Here we are for the third and final installment of my Anatomy of a Blog Series.
The series began with Part 1 which covered the general skeleton and skin of a blog, a.k.a. the platform, theme, etc. And Part 2 discussed the basic elements of a blog post, from title to comments.
This part, Part 3, is dedicated to the bits and pieces of a blog’s sidebar, with my suggestions for some basic widgets to include. There’s also some bonus material at the end: a note about footers. Continue reading
Welcome back to my Anatomy of a Blog series. This is an overview guide to the basic parts and functions of a blog. In Part 1 of the series, I covered blogging platforms, themes, the banner, and navigation menu. Part 3 will describe the bits and pieces of a sidebar, with recommendations on some essential widgets. Here in Part 2 of the series I’m describing the components of a blog post itself.
To be clear, this series does not tell you how to write a blog or what to write about. Or how to customize your theme, or which platform to choose. It’s a compendium of things that make a blog tick and some tips on how to make the most of yours. Continue reading
If you’re new to blogging – writing one or reading them – here’s a little breakdown on the anatomy of a blog page. It’s your guide to what’s inside, where to look for it, and what its function is. There are some common elements among blogs, which is what this series of posts is about. There are also endless variations across them.
Part 1 of this Anatomy of a Blog series covers blogging platforms, blog themes, banners, and navigation menus. Part 2 will cover the essential elements of a blog post, from images to discussion. Finally, Part 3 covers the bits and pieces of a blog sidebar, including recommendations for what to put there. Continue reading
I’ve been experimenting with some mixed media recipes to create a faux copper patina effect on polymer clay. I love copper. And I especially love copper with a patina. Those splotches of cool turquoise blues and greens on the warm reddish metal. Yum.
Shiny copper, like the color of a new penny, is pretty. But some things just get better with age, and copper is one of them. I love rustic crusty grungy looking things. Things that look lived in, weathered, old. Continue reading
I’ve been busy making mixed media hearts and flowers designs for my online shop. Although I myself am not much for hearts and flowers – unless you count my appreciation for wildflowers growing untamed – I do recognize they are popular. Especially at certain times of year. You know what I’m talking about. Valentine’s Day.
That’s right, I said it. I know what you’re thinking. “Too soon! It’s too soon for another commercialized holiday.” Some of you may have just finished putting away your twinkle lights and bows of holly. Or you’re at least seriously contemplating the need to do so. But here’s the harsh reality, the biggest jewelry, hearts, flowers, and candy-giving event of the year is mere weeks away. Continue reading
If you’ve been around the blogoverse for a while, you’ve likely at least heard of, if not participated in or hosted, a blog hop. A blog hop, in case you aren’t familiar, is a virtual social event where blog authors share links to other blogs, so they and their readers can “hop” from one blog to the next and sample the offerings. Think “pub crawl” but without the public drunkenness or hangover.
At it’s most basic, a blog hop is a way to generate more traffic to your blog. But it can be so much more than that. It can be a community of like-minded people who gather in the blogosphere to share ideas, art, friendship, and more. Continue reading
The theme for this week’s challenge on the Self-Representing Artists in Jewelry Design blog was “beach.” This is the last jewelry design challenge for 2014 and the theme was chosen by popular vote among the members. Members who are longing for sun and sand apparently.
I am not a beach go-er. At least, not in the traditional sense. As a freckled fair-skinned blue-eyed girl, laying on the sand basking under the sun is not my thing. But, as a nature-lover and someone who studied oceanography, I do appreciate the beauty of a coastline, sandy or rocky. From under the cover of pants, long sleeves, a big floppy hat, and a liberal coating of zinc oxide. Continue reading
The theme for this week’s challenge on the Self-Representing Artists in Jewelry Design blog was “bubbles.” That’s all. Just that one word: bubbles.
How can such a simple word inspire so many ideas that I couldn’t decide where to begin? My muse was all over the place. Soap bubbles. Fish blowing bubbles. Bubble gum. Bubbles in champagne. Continue reading
We’re All Ears December 2014 Inspiration
The inspiration for this month’s We’re All Ears earring design challenge is this amazing anamorphic sculpture. It’s called “Breaking Wave” and is the creation of Plebian Design and Hypersonic.
You can see this amazing kinetic sculpture in person at Biogen-Idec’s new headquarters in Cambridge, MA. Or, you can watch this short film to see it in action, including the mechanism behind the art. Continue reading
The theme for this week’s Self-Representing Artists in Jewelry Design blog challenge was “winter” or “December.” This was a theme chosen by popular vote among the members.
I didn’t have to do any research for this jewelry design challenge theme. And it wasn’t difficult to get inspired.
I love winter: the kind where it gets freezing cold and snows big fluffy piles. I love wearing sweaters, scarves, boots, and layers. Winter makes me happy. Continue reading