This little restless period is finding its way into many a thing.
I'm thinking of giving my little space here in cyberland a complete makeover. But i'm not 100% sure. I fiddle with it all the time. It stops boredom setting in and saves me from thinking it's all a bit 'stale'. However, i'm wondering if my little fiddles should become big fiddles.
Stream lining it all.
Getting rid of all the 'fluffy'.
Advice please if you so kindly will.
I quite like the look of 'plain' and 'simple', but I do find it a little more impersonal. Do I want to be more impersonal?
Sometimes though, I think it would be nice to come here to my little space and feel that something is clean and simple in my life. On the other hand, I am all of this. It's me to a 'T'. More often than not, simple and clear ends up cluttered and full in my world anyway, so is there any point in bothering?
I'm not sure.
A silly phase brought on by my restlessness that will subside as quickly as it has come?
Hummmmm........
I would love some thoughts on it......
I would love some thoughts on it......
xxx
I adore your blog exactly as it is, it says a lot about you - but that does not mean, of course, that I would stop 'visiting' you should you decide to change anything. Just be true to yourself :)
ReplyDeleteI love your blog, It's one of my favourites. I love all the fabulous photos and how bright and fresh everything is but I'm sure whatever you do will be just as lovely :-) Sorry, I'm sure that's no help at all.
ReplyDeleteI love your blog and am you regular reader, it always feels very cozy here. But will look out for any changes with anticipation. Jxx
ReplyDeleteI really love your blog, and whatever you decide on I am sure I will still love it. I started reading it when the header photo was your lovely ripple blanket, one of the nicest I've ever seen. Your blog stands out from the crowd, and I'm sure whatever you do it will still continue to do so. I know I haven't given you much advice, but I'm sure you will choose the right path. Life is an experiment!
ReplyDeleteYour blog is perfection. Truly lovely. But oh how I understand the restlessness. It is quite maddening actually, as a creative person who goes through these "changes" at least once or twice or more a year. For me, it seems that my desire to overhaul my blog is due to the shift in creative interests that seem to cycle through my days and months. If I am heavily into my drawing and painting, then it want my blog to reflect that. If I'm into knitting and crochet more, then I want my blog to reflect that! What's a girl to do? I used to have THREE separate blogs! Oi! That was crazy! So this summer I combined them all into one. Yet I still want to change it up! I am trying to wait out the restlessness and let the change happen in my creative world and wait to see if it needs to change on my blog in any way. That prolly doesn't help. We will love whatever you decide to do!
ReplyDeleteI love it as it is - such pretty colours. But no doubt if you change them, it will still be pretty and you anyway. I admire that you know how to change it all - its totally beyond me! Have fun, whatever you decide to do. x
ReplyDeleteI am of very similar opinion of the people who have commented before me. I love your blog how it is but if you made any changes I wouldn't stop reading it. I am in a similar boat with my blog. I received a book for my birthday called 'blogging for creatives' and ever since have been itching to totally revamp my blog. Maybe though if I made it 'all singing all dancing' and 'streamlined' as you say then it wouldn't be 'me'. I particularly love the layout of your blog and how it is very cohesive.....the design really allows your gorgeous photos to shine. One thing I have learnt recently is that I will always find fault in anything that I do (blog design, crochet etc), whereas others will have a totally different (and much better!) perception. I reckon have a play about and see if you like that changes. If not you have an already fabulous blog to go back to!
ReplyDeleteDo not change...
ReplyDeleteI love the way it has all been, that's what attracted me to you! I dream as I look at your beautiful photography.
ReplyDeleteHi Vanessa,
ReplyDeleteWell to basically repeat what has been said before your blog is lovely and has always been one of my favourites. I have never considered your blog busy looking but fresh and bright. Which with the wind that is howling round the house and the rain lashing down at the mo I really need right now.
But all that said I know sometimes you feel the need for a bit of a change. As you know recently I went ahead and made a completely new blog. I feel that though the name feels more me I know the look will evolve over time. I have stripped it right down on purpose a bit like moving into a new home painting everthing white just to see how you want it. I know I will slowly change it as when i feel like tackling it. I just wished I knew more about the technical side of blogging. I would love a graphic in my blog header.
I expect you will have tinker and whatever you decide I will still be visiting!
P x
DONT YOU DARE CHANGE A THING!! I LOVE IT!! :) X Julie
ReplyDeleteHi Vanessa, to a new blogger like me, Coco Rose Diaries has been inspiritional. But sometimes change is good, I will continue to read your posts, and if you decide on a fresh look, I am sure I will like it!
