After almost three years without changing the background design of my blog, I decided to go with a new look. It's like an early birthday present for String of Pearls, which was born in March of 2011. I can't believe my baby is almost three!
I really, really fight change, once I've gotten used to something--but the fact that I'm doing this shows that perhaps this tiger can change her stripes.
Stripes...get it?
I think this is prettier and more appealing to the eye than the old design--but is it too busy? Too colorful? Too distracting? Is it a good fit? (Does this outfit make my blog look fat? Be honest.)
I truly would like to know what you think! I can always switch it right back to the old style, with a simple click of a button.
And now I'm going to add my husband's favorite photo of me with his progeny (which also happens to be my original blog profile pic), because I think the pink sweater I'm wearing in it goes really well with my new blog.
Have a great weekend!
It looks good! I love pink. Happy early birthday to your baby!
ReplyDeleteI want to change a few things at my blog. You have inspired me to make the time. I hope I don't mess it up! Ha! :)
If it wasn't so easy to change the template with eBlogger, I never would have done it. :)
DeleteI like the pink....I think it fits your blog!! The only thing I would change is to puty your picture and your profile "about" up at the top of the right hand column so the reader can see it without scrolling all the way down. When I visit a blog, I like being able to see a picture of the writer or their family on the top (either as the header or on the side). It helps me connect with them more, and I'm more likely to stick around and read more if I can easily "see" the writer.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the advice! You know, I like to look at the bloggers' pics and bios, too, when I visit other blogs. I'm glad you mentioned that. Changing it now!
DeleteI love it! And I agree, put that beautiful picture of you at the top if possible so everyone can see you!!
ReplyDeleteI like the new look. I love the picture of you behind computer, that should be at the top :-).
ReplyDeleteOkay, you and Rini both suggested this, so I moved that picture to the top. What do you think?
DeletePerfect!!
DeleteLike it, and I haven't forgotten you, will send you other info soon. Talking sidebars, all the advice is the following/subscribe buttons etc should be up at the top too underneath your bio info. Bio's I think are really important, I'm more likely to follow a blog if the bio is there and grabs me. In your case I would also have Finding Grace more immediately to the top. Straight after bio where you have mentioned it before subscribe. Clear as mud?
ReplyDeleteI prob would make your margins bigger too. I explain how to in email
Thanks, Erin. I'm off to make a change!
DeleteOkay, I moved some things to the top and increased the margin size (which I can't believe I figured out to do!). What do you think?
DeleteExcellent! and very impressed that you worked out margins, I remember what it was like when I first ventured 'behind the scenes'.. I'm wondering if the review buttons should go up higher, not sure... hey maybe they should have your own page, they you could include snippets from it and send over to read in full.
DeleteSee I love playing with blogs, the one thing you can clean, move etc and it doesn't change until you say so;)
Erin, I think there's just one other thing I'd like to add (for now): a "home" tab at the top--so that if someone got to the blog via a link to a particular post, she could hit that tab to see the most recent posts. Most blogs have those; but I've been all over the Blogger pages for set-up and design, and I can't figure out how to add that.
DeleteAnd by "your own page," do you mean a longer "About Me" page, one that's like a special blog post and has a tab at the top that leads the reader to it? I've seen those on a lot of blogs. If I did that, it would free up a lot of room on the top right, where I have that long "About Me" section under the picture.
Thanks!
In a Blogger site, all you need to do is click on the blog header (in your case, that's just the title--in some blogs, there's an image there as well) and they'll get to the home page. Love the new look!
DeleteI admit, though, I normally just read your blog via email. This is a disservice to you and you are allowing it to happen! Is there a way you can change your email settings to only include PART of the post? You're robbing yourself of pageviews.
Thanks for the info about the header taking a reader "home." I didn't even know it would do that! (I'm sure most blog readers know this--but I am so behind the curve when it comes to all this technological stuff!)
DeleteI'll see if I can figure out a way to put just a little bit in the e-mailed post, then have it say "to read more, click here"--or whatever. Whether or not I can figure out how to do this remains to be seen!
Thanks so much for your advice, Barb. Wow, the comments on this post have been extremely helpful. :)
Promise, promise to send you some tutorials today, explaining how to set up a page, with tabs. By own page I was referring to setting about a Saving Grace page, but you could also set up an About Me page, though I'd keep a little bio on the sidebar still (but that is my personal preference) like on my blog, my side bio is an appetiser and then Introducing me tab has more. But again a personal preference.
Deleteanother personal preference, I hesitate to disagree with Barb but I deliberately don't read blogs that make me click over, I prefer to read in entirety in feedly and then pop over to comment if I chose to do so. So actually a chance you could lose me, well maybe not but you wouldn't have gained me originally if you had that setting on. However if you really want to I can explain:(
Erin, I don't think I'm going to make any changes after all. For one thing, even though I was able to figure out a lot of things by poking around on my own, I couldn't see how to change the way someone receives my posts via email. For another thing, I don't want to lose you! :)
DeleteI think my sidebar is much improved and I like the way it looks now. I may someday do a more in-depth "About Me" page with a tab, but for now I think what I have written up at the top is enough. I know I always look at the short bios at the top of blogs I read, and I don't always click over to the full-length ones, so I don't think I need to do that unless the spirit moves me someday.
This has been fun! And everyone has been so helpful! Thanks for stopping in to give your advice and help.
I like it; and don't think the pink is too much.
ReplyDeleteWell done! Happy early Blogaversary!
Thanks, Joy. :)
DeleteI think it's more pleasing to the eye! Great job, Laura! I really like it.
ReplyDelete