~Web Pages~
*Note-since writing this I have managed to put together a couple of pages ready for someone to use so if things are difficult for you right now, and the last thing you feel up to doing is searching for graphics please email me and I will see if I have something already available to use. The reason I have been able to do this is because of the generosity of some of the artists listed below. You will however still need to read the rest of the page to see what else you will need to do for me in order to complete a page for your child.
After much thought and the recent demise of my hard drive I decided to put this little page together for families that wish for me to put together a web page for their child. I have been making these pages for just over 3 years now, and started out having no idea of how to make a page but have lots of practice since then. Although it's my privilege to be able to make pages for my little heart buddies I'm finding it increasingly difficult to find free cute graphics to decorate their pages, and with the loss of all my work I have to begin over again. So I thought I would put together this page for those that come along so you will know how best to help me so I can help you. I don't charge anything to make the pages and am happy to continue to do this but you will now need to find your own graphics first. I have made a list below of some of my favourite graphic pages (many of the artists have been very helpful and generous to me over the past 3 years...so I'm sure they will help you too) for you to go through and see if you can find a set that will suit your child and needs. There are still some free ones out there if you are willing to take the time to look around. There are also some really cute graphics that you can purchase at reasonable prices (generally less than 20 dollars US). As the internet becomes more used many of my graphic artists friends have had to make the tough decision to charge for their work as it takes them many hours to draw their designs.
That done the next thing we need to sort out is web space. Many service providers allow you free web space you only have to contact them to find out. The only set back is in some cases I can't log onto some space in order to upload the finished page (this has only happened twice in 3 years so still worth a go). There are then 2 other options I was recently set up a .com by two of my graphics friends for use for my heart buddies. It has been paid for and set up for 12 months, at the end of that time the families that choose to use that space will share the yearly cost of 30 dollars US per year. I'm sure the cost will be minimal as there is lots of space there and will accommodate quite a few pages so shared between everyone it will be very little.
So now we have the graphics and the space sorted out we need to get onto some other important things you will need to do. If you would like your page to have music you need to choose a midi file there is a search engine that I use that if you type in a song you like it will give you a selection of pages to listen to and download a midi file. Some midi's can sound pretty awful so it's a matter of keep on listening until you find one your happy with then saving it to your computer and then email it to me, the link for midi files is http://www.musicrobot.com/ .
Then it's just a matter of you writing a little introduction for you page you can get some ideas by visiting some of the pages I have already made, it's up to you how long or short your intro is....can be as simple as a little welcome message for your visitors. You will then need to write your story and include ( if you like) spaces for any relating photos. I can also make a photo album for any other favourite photos, but please keep photos to a minimum as they take up a lot of space and can make your page load slower if there are too many. for an example of just the right amount (and space for new pics along the way) is Grace's Space http://www.hearts-of-hope.com/grace/grace.html .
I also add a guestbook to your page and this can be set up with a thank you note being sent out for those that sign your book, if you wish this to be set up you will also need to write your note for me so that is more personal. Then email it all to me.
There are probably other things along the way that need to be done but these are the most important and can help reduce the work load for me, because as we are growing as a group not just in Australia but around the world it's becoming more and more time consuming especially as it doesn't usually end with the web page but we have an ongoing relationship with updates and new photos. The time might come when I have to ask for donations to keep things going but will try as long as I can to keep doing this for free, but with my family growing and my youngest now in year one I could return to the work force, but hope I can continue to do what I love to do.
Now for some making a page is a very emotional and difficult time especially for those that have lost their precious children to HLHS if this be the case and doing all the above is going to be too difficult then please let me know and I will do as much of it myself as I can. If you have any questions at all just email me.
love to all
Deb.
Here is a list of some of my favourite graphic pages, they are in alphabetical order.