[Do you see the new blog header? If not, hold down the ‘Control’ key and ‘F5’ key at the same time to refresh your page if you aren’t seeing the new header.]
When the seasons change, I’m often motivated to change as well. I purge clutter, enjoy new seasonal food kicks, and break out a to-do list before succumbing to disorganization in 3 days time. Ah, it’s great.
The other day I was reading an article about improving the appearance of a blog. It said, ‘If your website had no text at all, would people know what your blog was about?’
I imagined my blog without text. All that was left was a creepy, glow-y profile picture circa 2008. Yikes.
It was kind of like looking back on my Grade 2 picture seeing myself with a side pony tail and a scrunchie.
Oh wow. Thanks Mom?
I’d like to think this new header is clean, fresh, and seasonal. Aside from my dying basil plant, I was able to grow these vegetables in my garden this summer (the picture, however, is from 2010).
My plan is to create a new header for each season shooting local and seasonal produce. So if you hate this one, it’s only going to be around for about a month. For Fall, you’ll probably see gourds, squash, pumpkins, candy corn, apples, etc.
For Winter, you’ll probably see snow, ice, and extremely unflattering winter boots circa 1994. For Spring, dirt and mud. You get the idea.
This header was a close second with a new and improved tagline…
My third idea was a Chocolate Chunk Toffee Bar dipped into a Green Monster. It demonstrated a lovely balance of health and indulgence, but perhaps not the most photogenic header of all time.
PS- Photoshop owns my soul.
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I thought it would be fun to have a discussion about blog headers today. What makes a great blog header? For bloggers: Did you design yours or have someone design it? What do you love about your header or want to change? Feel free to link to your blog in the comments.
I always enjoy your photography and I love the idea of changing the blog header seasonally! My favorite restaurants change their menus to the seasons and what fresh food is available at that time, so why not one of my favorite blogs? :-)
As for my header, for years I just used the Blogger basic. I only recently added a header at all and I have zero idea if it says anything about my blog one way or another. I did it for two reasons — 1) because I was bored to tears with Blogger basic, an 2) because my friend complained that “You never post your picture on the blog!” It’s true, I don’t very often, as I hate the way I look in pictures. So I gathered up a few that I don’t abhor and turned them into a header and said “now stop complaining”.
I’m a real treat as a friend, aren’t I? :-)
I love the new header! It’s so colorful and simple. I hired someone to make my header and she did an incredible shop for very little money. She was really quick and made all the changed I wanted to make sure that it was perfect. I had a hard time coming up with a layout for my header because my blog topic was shifting to two big life changes – culinary school and planning a wedding…after going to a blogging conference, I learned that my dog, Reddick, was a big start of the blog, too! Everyone was asking about him. So, he got added to the header, too…let me know what you think – www.eatsloveandhappiness.com. P.S. – the chocolate runner up – amazing! I want chocolate now.
Love your header (and blog in general)! So cute having Reddick on there peeking out, heh.
Thanks! It’s funny how many people think I had Reddick actually pose with a chef’s hat on…oh the joys of PhotoShop!
I definitely think the look is a refreshing change. I recently changed my header too. I used to have a lot more going on, got bored of that and went for the really simple, clean look. But then it was *too* clean and when you opened my blog, you had no idea what it was about! So I like the food, I like the idea of the seasonal change, and as cheesy as the glowing words might be, I think this is the only case it works. Good work! xx
I love the idea of seasonal produce!! :) my blog header is…i dunno, I use blogspot still and am not very technology-adept, so its’ nothing special. I wish I could figure out how to get pictures up there though!
I really like your new header. I think changing it up from time to time is a good thing! My very first header was super plain. The one I have now was done by my husband. Its not super fancy but it shows a lot of my favorite things. I kind of love it. :)
www.runninginpinkproject.com
I did my header in photoshop too. Well, that’s not completely true (horrible liar), my friend helped because it’s not a program that I’m used too. And by help I really mean that I supplied the pictures and he did the whole thing haha! I meant to watch him so I could learn but his girlfriend had a big container of fudge. Haha I’m not even kidding, that’s so sad. I’m going to go hang my head in shame now. I love the new header though, it’s very appropriate! That onion is perfection!
Love the new header.
Mine has no pictures…now I’m thinking that needs to change….
My hubby is a whiz at photoshop and he designed mine. I think the background is good at showing what my site is about, plus its colorful and seasonal!
