Arlene Marie

I’m sure many of you have come to my blog, and see that it is actually a subdomain of a larger website.  Has anyone wandered what www.arlenemarie.com actually is?  This domain will one day be the main home of all my jewelry.  In the meantime, it is my current project.  Before this website was built off of a template, but I felt that design looked dated and I have since began to construct a new one.

I hope to update everyone around once a week about my progress and useful links I’ve found.  Here is what I’ve learned thus far:

1. You don’t have to be a programmer to built your website without a template. I’m not a programmer, not even close.  In fact I might be the complete opposite, I’m a liberal arts major, and I hope one day to become a lawyer.  However, there are website development programs that make it possible to build a website with minimal programming knowledge.  In the past, I have used Microsoft Expression Web, but I am currently using Microsoft Sharepoint Designer 2007 with pretty good results (I think…please tell me what you think through comments below).
2. You’ll need to do a little bit of coding research. A LITTLE not a lot, I promise.  However, it also depends on which web development program you use.  In my case, I had to do a little bit of CSS research to figure out how to center my page on any browser.  Online there are millions of different sites with clear step-by-step tutorials, even for the very visual learner.  If you are extremely visual, just search YouTube for a how-to video.
3. You don’t need the snazziest web development program out there, yet. Its all about baby steps, how are you supposed to run if you can’t walk?  While you’re learning, it doesn’t hurt to use the free programs available to explore, and buy the snazzier programs later.  Besides, the other programs with more features can be overwhelming for a beginner.  Also, if you find out web design isn’t your thing, there’s no money lost.  Microsoft Sharepoint Designer 2007 is free, easy to use, and has a lot of features (the link to download is below).
4. Time to dedicate to the web design is needed…and patience, lots and lots of patience. Like most things, building a website takes time.  You won’t be able to plop down in a seat for two hours and design a website that looks professional in two hours, unless you are professional (and I think even that’s debatable).  Also, you’ll need patience, sometimes things won’t look the way you want right away, just tweak the design until you get it.
5. Please, pretty please, with a cherry on top SAVE your work, and often! Due to some technological ignorance and some clicking gone awry, I lost part of a page I had been working on for hours, so save your work every once in a while!  I’d suggest every 15 minutes or so.
6. There will be some unanswered questions, and room for improvement. I don’t know how to do everything I want to…just yet.  I figured out how to center my website, but for some reason I can’t figure out how to remove the underline that appears when you link a word, even though I figured out how to change the color and font of the link (it tends to automatically turn blue and a Times New Roman font).  I’ve come to the conclusion that one day I will figure it out.  On that note, if you do know how to remove the underline, can you please enlighten me?

Finally, I am pleased to say I’m almost done the main page of my website and would love for everyone to check it out and tell me their opinions.  Also, I posted a few links below that I found on my journey thus far:

• Download Microsoft SharePoint Designer 2007:  http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=baa3ad86-bfc1-4bd4-9812-d9e710d44f42&displaylang=en
• A List of CSS Page Generators and Help:  http://www.designfollow.com/css/online-css-tools-for-web-developers-and-designers/
• Make a SiteMap:  http://www.xml-sitemaps.com/

Ok, well I might not be able to show you the world, but The World We Live In Tumblr blog certainly can! Everyday, they post beautiful pictures from all over the world.

These pictures are colorful, and vibrant–certainly they inspire me! Even if they don’t inspire you to create, I’m sure they will serve wonderfully to start a daydream or maybe to plan a future vacation. Enjoy!

Please Note: All the pictures I have posted I found originally on the blog, but they are from a variety of sources. I have included links below to credit all the photographers.  These are the pictures they posted for the day of July 29.

Photo Credits (from left to right):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ireneillee/4824710209/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ramdiboy/4049336079/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/notmycat/4545633021/in/faves-belenmata/

Hello All! I just wanted to share with everyone another website I’m experimenting with called Link Referral. I’ve been using it for a little over a week now and have gotten 117 visits from them.

Ideally, you would login in everyday and visit 30 sites, write 5 reviews, favorite one site, and comment on a forum. If you do this on a daily basis, you will rise quickly within you category. Within my category, I’ve been ranked as high as third.

Thus far, I have not gotten any sales from this site, but the reviews are extremely helpful. Its probably the equivalent of getting a good shop critique from a fellow Etsy user. Additionally, I have the chance to check out other Etsy sites, which can serve as a good way to do some research or just got shopping.

If you have used Link Referral for some time, please let me know! I would like to hear about everyone’s long term results. Have a good day!

For those who have seen my post of the different places online where to find me, you probably saw a link to my Efreeme store. However, I recently realized that not many people might know what Efreeme is.

Launched in June 2010, Efreeme is a place where you can sell your handmade and vintage goods with absolutely no fees. In fact for a limited time, if you make a shop and list 20 items, you receive 20 items! I have made one shop thus far with more than 20 items and I can vouch that you will receive your $5.

Although it is in its early stages, I suggest that you take the time to check out this site.

While you’re there, check out my two Efreeme stores:

Arlene Marie Jewelry for handmade, one-of-a-kind necklaces, bracelets, and earrings

AM Destash Supplies for discounted prices on jewelry-making supplies and vintage jewelry.

Lets face it, all of us have had a creative block at one point or another. If you’re like me, you also have maniac periods where everything in your head is a project idea. What inspires you?

I can be inspired by nearly anything, but I figured I should start by sharing with everyone something close to home. One of my sources of inspiration is the beautiful garden my Mom has put so much work into. Check out the pictures below!