5 Things I Learned // DIY Blog Design

1. Inspiration is key. What I have learned from all 3 of my DIY blog designs so far is that it's all about inspiration. When I have enough inspiration, it's so much easier to start creating. And when I've created with lots of inspiration, I'm so much happier with the end result (versus, when I'm not, which was the case with my last layout). 

It really comes down to creating a clear vision for the design. What do you want it to feel like? What adjectives would you like others to use to describe it? I asked a lot of this kind of questions from myself before getting started and when I was looking at other designs, too. I collected logos, patterns, colors, fonts, and really tried to envision what I wanted the end result to be like. 

2. Take your time. This is always the most difficult step for me. I can be really inpatient when I'm working on something. I want it to be done yesterday. But, when I was designing, I realized I need to take it slow and let things sit for a while. Maybe that font I found so amazing today won't feel that great tomorrow. Or, that color-scheme I chose might need tweaking after I've "slept on it". 

3. Always test first. I created a new private test blog to test things out before I installed them to my real blog, and I'm so glad I did. I ran into so many troubles, it took me literally days to figure them all out. The designing part was a breeze compared to the coding aka getting things to look just right. 

Which brings me to my next point.

4. There are no unique problems. When it came down do putting the design into code, there were a lots of things to figure out. Why doesn't the header fit? How can I make the links underlined? How do I center this god damn header? Why the hell is the search bar not moving to the right? (Yep, the language kept getting better and better as days went by). 

Luckily, I realized, I was not the first one to run into those problems. Loads of other DIY web-designers had already ran into the same things. So, me and Google spent some quality time together, and figured it out together. 

5. Patience is more important than skill. Yes, it would be awesome if I was already a HTML and CSS wiz, but I'm not. I'm a lot better at it that I was a week ago, but I'm nowhere near good. But, as long as I have the patience, chances are, I'm going to make it work. Case in point - the Favorite Posts section. I couldn't for the life of me figure out why after applying all the appropriate CSS to the image links, they were not showing correctly on Chrome. Other browsers were fine. I spent hours trying to come up with a solution. And just as I was ready to throw in the towel, I figured it out. Everything can be done, even if you don't know how at the beginning. Just have patience (and google the life out of it). 

I'm going to share the best resources I found in a future post, so other DIY designers could maybe save themselves a few hours and grey hairs. 

As for my new design, I'd like to point out just a couple of things that are new. 

First, I'm starting a mailing list aka the lovelist. This is not the same as subscribing to posts via e-mail. If you subscribe to the list, you will receive e-mails from me that are not going to be published here on the blog. I'll send out early bird notices on new arrivals to the shop, special promotions, some behind the scenes action I won't share on the blog, and one exclusive DIY project a month. These are projects only the people on the mailing list will receive. You can subscribe on the sidebar, or by clicking the link below this post.

Secondly, you might have noticed the new "Blog Shop" link on the menu bar. I make a lot of things, and sometimes not all of those things are keepers. Sometimes I make something just because I love the idea, but I really don't need the result. Or, I love the process so much, I'd love to create more than one. And not all of them fit into my Etsy shop. So those will end up there. I will be adding the remainder of the Love Art there soon, and maybe a few other Creative10 projects will find their home there. 

Whew! That's a lot of talk for today. I hope you've had a wonderful weekend, and I wish you an energized start to a new week!

xo. Hanna

Pearls and Scissors reader survey results!

TGIF, my friends! It's time to wrap up my little reader survey with some fun results. I actually had planned to post this yesterday, but I got so caught up in making pretty graphics and talking to my Mom via Skype (you know how it goes). Sometimes my need to tweak one little photo to "perfection" can just drive me crazy. Either way, I hope you enjoy this little summary!

First, would you just look at that map! The blue areas represent the countries that the blog has had visitors from over the past month (or so Google Analytics tells me). The darker the blue, the more visitors. That map just makes me smile. I'm so happy I have readers from all over the globe. It would be so fun if you mentioned where you were from more often in the comments. Or just comment... Either way I'm excited!