Love the new header girlie! I LOL’d at the toffee bar dipped in the green monster — I can only imagine what that would look like! I’m sure you’d find some way to make it look appealing though. :)
I think a great blog header consists of exactly what you cited — could someone look at the header and tell what the blog is about? I designed my own header, it’s just a picture of some gnocchi I made. Yum!
I just changed my header too, as in yesterday!! I love the idea of changing your header seasonally, what a great idea. Looking forward to the new pictures, yay fall!!! My favorite season!! Can you make some vegan candy corn-ish desert, that would be uh-mazing!
I absolutely adore the new header! The old picture of you was super cute, but I couldn’t tell what was in the background. It was always one of those Big Mysteries.
I don’t have a custom header for my blog… just yet. I used a pre-made design. But! I have this idea where I’ll use one of those little pill boxes with the days of the week, with sequins spilling out of the Saturday compartment. Which only makes sense if you have the link:
http://saturdaysequins.blogspot.com/
This will also speak to how I believe sequins are addictive… and an excellent cure for most of what ails us. Call it sparkle therapy. ;)
I love that idea with the sequins spilling out of Saturday! p.s. you and I have the same blog design :) The middle part- but different sides. If that makes sense. I don’t know what I’m doing in Blogger yet, either ; )
your new header is gorgeous!
i designed my own. i’ve had the same basic theme for a while i guess, but i switch up the four photos occasionally. it’s not a perfect representation of my blog (i do sometimes write about things other than food), but it’ll do.
Someday when I am making more off my side “hobby” I will pay someone to do something fancy but in the meantime I try to do my best working on my own. What do you think?
I love that nice close up of the tart! You have a great colour scheme going on throughout your blog. I like how the colours you chose carry through.
Thanks! :D
Haha! “Eat Chocolate”
For my header, I actually made it myself (even though it is very newbie-ish). I wish my header was bigger though >.< That's one thing I would like to change about my blog!!
To be really honest with you, I loved your old header, I thought that the blue highlights in your colour scheme was really beautiful and your profile is lovely! I also really loved the font in your old header and I think that this one looks a little plain, to be honest…..
You know how you style photoshoots with other things in the background and had photos with more of a story in them? I think that your new header doesn’t tell so much of a story. Maybe you should have a photo of you harvesting your veggies :D
That’s a great analogy and I know exactly what you mean. I guess I’ve always felt like my header was ‘busy’ looking so I went for simple elegance in this one.
I’ll take your suggestions into account for my next one perhaps :) I guess it depends whether the text will look good over top.
I have nothing to add here, I completely agree!
Pretty header! Love the idea of changing it up!
My current blog header was done by a designer and I really like it. I am sure it could be even better though but all in good time. It says what I stand for and my logo. I actually really like pics in headers as you get to instantly get a feel for the person behind the blog. I’m extremely visual though.
My blog is www.caseylorraine.com if you want to check it out.
Great topic!
Change is good! I like the idea of rotating out your header image. I’m looking forward to some fall food photos!
We must have been drinking the same (green) juice, because earlier this week I looked at my own blog and went, this is so not me right now! I only started blogging earlier this year, and never got around to sprucing it up at all. So I did it! And I actually just updated my blog about this.
I learned most of this stuff just messing around this week, but I made headers and sidebars and all sorts of stuff! I’m sure I’ll get bored with it soon, but I love it right now! Check it out and let me know what you think.
xo
Morgan
www.alamused.blogspot.com
Hi Angela,
your new header looks great and I really like the idea to change it seasonally,
but I have to admit I was a little bit sad when I uploaded your page and the old header was gone.
I LOVED the old header.
I am reading your blog now for a while (I LOVE your blog, too :) ) and I always thought your header represented the blog very well.
You are a beautiful woman and in this one picture I really saw your glow. Just like your blog’s name says.
I remember the first time I uploaded your blog and your header caught my immediate attention. It captured me at first sight, so to say. It was like: Oh, she’s stunning and I want to “glow” like her!
I hope it doesn’t sound cheesy, but I always looked forward to read your blog every day AND to see that picture. As I said, it always inspired me to get my own glow :).
(Please excuse the mistakes I made; I am not a native speaker.)
Thank you Sabine!
Awesome new header! I think a great header is something crisp, fresh, and easy to get the point across without much thought. I also find they are dynamic over time and keeping in updated is essential!
The new header photo is very vibrant & fresh. But I will miss that stunning photo of you that was your previous banner. I didn’t think it was creepy, just for the record!