My Wow Sleek Template

Be warned *Narcissistic-mode: on* ;-P.
I made up my mind and changed my template again, after I found a template named Joomla Template for Blogger. It's so irresistible. It might look more conventional than the previous template I used, but it's more compact. It's built with many compartments in it, and its clean look design makes this template versatile enough that allows me to experiment even with my limitations :-P.

Since I'm still possessed by one of Gmail layouts -can you guess which one? ;)- I've tweaked the template into this woody board. I also did a bit coding changes so to make the right column appears properly on the old IE6, and so the above two ad compartments to appear on every pages, not only on the homepage.

Luckily I have a techie online buddy, and lucky that my memory was cooperative, I was getting the clue on how to code the template from one of our many chat sessions.

I'm proud with the result, cause it does look like what I imagined, and with this template I can accommodate as many blog candy as before I want.

Here are the recipe of the makeover, in case someone is interested :-P

Main Ingredient:
1. Joomla Template for Blogger that can be downloaded here.
Spices:
1. Wood background: Makore
2. Images: Old World Wax Seal, bubbles
3. Font: Conglomerfont
4. Contact System: VisitorContact
5. Interactive toolbar: Wibiya
6. Navigation: Bloggerbuster
7. Comment System: Commentluv -now with its one-click installation for Blogger, a must have gadget.

That's all, but this look is not final yet.

Two Cool Templates and A Contest

It appears that my current layout is not paid post friendly. Probably my blog subscribers notice that my previous post is suddenly gone. I have to take it off, after the ad marketing agent told me that the post is obstructed from full view on the homepage that I must allow at least two of my recent posts to be fully visible.

I'm in like with my current template very much, so I can't be bother to change it right now. Though this means that I won't be able to do paid post while this template is alive, and though I'm not sure if this template is SEO friendly, it's always satisfying to wear the outfit that you really want, right.

What else?
Still about template, I finally made my purchase from themeforest. Remember that last time I became one of the lucky 2500 PSDTUTS readers who receives $US10.
There are so many templates there, and because I also have wordpress blog, it took me months before I can decide which template to buy. I chose to buy the blogger one, because there are more free wordpress templates out there than blogger ones.
Gamediary-templates is the name of a template that I purchased. It has a nice colour schemes and good insertion of ad placements. Also, unlike the usual left side blog post, this template has the post section on its right.
Take a peek on how it looks.

What else?
While I was on themforest, I read about this awesome "Win $3500 to Spend on the ULTIMATE Creative Setup!". Enter just by creating a free account on any of Envato market places, including themeforest, and start compiling a public collection.
This is a snip that I quote from the site on how to create a public collection after you join:

1. Decide on the theme of your collection (e.g. Best Vector Illustrations, Killer WordPress Themes)
2. At the top of the page where your username is, click the Bookmarks link
3. Name your new collection in the Create a New Collection box
4. Add an awesome image to represent your collection
5. Add a description for your collection
6. Make it publicly viewable (this is important!), then click Create.

Good luck!!

My Current Template Talk

It's been awhile that I took off my dear "choco block template" and using this very unique free template which is created by Jaloee, an Indonesian blogger.
Quite lucky that I've saved this template before it's become unavailable anymore for download. Sometimes ago I went back to the site and didn't find this template, that then makes this template a limited edition ;-))
Other unique templates made by Jalooe are still available to download for free there, but I like the clear structure of this template.
The structure gives equal exposure to the postings, and eases the reader to choose what to read.

I only face a problem to fill the abundant link and ad compartments that come with this template. I haven't tried to fit project wonderful or similar ads there because collaborating those kind of ads into this template is not as simple as a plug-n-play thing. For now, I just leave them as they are.

Another things that I want to do to this template are adding icons, and probably background for the widgets . Icons might be small in size, but they can bring prominent effect to a site. This template doesn't come with many icons.

I haven't decided what icons to use, but the huge collections of icon from my recent finding gives enough choices.
Have a look:
icojoy, here you can find the Maneki Neko Japanese good-luck cat. I'm not a cat person, but these cats are indeed cute.
fordesigner, this will pamper your need of icons with its super cute collection.
dryicons, it has icons and many more.
dezignous, essential source for free icons and other free graphic stuffs.
visual blast, not many collections, but very good ones.

