I want to create a happy place here filled with colour and joy and things that make you smile. As part of that I have been willing to change my banner for a while now. I liked my old polka-dotted one, but wanted something that communicated the variety of things you can find on my blog. To accomplish this, I asked the help of photographer Bram Berkien, who in the past has also done a photo shoot with us for the Big Bug Collection.
I think he did a great job: don’t these pictures make you happy instantly? I couldn’t help myself but to make a gif of me playing the ukulele and to add the random picture of me lying in the grass with the red coat. It was still quite cold that day and in between pictures I put on my coat. In this particular one Bram was making a couple of test pictures to check the arrangement/light/whatever photographers do. When going through the pictures afterwards this one made me laugh; I think I look so content all snuggled up in my warm layers not caring about pictures or anything really at that moment.
If you like these pictures, you should definitely check out Bram’s site and tell him something along the lines that he is good or other things that serve well as ego-boosts. I especially like the shoot he has done inspired by an Amélie-theme.
My blog is still a work in progress; I am planning to make a couple more changes. Perhaps you noticed that I have made a visual overview of my DIY’s and of my small projects to make others happy. You can also find an overview of my creative challenges. Feel free to check them out and browse through some of my old posts.
As I am still working on further improvements, I would like to ask you something. Do you ever use the labels on the sidebar or the blog-archive to browse through a/my blog or do you find them unnecessary? Also, are there any other platforms to follow a blog that you would like to see here that I am not using? I would love to get some feedback on this from you guys!
31 Comments
Katherine
May 2, 2013 at 15:01
I love it! Watch out color me katie, Marielle is here!
Magical Day Dream
May 4, 2013 at 12:09
Haha I love her blog! So that’s a great compliment :)
Boye By Red
May 2, 2013 at 21:40
The colours are so amazing. And i absolutely adore your dress and cardigan. Simply gorgeous.
I have your blog on the list of the blogs i like to visit when the new post comes up. I have it on my sidebar and when you publish a new post, i can see it straight away. I am not sure if that is what you’re asking, but i hope it helps.
Enjoy the weekend.
Red x
Magical Day Dream
May 4, 2013 at 12:11
Thanks for sharing :) With labels I mean the word cloud on my right side bar (acts of love – advice – bog bug collection etc.) I use them to label my post and display them; so you can also browse through posts of 1 type. And I was curious if people ever use that or not. Same goes for the archive with months and titles
Marielle
May 2, 2013 at 23:29
I love the update! I do use the label cloud and the archive–quite a lot actually.
Magical Day Dream
May 4, 2013 at 12:14
Thanks! That is helpful :)
Beckie
May 2, 2013 at 23:47
Marielle! I love your new layout! When you commented on mine, you said you were wanting to update your look, so I’m happy to see that you did. It’s so perfect! I did like the old theme, and it was very you, but this one is very the blog (did that make sense?) It totally makes me think of all you do and share here. Perfect! And absolutely adore that you found a way to include the cranes you made : ]
As for your questions: I don’t use labels for any blogs really, but sometimes I like that they’re there. They don’t bother me or anything. I do use the archive for blogs quite a bit though. It actually bugs me when someone doesn’t have one so I can’t look up an old post of theirs. And for following, I switched over to Bloglovin, so I’m already following you there. All set : ]
Magical Day Dream
May 4, 2013 at 12:18
Thank you! I know, I have been working on it for a while now.. and I was getting slightly impatient with it haha, but I think it was worth the wait! Yes I still need to finish my crane project; but the weather was still quite cold and I rather give them away when the weather is nice and make a movie out of it or something. :)
Thanks for your feedback; I am thinking of what to keep and what to eliminate; so it is really good to hear some thoughts on this :)
floating thru fields
May 3, 2013 at 00:37
cool i like your new setup! those pictures are awesome fun and playful and pretty. I do use the side bar sometimes I like it when I’m bored and looking for stuff to read and explore :)
Magical Day Dream
May 4, 2013 at 12:18
Cool. thanks for sharing! :)
bekswhoknits
May 3, 2013 at 00:56
ooh i love it!
