I almost can’t believe it!
After what feels like for-ev-er (though was actually more like the better part of a year – yes people, a whole year!) my newly designed blog is finally live!
If Charlotte wasn’t asleep right now I would literally scream…very loudly! Though in the interest of napping infants (and perhaps more importantly; mother ‘alone’ time) instead I’ll simply exhale with added exuberance.
The journey to this finished site did at times seem fraught with more obstacles than a hobbit’s road to Mordor, though, like Frodo, I got there…eventually – and am clearly so elated I’m not adverse to throwing in nerdy Lord of the Rings references.
For those of you who are interested, in the coming days I’ll publish a more thorough post outlining some of my blog’s new features and detailing the development adventure (this might be particularly appealing to fellow crazy bloggers who, like me, feel the need to try and DIY absolutely everything!), though for the purpose of this initial welcome I’ll keep things short and sweet. That said, there are a few things I do gotta say…
- THANK YOU for being here! Without visitors this little on-line home of mine would be a lonesome place indeed so I’m truly grateful for every virtual knock on the door. And now that the new site is finally complete I’m looking forward to redirecting all that time into producing awesome fresh content I hope you’ll enjoy,
- This blog would not exist without the generous help of our awesome friend Richard who aided with the ‘how-the-heck-do-you-do-that’ techie side of stuff. My husband figures I owe him a kidney.
- Please make yourself at home and feel free to have a good peek around! I spent much of my time polishing the basic design and general content to create a pleasing aesthetic and optimise user experience. Also, let me know if you notice anything looking or acting a little strangely. I did some cross-browser and multi-device testing though as I’m only a part-time perfectionist am pretty sure there are probably still a few kinks.
- Given the long anticipated launch of this blog, I feel I need to offer some kind of explanation to those of you who may feel underwhelmed by the apparent banality of the site. This blog took so long to complete, not because I was aiming to produce some kind of innovative masterpiece, though because I custom-built it myself and had to self-learn every step of the way. The design is not breathtaking, though to me, at least, it is a breath of fresh air.
Although I did use the words ‘finished’ and ‘complete’, I prefer to think this blog will be in constant evolution. In fact, there are already some changes to be made and new features to be added – and there is always tweaking to be done. So don’t forget to revisit some pages and look for fresh inclusions every now and then.
Got a question? Please feel free to ask when you leave a comment below. I don’t profess to be an expert though will do my best to address as many as possible in my upcoming post.
Please note, if you followed my previous Blogger blog solely through Google Friends Connect it’s probably a good idea to subscribe to this new site via a different means to ensure you continue to receive post updates (the truth is, I’m not really certain how Google Friends Connect works to translate feeds from a redirected site though subscribing via an alternate method will cover any possible gaps). There are numerous ways to receive new post updates though I recommend subscribing via RSS or email. I’ll highlight some of the alternatives in my upcoming post.
Oooh, how very exciting to be one of the first to comment on your spanking new blog! It all looks beautiful and fresh and sparkly and I’ve switched my RSS already!
I’ve wondered about switching over to WordPress so I’m eager to see how it’s been for you.
Can’t wait to tag along for the next part of your journey!
Sarahx
Yay! Looks great – I look forward to seeing you in my browser :)
hi Kristine
I follow you through google friends and your update came through on my blogroll as normal so all good.
lovely new blog design
cheers Fiona
Lovely new site. Very, very proud.
It looks amazing! Love the style, texture…way to go!
Wow, seriously! I LOVE your new design. And I totally understand the urge to do the whole thing yourself. I would love to launch a blog and I have a design in mind, but no idea how to execute it, so I may soon take on the process myself… any tips would be great! :) Looking forward to your posts :)
Thanks Allie. It was a complicated and time-consuming process though I’m so glad I did it. I learned SOOOO much to benefit me in improving and growing my blog going forward.
Are there any resources you would recommend for website design?