 Most of you who took the survey have been here for a while. Which also makes total sense, because a) if you're new here, you probably won't think to fill out a reader survey right away, and b) I had very few reader at the beginning, so it naturally most of you joined during the last 2 years. I'm truly thankful for all of you who have stuck around, especially the ones that have been here from the early days. Your continues support means the world to me!

 This was the most interesting question for me. I've often thought about what I should write more about, what you find interesting, and what I maybe should blog less about. It's not a shocker for me, but it was interesting that Refashionista turned out to be your favorite with a cleat lead. I thought it would be more neck and neck with the crafting DIYs. I guess you love your refashions just a tad more.

What was also interesting was that the hair style posts aren't that popular. Maybe it's because I haven't done them in a while? They are the ones that get a lot of love over the web (Pinterest, other blogs), but I guess you are here more for the crafty stuff, which I totally get. Another thing that surprised me was the love for my Sewn feature and personal posts that don't get that many comments always, but it's good to know you still enjoy them.

I loved reading all your comments about what you'd love to see more of on the blog. There were some interesting insights there and a couple of really good ideas, so thanks for sharing your thoughts!

This question was one part getting to know what type of craft DIYs you'd love to see more of, and one part research for an idea I had (more on that coming soon). I guess we're all sort of soul mates or something, because the lefthand graph is actually the exact order of my preferences. And it's great so many of you want to get more into crafts and learn new things this year. You also mentioned you'd like to learn pottery (me, too!) and tatting (had to google that one),  and basket weaving. Well, I can't help you with all of them, but I am going to help you with some of them. I'm brainstorming and working on a concept for the blog that will help me do just that (oh, so secretive, aren't I).

Oh, and one last things. Do give Bloglovin' a chance, will you. I've been using it as a blog reader for over a year now and I really like how easy it is to keep up with my favorite blogs, save the posts I love for later reference, and find new blogs to read. I noticed that a lot of you are relying on Facebook to get the latest news from me, but since Facebook only shows my posts to about 20% of people liking the page, I'm afraid that's not the best way to keep you updated. I'd hate it if you'd have to miss some of the posts because of Facebook's strange algorithms.

It was so helpful reading through your answers, so thank you so much for participating!

I do have big plans for the blog this year, and lots and lots of DIYs and tutorials planned, so I hope you'll follow along.

xo. Hanna

Time to read your mind // Reader Survey!

Most of the time, writing a blog is a pretty lonesome activity. I know you are all out there and I'd love to know what you think. So I can make this blog a better, more inspiring place to visit. Sounds like a good plan, right?

The other day I got this awesome (or so I think at least) idea, but I really need a little feedback from you to get me started.

I hope you have a couple of minutes to fill out this little survey (only 9 questions).

GO TO SURVEY

I will keep this open until Friday night.

Thanks so much for letting me pick your brain!

xo. Hanna

The way things are

Hi, guys! How have you been? I've been absent, I know. I'm currently here in Leverkusen, Germany, cleaning and organizing, just trying to get our apartment to feel more like home. But, to be honest, that's not the only reason I haven't blogged.

You see, I've felt disconnected lately. From the blog. And I've been thinking a lot. I've always tried to be as open and honest with you as possible. I don't just blog because it's fun, I blog to connect with you. To share my thoughts, my inspiration, my creativity. And, I've always loved it. Whenever I've had to take a break and put other things first, I've missed it.

But, for the last few weeks, I've felt disconnected. My life is a constant rush, and it's exhausting. I have my job as a teacher, then my data entry job, then moving stuff, then this blog, a to-do list a mile long, and a million ideas I'd like to make happen. Some days I just feel I can't do it anymore. I've been spreading myself too thin, but for what? And, this is not just a question of my work-load and what I get in return. It's one of those hard life questions I've been faced with lately.

But, let's take a step back for a second. As you might have noticed, I've been experimenting with the idea of monetizing my blog for the last couple of months. Since I don't have a job lined up here in Germany, I've been thinking about turning my blog and Etsy shop into a part-time job. I've dreamed up new products, e-courses and blog series. It looks great... In my head.

