Rounded Avatars in Comments Tutorial

I was quite pleased to discover a little trick while I was messing around with my blog template in the last couple of days. I had seen on a friend's   blog that the comment avatars were little circles rather than the standard    square shape. The circle was just really cute, and was one of those small  touches that adds so much to a design, so I decided to add it to my own  blog.

I didn't have any luck finding a tutorial to follow, so I fiddled around until I came up with the right combination and here it is!

1. Of course you begin every similar tutorial like this by going to the html editor of your blog, and downloading the template. That is unless you're like me (read: lazy), and don't. It's up to you.

2. Search for the following code:

.avatar-image-container {

3. Right under that, paste this code:

-moz-border-radius: 20px !important;

-webkit-border-radius: 20px !important;

-goog-ms-border-radius: 20px !important;

border-radius: 20px !important;

4. Save your template, and go check it out! The preview won't work in this situation, because the comments don't show up on the home page.

Enjoy!

Country Cottage Inspiration

I've been rearranging my room lately, trying to finally get it the way I want, but I've been having a hard time deciding what I really want. I'm definitely leaning toward some kind of cottage-like feel, so to inspire myself, I created this Etsy Treasury, full of cottage style goodness! Enjoy!

'Country Cottage Inspiration' by ClassicKniterature

I've been in a country cottage kind of mood lately. I'm lovin' these inspiring objects!

Portrait of a SAW WHET ... ORphotography $25.00	blue bird teatowels - s... TheShabbyChicC... $14.00	Cottage style Green Can... thebrokenhouse $13.49	French Blue & Cream Bir... craftymooncrab $6.75
Vintage Linen Nest Pill... ellenidesign $38.00	Magnets, Refrigerator D... SSSJ $14.00	Country Decor Cottage S... Twigs2Whirligi... $62.00	Hand Embroidered Hoop A... lovemaude $52.00
Large Antique White Dis... PetiteSophisti... $35.99	you pick the color Dist... braggingbags $19.99	Coastal Blue Shabby Cor... Swede13 $67.50	Glass Cloche and Pedest... junktojoyshop $20.00
7 Piece Frame grouping ... 6miles $56.00	Embroidered footstool Y... TesseTassenEnZ... $53.00	Romantic Bird Nest Silv... AMarigoldLife $8.50	Tea Time Cottage Style BrokenMemories $175.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio. 

Plus, here's some great DIY links that will show you how to make your own cottage style!  I'm going to have to try some of these...

1. Burlap and Lace Pillow
2. "Vintage" Sheet Music Bunting Banner
3. "Vintage" Bunting
4. "Old" Signs
5. Bird Nest Necklace - I know this isn't necessarily home decor (depending on how you look at it!), but it was too cute to pass up. Just to prove it to you, here's a picture of the one that I made!

If you know of any good vintage-y or cottage style tutorials, let me know! I've got my eyes open to find some good ones!

Dear Error bX-ixy9ss

I have once again been in the template-changing mood, and so have thrown myself into working on my sister Georgie's blog, which is going quite nicely, I think. You might want to check it out. I know that you are just an error code, but I'm sure that you can still admire the template color scheme.

I hate to say it, but I would like to redesign my own blog as well. I loved the grey background when I put it up, I really did, but now it's just too...dark. I want something that's a little more light and flowing.

The problem is, I want it now, and Blogger is not co-operating. Last time I changed my template was  before I met you, but ever since the problems that everyone had, my Blogger experience is still wacky. Every time I try to go to my dashboard or the template designer (template designer being the second most important place, right next to the html page), all I get is a good look at you:

Needless to say, this vexes me.

Not that you aren't beautiful in your own error-code-ish sort of way, but I'm afraid you stand in the way of progress (hopefully!) .

So dear bX-ixy9ss, although our acquaintance has been a short one, I feel that I must say I don't like you and would like to distance myself from you. In fact, I would rather never see you again. No hard feelings, okay?

Love,
Me

Feelin' Crafty

I've been feeling fantastically crafty lately, and so I thought I would show you one of crafts that I completed.