Hope this finding can benefit other icon lovers too ;-)

Hurry!! Giveaway worth $25,000 for the first 2500 PSDTUTS readers

How long will 2500 available posts last?
Hmm...let's see, I at least have saved my place yesterday, and since the contest started 9th December,I think I am definitely going to receive one of $10 for 2500 lucky PSDTUTS readers.

I forgot to share here when I read good news on my iGoogle yesterday, it's a bountiful giveaway of total $25,000 from PSDTUTS for its 2500 lucky readers. Yes I have been a subscriber to www.psdtuts.com since I don't remember when.

There are many nice professional look templates on Themeforest.com and $10 is sure enough for buying one. Since I'm a blogger user and I'm a bit used with template from Amanda, I chose one of Amanda's designs there.

One final note, in order to join PSDTUTS contest, you have to sign up for free an account on ThemeForest -ugh..sorry for the referral thingy, that's an option ;). I didn't know that I actually have already joined Themeforest.net, because long ago I've joined Flashden.net, I just realised that they both are on the same boat.

I knew I was Right

Finally, that cute blogspot template featured on "See no Evil Here" is corrected. Finally that blog co-author "listened" to the input from that template users. I knew there were something wrong with that template, and though I was not listened, I am glad someone else could make the co-author see the problems even though for that he had to reprimand a bit :-D. Seems it's necessary to be that way sometimes.


It would be a pity if no one care. I'm not a perfectionist, but seeing my blog goes awry really annoys me especially because I'm an html and css illiterate. That template actually doesn't matter anymore for me now, cause I've changed my blog template with a beautiful and fault-free template from Blogger Buster since some weeks ago and it seemed not only me who changed the template, but the guy who made it happened also changed his template into a good-looking one too.
I'm just glad that I was right and glad to be able to make contribution.

For the Love of Batik

I am a bit swayed by the current Batik enthusiasm movement in -at least Jakarta- my country. Everywhere I see people wear the products of Batik. Batik is really in fashion. So I think it would be nice to adorn this beautiful template with a look-a-like Batik print. I can't say it a Batik pattern though, cause Batik is not actually a pattern but it is the process.

Let me talk a bit of what I heard about it. The word Batik is derived from Ambatik and also tritik. Both words are originated in Javanese language. Amba means "to write" or "to do", while the word 'tritik' which means a dying process where the patterns are done after tying and sewing the areas. It was similar to tie dye techniques. So I think that's why it's said it's not a pattern but the process of making the pattern.

Having said those, I want to point out that Batik is the pride of Indonesia and the most beautiful Batiks are from Java Island in Indonesia.

Interested in reading more about Batik? A site that's mainly addressed for expatriates in my country features an educative and concise article about Batik.
Want to make some groovy pattern like mine for your own template background? Do it easily on www.colourlovers.com or just click the above pattern.
The more complicated and exotic process of making the product of Batik by Batik artists, however, can be seen here.

Scrumptious Choco Template

I changed my blog template again because I can't resist to see the beautiful magazine style Blue Steel template from Blogger Buster. The template is so far hassle-free and easy to install.
What I especially like about this template is this template looks good on firefox and IE, my previous templates have slightly problems on IE.

Amanda, the creator of this beautiful template, made the template available with:

• An optional magazine style layout for the home page
• Optional customized recent posts widget for the sidebar
• Themed icons for sidebar widgets, post features and post options
• Custom made favicon to match the blog theme
• Integrated search function
• Tabbed navigation with easy customization of links
• Related articles beneath each post on post pages
• Integrated (optional) post summary hack

There's also bookmark tabs such as del.icio.us, stumble it and digg included underneath each post. One more important thing -for me, cause I've been searching for something like this- I like the comment thing!! I don't know how to explain it exactly, but unlike normally blogspot templates which will go to default blogspot comment template whenever its comment is clicked, the comment on this template is integrated with the template design.

