An Overdue Thank You
Thank you to all of you who have complimented me on my new blog. It's very pretty, and I love it a lot. If a little birdie tapped you on the shoulder and whispered to you that I've been caught gazing adoringly at my blog, it would be wrong to call that birdie a liar.
Part of what I love about my blog is how it looks. But another part of what I love about it is that this was an idea in my head for months before it came to exist. I'm creative, but not very artistic, nor do I have everything I need to bring my creations to fruition. So, though I've choreographed an entire ballet in my head, I don't have access to a ballet company. Though I've created episode upon episode of various television programs, I don't have access to a production team or to the cast of Growing Pains, NY Undercover, Friends, or the OC.
A friend of mine is a graphic designer. We don't really talk about her work too often, because it has a tendency to not go well. Example: she is working on a project, and will forward me three possible designs for a company that's hired her. I will give her one of the following answers:
1. I see no difference between any of them, but don't like that shade of green.
2. Three is my favorite with two as runner-up, but whatever you do, don't pick one (one will be her favorite).
3. I like the shape of the letters in two but the color of the letters in three if they were just a tiny bit darker and then mixed with yellow (or something equally ridiculous that she can't do).
Yeah, I'm one of those bluntly forward people. To be honest, I'm always surprised when she asks for my opinion, and turn into Sally Field. "You really want MY opinion? You're sure? I'm just me!" I've tried to get better about my answers. I'm still working on it. I don't bullshit my friends and tell them what will make them feel good, if it's not the truth.
So when she offered to re-do my blog for me, I was a little hesitant to accept the offer. We're both sort of perfectionists, and very opinionated. How can there be a right or wrong when it comes to creativity? She was going to work for me, but I wasn't technically a client, since I wasn't paying her. I was worried working together this way would damage, if not altogether ruin, our friendship. It didn't occur to me that a few times I've babysat for her daughter for free, but haven't changed my level of care based on the pay.
She kept offering, and I really wanted to be proud of my blog, so I ultimately jumped at the opportunity. I tried to explain how I wanted it to look. I'm not sure I explained myself well. I swore to her that if I just had some crayons and blank paper, I could (badly) draw out how I wanted the blog to look.
One night when I was babysitting and her daughter was asleep, I helped myself to the crayons. In ten minutes my crude sketch was complete. I left it on top of my friend's laptop. I e-mailed her a document with lists of sites I wanted links to. She asked me a couple of questions. I told her I saw no difference between options she gave me. I tried her patience by thinking of things at the last minute that I wanted done. She dug in and persisted. I tried very hard not to be her Most Difficult Client Who Wasn't Even Paying. I came close to telling her to forget the whole thing more than once.
But then she showed me the shell of My New Blog. It was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen. To finally see something in real life that I'd created in my head was mind-blowing. For a quarter of a second I wanted to become a graphic artist, because I imagine my friend has moments like that all the time.
At one point, she even attempted to teach me HTML when the subject came up. Initially I resisted being taught, because I am not good at learning computer stuff, and it often ends with me crying. But again, she persisted. She was sure it was simple enough and I was smart enough to understand some basics. So with her toddler interrupting or climbing on us, she gave me an HTML 101 lesson. And I actually understood her. Without crying. My father would be so
proud. Even though I haven't applied what she taught me yet, I will. It's coming - look out.
So Brandi, thank you. A trillion times over. I love my new blog. Thank you for putting up with me. Thank you for finding a font I like, the shades of green and blue I like, spending the hours it took to move all the archives over, everything.
If you want to hire Brandi you can get in touch with her Here
Part of what I love about my blog is how it looks. But another part of what I love about it is that this was an idea in my head for months before it came to exist. I'm creative, but not very artistic, nor do I have everything I need to bring my creations to fruition. So, though I've choreographed an entire ballet in my head, I don't have access to a ballet company. Though I've created episode upon episode of various television programs, I don't have access to a production team or to the cast of Growing Pains, NY Undercover, Friends, or the OC.
