So, blog updates… the banner I posted in my last post over a month ago IS for my dear friend Jayne. Shabby Juls got it right. :) Jayne’s got some fun things to add to the sidebar area and then we’ll make some minor adjustments but for the most part it’s done and one of my favorites so far. :)
And then one that I did awhile back that I can’t believe I haven’t blogged about before was for a little shop in Oklahoma City called Basiques Boutique owned by the sweetest mother/daughter team. I’m thrilled that they’re going to actually start selling some of their gorgeous items online so stay tuned. Here’s what we came up with for the banner using one of their gorgeous wall paintings. How fun is that?! :)
Another blog that’s almost finished but close enough to show is Jo-Anne Coletti’s. She paints gorgeous rose paintings and has recently released a CD of digital scrapbooking papers and elements. It was fun to use some of her own elements in the design. One thing you might notice about her blog is that I’m now offering the complete custom design package for blogger customers. Pretty exciting since I’ve had a number of requests for that. :)
I’ve got 3 blogs that are in their final design stages of pulling everything together and coordinating with the client on sidebar items and I’ve got a few that I’m waiting for feedback on their initial design. (A couple that were sent out over 2 weeks ago so I’m hoping they’re just on vacation or something and not trying to figure out how to tell me the banner is not at all what they were looking for. LOL)
I also have been wanting to switch my blog over to wordpress for a LONG time and finally decided to take a weekend (and it took the better part of an entire weekend) to learn wordpress once and for all. I had just gone through a very discouraging situation with a client where I almost decide to hang up my blog designing hat. An idea that I had that I thought would be a fun option to offer to future blog clients, one that I’d put a lot of creative energy and work into was given to another designer and it just sucked the fun right out of this designing stuff. I don’t get a lot of original, completely-not-done-before, creative ideas and this was one that I was pretty excited about. What made me even more happy was that the client was super excited about my idea too. Well, now the credit for that fun idea will go to another designer. If someone is interested in having a fantabulous about page done for them I am more than happy to haul out the fun ideas with all the bells and whistles that I have now stashed away in my little creative cabinet but I don’t think I’ll be advertising it as an ala carte option for now because I don’t want it to appear that I’m copying someone else’s creative idea. Sooooo, instead of continuing to feel abused and taken advantage of I chose to let the situation motivate me to learn more aspects of this blog design world and find something different to offer.
So this is my new home on the web and I’m SO excited to start offering full wordpress custom design and setup option to clients. What’s AWESOME about wordpress is that there is no monthly fee for it and it’s incredibly customizable. Like crazy customizable. I can’t wait to play around more with my own design but for now I’m just tickled with little things like how fun the comments icons are and how nicely they show up right after my signature. It’s the little things like that that can totally make my day. :)
So here’s the current pricing for the various blog design options. I’ll be finishing up the blogs I’m currently working on by this weekend so if you’re interested in a custom design e-mail me or you can fill out the questionnaire here. Not to sound like an infomercial here but these are introductory prices and will likely change after I’ve had a chance to realize (as I often do) that I’m only making about 50 cents an hour on these projects. LOL I will also be likely increasing the prices of the design options in blogger and typepad but until I have time to make those changes on my website pricing page you can jump in on the current rates. :) 
Kay, infomercial over. :)
I saw this little photo project posted by Rachel awhile back and since a word immediately came to mind AND I have a fancy little remote for my camera I decided to join in. You can see lots more here. But yeah, I’m beat. So if you decide to jump in on the photo project send me a link so I can check out how you’re feeling. :)
I also feel inspired, motivated and blessed so it’s not all bad. :)
So here’s my current balanced to-do list:
I decided that my to do list template needed a little updating. Still balanced, just different. I uploaded the new template so you can grab it here if anyone’s interested.
And then I joined in a little challenge at one of my favorite blogs and they posted this little list of girl-power questions yesterday. Here’s mine. :)
1. Name - Shawn
2. Pink - Love it or Hate it? love it
3. Signature shade of lipstick, lipgloss, etc. - pink gloss (little bit sparkly)
4. Do you have a best girl friend? I have many - the VERY best
5. Do you have a woman mentor? not that I can think of
6. Are you a woman mentor to someone else? I highly doubt it
7. Tomboy or Princess? Princess
8. Favorite Girl Band can’t think of a girl band but favorite girl artist - hands down Sara Bareilles
9. Are you a mom? Do you want to be one? just to pixel and actually no
10. Do you and your mom have any rituals? not that I know of
11. Fashion magazines - yea or nay. nay
12. Do you have a feel good outfit? do feel good shoes count?
13. Have you called your grandma or special aunt, or special older lady lately? saw my grandma for the last time Friday night
14. Signature Scent? angel although I rarely wear perfume
15. Favorite female tv character I can’t pick a favorite
16. Favorite place to hang out with gal pals? a good chick flick with popcorn
17. Did you ever ditch your girl friends to be with a guy? Do you still? I’m sure I have
18. Friend you call when you need a laugh? Jayne
19. Friend you call when you need a shoulder to cry on? Jill and/or Nikki, depends how late it is. :)
20. Have you reminded your friends of how much they mean to you lately? not nearly enough
Can you tell I’m trying to make up for a month of not blogging? Kay, back to work and then dinner with Jill tonight and funeral visitation for my grandma. Tomorrow is the funeral and then I’m looking forward to a rather quiet weekend and catching up with out-of-town cousins. Back soon with some photos of recent sewing projects and hopefully an etsy store update.
Have a great day!
shabbyjuls says:
What a nice way to start the day on Thursday :) You know I love ALL of your designs…I LOVE that photo project too..how fun! And did you say FREE bloggie? Whordpress looks awesome…I think you may have a huge following here…hope so:) Sign me up!!!
