I was first introduced to computers, and the internet, in 2000 while taking a computer class in high school. I was in the 7th grade, only 14 years old and I got invloved with TeenOpenDiary.com. The site has since vanished, but I spent years learning html by constantly modifying my diary and reading html help journals. Once I had mastered basic html, I created a site on Geocities called Sugar-Rush Designs displaying my graphical art.

From that point on I saw myself doing web design for a career. I had people coming to me to make their diaries, and sites look cool. I learned really quick what was considered good quality, and what was old and out of date.

I left Sugar-Rush Designs behind when I was given my first domain-name, Weird-Society.org. I turned it into my personal blogging site, and quickly grew tired of it. I purchased Jaded-Heart.net as an early birthday present when I turned 16 but ended up giving it away shortly after purchasing it. I had lost interest in having a personal site/blog and I finally realized my interest was in the design of the site. I get a rush out of creating something great from nothing at all!

In 2006, my neighbor found out I had an interest in web design, and approached me about re-designing her website. She was interested in purchasing her own domain so I moved her from Geocities to her own hosted domain, EmpressPekingese.com. She has since spread word that I re-designed her site and she gets compliments on it almost daily.

In late 2006, I joined a paranormal research group and befriended the VP, Larry Flaxman. I showed him some of my past design work and he then asked me to design the group's MySpace page. He was so impressed by my work that when he left the previous group to form his own, he asked if I may follow and design their website. I accepted and ARPAST.org was born in February 2007. To this day, I am the web administrator/graphics designer of ARPAST.org, as well as an officer within the group.

My work on the ARPAST website got me recognized by Q-7 media and in early February of 2008, I was approached to re-design one of their client's websites, MudTruckTV.net.

Before I begin on a design project, I first make sure I have a good idea what the client is looking for. In every case so far, I have found the client to have a pretty good idea of what he/she is looking for in mind. I ask tons of questions and sometimes ask for a rough sketch of his/her "vision".

Every design I make is typically hand-coded and double checked for errors. Because I have not yet gone to school for this career goal, I have found there are some limitations as to what I can/can't do. I usually do not give up until everything is exactly as I, or the client, has pictured it. Sometimes this includes taking tutorials and teaching myself.

I use Adobe DreamWeaver 8.0, Adobe Photoshop CS3, Jasc Paint Shop Pro 7.0, WS_FTP LE, Adobe Photoshop 7, and ocassionally Jasc Animation Shop for my graphic design and coding. I am efficitent in CSS, HTML, and I often use PHP includes.

Check out the create a site section for a list of resources I commonly use for my designs.