But, the truth is, I don't know if I have it in me to make it happen. I don't know if I'm the blogger-for-business type. Or, if I'm the make-stuff-for-living type. And, it would be a huge financial risk for our family. What if I put all our money and time into it and fail?

I'm sure everyone starting out has the same fears, but for me, my past ventures in business have only confirmed these fears. So, should I really be giving this another go?

I'm not saying this to get you to reassure me, or to fish for compliments. It's one of those things that I need to figure out for myself. I just wanted to be honest and speak my mind. Because, I feel that you are a big part of this blog. At the end of the day, you are the reason I blog. As long as you keep coming back, I'll keep posting.

I'm sure I'll figure this out. And, getting this out of my mind and into words is definitely the first step.
I have a question for you as well. What types of posts to you love most on Pearls&Scissors? What would you like to see more of? I would greatly appreciate your feedback.

Thank you for taking the time to read this! And, thank you for hanging around! It means so much to me.

xo. Hanna

Pearls & Scissors turned 2 and thoughts on blogging

I spent the majority of this week organizing my blog archives (you can check them out from the navbar above). A tedious, yet very rewarding job. It was fun going through all the project I've done over the past 2 years, and seeing how many pretty things I've made. The official birthday of this little blog of mine was at the end on July, but I was too busy with the wedding to take note or celebrate. So, I thought I'd take a moment today to reflect back on these past 2 years.

I've talked about this before, but my blogging journey is much longer than the lifespan of Pearls & Scissors. I've gone through two blogs before launching this, and there have definitely been some growing pains for me as a blogger. But, the one thing that still rings true is that I love blogging. Even if I get too busy sometimes and don't post as often as I'd like, I couldn't imagine my life without it. I love connecting with you, I love sharing my creative ventures, projects, ideas, inspiration, and the curveballs life keeps throwing at me. And, I love being a part of the bigger blogging community of amazingly talented and inspirational people.

As I go into this new year of blogging, I'm facing some really tough questions. Like, where do I go from here? What do I want this place to be? How do I see my blog in a year/5 years/10 years? Those are all really important questions, and not all of them are easy to answer at this point. At the same time, I'm so excited to think about all the routes this venture could take, to dream up the perfect picture of Pearls & Scissors, and where it might lead me.

So, I thought I'd throw some of those questions at you, my dear readers. I always appreciate all your insight and thoughts, so I'd like to hear from you: What would you like to see more of on Pearls & Scissors?
And a really fun one: How would you imagine the future of Pearls & Scissors?

I'd love to chat with you on the comments, so do say Hi and leave me your thoughts.

Thank you so much for being a part of this blog, for visiting, and for all your incredibly kind words you've sent me over these past 2 years! Without you blogging wouldn't be fun at all :)

xo Hanna

New blog design!

after

before (the first version)

If you visited my blog yesterday, you probably noticed something was off. I've been messing around with the blog design all day, so there have been some weird moments along the way.

I've been wanting to make over the blog for months now, but didn't seem to have the time or a clear enough of a plan. But, today, thanks to a little push from my fiance, I finally did it. I'm so glad I did! I hope you like it as much as I do.

Update! And then I changed it some more. What can I say... I guess diving head into a design without a clear picture of what it has to look like leads to many more little tweaks. But, the positive side of it is that I learned a lot about html and some new Photoshop skills along the way. Whoop!

Why do I blog?

It seems that Elsie's post about blogging sparked a discussion in the blogosphere. For me, it couldn't have come at a better time. I've been asking myself some hard questions lately, one of them being "Why do I blog?". Not an easy question to answer as it turns out. Elsie and Melissa both wrote about some interesting points that made me dig deeper into the question of why. So, to organize my thoughts, and maybe spark yours, I thought I'd write about my own blogging journey and the reasons behind it.

the design of my first blog is still a little embarrassing

I started my very first blog back in February 2008. I shared my craft projects on a very popular Estonian crafting site that brought together a community of like-minded people, and I really wanted to be a part of it. I remember the anxiety and excitement before hitting the publish button for the very first time. Will people like what I do? Will anybody comment? Will I be accepted into the community? I couldn't check my comment form often enough to see whether someone had noticed me.