"I am excessively diverted." ~ Pride & Prejudice

I got the idea for these Fashion Paper dolls, via The Crafty Crow.  By the way, The Crafty Crow is a great place to go to find all kinds of kid-friendly crafts, games and ideas.  Be sure to check it out! (No, nobody asked me to advertise, it was just a fun website I want to share.)

It was such a fun craft idea, and I can totally imagine a gallery of these little ladies decorating the walls of my bedroom. Anyway, I love it and I wanted to share the sweet idea with you. ;)

The Graphic Girls!

I am going to tell you a history. Once upon a time, in Blogland, there were four kingdoms (Called "blogs". Blogland is very different from our world.), ruled by four lovely Queens.  Each Queen had the desire to bring beauty, encouragement, smiles, and edification to their "blogs". To fulfill this desire, the Queens created many badges, and offered them freely throughout their lands.

One day, Queen Laura, the ruler of the "blog" Walking in Thy Truth, came up with the brilliant idea to unite the four Queens, thereby quadrupling their power for their mission. At first it was a secret, the Queens not wanting to reveal their plan until they had something to prove it's intent and sincerity.  But soon word got out, that the four Queen's were forming an alliance, for what it was unknown, but already advertising was at work, and the Queens took advantage of the hype to increase excitement about their project. 

Finally, one day, in great and glorious celebration, they revealed the project! The Graphic Girls was born, each Queen promising to contribute freely and graciously to the common good of all Blogland.

If you would like to adorn your "blog", click on the "advertising" below, and join in the glorious cause to bring beauty, joy, and inspiration to all Blogland!

Introducing Classic Kniterature!

Everyone, I would like to introduce you to what has been filling my days these last week.  I have thought about, pondered upon, and dreamed for this for longer than that, and now I am finally (hopefully!) putting some of those ideas into action.

I would like to present to you, Classic Kniterature.  My shop and blog where I plan on selling some of my handknits, as well as my own handknit designs.  The link goes to the blog, which you can find at http://www.classickniterature.com.  There is not a link to the shop just yet, since there is nothing for sale in the shop, but whenever there are updates, and such, you can find them over at the blog.

Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures, quotes, or anything awesome to put in this post to help advertise.  I'm slowly working on that, but these things take time. 

So basically, I just wanted to make you guys aware of what I was up to, so you can follow the updates over at Classic Kniterature, and start getting excited for things to come!

Under Construction

Please bear with me as I work on my latest template idea.  I can't just upload things willy-nilly here at home, so I have to wait until I can go to the library/

In the meantime, I have been messing around, trying to find something that I like that will do until I reveal my master plan, but until then...yeah.

Cardboard Furniture? Oh, Yes!

I have recently been inspired by cardboard furniture. Is this not the ultimate way to recycle and have a stylish home for very little cost? Or at least a cheaper cost than buying normal pieces of furniture. It probably takes a while to save the cardboard for large pieces, but if you know where to look for (Try home improvement stores for appliance boxes!), and how to save them (break boxes down right from the start), this could be a rewarding and unique hobby.

This is an example of what can be done with cardboard. I'm not telling you to jump out and try this from the start, but by watching it, and other YouTube videos, you can pick up quite a few construction techniques.








Check out this collection of pictures of cardboard furniture. Both the video and this website show how you that cardboard really can be something you would want in your home! Personally, I am in love with the red chair, which is the third picture in the comments section.

At EcoFriend (no, I am not an environmentalist), there is a really great picture collection of amazing cardboard designs. Definitely inspiring!

Finally, here is a large set of links to sites showing many fascinating cardboard creations!

So, taking this to next step, I have already drawn a small design on paper, that I would like to create with cardboard. It is a tree, and in the trunk there are spots for shelves. Yes, a bookshelf! It could be decorated with garlands of plastic leaves. Perhaps it does sound tacky, but I am really excited. If everything works out, I'll share production, and post-production pictures.

What furniture would you make with cardboard?