site history

how this corner of the internet grew up

This page is a little trail through every version of my online home. All those early layouts, half-finished corners, and “coming soon” screens were me trying to build a space I could actually settle into. If you feel like wandering through my digital past lives… you’ve come to the right place.

a trip down memory lane

2026 +
where you’re standing now
my phoenix rising from the ashes moment… built from a sense of clarity i’ve been seeking for decades, hard-earned structure, and a little magic.

Everything here is intentional: the design, the vibes, the widgets, the community focus, the five pillars…. the whole architecture of a digital safehouse. This version finally feels like a home I can grow with instead of grow past.
the fairy cottage
This was my first fully realized digital home. A cottage on the internet built with cozy gradients, hand-drawn graphics, and the energy of a creator finally finding her voice. definitely a little chaotic as far as design goes (a little “show them everything all at once” kinda energy)… but it was cozy and managed to spark me a few “viral” blog posts in the form of cottagecore mod lists.
2022 – 2025
2017 – 2021
the maker’s landing page
Once I started streaming, I finally needed a place to send people…. so this era became a tiny hub. A blog with a few posts, a freebies section, a Stardew mod list, a commissions page. It wasn’t a full home yet, but it had a foyer and snacks.
“coming soon” ad nauseum
These versions were basically moodboards taped to a locked door. oddly specific color palettes, hand drawn elements, cats, soft edits… the early aura of what would eventually become HeyShadyLady. This era was pure intention but zero infrastructure, substance or follow-through.

the fact that i continued paying for my domain for 2+ years just to host a variety of coming soons screens is crazy tbh ?
2014-2016
2004 – 2008
bonus lore: the fangirl era
Long before HeyShadyLady existed, I was hand-coding fansites at 3am with far too much enthusiasm & exactly zero design restraint or expressive filters.

My Miyavi fansite, my weirdly popular Inuyasha fansite and the masses of myspace layouts i was churning out taught me everything I still use today: graphic design, layout structure, community instincts & a love for building tiny worlds online.

i am CONSTANTLY trying to channel this version of myself’s absolute shamelessness and passion.

If you made it all the way down here… hey ?? You’re def my kind of person. Thanks for wandering through all the lil rooms of my mind, exploring my old layouts & experiments!

It’s strange & sweet seeing the trail laid out like this, and it reminds me how long I’ve been trying to build a home for myself online… and it’s easy for me to see that Every new version feels a little braver than the one before it.

I’m excited to see where the next road goes ◝(ᵔᵕᵔ)◜♡