Season Change

We are on the cusp of a seasonal change. I love cool, crisp, autumn mornings that ease into bright, warm, sunny afternoons. Walk through the clothing stores and you see the dark, cozy colors of fall wardrobes. Pumpkin spice and salted caramel lattes are back at Starbucks, and blackberries are plump and sweet on the bush ready to be cobblered.

Yup, it's fall and I love it.

I've taken a Fall approach to my purple butterfly theme on this blog site. I also plan to spruce up my Mari LaVell page soon.

Are you thinking of cleaning up your blog design? Do you need a little help? Let me know if there is any way I can be of assistance.

Also, my new button is in the sidebar. ------------------------>>> (Look Up!) O_o

Read more...

Just Right

Dear Ugly Blog Owners,

As I peruse the internet, hopping from blog to blog on one meme or another...or other distracted paths, I've stumbled upon some ugly blogs.


(disclaimer: the ones I looked at today don't belong to people I know personally)

no pre-made layout is just right!

I had several not-so-good ones, trust me.

I think back to the days when I struggled to find just the right pre-made layout for my little corner of blogger. Frustrated, I finally took matters into my own hands when I realized, no pre-made layout is just right! I hunkered down night after night until my eyes were crossed from studying html code and "how to" videos on YouTube. I'm sort of a self-made person like that. I like to figure things out.

Since then I have found great joy in helping bloggers find their place among the blogsphere and design a hand-made layout that is just right for them. I take time with the individual clients and I take pride in my work.

Here is my shameless plea: Please Hire Me!

Read more...

New and Improved

I am my mother's daughter. In more ways than one, and yes dear Melissa...you too will say this more than you want to admit. There are times I do something and I roll my eyes and say "I've turned into my mother. Ugh."

And my husband's response? "Uh-huh."

I don't remember asking him his opinion.

One of the ways I'm like my Mom... I'm a sucker for new packaging and improved flavor ploys. There's something about the flashy little star-burst symbol with those magical words in the middle that screams: "Buy me! Taste me!"

I've recently designed a new blog for Jan Ackerson and this week I decided to do a new and improved campaign of my own; I re-designed my blogs. And like the crackers, I'm sure Jan will bring you something with a new flavor and I hope to present you with some improved blogging, too.

Hop on over to Jan's blog, One Hundred Words, and see what can be done when you choose your words wisely and tell her Mari sent you.

Oh, and if you are looking for a new look for your blog, let me know.

Read more...

Outsource2Me

Well, spring finally came to my neck of the woods. Now that summer is less than two weeks away, maybe it is a good time to consider a little bit of spring cleaning...blog style.

I'm thinking I"m not the only one out there that gets bored with the look of my blog. Maybe you like the look and feel you currently have, but would like to spruce it up a little bit.

~OR~

Maybe you want to do a total make-over but aren't sure where to start. Perhaps you lack the technical know how, patience, or creative juices.

Well...I'm your girl. (Well actually, I'm Les' girl, but that's beside the point.) I'd love to correspond with you, pick your brain, and see what we can come up with.

I offer my services on a donation basis and currently everything I earn is going to help me attend Faithwriter's conference in August.

~BUT~
(I have a big but...)

If finances are tight (and in this day and age I totally get that) and you'd still like to have me help you out... I'm still your girl. (Les has learned to share.) Go ahead and outsource the job to me.

You know where to find me... I'm just a click away.

Read more...

Checkin' in...

Hello!
I've been keeping pretty busy designing a few blogs. I think my favorite part of what I'm doing is watching things come to life. An idea sparks from details the blogger (or future blogger) shares with me and then suddenly... something grabs a hold of my imagination and I run with it.

So. Awesome.

I've also enjoyed getting to know the blog owners in a much more personal manner. The emails back and forth as we hash out details, the a-ha moments we have together...but most of all my favorite part is when I get an email like this one:

Dear girl, thank YOU. I can't begin to tell you what this blogging thing means to my... career, self confidence, direction, etc. You've helped me understand better what God wants out of this passion/drive to write. And boy, have you made that blog look GOOD! Yowsa. Without you it would not be. Period.

 Puts a great big smile of satisfaction on my face. :-)

So....I gotta know...anyone else want to have their blog freshened up? Start a new one?
Have your people call my people...or just email me.

Read more...

New Tricks

Who said you can't teach an old dog new tricks? I'm tellin' you...I'm an old dog and I've learned a new trick or two in life lately.

One area that I'm continuing to learn new things; my endeavors of blog designing. Once again, I do NOT claim to be a professional, just an eager learner who loves the way this has brought out my artistic side that has been long buried.

I've dabbled in art off and on in the past, and I've toyed with the idea of looking into a computer graphics class. For now I'm thankful for the people who have entrusted me to revamp their blogs with face lifts, or recreate new avenues for them to share their voice.

I'll be adding a few new blogs to my "previous designs" list soon. I hope you take a peek and see how individual each blog looks.

How about you? Do you need a blog-lift? Are you looking for the avenue in which you can be free to be?

~Mari

Read more...

Here I Go...

Well... I'm doing it. I'm stepping out of my comfort zone and putting myself out there. I've been dabbling in blog design for a little while and I'm having fun doing it. In no way do I consider myself a professional, but I do have an artistic eye and a knack for not giving up until I figure something out.

Blog design is something that constantly evolves with new tweaks and tricks faster than I can keep up, but I thrive on the challenge.

My goal as a blog designer is to help people find their inner bloggy side. Your blog is a place where you express yourself, whether it's a private journal, for selected friends, or a public forum, it should reflect who you are.

I've posted links to the blogs I've designed for friends and family members. (Click the "Previous Designs" tab.) Each design is a collaboration of the author's ideas and mine until we've honed it into the finished product. Some take longer to do than others partly because I'm learning as I go and sometimes because it just simply takes awhile to find that inner voice.

If you're interested in having me assist you, feel free to contact me and we'll see what we come up with and enjoy the journey along the way.

At your service,

Mari

Read more...