Wizardry Shop

How old are you?
46

When did you start your site?
I started teaching myself HTML in October, after faltering repeatedly at online page editors and even WYSIWYG software. I tell this story on one page of my site, and offer related help to others. Other pages celebrate my passions for other things in life, and provide links to similar sites.

Marital Status?
Newly married; I feel so fortunate to find a compatible partner and real love, at my age.

Now, I'm running the "Wizardry Shop" in real life, and I also groom and board pets of many kinds. I retired as a paramedic and have done many other jobs, most which enhanced my life in some way. I raised three daughters on a farm, but they are mostly "on their own", now.

Hobbies - What do you like to do, besides keep this site?
I participate in, and have a modicum of knowledge about, most hobbies that are referred to at my site. They include quilt and Raggedy Ann making and various other crafts, gardening, reading, playing with the animals and new hubby, and yes, trying to improve the site.

Location - Where are you from? Where are you now?
I live in the area called "Robson Valley, BC, Canada", and have included many photos of our area at my site, plus with links to others' pages.

Why did you start writing your Web site?
My little craft gallery is subject to many slow times: partly a seasonal problem, and partly because we live in an area of sparce population. I wanted to create an on-line store for the "Wizardry" Shop.

In truth, the "Wizardry Shop" pages, the actually showcase pages for artists which I represent, have been the last ones to be created. When I started, I thought I had little to share with the world, but suddenly, I had something to say about MANY subjects. I hope people feel that I have usefull ideas, or they find resources for the things that interest them, as a result of visiting my site.

Why do you write a site about your interest or hobby?
I write to share, only for the fun of it. At times, I am trying to find like-minded individuals, for example, through signatures in my guest book.

Do you communicate with readers of your site?
Yes, I enjoy communicating with readers and feel honoured when they contact me.

How much email feedback to you receive from your site? Is it mainly positive or negative?
It is a new site, and I hope to receive mostly positive feedback, because I've worked very hard. This has taken me all winter! However, I can tolerate biting criticism, if I've made serious mistakes. Of course, what web site builder wouldn't appreciate notice of spelling errors, also?

Yes, I already have met some new doll-making friends, and some neat people who own quaker parakeets. So diverse are my interests, it is wonderful to meet folks from all over with similar passions. I enjoy very much trading links, but also will post links to sites I like without reciprocation.

Has your motivation changed over time?
Yes, it has. Because I did not have any paying work over the winter, I started hoping that I'd find ways to make the site pay. However, my husband and I are loathe to promote programs that have no real value of their own, such as many MLM schemes. I have hoped that the thoughtfully chosen ads on my site might pay something in time.

How has it changed your life?
It has become my obsession. I told my hubby, "If I could help the world one-page-at-a-time, I would do so.". There is information, and there are causes, which I would like to feature on my site. I only hope there could be enough traffic to make a difference. This project occupies almost all thoughts, and I have to make an effort to exercise enough, or sleep; eating enough, unfortunately, has not been a problem.

Do your friends and family know you keep this site/read it? If so have you had any really negative experiences as a result? If not why?
Not all my friends and family have been supportive. Many do not know WHAT has kept me occupied for months, and understand (understandably) nothing of what I have to say about HTML or web page building. I've promised some friends the "Homespun Annie's " newsletter, with mixed reactions.

How has your Web site benefited you? Your friends? Or total strangers?
Benefit? mmmh... My own school of thought is that no education is ever amiss, so I suppose that my studying of HTML and related topics has enhanced my life no matter what. Developing the site has been an outlet for my thoughts and emotions, a tribute to my darling late mother, and a certain release of frustrations of various kinds. Lest anyone misconstrue the reference to frustration, I built some pages that were to honour pets that perished in my daughter's house fire, for example.

I hope my "research", including plain old searches, have benefitted others people, both friends and strangers, or former strangers.