ReplyDeletePat Sunshine and a Sewing basket
Love your blog as it is, and if it is totally you, I say keep it this way!
ReplyDeleteYou know the old saying...If it ain't broke don't fix it? your blog ain't broke. I feel like I have stepped into a place that is warm and welcoming. A place filled with love.
ReplyDeleteHi Vanessa
ReplyDeleteTricky one because its always good to have a bit of a change but then again what you already have is so perfect !
Maybe just a few tweaks here and there to satisfy your restlessness ?
Kate x
I love your blog, Vanessa, it is beautiful and one of my very favourites for its colour and design!! It always feels ordered to me, fresh and pretty and is never stale (or too 'fluffy').............just always a pleasure and inspiration to visit!
ReplyDeleteHelen xox
Hi Vanessa, your blog is one of my favourites and I keep coming back not just because it is beautiful, but because of the lovely things you share with us. If you decide to make changes, however big or small, I will keep coming back. I haven't been blogging for as long as you, but I can understand the urge to do something different. I'm not sure I've been much help, but good luck with whatever you decide to do. Enjoy the rest of the week.
ReplyDeleteJane x
I always enjoy your blog regardless how it looks, do what feels right for you xx
ReplyDeleteHello, sometimes I consider myself emotionally unstable, one day I see my ugly blog, another day I see beautiful, but sometimes I have to say I copied some idea of what that looks beautiful blog and yours is one of them. however understand if you change it, and remember not only interested in the content aspect also and especially the friendship between us, although we do not know personally.
ReplyDeleteHugs!!
I have just found your blog and have spent a week reading it all (should have been doing the house work!) I love it, its pretty and girly and very me! With a house full of males I'm sure you need a female retreat and this is it :) What ever you decide to do I'm sure it will still be you.
ReplyDeletex
Hi V, I adore your blog....always have....it's pretty, bright, clean, uplifting, fresh, welcoming, beautiful.....but never 'fluffy'....but often with change comes something better....something we hadn't envisaged, but rather like.....but I think I know how you feel......I like pretty and pastel, pops of bright, clean white, cluttered and cottagey, clean and simple......I lurch from one feeling/style to another.....my home is a total mismatch of everything I like altogether, rather than one cohesive style....which infuriates me immensely.....but I just can't stop my heart leaping each time I see a picture/photo that takes my fancy and sends me on a new whim of the moment....I wish my heart would settle, be still, rather than flutter always like a butterfly......personally, I would suggest you continue to 'titivate' your blog as and when the fancy takes you, as you've always done.....rather than a complete overhaul.....I believe it would be more true to you.....but this blog is for YOU.....it is your happy place......so you must do what is RIGHT for you right now.....at the end of the day, whatever you do will still be you.....it'll still be beautiful through and through -xXx-
ReplyDeleteI really like everything as it is!! And you are so much like me...always thinking something else might be better but always coming back to what's in our hearts!
ReplyDeleteXO,
Jane
I love the look of your blog. I always look and read as soon as I receive it because your color choices are so beautiful and delightful!
ReplyDeleteI think you should leave it as it is. It is 'you'. It's also so full of prettiness that it is a delight for anyone to read and look at. I think all your readers love the abundance of eye-candy! But, of course, do what feels right to you. Maria x
ReplyDeleteI have only recently discovered your blog, I love it so much I have linked it on the side bar of mine. I love the clean and fresh look you have created, every thing seems to match. I wish mine was as professional looking as yours. I find it welcoming. I know what you mean about enjoying a change, I would say go for it if you feel like a make over, I am sure you will come up with something lovely.
ReplyDeleteI love your blog as it is but you don't do it for me. The saying 'truth to self' comes to mind so follow your urge to change it if that is what you need. When you look back on your blog in say 20 years time I wonder what your thoughts would be then...? If you don't like the change you can always have another play with it.... maybe by making some changes it will inspire you for what you really want/need right now. I will continue to visit no matter what as I really enjoy what you have to say plus I love your colours and photography :-) Xxxxxx
ReplyDeleteYour blog is amazing as is. I love the clean look, your colors, and your beautiful photos. That being said, if you feel like you want to try something new and different from this, go for it! You can always change it back! I'm sure we'll all still enjoy you no matter what the look.
ReplyDeletehello Vanessa, here a message from Holland,i realy woold like to follow you but i don't know how,can you help me?