Fast forward to 2009. I got some attention, but I wasn't really happy with my blog. It just wasn't inspiring me anymore. I craved change, a wider audience, and a fresh start. So, I created my second blog Hapa's Eco Renewals (not the best name, unfortunately) and started blogging in English instead of my native Estonian. That's when I really dove into the blogging world. I started following other creative bloggers and blogging more and more. A year into my second blog I first started to think about maybe someday turning my blog into some sort of business venture. At that time I wasn't really sure about my university studies and I couldn't seem to find my true passion. I loved making things, so why not make that my career?

Then, in 2011 I decided to go for my childhood dream of becoming a singer. From the first lessons I was hooked and I felt I'd found my true passion. That feeling has not changed. All the while I kept blogging and even with my passion for singing, my multi-passionate mind couldn't let go of the idea of creating a successful blog. So, in 2012 I created Pearls & Scissors.

Finally, after all these years of trial and error I created something I was proud of. I worked very hard on this blog, at the same time getting my Master's degree in psychology, and studying singing full-time. It was a crazy year, but I managed to juggle it all. Then life happened and I had to put the blog on the back-burner. Now, I finally feel settled again and I find myself at the cross-roads, again - do I continue blogging as just a hobby, or do I turn it into a side business?

I still haven't made up my mind. There are pros and cons to both ways of blogging. But, no matter what road I (or you) take, the most important thing is to remember why I started in the first place, and why I keep on blogging. Here's my top 3 reasons:

1. It's fun! For me, this has always been the point that brings me back to blogging, even if I've lost the drive for awhile. I think it should always be fun. Even if you're monetizing your blog, blogging should still bring you joy. Without the fun factor, it can feel like just a lot of hard work (which it is). That's also the biggest concern for me when it comes to monetizing my blog. I wonder if I'm still going to feel the excitement when I know I have to create posts to keep my promise to my sponsors? Will I have enough creative energy to keep this blog thriving? And, above all else, do I really have the time to give it my best? I wouldn't want to compromise my dream of becoming an operatic singer, because that is my ultimate goal. But, that is a longer discussion for another post.

2. I love to share and interact! Connection is the second key concept in blogging for me. I wouldn't be blogging if I just wanted to document my creative endeavors. I wouldn't be creating tutorials, if I didn't want to share my knowledge. I wouldn't be commenting if I didn't want to connect. Without you to share my thoughts, inspiration, ideas, and projects with, this blog would be worthless to me. So, thank you for sticking with me for a shorter or longer period! I value every single comment and e-mail you've sent. And I'd love to connect even more in the future.

3. I want to inspire! Seeing that somebody is inspired by my tutorial or has used it to make something for themselves is like a high for me. I love helping people, so it's such a thrill to see that my knowledge and ideas have helped someone bring more creativity into their lives. Because, creativity is the best therapy, right? I truly believe in that, and I hope I can keep on inspiring.

Now, I'd love to hear from you - Why do you blog? 

Thank you for reading!

Featured on DIY Lifestyle Magazine and FREE March edition for you

Happy Friday, my friends! I don't know about you, but I'm in dire need of a weekend. I'm so looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow, having a big cup of tea and snuggling with a magazine or two.

But, before I'm off to enjoy my weekend, I have a treat for you. I've been featured in the DIY Lifestyle Magazine, a digital magazine available for iPad full of great DIY ideas and projects, and they're offering all Pearls & Scissors' readers the March edition for free!

For your free trial, download the magazine here. Click on SUBSCRIBE and then CURRENT SUBSCRIBERS. Enter in promo code: march1free to get the current issue for free (go here, if you're having trouble downloading). Get it soon because the coupon is only valid until April 13, 2014.

Enjoy!

