help wanted
I’m starting to think through a facelift for The Grit.
I am ready for something new. Something that more reflects me. And more reflects the community that I love here.
I’m working with the amazing people over at Cross and Crown who are designing and building my new site. And seriously, people… They do incredible work. You need to check them out. Like right now. A-ma-zing.
I’m not very creative and I can’t really envision something without seeing it. But I know I want my new digs to capture the essence of my heart for this space:
- To be warm and inviting. Welcoming.
- To feel comfortable and cozy, like your favorite couch.
- To look clean and simple, but somehow unique. Captivating.
- To express my heart for authenticity, transparency, realness. As well as the tension I feel in truly living that out.
- To communicate the broader story of me, not just the pain of the past couple years.
- To show the contrast of grit and glory in the design.
- To foster dialogue and community.
As for the specifics of how to do that and what it should look like… I need your suggestions!
What ideas do you have for The Grit’s makeover? From abstract thoughts to practical, specific things… lemme have it!
Hit me up with links of sites you love, and please tell me why. I also wouldn’t mind hearing what frustrates you or turns you off, so I know some things to avoid.
Nothing’s off limits.
Loves. Hates. Styles. Colors. Themes. Anything… And everything…
I wanna hear your thoughts.
Please? MmkayThanks.
can’t lie… i really like the couch image. i’ll get back to you with specifics. grinning.
and here’s my finished inspiration board. http://www.flickr.com/photos/resaxy/5576797350/
i have full images / individual links, etc.
the goal (in my mind) was soothing, comfy, sit on a couch with a frothy beverage, talking and listening. i think it’d be fun to use a minimalist color scheme (ivory, light blue, chai accents) and feature photos. and i’m serious about a pic of you in a wingback chair. i think that would be the awesome. grin.
I love the whole couch idea too. Something clean and crisp, yet soft and relaxing. Maybe a white couch by a window with some light shining through. As for the content and subject matter…please don’t change a thing. You have ministered to my heart so many times with your realness. I need the good stuff!! the stuff that hits my gut and speaks to my spirit. That my friend, is a gift you have given me more than once. :) Good luck with your new look!
@gritandglory says:
thank you so much for that huge booster shot of encouraging words, tammy!
@gritandglory says:
wow. I love seeing visuals of what you picture! that helps me so much.
and I almost added “with a hot frothy beverage” to my couch description! way to go on the chai!
I love the colors you suggested. I also like the idea of fall colors. balanced out with a white/ivory color as the predominant to brighten things up, but with the bold vibrant autumn hues to give accent and pop. thoughts on pros/cons?
keep sending me pics as you think of things. you are really good at this, and it helps me a ton!
@loverebeccaanne says:
i can’t explain it… thinking about you makes me think “blues and warm tans and browns” so that’s what direction i went. but, mmm. i like autumn colors, too. a pro would be emphasizing that “warm and cozy” feel. i can’t think of any cons, really. though i’d have to go looking a bit for some autumn-y + chai + red couch coziness inspiration. i might do that tomorrow. my brain is fried. though my persistent-excited side might not let me put it off. ha!
@gritandglory says:
well “blues and warm tams and browns” is exactly me. that’s how i decorated (or tried to) in my house back home. (and every time i say “couch”, i’m really picturing my big easy. mmmmm…)
i like both color schemes. a lot. and indecisive me is gonna have a really hard time nailing one down!
wish we were getting some couch/big-easy time together.
@loverebeccaanne says:
THAT is what it is… i couldn’t pin it down ’til just now. it’s that sometimes reds overwhelm me. i love autumn colors, but it’s so hard to use them in little patches without going to red&white candy cane. i’m sure c&c could do it wonderfully… that’s just where my brain goes. again with the frazzled, though.
which means i *seriously* could go for some big easy with you. sigh.
@gritandglory says:
oh i DEFINITELY don’t want candy cane. i don’t even like peppermint. ;)
hugging you, my friend.
@eloranicole says:
oh! love your ideas, earl.
@mat2820b says:
A white comfy couch with African pillows and a margarita? ;)
cup o’ chai was my next thought, actually. along with the couch. grin.
@gritandglory says:
mmmmmm…. margarita!
I would be happy to help out if you need help. I can be found at my link above. We do wordpress sites along with a ton of others.
Let me know if you want/need a full site redesign or just the logo etc.
@gritandglory says:
thank you, Matthew! I actually already have a designer lined up. but I appreciate the offer.