Does your question specifically pertain to WordPress sites? And are you asking about design (as in graphic elements) or development as a whole? There are thousands of great resources out there and I used heaps. If you can be a bit more specific I can try and help with the most relevant answers :-)
Ha, good questions. I’m actually not even sure where to start. I was thinking I’d use Blogger, though I’m not settled on that. Also, I’m interested in both design and overall development. I guess I was just wondering how you started on the process of designing your blog, which resources were more beneficial at the beginning. Like I said, at this point, I’m just looking for a place to start. :)
Looks great! Can’t wait to really check it out. I’ve been wanting to switch from Blogger to WordPress for a long time but I just can’t manage the technical aspects (and I’m petrified of losing all my hard work from the past three years) on my own. I do get frustrated with Blogger a lot though.
rec’d a whole bunch of your posts simultaneously today and enjoyed every one of them. i’m still trying to translate your Aussie in the post about decal labels for ikea glass canisters. guess i’ll print it and take it into local Michael’s and see what they recommend. love the fonts; actually love everything! thanks very much.
I’m so happy that your new site is live. I love it and can’t wait to see what’s in store for all us eager readers. Best of luck!
Looks great – you’ve done a lot of work. I have you on my side bar, so haven’t lost you.
Cheers Kylie
Kristine, I am one of your faithful readers from Norway. I love your website, and have been waiting for the new release! From one aesthetic to another, it looks FAB! Let the show continue girlfriend!
Thanks so much Mari.
I LOVE YOUR NEW SITE!!!!! It looks fantastic!!!!
Congratulations on your new blog! It looks fantastic. My only ‘concern’ with it is that I find it quite difficult to read. :-( The text is so light that I have to strain to see what it says ~ especially the links. I’m sure the fact that I’m getting older has something to do with the problem and I do have my computer set to make the text larger, but it’s the lack of contrast between the text and the background that makes it difficult for me to read. Not that I expect you to change your text just for me but I don’t imagine I’m the only person who experiences this problem.
Thanks for the feedback Nancy. :-) Though I must say, I am a bit confused. My blog background is white and the text is black – can’t get much more of a contrast than that! Does it not appear this way to you? Please let me know what you’re seeing. If there is an issue I’d be more than happy to try and resolve it.
Love the new site! I am a graphic designer by trade (and happen to looove this texturey style) and I give it two thumbs up (IMHO)!
So happy for you!!! and for me too…I love your blog and have been anxiously awaiting this reveal.
Finally, you’re back! I love your blog and have been checking for an update. I was so excited to receive your email notice today and to see the new site. It was so worth the wait. My goodness, you did a nice job of organizing and presenting great content. I look forward to really checking this all out!
maryw
Love the new look! I just found your blog not too long ago and am excited to check it all out!
Hooray! The new site looks lovely. And you did it all yourself – high five! I’m off to poke around now.
Yay!!! So happy your new website is up! I missed it. Looking forward to seeing all of your new projects!
Hi Kristine,
Just wanted to say congratulations on the redesign! It looks absolutely wonderful. I’m reading you on my iPhone and all looks well. Can’t wait to check it out on my computer. I’ve been wanting to move my blog from Blogger to WordPress and I haven’t even allowed myself the actual thought as to how I would accomplish that so it is nice to know its possible! I just signed myself up for a WordPress class offered in my city so hopefully that will offer the introduction. Wonderin if you are going to offer any advice on how you managed the transition? I would live to hear all about it. Anyway… Job well done! Beautiful! All the best.
Hi Lisa
Thanks so much :-)
I considered writing a post about my experience though decided I’m probably not the most qualified person to be dishing out advice on the subject. I fumbled my way through much of the process and did have the help of a friend for some of the more complex aspects.
Signing up for a class sounds like a great first step. I read loads of on-line tutorials and asked questions in numerous forums and believe self-education is the key to success in a situation like this. Good luck!
I’m soooo glad you’re not gone forever! Your tutorials have kept me busy for a while (sanding and painting – also loved the IKEA hack) and they’re so great I have sent them to all my friends. Your new site is great, and super easy to navigate (that was my only frustration with the old blog…) Thanks and good luck for all the new projects to come!
Thanks so much for your comment. It’s lovely to hear that my projects do sometimes carry on beyond this little slice of blogland :-) I’m really looking forward to sharing some exciting new projects soon!