ReplyDeleteGreetings from Anita
Go for it, Vanessa - there is nothing that cannot be undone (take it from someone who coloured their hair pink last month after years of wondering what it would be like). My blog started off more crochet-focused and the look reflects that, but I am thinking about running a lot at the moment so have already changed my main picture (which I thought would be the blog's 'branding' forever). Just play with it :)
ReplyDeleteI love your blog and love to visit to see all the colorful things you post.. I personally wouldn't change much... I feel like that a lot of the time even at home like I have to much but it's all me as well and everything that I love.. so why deny ourselves of it.. so I let go of it all and change when I feel to.. for my own personal reason.. I just love your blog really I do.. with love Janice
ReplyDeleteYour blog is beautiful! I love it just the way it is. The colors, your crochet, decorating style, etc. It's one of the first blogs I discovered when I learned to crochet a year and a half ago and it's one of my favorites. You take such gorgeous pictures and your crochet is very inspirational to me. That said, it's your blog and you should do what makes you happy! You can always change things back if you're not happy with the changes. Whatever you decide, I will continue to follow!
ReplyDeleteLove it just as it is! I come here for inspiration, for ogling your beautiful pictures, it uplifts and inspires me here! I will never meet you in person, but these small glimpses into the beauty you create are enough for me! Thank you for taking the time to post and arrange your photographs of your makes. Blessings, SHani
ReplyDeleteYour blog, just the way it is, is what drew me to it in the first place and has kept me coming back. I seem to love the things you love and so sharing that through your blog is actually inspiring. While streamlining things in this modern world is the way people push for things to be, it also loses a sense of identity in some aspects. Sometimes it no longer reflects what you actually started out to represent in the first place. Just know that there are plenty of us out there in blogland who enjoy you for who you are and the way you represent yourself now and we will continue to do so, no matter whether you decide to change your whole blog style or not. I personally would miss all the prettiness!
ReplyDeleteI like your blog the way it is.
ReplyDeleteI debate frequently about making my blog simpler and " all white", but I realize that my blog reflects who I am which is not "all white".
I make changes periodically, but I am who I am and you are who you are.
I love your blog, so pretty, but be true to yourself, if you fancy a change go for it, you can always change back. Sarah
ReplyDeleteI see what you mean about change or not. About clean and simple yet impersonal. When it comes to your blog, which I absolutely love from the beginning, I think the essence is your beautiful creations and photography. Whatever you do to the design and lay out of blog, as long as the chore (your makes and photographs) stays the same it will always be beautiful and personal to me. xoxo
ReplyDeletePersonally, I love all the fluffiness! x
ReplyDeleteIn the spirit of do unto others as you would do to yourself, I would remind you as others remind me, it is your space! Do as you would like, be fluffy, streamlined or in between as you like. I am just impressed that you know how to make any changes. I am fairly new to your blog, and I find it very inviting, but that is because of you and your content, not what your header looks like. I hope that you find a way to work out what you want. xx
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the water color effect in your banner. WOW! I might steal that idea from you at some point. And make overs... Don't we always want to do make overs as soon as we get bored?
ReplyDeleteFor the moment I can't even produce for Blogland... But a make over is always fun to do. The mixing and exploring, changing and experimenting... I am a graphic designer... I like simplicity. I like it somewhat personal. There are to many impersonal and professional blogs out there. Blogging for me is personal. A journal. That now has turned into a job. Maybe that is why I have lost the mojo?
When you loose your initial focus you kind of loose it all... Think of it this way. You go to your favorite restaurant, that little cozy, scrumptious Italian place on the corner with flaws in the bathroom, and not so perfect interior. But personal is great, the ambiance is fabulous and personal. they know you by name. They smile when you walk in through the door and you feel at home sitting down ordering from the same old menu. And then they expand. They find a new location on a busy street down town, they make stream lined bathroom in trendy 2014-style. They renovate the inside and get all new furniture, new staff to cover the double amount of seating... They try hard to bring cozy with them, but it is not working in a big impersonal space where the walls are large and bare. You stop coming, find another place. Home Sweet Home is gone. And the owner scratches his head and wonders: "What did I do wrong? Everybody told me to go big." So I guess what I am trying to say is that things constantly evolve in Blogland. Small personal blogs become big and professional blogs. They loose the cozy and homey feel. They get sterile and plain. Plain is different from simple you know. So my advice is don't do something big.
You love it here in your clutter free space. We love it here too. It is like coming home and sipping the coffee which we know how it will taste. We can smell the new baked cookies and we don't mind the rip on the table cloth. We choose to not see the dust bunnies in the corners. Because we love the perfection in the imperfect. The simple things in life, a life which otherwise is so full of big complicated and stressful stuff.
