy life. Good bye.

—- End of comments paste —–

Just for the record, we never spoke on the phone nor were ‘friends’ and very rarely did we ever communicate via email. I merely admired you as someone with a mission to nurture people and communities. The only distress I felt was in learning that it wasn’t true. But life goes on and unfortunately web owners are not spheres unto themselves – there are usually sides involved.

——– Beginning of paste of the only ‘Evelyn Email thread Ever Sent To Kathleen Fasanella by Me” ——-

That is all I needed to hear. Am very much looking forward to talking with her! Thank You, once again!

Kathleen wrote:
> Hi G
>
> About her project, I can’t say anything because I don’t know. As to her character and integrity? She will never deliberately cause you ill. There’s no malice to her, not an evil bone in her body. Lovely, generous, kind and gracious, the world would be a better place with more Evelyns.
> k
>
> http://www.fashion-incubator.com
> ~~~Nurture people, not products~~~
> Twitter: kfasanella
>
>
> — On Thu, 6/18/09, Joyce Barrett wrote:
>
>
>> From: Joyce Barrett
>> Subject: [Fwd: Wheelchair sketches]
>> To: kathleen@fashion-incubator.com
>> Date: Thursday, June 18, 2009, 9:53 AM
>> Hi Kathleen,
>>
>> I was contacted by Evelyn xxx about a partnership
>> of some sort with her wheelycovers. From google I’ve
>> read that she is an accomplished author and will be talking
>> with her later today to get more details about what she has
>> in mind. She had mentioned that you knew who she was,
>> and was wondering what your thoughts were?
>>
>> It sounds like an exciting opportunity that maybe we could
>> start some sort of co-op for our products together via a
>> website. She had alot of couture type words on her
>> site, so maybe her hearts in the right place and she became
>> victim to tag phrases. lol
>>
>> Thank you in advance for any insight, opinions, or advice
>> you may have.
>>
>> Gidget


——- End of Paste ———

The End

Slobo just uploaded a new version of Stuffr that allows me to add a category now. WooHoo! If you haven’t tried it, check it out! It’s awesome. I love my hubby!

I’ve decided to sign up for Smorty, blog for money yesterday. This is a website where they offer bloggers money for adding links to another site on their posts. I had mixed feelings about it, but after checking into it, it seems, all I would do is accept links that relate to something I want to talk about anyway. So, I’ll give it a try.

Basically it could amount to making at least a part-time income, in between caring for the home, family and Buttercup Mercantile. Why not try? Having been in the retail / wholesale business for several years, it is no different that marketing plans used to sell a vendors product. I will only say I like something, if I really do like something. Otherwise I have no problem just mentioning a product when I am interested in it.

What are my readers feeling about this? Please don’t hesitate to let me know.