the happy homewrecker

I switched things over to Wordpress last night, but if you're still seeing the green and turquoise and brown design try going to http://www.happyhomewrecker.net . Within a day or so I'll be deleting my Typepad account so http://happyhomewrecker.typepad.com will no longer work.

Thanks to everyone who recommended blogging software. I've successfully installed Wordpress and am trying to figure out some domain/server stuff before switching over. Just in case things get messy, you can see the current Wordpress incarnation here: http://stinkerpie.net/hh . Eventually I hope to have it at www.happyhomewrecker.net.

It would be a difficult thing to do, seeing that I've had the domain since 1999, but I think it may be time to let go of stinkerpie.net. The only thing that's there anymore is the kids's photo album, which has more than a thousand photos and is running on an ancient version of Coppermine. I wish I could move the entire album over to my other domain, but I don't know if that's even possible without having to reinstall an photo album program (if you're using a good one, please let me know!). In the end, I may wind up having to do just that in order to let stinkerpie go.

It's time for my contract renewal with Typepad. I love the ease of the system, but not the price, especially since I'm already paying for webhosting for two domains. Any thoughts on programs like Wordpress or other things that I can download and use myself for free? I used to use Greymatter but I got really tired of the comment spam.

Someone emailed me to let me know that Club Mom is looking for Mommy bloggers. That's me, all right, and Lord knows we could use the extra income, but I'm not sure if I have an angle or spin that makes me different from everyone else. I feel so average.

I'm trying to drum up some web design business; I'd really like to break into the local market and do sites for local businesses. I've found several local business sites that are just so sad-looking, like something an 8 year old learning HTML would do. What I'd like to do is work up a sample design for them, then send them a printout of it along with a letter including a link to where they could view a screenshot online, in a letter. I'm having a terrible time trying to figure out how to word the first part of the letter. Is there a nice way to say, "Your web design is really bad, would you like some help?" without actually saying it?

My web cloud:

I haven't fallen off the face of the earth. I have five (five!) new web clients, which is keeping me pretty busy. And three of us have colds. How Spencer has escaped the stuffiness thus far is beyond me. For the crafty-minded, I did write a new post in my knitting blog a few days ago, along with a photo of my toughest knitting project yet. Fair Isle is scary.

One of my new web design clients has a business that includes both making quilts with family photographs on them and doing custom embroidery. She's looking for a name for her business. I'm really, really bad at coming up with names. Any thoughts? I don't have a monetary prize but I could knit you a cotton dishcloth or something if she uses your idea.

After nearly three years, my web design business finally has its own domain: www.pattycakedesigns.com. Yay for progress!

My latest web design client, up and running: Carole Axium Designs has some pretty jewelry!

And speaking of which, if you know of anyone in need of design services, send 'em my way---I'm finishing up all my current projects and need a new one!