@Hannahrinehart says:
Can’t lie. I miss your kitchen in africa. Scrable games and hot drinks and talking about itallian food and slightly past dated boxes of wheat thins. some of my favorite memories with you were in that kitchen. I felt so warm there. But couches are nice. I love roo’s ideas! Do you have any photos of your Starbucks take away mug collection? That would be really special to me. :) kind of brings in the memories of that kitchen and the coffee house feel.
hmmm… you’ve definitely got me thinking.
(and I miss my kitchen too. was so perfect in so many ways. lots of great memories there…)
I can’t figure out if you are talking about your blog or your house! LOL! If it’s your blog, then I have something to say… not so much helping really but a few things I don’t like about other blogs is super bright funky, conflicting patterns making it hard to read posts, and music playing!
All I have to say. Love reading your blog!
@gritandglory says:
talking about the blog!
and that’s just the kinda stuff I’m looking for. thanks!
oh, oh, oh!!! It just HAS to include something like this:
http://images.clipartof.com/thumbnails/95033-Royalty-Free-RF-Clipart-Illustration-Of-A-Brown-Steamy-Coffee-Logo-Design-Or-App-Icon-3.jpg
or this:
http://www.filgifts.com/images/product/small/hot-strong-steamy.jpg
or even this!!! :
http://images2.fanpop.com/image/photos/14400000/McSteamy-mark-sloan-14487564-624-352.jpg (ok, so he came up under the search “steamy cup of coffee”)
Unless you’ve changed more than I realize coffee or frothy drinks have a been a big part of you! Something starbucks maybe? think of you so so often. xx
okay, your comment cracked me up! I almost wrote “…on your favorite couch, with a hot frothy beverage in hand.” so you definitely nailed it. love that first abstracty coffee cup pic! and I think I’ll leave McSteamy out, but hi-lar-i-ous that he came up in the search. ha!
i’m not a big mcSteamy fan myself, but since it came up on the search I thought I’d throw it in. ;)
Well, you can’t argue that he’s at least a little bit eye candy. ;)
@gritandglory says:
that he is!
I’m not that creative with web design stuff either but I can tell you that one thing I LOVE about your blog is how your readers can reply directly to other peoples comments and have chains of conversation within the comment section instead of scrolling down the comment section to maybe find a comment that was left in reply to something we wrote.
so I vote to keep that part :-)
I definitely wanna keep this kind of an easy, conversational comment system.
how about a big picture of these, centered in the middle of the page – very stealth like. Business up front, Party in the back!! Heyyyyyyyy!
http://aetv.auction.seenon.com/viewitem.php?item=1377
KLASSY! you’re onto something here!
o_O
@kamriereed says:
I know of an amazing designer…. and he always gets the job done. Creativity is constantly flowing from this guy. his name…..KYLE REED! One of the best designers I know ;)
If you want to look at some of his latest work check out kamriereed.com. All graphics are made by him.
@gritandglory says:
I love Kyle’s work. always have. I hadn’t seen your updated site — it looks so great!
I actually have a designer already, just trying to decide and articulate to him what I actually want.
@kamriereed says:
thanks I will make sure to tell him that.
Oh and I know you already said this but i really enjoy simple sights. Sights that have all of this crap on the side and flare and stuff seem like they are trying to hard.
my new design seems just enough for me plain and simple yet somehow unique. I have no idea how kyle did it
@gritandglory says:
he’s just THAT good! ;) and i agree on the simplicity. i don’t want ads or bling or “clutter”. i want it simple, clean, and neat. yet somehow still strikingly captivating and unique. hmmmm….
@amykiane says:
Just no music. I’m sure the rest will be amazing.
@gritandglory says:
i really can’t stand websites that automatically play music. i click out of them as fast as i possibly can.
Except A Holy Experience. I’m sure you’ve been there. I go there just for the music. Often I don’t even read her posts. The music alone moves me to the point I can’t read the posts – it’s just too much.
But often times music can be distracting. I feel ya.
Strangely, I clicked on some other site’s music, which is mostly Christian with a smattering of other (non-Christian) songs. Currently playing is a weird remake of Green Day’s Time of your Life, complete with an orchestra??? Weird. lol But I heart Green Day so it’s all good. (THey used to come around my area b4 they got famous. Played in my best friend’s back yard.)
@gritandglory says:
everyone loves ann’s music!
and i’m all chuckles over the green day orchestral piece you’re listening to at the moment. and the spiderweb of your thoughts. you’re my kinda girl.
