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Virginia Thrives in the E-World 
Glade's Virginia Wiedemann bucks trend of the dot-com bust
Crossville Chronicle - Glade Sun
February 6, 2003  by By Clayta Richards, Sun Managing Editor

"Brighten the day of someone you love."  That's the day-to-day goal of Fairfield Glade resident Virginia Wiedemann.  She's the owner, builder and operator of an Internet Web site called Happy Cards, where happiness is handed out 24 hours a day. 

Wiedeman says she began her online adventure four years ago when her son had a new computer delivered to her.  "I hadn't seen a reason to have one," she remembers of her pre-computer days.  "Now, I don't see how anyone can live without one," she laughs.  

It was a nice Gateway.  "My son told me, 'Mom, you're an intelligent woman.  Just start pointing and clicking."  So, her first move was to learn how to use e-mail. 

An interior decorator by profession, it just seemed natural when she began to find ways to decorate the e-mails with online clip art/graphics.  Then she began editing material other people sent to her, and, of course, decorating it.

"I have to have a creative outlet," said Wiedeman, "and this gave me that."

"Soon, I found out people were forwarding my e-mails all over the world.  I thought if they like my stuff that much, maybe I should have a website."

At that point, the novice computer owner dug in and took some online courses from Web host GeoCities.  In the process, she found herself making many online friends who helped her with the hard parts.

"It was painful," she remembered of the html courses, but her husband, Bob, kept her encouraged along the way.  "He would say, 'You can do it.'"

The Web site she eventually created virtually flutters across a screen with graphics such as floating butterflies, batting eyes, flowers opening, bears dancing and any and every other object which she can find to animate. There's writing too, mostly Virginia's, and that's her other creative passion.

Four years down the road from the day the big black and white computer box was delivered to her doorstep, Wiedemann has come a long way in her online accomplishments.

"I don't use a program anymore," she reveals. "I write my own code. This gives me more control. There aren't very many people who bother to do that."

Wiedemann's first website was called "theweedyworld." Included on that site was a sideline interest called "weedycards."

"'Weedycards' took over and grew very rapidly," says Wiedemann. "I incorporated the stories from 'weedyworld' into 'weedycards,' she remembers.

Just like on the street where you live, if there's a lot of traffic at your house, it's going to eventually be a problem to someone, and in the case of "theweedyworld" Web site, that someone with the problem was GeoCities, her web hoster.

"They said I had too much traffic and were either going to require me to pay them or shut off my site."

That's when she decided to move out of the neighborhood and purchase her own domain, happydaycards.com.

"It just grew and grew," says Wiedemann. "As I learn new tricks, I incorporate them too.  I do try to keep it simple though, so older browsers can handle it."

"I enjoy doing this, but somebody has got to pay for," she states. "So, I had to buy a larger web package and added advertisers." Not only are there shopping opportunities on each page, but the site also features a virtual shopping mall.

Weidemann's site also has three company sponsors, Fuller Brush, Watkins Products and Stanley.  All the money she receives from sales of their products is donated directly to an organization whose causes she cares very deeply about, Save Our Cumberland Mountains (SOCM).  Weidemann maintains the SOCM website as well as the local Habitat for Humanity site.

Another page the web master is extremely proud of and finds very close to her stomach is the recipe page.

"I'm a food freak -- I love food! We are big eaters. It got to the point in my life that I had to eat healthy.  I developed all these recipes, and I won't eat it if it's not good.  The site took off and it has a life of its own.  All kinds of people are visiting, including doctors."

And now when she shares a recipe creation at church socials, etc., Wiedemann finds it so much easier to just refer her recipe admirers to the Web page rather than having to carry a recipe back to someone.  "I just say, 'It's on the Web site.'"

"The most visited page I have in the recipes is called 'swimminglygood.' It's all abut fish."

A visit to the site's links page will lead you to many of Wiedemann's heartfelt interests and opinions.  There you will find stories to brighten your day, not only Wiedemann's, but those sent to her by friends.  She enjoys giving their message or story a home at http://www.happydaycards.com  and encourages everyone to drop by and stay awhile.

"I am not trying to be all things to all people," says Wiedemann. "I am just true to myself."

VIRGINIA'S BIO

Virginia Wiedemann and her husband, Bob, moved to Fairfield Glade in 1992.

"We came to visit friends, and didn't want to go home," said Virginia.

Born and raised in Cleveland, OH, Virginia attended Heidelburg College and Ohio Northern University. She married Bob 21 years ago and has two natural children and seven stepchildren.

Virginia was a personnel manager and professional writer for Triplett Corp. in Bluffton, OH, for many years.  Bob ran the couple's hardware store. She eventually joined him in the business and wound up adding a decorating service.  The decorating service was so popular, it took over.  Later, they closed the hardware business and concentrated solely on the decorator shop.

Virginia is particularly proud of being asked to participate on two separate occasions as a designer in the Designer Showcase in Lima, OH.

"When Bob turned 60, he said he was moving to Fairfield Glade and I was welcome to come with him," recalled Virginia of their early retirement.  Bob had already tasted the good life in Fairfield Glade.

Eleven years later, Virginia finds herself in business again -- the dot.com business. Visit her website at http://www.happydaycards.com.