This template is also very versatile, see the difference on my two blogs that use this template, this Origena and Faithship. I just made a small change, but the difference is visible. I am sure those who are an advance at html or css code will be glad to experiment with this template, for instance like Buzz Nutter.

I wonder why Mashable misses to include Blue Steel - Blogger Buster into its
70 Fresh And Modern Blogger Templates list, because many of those in the list have already been around for a long time already, and are converted from wordpress theme. This Blue Steel, I think has its originality and it's really fresh.

See No Evil Here

As I thought already, we can't expect more for free things. I should just be glad to have this beautiful template available for free and accept it as it is.

Sometime ago, I made queries twice on eblogtemplates -the provider of this template- about a little problem I'm having with this template, ie. the post on 29/4 is overlapping with the post on 22/4, and all the images cannot be centered. I also found that it's not only me that have that problem, actually some other users too. Unfortunately my queries aren't qualified to be answered. I don't know why, maybe because of its free status, that makes my queries considered too much :-D

There was another user that asked about similar issue too previously -Cat- and she got a response but not an answer.

I had also wondered, why no one else was aware about the issue. Until some days ago a blogger named RicardoUK brought the issue back -I feel somehow relieved. He has been waiting for provider to answer my question because he has similar problem. He finally couldn't wait anymore to post the query himself and he also points out that my question is being ignored.
This time it strikes :))
He gets a response, and yet it's still not an answer to that problem, and no mention about my questions either on the provider's response.

Well, anyway, this template is truly beautiful, probably I just have to pretend there's no problem at all. After all, the provider has been kind enough to tweak it for free, so I have to keep my mouth shout now :-P

Colourful Update

The mystery has revealed, I remember now how I got that 100 ec. That amount is a prize that I won from 500,000 Free Entrecard Credits Giveaway, a competition made by PopularWealth. So thank you PopularWealth for making that giveaway, though recently I'm not so active in Entrecard.

For my blog-hopping I currently prefer Blogupp for its simplicity and hassle-less, and, wow I think the sites on my blogupp widgets are mostly Italian blogs :-P, it's good for me catching up some Italian words though. I like the humble appearance of Blogupp widget too, it blends easily with any blog template, I mean it won't crash template look.

Speaking about template, I use a this professional look template now. This template can accommodate a lot of things that I want to put on my blog without really making it cluttered.
Thanks to Eblogtemplates for making available this template for blogger use. Definitely must check out the site for good looking and reliable template.

Photo by Gaetan Lee

New Look for Christmas

It's already Christmas season, time to change template for Origena.
Though at first I felt reluctant to replace the Foliage template that I'd been using in more or less two years. It's a unique and very well design template. However its dark colours sometimes look depressing, and the Ajax top menu sometimes crashed, causing Origena don't perform well all the times. I did think many times to freshen up Foliage with my own choices of colours and illustrations, but I'm good at procrastinating as always :-D

I chose to find free good template designs, and del.icio.us showed me Mashable posting about 50 more beautiful blogger templates. I'm liking templates made by Blogandweb, and Magazine Style of Jackbook. I previously had installed that Magazine Style template for my other blog, but I find it hard to follow its instruction, so it didn't really work well.

It's funny that I could install templates from Blogandweb -a bit more- easily thought the instruction is in Spanish. Maybe it's because I never really actually read any instructions thoroughly. Finally after trying some templates from Blogandweb, I decided to install Plantilla Blogy Mosaico, and it's done pretty fast. The problem were -and some are still- the tiny but essential bits of blog, such as the meta tag, feedburner, and some other more nitty gritty. The biggest obstacle is, I don't know at all about the coding that new Blogger has now, so it's really annoying.

Luckily there are many great hacks and tips available on the net from generous Blogger experts. Without their instructions, this Origena would dress improperly :-P
Grazie a tutti.

Google Me Google

I love to dress up my blog but don't really have the know-how of making my own blog template pattern. Grâce à creative and non-mingy person who makes the blogger template factory, now I even have my own private google ;-)
Is this using of Google-like template against Google TOS?
I think Google will even reap more benefits with many bloggers using this template.
I will continue to use this template until Google protests me or until I'm bored. Which will come first?