Pacific Northwest and Beyond, LLC
I started Pacific Northwest and Beyond, LLC as a business as I started blogging and doing some small web design projects. For a while, I maintained a portfolio website regarding various published writing and web design projects I’ve done.
However, I’ve decided I don’t wish to maintain an entire website for my business. Additionally, I’m finding I love blogging and, though I still will consider taking on small web design projects, I’m preferring just to write my several blogs for fun (while hoping to at least make enough to offset the expenses.) Does this sound like an awful sales pitch? It is! I like doing the occasional project, but I don’t wish to do web design full-time.
What do I do?
If you are looking to hire me for a web design project, you can complete the form at the bottom of this page and I’ll get back to you with more information. Keep in mind:
- I will do the following types of websites:
- Brochure-style business websites.
- Basic blogs.
- Community websites with a SMALL events calendar (i.e. not home to thousands of events).
- I work entirely in WordPress and would build your business website using the Divi theme. I’ve used that theme extensively and have found that, generally, it’s more user-friendly for beginners. Note that THIS website is no longer designed with Divi. That does not reflect negatively on Divi — I still love the theme but wanted to work with the theme I currently use due to its features.
- I prefer to work with people locally — Kitsap County, Seattle area. Due to COVID-19, work would be entirely via Zoom, Skype, or phone, and email. I’ve done that before, even before COVID–19 showed up at our doorstep.
- I also can do some guest blogging. However, when I get around to that, you’ll probably hear from ME if it’s a topic on which I like to write.
What have I done?
Here are a few things I’ve done, and a few things I’m working on:
Web design projects:
- Bush, Roed, and Hitchings, Inc.: Their website was the first I created with Divi, and I was hooked — as far as business websites go. Note that I have a very personal relationship with one of the principals (spouse.)
- HS Media: This is a media station appraisals company. They wanted a website that had ONLY phone contact. I went with a minimalist design here, but I like the result.
- David Harrison, Artist: He’s a professional artist who had created his own website with WordPress.com and just wanted a couple of adjustments and training in how to use WordPress. The basic black design is pretty much his own and meant to showcase his art, I just did some CSS adjustments.
- Entsuan Zen: I used to sit with this group (and sometimes still do via Zoom.) Their current website is one I just tweaked a bit in 2013 but kept the design as-is. I have mostly designed a new website for them, but the project is currently on hiatus and not online due to COVID-19 as it requires some in-person training in this case.
Published writing:
It was an “I always wanted to be a writer…” sort of thing. But I spend most of my career as an Occupational Therapist. I would VERY occasionally send out a manuscript or query letter to a magazine and, as a result, have ended up with about THREE articles published in print (Personal-experience-type writing in SageWoman, Mothering, and 1889.) and a couple of published poems.
But, now, I’m kind of just having fun blogging. I have a total of FOUR blogs so I have a place to write anything when the mood hits, and I have some sketchwork for a novel I may never finish or publish. We shall see. My focus, now that I’m older, is on trying to just do more of what I like, create something every day, and start getting back to focusing on my health again.
My blogs:
Did I mention my blogs? Here they are (other than the one that you’re on right now):
- Love. Coffee. WordPress.: I’m having fun writing a series of WordPress tutorials featuring a sloth making a blog. As an adjunct, I’m also creating a blog called Slothverse.com as I go.
- Caffeine Journal: What I was drinking when I started it. It’s a place to write whatever I want and I’m more open to guest posts there (though I accept some guest posts on all of my websites) as it’s very non-niche.
- Ancient and Awesome: I’m on my way to Ancient, and I’m trying to get there Awesomely. I worked most of my career in geriatrics. Someone suggested that, perhaps, I write about something in which I have experience. This is it. I’m not getting any younger:) I envision it as being a collection of writing about aging, dealing with the joys and difficulties of getting older, fitness and beauty tips for those of us in the AARP range, and things like that.