Whew!  Just got done with a round of changes, both graphic and code, to a website.  It’s fun to see how well I can do, jumping into someone else’s template!  I liked it.  Here’s what I did:

Navigation

• Left-aligned the text in the left-hand column
• Decreased the width of the left-hand column
• Increased the line height of the text in the left-hand column
• Added a hover-over color to the text of the left-hand column
• Added the “Information” menu as a horizontal menu in the footer
• Added key menu items across the top in the turquoise bar, under the banner
• Changed header image to return user to homepage

Look/feel

• Added Posh Mom sticker and Paypal button to banner image
• Made the banner about 20px shorter
• Made a “favicon” and uploaded it to the server

I’ve also just finished up a round of graphics that will go into a flash inset in the same site.  They aren’t ready yet, however, because we need to firm up what offers will go in the bubbles.  When I have it finished, I’ll post it!  (This is really fun stuff for me…how many other mothers get to fiddle with code and graphics while their babies nap?  I’m so lucky!)

Ha!  You’ll get this if you’re a webby person…if you aren’t, it’ll just confirm your suspicions:  yes, CSS-ers are a dorky, dorky bunch.  Here’s where I found this comic.

Roast: Espresso blend, Boca Java

Style? Doubleshot, sweetener

Number of the day? Two!

I’ve been having a great time drumming up this new coffee-themed site.  I have to be careful not to stare at it in the evenings, though, or I start craving more java.  I have to limit my coffee intake to mornings and early afternoons, otherwise I’m up all night.  In any case, I started this theme a few days ago, so I’d say that three days from beginning to end–while watching a toddler 24/7–is pretty good.  Once I finally nailed down the theme that felt comfortable, it was easy peasy to create and code.  Mmm, I love a good clean CSS in the morning.

My friend Carrie, owner of Zarily Jewelry, dropped off some jewelry for me to photograph.  I have my new digital camera–a Canon Xi–and I’m excited to get some shots.  I photographed some of the pieces previously, but there was too much directional light and it created awkward shadows.  There is definitely an art to photographing fine jewelry.

Once I get better shots, I’ll put them up on her site prototype.  When we’re ready to unveil it with some products, I’ll be sure to post to let you all know!  I am really enjoying working on her site.  She’s been great about giving me examples of sites she likes and the attributes she appreciates about those sites.  I created her logo off a particularly lovely piece of jewelry she designed, and the color scheme just popped into my head as I was toying around with her signature crimson.  To keep the site light and airy, we’ve gone with a salmon-peach dithered blend on white and black.  It’s feminine, but strong and clear-minded–a bit like Carrie herself.