Retirement is a week filled with Saturdays and Sundays interrupted only occasionally by a holiday.

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Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Surprise, Surprise

Okay...I've been thinking for some time now about fancy-ing up my blog after seeing everyone's beautiful, creative templates. Loving a challenge, I decided this morning to try my hand at designing my own. To be honest, part of my decision was based on the fact that I had nothing to post about today so I thought a new look would at least give me a subject for this post.

With lots of trepidation, I started the task of finding a graphic, playing with the colors, and moving things around. I'm thrilled, of course, that I actually managed not to mess things up too much...I've read lots of horror stories about bloggers screwing up their sites with mis-aligned graphics, texts etc. But... am I happy with the results? Will it stay like this? I'm not sure. I'm thinking the graphic is too big and the blog title doesn't stand out enough but I'm exhausted from the stress of all this so I think I'll let it be for a while. I can only do so much at one time...sigh.

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think it looks great! I'm playing around with trying to put a picture in my header, but can't find one the right size. I'll keep looking.

Patti said...

It looks beautiful Joan! Indeed I was surprised.
Maybe you could try to drop the blog title down a bit so the white space would be in the background to make it easier to read..
I have no idea how to do it.

Susie said...

I'm impressed! I'm not real happy with the changes I did. I'll leave it for a bit, but I'm going to be changing it again soon.
Did you just adapt a template that was offered by blogger?

Renee Nefe said...

I like the change a lot.

I don't have the guts to do anything with my blog...last time I did I deleted too much and truncated it. Luckily I saved the template before I messed with it.

the moose buyer said...

you can do all this fancy stuff and I am just trying to get my moose picture up.

Patti thinks we have the same traits. Obviously you and Lynn got all the computer traits.

Talk about frustrating!!!!!

Joan said...

Lynne: Sizing the graphic was the hardest part. It took several tries before I was happy enough to add it. Good luck finding one you like.

Patti: I took your advice and cropped the picture a little so the title is more in the white section. It's not perfect but I think it looks better. What to do think?

Susie: I used one of the Blogger templates and then just added the header graphic and changed the font colors. Also...I like your template...it's one of the ones that made me decide to do mine!

Renee: I actually have a test blog that I created so I could mess with it before making the changes to my real one. I guess I should backup my new template just in case!

The moose buyer: You know I love doing this sort of thing. My offer still stands...call me if you need my help with your profile photo and maybe we can figure it out together!

jaded said...

Nice job! Your color choices are very striking. If you want help re-proprtioning the masthead so it isn't as tall, email me a copy of your image and I'll integrate you blog title into the image.

Pam said...

WOW!! This looks fabulous, Joan! I love it! Congrats on a job well done. If I ever get back to my blog I maybe I will be able to finally finish my latest tweakings...

Patti said...

It looks better! don't worry about being perfect, it's a pretty pic.

P.S. can you help me with my profile photo?
I gave up on it

Special K ~Toni said...

I LOVE it! You did a great job!

Michele said...

Oh, my favorite color, yellow. I'm so liking this Joan... fantastic. I love the picture, I wish that was me sitting there... it looks so peaceful... [sigh].

Joan said...

Patches: Thanks for the offer. I'm going to let it stay like this for a while but, if I decide to do more tweaking, I might just take you up on that offer.

Pam: It's so good to hear from you. Thanks for the compliment. I sure hope you get back to that blog of yours...I miss your wit and wisdom.

Patti: I will happily help you with your profile photo. What seems to be the problem?

Toni: Awww shucks...thanks!!!

Michele: Yellow is one of my favorite colors too...it's so bright and cheery. And I only wish I had such a comfy place in my home to read.

Carole Burant said...

Oh Joan, I think you did a fabulous job on the header and I do love everything else too!! Before I start any changes on my blog, I always copy my whole template and then paste it in Word...that way if things get all screwed up, all I need to do is use the copy I have:-) xoxo

Ralph said...

Joan, this site looks great, as my grandmas (both) would say this is 'lovely'. And what is more lovely than a girl and her cat...

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

wow, you go girl! what talent! now if you would just get rid of that danged word verification! ha ha

smiles, bee

Joan said...

Pea: I was really dumb doing all this work on my template without backing it up first. Thank goodness nothing dreadful happened and I will know better the next time I do a re-design...if there is a next time.

Ralph: Thanks so much for the compliment. Yes, the girl with her cat is lovely but I think of her as a girl with her book. :~)

Empress bee: Thanks! And I know you are leading the anti-word verification crusade but I just love those alien words that pop up...I'm learning a whole new language. ;~)

meno said...

I think it looks great! But keep on playing, because it's fun.

Iamthebookworm said...

Beautiful! I love your new header.

Lynn said...

I am so impressed...not surprised because I know that you can do anything you set your mind to. Now that you've become an expert...I could use some help;~)

Joan said...

Meno: Playing with my template may be fun but it's also exhausting and frustrating! :~)

Iamthebookworm: Thanks so much. I'm so glad it worked.

Lynn: You know I would love to help you design your own. Just choose a graphic or photo and we'll be on our way!!!