October 18th, 2007 at 11:51 am
Guppie says:
Your an amazing person who goes out of their way to help people. A lot of people can count on you for help. Other people see that as an opportunity to exploit. That is why this happened. The good news is that you’re such a good designer, another designer had to steal your idea. If your a crappy designer, then nobody would want do steal your ideas. Glass half full?
Even right now your being nice by not mention any names. PLEASE DO NOT give the names to me otherwise I will release the wraith of guppie on those that harm my girl…unless you want me too. :)
I wouldn’t think for second that if you continue with that idea that your copying somebody else. You can’t copy what was stolen from you. Everytime they use it, they are copying from you.
FYI: For your quality of design, your prices are still low, especially for wordpress.
As for your to do list….why is date night AFTER dinner with Jill? What’s this wine drinking? You, try something new? LOL
You also have a conflict on your to do list: Long-term goal is to get camera fixed, yet other to do item is take more pictures. You may want to move the camera fixing part up on the priority list.
October 18th, 2007 at 12:21 pm
Me says:
To be fair I don’t really know that the designer involved is even aware that the idea was mine in the first place. I would like to believe that she was just asked by a client to create something not realizing that the concept/idea had originally been mine.
But thanks for stickin’ up for me. Sometimes I’m not so good at stickin’ up for myself. ;)
October 18th, 2007 at 1:55 pm
Denise says:
Well Shawn, You know Heather and I think you are absolutley the best designer out there! As I mentioned on our blog, it’s just uncanny how you created something that was so “us” without ever having met us! We love our blog design!!!
October 18th, 2007 at 2:38 pm
Kim says:
I could just SQUEEZE you!! Sweet Shawny, you have just about the kindest heart of anyone I know. I was soooo sad when I saw what had happened with the blog design. :( –And believe me, I went OFF about it to Jayne. For some reason I can’t find your number in my cell. I NEED it!! ;)–
I’m so proud of you for the route you’ve taken and so happy that you’re stretching your designing wings. You’re a natural!! As for that other stuff…it’ll all work out. KARMA! ;)
Let’s chat soon!!!
October 18th, 2007 at 3:25 pm
Kelly L. says:
Yay, a real update!!!
…mean people suck, and that goes for design stealers, too.
You have risen above and that speaks volumes about your abilities and integrity.
Now, go drink some wine!
October 18th, 2007 at 6:57 pm
chris jenkins says:
lots of good info and things here!
totally dig the designs, totally dig the photo project!
again - i really feel for ya on the theft - not cool at all - but you have shrugged it off - dirt off the shoulder - and moved on - great attitude to have :)
i love the to-do template - i hadn’t thought to sort my goals - i guess i would be better at completing them if i did
have a good weekend!
and oh - got my bag yesterday in the mail and i freakin’ love it - thanks!
October 19th, 2007 at 1:56 pm
Vicki (Chickivaney) says:
Thanks so much!
October 19th, 2007 at 2:31 pm
jayne says:
Hey, WTH did my comment go?!?!?!?!?
October 19th, 2007 at 4:31 pm
Denise Schuler says:
Love your blog. Blessing Denise
hopetreestudio.blogspot.com
October 19th, 2007 at 10:02 pm
Dena Simoneaux says:
shawn,
I love love loe this new blog of yours!!!! very cool!
Dena :)
October 20th, 2007 at 12:45 am
jayne says:
OK, found my original comment on the auntiepea.typepad.com blog addy! Thought you may have been censoring me!!! LOL
October 20th, 2007 at 10:01 am
angelapowers says:
so, as i am reading your adorble to do list, i am thinking to myself…”i would SO love to do lists if they looked as cute and as fun as those”…and there you go giving out the template. ADORABLE! thank you :)
your blog banners are gorgeous. congrats on the new adventure, i have no doubt you will soar with this! :)
October 22nd, 2007 at 1:44 am
Emily S. says:
thanx for the DARLING template… You are too too generous with your talent. I wish you were in my town so we could be friends.
But not in a creepy way.
*smile*
October 22nd, 2007 at 11:53 pm
Karin (creativechaos) says:
Hi! Found you through Today’s Creative blog…..I had to tell you how much I love that To Do list!!! Too cute!
October 23rd, 2007 at 8:16 pm
Sherri says:
Hi Shawn!!
I have been so busy myself, that I totally forgot to check in on you these past few weeks. You have been through alot of stuff and I am so so sad for you. Please know my thoughts are with you.
I hope you and I left off as friends - I enjoy reading updates on your blog and I think you are a rockin designer. (Um, can I insert “THE BEST” in here!!!)
I think you are Fabulous - and I know exactly who you are talking about, and let me tell you, don’t worry about it - lots of people don’t like little cutesy fake snobs. Me, for one! You are a thousand times better than “those” kinda people. Just the thought of what you described makes me sick.
Ok Girly, sorry to just ramble on…haha!
Hugs to you - remember that song “Everything’s gonna be alright”…..
xoxo sherri
October 28th, 2007 at 11:00 pm
Sarah says:
Hey Shawn,
Thanks for your comments on my site, A Transparent Life!
I’m also very relieved to find someone whose style I really like who’s willing to give me some advice and who actually knows what she’s doing with regards to blog design, etc.!!
Okay… I’m willing to pay whatever it will cost to give me something pretty and original… but your design questionnaire wouldn’t work on my computer (I have a Mac, does that matter?!), and neither would the link to email you… so here I am, trying another way.
HELP!!!
Sarah
November 14th, 2007 at 5:19 pm
Shawn says:
Hi there! My name is Shawn, too, and I love it also. I was here in search of a balanced to-do list template but all the links are expired. boo=hoo! nice to meet you, anyway.
November 24th, 2007 at 4:42 pm