Profiles

Bio

I’m Mary Bella, the “Maestra” of Maestra Web Design, and I specialize in WordPress websites for singers, instrumental musicians and arts organizations. That’s my “niche” but I’m always open to other projects – I’ve created and maintained websites for choirs, orchestras, photographers, agents, authors, visual artists as well as community groups and charitable organizations.

Interests

Zumba, yoga, hiking, mini-schnauzers, opera, classical music, jazz, singing, ukulele, choirs, conducting

WordPress Origin Story

Back when I started designing websites in 1999 (yes, that’s right, some of you weren’t born yet) my clients were always asking to be able to update their own sites. They would try to do it with html editors (usually crappy free ones) and often break their site. Well, of course I could come to the rescue and fix it, and get paid, but ultimately I prefer to create sites rather than fixing broken ones. In 2007 one of my clients asked for a blog, and once I got going in WordPress, I was hooked. I’ve designed 50+ self-hosted WordPress sites and donated a few to organizations in my community. WordPress is so user friendly, it’s a great tool for small to midsize companies or individuals. There are so many great plugins and online resources, and affordable, adaptable, responsive themes.

  • Member Since: December 2nd, 2010
  • Location: Toronto, ON
  • Website: maestrawebdesign.com
  • Job Title: Founder & Web Designer
  • Employer: Maestra Web Design
  • Find me on:
  • Posted a reply to Can I re-order categories on photo portfolio?, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    Thank you so much! That works.

  • Created a topic, Can I re-order categories on photo portfolio?, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    I want the Filter categories to be presented in a spec…

  • Created a topic, Import events from another plugin or csv, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    Using The Event Calendar but would like to switch to V…

  • Created a topic, It works!, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    A little finicky to set up, but solves the issue of fo…

  • Created a topic, Great plugin, use it all the time, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    Easy to use at the free level with great upgrade featu…

  • Created a topic, What does is_block mean in Form responses?, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    Jetpack Contact Form Messages from the last 1.5 years …

  • Posted a reply to Can I call Jetpack carousel for text linking to an image ?, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    No. Sorry my question wasn’t clear. I have text on the page eg: “Click here…

  • Created a topic, Can I call Jetpack carousel for image links?, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    I have text that I want to link an gif explainer to co…

  • Created a topic, Neve is my new favourite theme, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    Have used this on 5 sites and counting. It is so flexi…

  • Created a topic, Search Console error, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    Google Search console is giving the following error: R…

  • Created a topic, Gallery image links not opening, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    The gallery images are set to open media files, but wh…

  • Posted a reply to Insta feed not showing, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    Thanks Chris. I had done all the other steps, but clearing the FEED THEM cache…

  • Created a topic, Insta feed not showing, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    It's just showing the follow button, not the Instagram…

  • Posted a reply to Gallery images not loading, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    Nope that didn't work. :(

  • Posted a reply to Gallery images not loading, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    Where/How do I reset to default settings?

  • Created a topic, Gallery images not loading, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    There is a WP Bakery gallery below the dark blue top b…

  • Posted a reply to Optimised mage are not showing, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    ok!

  • Posted a reply to Optimised mage are not showing, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    Lazy load is off. It's loading for me now, but my experience is when I…

  • Posted a reply to Optimised mage are not showing, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    Same problem here. Optimized Gallery images don't load unless I am logged into the site:…

  • Created a topic, Plugin broke April 2020, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    Has been broken since WP5.3 came out, about 3-4 weeks.

  • Created a topic, Works well, thank you!, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    Provides a simple way of doing many different features…

  • Created a topic, Theme doesn’t work with WP BLOCKS?, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    I set up some columns with images and they don't show.…

  • Created a topic, Clone or duplicate flipbox, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    I see that I can export the styles but not where to in…

  • Posted a reply to Image overlaps text on front end, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    Must have been a conflict with my theme. I had to add some custom css…

  • Created a topic, Image overlaps text on front end, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    Pw is test for this page. It looks correct while editi…

  • Created a topic, Not responsive, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    The image and text do not resize properly within a col…

  • Posted a reply to Change button text on one page, other pages use default, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    Nope, the old plugin crashed and I had to update. How can I download the…

  • Posted a reply to Change button text on one page, other pages use default, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    YEs, but I can only set text for ALL buttons, correct? I can't set it…

  • Created a topic, Change button text on one page, other pages use default, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    I want the button to say "PAST SHOWS" on this page, ra…

  • Posted a reply to Accordion Not Formatting Text, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    The paragraphs from the Text editor disappear when you view the accordion or when you…

  • Posted a reply to Paragraph tags being dropped, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    This topic is not resolved. Why is it marked resolved?

  • Posted a reply to Paragraph tags being dropped, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    Same problem here. The paragraphs do not show up when you view the accordion, they…

  • Posted a reply to IE not showing Media & Text Block side by side, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    I found this - if you copy the 2nd suggested code into your custom css…

  • Posted a reply to IE not showing Media & Text Block side by side, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    I have the same exact problem. Worse because the client noticed it before I did…

  • Created a topic, Works as expected, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    Out of the box. Good job!

  • Posted a reply to No navigation menu registered on your site., on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    There are no Locations listed in that spot under Appearances > Menu on this site.…

  • Created a topic, No navigation menu registered on your site., on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    Get this error: Select Menu Select menu here where you…

  • Posted a reply to Mobile Menu won’t stick, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    Got it - strange the plugin didn't say it needed updated, but deleting and reinstalling…

  • Posted a reply to Mobile Menu won’t stick, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    Thanks - it works on desktop when I reduce the browser width, but it still…

  • Created a topic, Mobile Menu won’t stick, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    Was working before, but recently the menu disappears w…

  • Posted a reply to titles won’t show in Edge, Chrome or IE 11, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    Thank you!

  • Created a topic, titles won’t show in Edge or IE 11, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    Have used this plugin many times with no problem. This…

  • Created a topic, remove quotation marks from “More” text, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    Can't see a way to remove the quotes from around the l…

  • Posted a reply to Category Archive show post content like blog page?, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    Thanks so much, Display Posts is exactly what I needed.

  • Created a topic, Category Archive show post content like blog page?, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    Please see http://www.alaincoulombe.com/site/news/ The…

  • Created a topic, Insert “Read more” link, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    Is there a way to insert a "Read more" link after ever…

  • Posted a reply to <span class=\"resolved\" aria-label=\"Resolved\" title=\"Topic is resolved.\"></span>[Very Simple Event List] Events displaying by post date instead of event date, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    Looks like the recent update fixed both issues! YAY! Thanks.

  • Posted a reply to <span class=\"resolved\" aria-label=\"Resolved\" title=\"Topic is resolved.\"></span>[Very Simple Event List] Events displaying by post date instead of event date, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    Still having trouble with events order – working around it by putting the posting date…

  • Created a topic, [Slider] Works well, very flexible, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    Have had no trouble with it so far, even just using th…

  • Posted a reply to [Resolved] [Very Simple Event List] Events displaying by post date instead of event date, on the site WordPress.org Forums:
    Thanks for your reply Guido, Sorry I was off for holidays. The site is now…