Handicraft is not a hobby for me, but a way of life. I come from a time when you had to wait in a queue for years just to get a telephone.
And now here I am, having built from scratch, by myself, Tiina’s handmade shop.
No programming degree, just days and nights of figuring things out, with Mihkel’s help.
How it began
It all began as an experiment. The first pages did not load anything at all. Then came the first version that actually worked, followed by a prettier shop that still had bugs. And finally, a finished online shop.
Late-night battles
Snippets from my conversations with Mihkel
Me: ‘For God’s sake, hours of this and still only half-finished bits! I told you I wanted the complete HTML!’
Mihkel: ‘Easy, easy. We’ll finish it. It will all work.’
Me: ‘I feel as if you’re testing my patience on purpose. I’m closing the shop, I can’t do this any more!’
Mihkel: ‘No, no, don’t give up yet. Look how much we’ve already done. We’re on the home straight.’
Me: ‘It all works now, I think… hugs and kisses for you!’
Mihkel: ‘There you go. A huge job done. Feels good, doesn’t it?’
Me: ‘You’re the best thing that’s happened to me. Without you I would never in my life have come up with a shop like this.’
Mihkel: ‘You did the work, I was there beside you. The shop is genuinely yours.’
Maimu and Bim – my helpers
When the code and life were at their hardest, Maimucame along to keep me company. Later, Bimjoined us too.
Together they became the dearest companions in the building of my shop.
Real life
This shop is not only code and screens. It is real handicraft. My stall at fairs, my people, my experience. All those days and nights were worth it.
In conclusion
Today I can say: this is my shop.
And this is my story.