I really like the ‘some fun posts’. I recently did an introduction where I went back through my old posts and it was a lot of fun. I like that it helps new comers instantly relate to you, but also highlights some posts that us old followers may have missed.
really like the new header!! Nice to see there are still some polkadots in there.
happy days
:)
Magical Day Dream
May 4, 2013 at 12:20
Yes you are right. Because I have so many old posts buried by new ones, that I thought it would be fun to make them a little bit more accessible :)
Kristin
May 3, 2013 at 03:28
Ah! So pretty! And colorful!
As far as labels go, I find them helpful, but I like to organize things for fun so I might not be the best representation of the average person.
Magical Day Dream
May 4, 2013 at 12:22
Well, check out this post: http://magicaldaydream.blogspot.nl/2012/02/what-is-my-play-personality.html Perhaps you have part of the ‘director’ in your play personality; they love to organize things!
suzy
May 3, 2013 at 14:05
LOVE IT.
Magical Day Dream
May 4, 2013 at 12:24
:D Me too. Although I am not sure if you are allowed to say that about your own posts :p But I do…
Deidre
May 4, 2013 at 05:44
I love all the colour! It’s absolutely fantastic. And those shoes, oh the shoes.
Magical Day Dream
May 4, 2013 at 12:25
They were actually really cheap. I think like 9 euro at the Primark haha.
Elisabeth
May 4, 2013 at 08:32
Wow, what a cool blog you have! Thank you for leaving such a kind comment on my blog! I’ll gladly follow you from Helsinki!
xxx
E from Helsinki
dragonflyelisabeth.blogspot.fi
Magical Day Dream
May 6, 2013 at 06:14
Fun! Welcome on my blog; hope you have a fun scroll around!
Franca
May 4, 2013 at 19:21
I cannot express how much I LOVE these photos! They are AMAZING!
Magical Day Dream
May 6, 2013 at 06:15
:) Thank you
Midwest Muse
May 5, 2013 at 18:16
These are so cute!
Magical Day Dream
May 6, 2013 at 06:15
:)
marietta
May 10, 2013 at 16:20
Your photos are to-ta-lly amazing!!! !! Super special and cute!! <3 Well done Marielle and Bram!! and I'm hooked on the "huge cup-small ukulele" scale difference ♥♥♥ .The cloud label is pretty useful if you ask me, and the thing I find most intriguing on using in other blogs (and want to put it on mine,too) is the small thumbnails with the most favourite posts.
By the way, my sister is moving to the Netherlands….this summer!
and my fiance got me an ukulele for my name day, last November, but still I can only play, the intro of my favourite song!
big kiss
and you look fabulous and happy on those photos !!
Magical Day Dream
May 21, 2013 at 16:59
Thanks for the feedback! Yeah I love those thumbnails as well: I think they’re a great addition. Especially handy for creating a quick visual overview of older posts. I would love to see your gallery too if you put it on your blog :)
That is so exciting about your sister! What is your favourite song? I still can only play a very limited amount of songs and would love to learn more; I just need to put in more time!
marietta
May 23, 2013 at 22:08
well it’s not my favourite-favourite song, but I love it and it’s definitely my favourite ukulele song. It’s the “you and I” by Ingrid Michaelson (http://youtu.be/OvMVCHhwTPs). I believe that for you it will be a piece of cake to play! Practise and time is something oh so needed for a musical instrument, hopefully after summer I’ll have some.
My sister is moving to Utrecht and I’ll definitely miss her a lot, but she will also make a lovely reason to visit the Netherlands! :)
Magical Day Dream
May 24, 2013 at 08:32
Aaah I love that song! It is one of the very few I can play. I just practised it over and over but I’m sure you will get it too after a while! If you ever visit your sister we should play it together! Utrecht is quite central; it is about 50 minutes by train from where I live :)
marietta
May 24, 2013 at 10:04
crossing my fingers that I’ll have learnt it by the time I am visiting Netherlands, hehehe we should totally plan a meet up sometime! it would be cool!
Uvita Viruella
May 17, 2013 at 19:25
I absolutely love all these photos. From your vibrant clothes, bright hair and super green grass it all clashes beautifully.
Colours make me happy as well :)
I also like the new tweaks you did to your blog. Whenever I step inside your blog I feel the magic and love! ♥
Magical Day Dream
May 21, 2013 at 17:22
Ahh thank you :) That’s exactly what I am hoping to achieve, so that’s awesome!