So
who's the conductor of this Tangled Train anyway? That would be
me, Erin Hurst. I started building websites kind of by accident
when I realized that the business I worked for had an existing site
that was terribly complicated to navigate. So, I figured out the
basics on my own and built a new one from scratch (I'm kind of
notorious for that, as you will see if you keep reading). That
site, www.ArtichokePress.com,
was my introduction web design.
Once I realized how much I enjoyed building websites,
I decided to create one
for my mom, Elaine. She is an absolutely amazing artist. You should
really check out her work (and my web design) by visiting www.ElaineHurst.com.
These two
sites gave me valuable experience in web design and knowledge on the
technical aspects making a website work. I learned that I
enjoyed building websites and that there are a lot people out there
who would really benefit from having one. So, why not put my
skills to use?
A little more
about me personally... I grew up in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of
Virginia where my life revolved around riding horses and enjoying the
great outdoors. Then in
2003, after a couple of years of being bored with college, I decided
to explore some of my other interests and did a NOLS
semester in the Teton Valley. It turned out to an amazing three
months of backpacking, whitewater canoeing, climbing, and telemark
skiing. I got certified as a Wilderness First Responder, gained
valuable leadership skills, and made some really awesome friends. And
maybe just as importantly, I fell in love with the west.
In 2005 I
spent a few wonderful months back in Virginia working for Tad
Coffin where I learned how to build saddles (and mow lots of
grass!) before moving to Wyoming where I was a wrangler, painter, and
wolf research technician. After a few years living in the cowboy
state I decided it was time to go back to school.
So,
I'm currently living in Missoula, Montana where I've been
finishing up my Resource Conservation degree at the University of
Montana. I enjoy spending my spare time hiking, skiing, and
paddling in this
beautiful country. And when the weather isn't conducive to
outdoor pursuits I enjoy making things... including this kayak that I
designed and built in my apartment last winter:
What does all
this have to do with building websites? Well, nothing really.
But I want my clients to know who I am what what I'm all about.
My interests and experiences help shape my methods and designs. The
fact that I love to make something out of nothing, or take something
and make it better, is just as applicable to my web design as it is to
my life in general.
One final
note... Where did the name "Tangled Train" come from?
The best answer I can give is my
Dad. He told me about a dream he had once, where
two trains got tangled together. Somehow that image stuck with me and
I realized it would make a catchy name. Thanks Dad :)