This is the word picture that came to mind when I read this post:
Alece is hanging onto a flying kite. Smiling. Happy. Carefree. The kite is in African colors. The sky is bold, bright blue. The horizon is a left to right land mark history of favorite land marks of Alece’s history (like the fun maps of cities you get as a visitor, but in this case New York would run into Africa, Africa would run into Ohio, Ohio would run into Atlanta, Atlanta would run into Tennesse, type thing). There is also a couch somewhere in the horizon, with two cups of coffee on the side table. The couch would be in the middle of some park, or seaside: something that made no sense except to you – a place you find rest, with the quircky part being the couch is outside. In the kite is the word, “Glory,” written somewhere small. On the horizon is the word, “Grit,” also written somewhere small. This scene, of course is best in cartoon form, so a header like this would require a cartoon artist. The symbolizm of the bright colors is renewal, the symbolism of the kite is the Holy Spirit carries you above the good and grit to His glory, the symbolism of the horizon with all the landmarks is symbolism for God’s promise to continue to work out His story in you just like he’s been doing since Adam, and the couch should be red symbolizing your bold, brave heart.
I really don’t expect you to litterally use this idea. But thought I should go ahead and share as I want you to know this is symbolic of my prayers for you.
Love you,
R
@gritandglory says:
i’m intrigued by the idea of the “bleeding” landscapes… NYC skyline to African bush silhouette to Nashville — or TBD — skyline… hmmm…
and i’ve always pictured the couch red too.
Exicted and cant wait to see what you come up with.
Love reading your blog.
@eloranicole says:
a couch. i definitely want a couch somewhere on your site because then i can picture us sitting there and drinking some amazing coffee….
can i join. . .and i think i would def buy the coffee that supports your adoption elora ;)
@gritandglory says:
of course!
@gritandglory says:
YES!
I was on a website today that had the “next” button for the next post underneath all the comments. I had to scroll through hundreds of comment to push next. It annoyed me.
Put the next and previous buttons in easy reach. That’s all. :)
@gritandglory says:
that is so helpful, ellie! i am with you on wanting it easy to navigate. thank you for this.
@mat2820b says:
Whatever you do DON’T do the ‘click to continue reading’ thing. Drives me nuts. Oh, and do have more than one post to a page. Oh!! And make a button! K? thxbai ;)
@gritandglory says:
“click to continue reading” bugs me too…
and yes! a button!
@atangie says:
Keep: the name, intriguing photos of your face, a signature, comment nesting, sharing options (on twitter, facebook, email, etc.), follow me options, contact me page, search bar, subscribe bar, avartar pics of the commenteurs, questions that lure us in, your amazing authenticity, and your challenging yet inviting posts
Add: links to recent posts on the side bar by title
Change: my Africa page, the colors (I like my Nebraska buddy’s flickr collage), and the logo – from which should spring all other design elements and color schemes,
Avoid: music, front page people have to click through to read – content should be immediately available, and cluttery ads
I love that you have not given up on blogging. Thank you for that.
fyp
@loverebeccaanne says:
leave it to @ngie to bring the LIST to g&g! ha! love it, nebraska buddy!
@atangie says:
:)
@gritandglory says:
such great thoughts, angie! thank you for all the specifics. you rock.
@bernardshuford says:
I’m one of them weird people that like to change my own stuff but get antsy when other people change stuff. I need help. :)
@gritandglory says:
hope i don’t stress you out too much! ;)
@atangie says:
You really are turning over a new leaf… since when did you start using emoticons??? ;o)
@gritandglory says:
haha! good call.
@loverebeccaanne says:
she’s been using them for a while… i’ve been noticing, too. grin.
@bernardshuford says:
You’re not stressing me out :)
The only things I can suggest are more pictures of your younger brother and links to his blog! ;-D
@gritandglory says:
nice.
@danielleH says:
Remember how we were talking about how we didn’t want to read some trendy book just because it was trendy (Blue Like Jazz maybe??)? Make it cool. Love the couch idea. But don’t make it cool / wierd in the way that other blogs are cool and wierd. It seems that is happening a lot and its just becoming cliche.
Pick colors that make you feel comfy. I dont like little snippets of blog posts, want to see the whole thing without clicking lots.
Excited to see – probaby have more thoughts but battery about to die! lol xo
@gritandglory says:
yes! i don’t want to be THAT girl, and i don’t want to have THAT blog. i guess i want it to be somewhat unique without it coming across like i’m trying too hard. heh. just want it to be… me.
(and i so agree on the snippets thing. the less clicks, the better.)
love you!
Anything that reflects your tender, blossoming, lovely heart will be beautiful my friend. And of course, anything designed by Trevor the ROCKSTAR will be, of course awesomesauce!
Cannot wait to see what you come up with friend!