A friend of mine is a graphic designer. We don't really talk about her work too often, because it has a tendency to not go well. Example: she is working on a project, and will forward me three possible designs for a company that's hired her. I will give her one of the following answers:
1. I see no difference between any of them, but don't like that shade of green.
2. Three is my favorite with two as runner-up, but whatever you do, don't pick one (one will be her favorite).
3. I like the shape of the letters in two but the color of the letters in three if they were just a tiny bit darker and then mixed with yellow (or something equally ridiculous that she can't do).
Yeah, I'm one of those bluntly forward people. To be honest, I'm always surprised when she asks for my opinion, and turn into Sally Field. "You really want MY opinion? You're sure? I'm just me!" I've tried to get better about my answers. I'm still working on it. I don't bullshit my friends and tell them what will make them feel good, if it's not the truth.
So when she offered to re-do my blog for me, I was a little hesitant to accept the offer. We're both sort of perfectionists, and very opinionated. How can there be a right or wrong when it comes to creativity? She was going to work for me, but I wasn't technically a client, since I wasn't paying her. I was worried working together this way would damage, if not altogether ruin, our friendship. It didn't occur to me that a few times I've babysat for her daughter for free, but haven't changed my level of care based on the pay.
She kept offering, and I really wanted to be proud of my blog, so I ultimately jumped at the opportunity. I tried to explain how I wanted it to look. I'm not sure I explained myself well. I swore to her that if I just had some crayons and blank paper, I could (badly) draw out how I wanted the blog to look.
One night when I was babysitting and her daughter was asleep, I helped myself to the crayons. In ten minutes my crude sketch was complete. I left it on top of my friend's laptop. I e-mailed her a document with lists of sites I wanted links to. She asked me a couple of questions. I told her I saw no difference between options she gave me. I tried her patience by thinking of things at the last minute that I wanted done. She dug in and persisted. I tried very hard not to be her Most Difficult Client Who Wasn't Even Paying. I came close to telling her to forget the whole thing more than once.
But then she showed me the shell of My New Blog. It was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen. To finally see something in real life that I'd created in my head was mind-blowing. For a quarter of a second I wanted to become a graphic artist, because I imagine my friend has moments like that all the time.
At one point, she even attempted to teach me HTML when the subject came up. Initially I resisted being taught, because I am not good at learning computer stuff, and it often ends with me crying. But again, she persisted. She was sure it was simple enough and I was smart enough to understand some basics. So with her toddler interrupting or climbing on us, she gave me an HTML 101 lesson. And I actually understood her. Without crying. My father would be so
proud. Even though I haven't applied what she taught me yet, I will. It's coming - look out.
So Brandi, thank you. A trillion times over. I love my new blog. Thank you for putting up with me. Thank you for finding a font I like, the shades of green and blue I like, spending the hours it took to move all the archives over, everything.
If you want to hire Brandi you can get in touch with her Here
posted by Green at 2/04/2006 12:22:00 PM
5 Comments:
You do realize that I'd create 800,000 web sites for you, right? Because you. fucking. rule. and I love you so much. You save me.
So, basically, you are welcome, my dear, and you were nowhere near as hard to work for as I thought you might be. And I am so glad that you have exactly what you want with this design. When you need an update, I'm here for ya. :D
Not 10 minutes ago I emailed her asking if she did this kind of work. Hilarious. I am so glad I clicked over to find this new post from you explaining it all. Thank you.
Very pretty! I like! I hope you will put an RSS feed link in here, too. I'm in the process of trying to get one on mine. I found you through Opinionista. Great writing. LOVED the Bring Your Blog Readers To Work Day post! Keep up the good work.
Hey green, just wanna say hello. Warm wishes. =)
Green,
I've been enjoying reading your blog. Entertaining & insightful. Hang in there! :-)
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