Thank you all, lots of things to think about

I will take everything into consideration. I am going to take notes from the threads and visited earthlinks business package and Allwebco. I think earthlink may be more than I need, like 30 email accounts. They register domains for 4.95 a month, plus a set up fee of $25 PLUS $40 if you are a new account.So I know I won't be doing that. They use Miva Merchant so I can take credit cards, I believe Allwebco has a pay pal shopping cart.

The constructions guys are gone!!! Yeah! I have my house back. So now I can sit down and just do this. I really don't want to get a set up that is way more than I need. My business is so different that most internet companies. I just want simplicity in maintence of the site and the ability to sell items and accept credit cards. I think my work speaks for itself and I don't want some site that will distract from the art.

I have not been able to make anything new for a awhile and I REALLY want to. I bought a new glass program/tool that helps you cut geometric peices over and over, once you set up the angles. I got it the other day and I need instuctions for the instructions. Hopefully, this new tool will aid in me spending less time grindiing glass to fit and cutting repetitve cuts that are used in lamps, especially Frank Llyod Wright design, which I love. I like working with wood too, so I want to combine them to make usable art.

Again, thank you all for your helpful ideas. I will consider everything carefully, because like my kitchen remodel- it is the last time and I wanted it right the first time. This is no different. Now for Desparate Housewives!!
Carla

Carla, I'm sure everyone has the best of intentions and you have gotten
> some great information but, just reading the thread, I can see that you'd
> find it extremely confusing. Allow me to help...I used to have a
> successful newbie site so...let's begin at the beginning.

> First off, I recommend you avoid Go Daddy because of their reputation for
> holding folks hostage if you try to move things for any reason at
> all...and they're expensive in that event...and you risk losing your
> domain. Ask Paul Meyers at TalkBiz.com if you think I'm kidding.

> I use 000domains.com and have for years. They were great when Network
> Solutions held my domains hostage and refused for 3.5 weeks to transfer
> them. 000domains got the transfers done in 3 days. They're not the
> cheapest at $13.50 but they are the best IMHO.

> I'm not very familiar with AllWebCo but I won't step on Maa's toes by
> contradicting her extraordinary experiences with them. The one I currently
> have my sites with is excellent but not real newbie friendly even tho'
> their support is excellent so I won't make a recommendation there.

> You should always keep a backup copy of your entire site, and if you have
> databases, back those up onto a storage medium of some kind and do
> incremental updates (just whatever's changed since the last update)...at
> least weekly.

> If you used templates that are offered by your current host, you may or
> may not be able to use them elsewhere...best to check. Some are
> proprietary to the host and cannot be used elsewhere. Since you have a
> backup of sorts on your computer it is likely to be okay to use them...but
> I'd still check. If they cannot be transferred, post and let us know and
> we'll help you get them into other templates or some such so you can. It's
> a bit of a hassle but not all that bad so don't be shy, okay?

> FTP sounds scarey but isn't really...only the first time...then you'll
> wonder what all the fuss was about. I use WS_FTP Pro but it's not beginner
> friendly and the new methods they're using and the customer disservice
> they now give earn them a no-recommend in my book. Cute FTP used to have
> malware in it but I don't know the current status on that. It is pretty
> easy to use, however.

> Some hosts will move your entire site for you (my current host will) but
> most won't. There are programs like Flash_FPX (I think that's the
> name...been a long time), that will do direct transfers so you avoid
> downloading and uploading hassles.

> As for the domain name, I agree with MaaMaw that the best might be to
> begin with what people would remember: stainedglassbycarla.com . DO get a
> dot com extension as it is the default if someone mistypes dot net or some
> other extension instead...so they will find you even so (unless someone
> has the identical domain with the other extensions...unlikely in this
> case).

> Do NOT have your host get your domain for you. Do it yourself. I've
> recently been through a horrid hassle, extra expense and delays because I
> bought a name through my then host and they refused to release it,
> wouldn't answer emails or calls and so on...then I couldn't reach Enom
> (I'd never use them again...they're almost impossible to reach but decent
> if/when you finally do). They put a registrar lock on my domain and you
> talk about hassles!...yuck! Do your own registration of a domain.

> A few other things to keep in mind when choosing a host: make SURE you can
> expand capacity if needed at a reasonable cost. Some that sound cheap to
> upgrade aren't so...do your due diligence.

> Anonymous FTP isn't offered by every host but it's invaluable if you need
> to hire someone to install scripts for you. With it, you can avoid giving
> out your primary FTP access and, when they're done with the installation
> you can just delete the anonymous FTP account you created for them to
> access your server. Much safer that way.

> I can't stress this enough: read the TOS (Terms of Service) and know what
> it says, and what it means to you. Failure to do this has caused
> innumerable heartaches and headaches for folks. If you don't understand
> something, ask for an explanation.

> Best wishes, Carla. My apologies for the length but hope it helps you or
> perhaps someone else in a similar situation.