Tweak it. Set your measurements and format, your sidebar, your tab menu. Pimp up a button, tweak your colors with seasons. But stay with basic and simple fonts that everyone can read. Make it user friendly for all of those who aren't so computer savvy. Those who only wants to visit, enjoy your photos and read your stories and rambles. And a fluffy pillow in the corner, who can not love that? Well, at least I do.
But I hear you. I always think and wonder if I should just start all over, make it more trendy and up to date. Streamlined and peel off all the lace and trims. But at the same time, what I have is me. I like it that way. And obviously my readers love it too so... Do I want to do it for me, for Blogland, for pressure from outside, for boredom or for my readers? You got me thinking...
This is worth a blog post. I might steal this comment from here as well, (I am sounding like a real thief now...) to keep the discussion going over at my place. Good luck Vanessa and give me a shout if you need something.
Xxx
Annette
My Rose Valley
Personally I feel that your blog is just fine the way it looks. It is a reflection of you and your personal style. Of course, if you feel that that has changed then by all means tweak the look to reflect your mood. But it is just a mood you're going through. Everybody feels restless at times but even though we may try new things, we always tend to go back to certain things that are always true, tried and tested.
ReplyDeleteI think that the lovely Annette has made a very good observation and she does offer some good advice :)
Hi from Madrid !
ReplyDeleteI love your blog the way it is, but I know where you are coming from. I have recently given a whole makeover to my own blog.
I had a logo I loved, designed by a dear friend who is a graphic designer and had it for around 6 months. Everything in my blog was around that color scheme (red, taupe and sage green). Then after 6 months I kind of felt the image of my blog did not represent me and what I do anymore. So instead of going bigger I went for a simpler, neater look. I did my own banner with Picmonkey, it does not have a professional brushed up look but I love it and it reflect who I am and I what I love doing. Also the colors were much different.
I do still tidy my blog every now and them, got rid or many widgets and things I had kept adding to it, etc. . . it was who I am today.
I always find it amazing how we all have our very own personality and it reflects in our works and mostly on the colors we use.
Like you see a piece or sewing work or crochet, knitting or whatever it is and we always think: wow, that is so 'this' or 'this' person.
If you feel you should revamp your blog, go for it and do it as it probably means it does not reflects who you are at this point in time.
It will probably look very similar in its essence as blogs are so unique to the owner . . .
Funny enough I also had this kind of discussion yesterday with a fellow blogger, but it was about our own house decoration and how while you could have been a 'shabby chic' person 5 years ago and decorated your place that way and now you are not that person anymore and feel more you would like to change it all and go a more modern look. People evolve and change but our true self will always remain. So to end, no matter what you do with your blog look, it will still be you and we will love for that come and visit you every time you post something new !
Hugs,
xEva
I love your blog how it is, the design of it feels like it fits with what you post and I loved that you have lots of pretties down the side as I scroll through, I especially love the new watercolours at the top, are these hand done or a photo effect? Xxx
ReplyDeleteI enjoy your blog Vanessa. Its' pretty, it's cool, calm and collected. I love the pastel colours and the sense of relaxation that exudes from your posts. I like change and this is something I've been meaning to do for ages - it's just lack of time sometimes. I occasionally play about with colours and layouts but I really think mine needs a makeover now. Your post has inspired me. Can I just ask, how do you add tabs to your blog - yours are on the sidebar and I see many across the top. I think I could probably make the tabs but how then do you put those subjects (e.g. your faq's or about me) into those tabs? Some people have tabs for recipes, holidays, crafts etc. Sorry to be a pain but unless I ask I'll never find out - and then I'll lose interest!!
ReplyDeletePatricia x
I know what you mean, Vanessa, I'm forever fiddling around with my blog. I'm sure whatever you decide to do it will look beautiful, and if you go ahead with the change and it's not quite how you like it you can always change back. I find changing my blog gives me a real lift so I can really relate to your thoughts. Em xxx
ReplyDeleteI found your blog just this week. I am not even sure how! I love it just as it is. I love your wonderful quotes, your lovely cups and bowls, knitting, flowers and colors. You have an eye for beauty sio I imagine even if you make changes they will be lovely. I hope to keep reading you for a long time. Thanks from New Hampshire in the USA.
ReplyDeleteboy-o-boy...keep it as is...I too, love your blog as it is, all the knitting and crochet and all of it...it is huggable, pleasant, cozy and comforting to see and read. I'm working on mine to look 'cleaner' and yours is one of the models I'm following.
ReplyDeleteBlessings, ^__^