Featured in Reloved magazine

I was so excited when I found this in my mailbox. The March issue of Reloved magazine, a UK based magazine for all things refashioned, recycled, up-cycled and repurposed. You can imagine me jumping up and down when they contacted me about featuring my buttoned cuff tutorial. And seeing it in the actual magazine, in ink and paper, I couldn't be more giddy!

The magazine is full of great ideas and projects, so if you have the chance, grab a copy and a cup of coffee, and enjoy!

Featured in Estonian fashion magazine "Mood"

I'm so thrilled to announce that my zipper tee refashion is featured in the September issue of the Estonian fashion magazine "Mood" (which translated into English means "fashion"). Woot woot!!

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Updates on life lately

It's been a while! Sorry for the radio silence on the blog, but life has been busy lately and school has been my top priority. Now that the exams are almost over, I can finally get back to making pretty things.

This pause in blogging has got me thinking about my blogging goals and the time and effort I've but into this blog. I've realized that although I love blogging and sharing my creations, it's become a very time-consuming hobby. Time that I could've put into working towards my true dreams of becoming an operatic singer. So, you're going to see some changes around the blog. I'm still going to share my creative inspiration and projects, but there will be fewer posts. Singing and music have to become a priority again.

Summer has always been the most inspiring season for me. After a sunshiny weekend in the countryside, I'm feeling re-energized and motivated! I can't wait for all the wonderful moments that this summer is going to bring. I'm sure it'll be a summer to remember!

Thanks for sticking around!

Let's be friends!

One of the things I love most about blogging is that it allows me to meet wonderful new people and other fabulous bloggers. There are so many amazing peeps in the handmade and blogging community! And I would like nothing more than to meet even more of you. So, if you have a small handmade business, Etsy shop, or a blog, get in touch! We'd love to get to know you and find ways to work together. For instance, you could participate in our ad swap! (more info on our sponsor page)

I can't wait to get to know you!

March Favorites on P&S

Another month has come and gone. It seems to have been the final month of winter around these parts, and we're finally having some spring weather. Today I even didn't wear a hat for the first time in about 5 months!
We also had an exiting month here on Pearls & Scissors with Elle. I love how this blog keeps my creative juices flowing. Here are a few of my favorite posts from last month:

I shared my first crochet pattern with you. Has anybody tried it yet?

The zipper front dress is my favorite refashion of the month.

Elle shared a simple way to upcycle old jars for beautiful lighting. 

These earrings were part of my concert gown ensamble, and I'm loving them. Here's the tutorial!

Elle shared a creative way to alter your bra to make it look super cute with a low-back dress.

I'm sure you guessed it! My favorite project of the month is my new fabulous concert gown.

Happy April, my friends! It's going to be a busy month, but hopefully we'll still have time to share some of our creative juices with you.

Pearls & Scissors is looking for Friends and Sponsors

Hi, friends! I can't believe how fast time flies! This little blog is already 8 months old and growing so fast. We're reaching over 15 000 readers monthly (wow!) and I can't even tell you how happy I am to be sharing my inspiration and creativity with all of you. Elle joined my team of one at the beginning of the year, and I feel that this is going to be a very exciting year for Pearls & Scissors.

We love inspiring you to be more creative, and we'd love to help promote other blogs and small creative businesses. Join the Pearls & Scissors bandwagon and become a sponsor! All of the sponsorship info is right here.

We are also looking for blog friends! Lets share the love with our readerships - you promote us, we promote you! If you have an inspiring blog with a similar audience, contact us at hanna@pearlsandscissors.com

Extreme Blog Makeover: Pearls & Scissors edition

Welcome to the new and improved Pearls & Scissors! It's been a long time coming, and it's finally here.  It's the biggest design project I've tackled so far, and I'm so in love with the result.

Just to refresh your memory, here's the old design:

It served me well, but as this little blog keeps growing, I thought it was time for a fresh new look.

We've also updated our about page, and contact info. Oh, and you can now sponsor Pearls & Scissors again!

So, pour yourself a cup of tea, browse and enjoy!

xo - Hanna