Several years ago I made a website for a local organization that I belong to. Everyone liked it because they could check the site and see what activities were coming up. But there was always the problem of keeping it updated. Most of the members of the organization are computer-literate but they don’t make websites and don’t want to invest in the time and software needed to make websites. So this meant that I always had to keep it updated. Not that I really minded this but it always seemed like there should be a way to allow others to share the responsibility.
I also have a friend who wanted a website she could update herself and asked me for help.
So I started looking into what are called Content Management Systems. If you blog you already have an idea what a CMS is. It is just a way to separate content from the website design and mechanics. Blogging software is a specialized kind of CMS.
The one I have been playing with is called Joomla! I picked that one primarily because the hosting service I use would install it for me without any charge. But it also had a good reputation for ease of use according to my research.
Since Tricia has been needing a new site for her quilting business, I decided to start there just to see what it would do. As a first exercise in website building, I don’t think I did too bad. Check it out for yourself.
Feedback is solicited, but please be gentle with the criticism. I have a fragile ego.
Update: It’s been changed. And it will probably keep changing for awhile.
Comments (9)
I think it looks great.
Yes, it looks fine. I’m wondering why you didn’t just use WordPress. What can Joomla! do that WordPress can’t? The one thing that kind of irritated me was that when I clicked on Gallery it opened a new window (not a new tab) in Firefox.
I love the quilted kitty along the top border!
It is an easy and “clean” site to navigate.
Me, I love clutter, but my blog is not for commercial purposes.
You did good, kiddo!
I like the simplicity. My only suggestion would be to make the font a little larger. Maybe I just have tired eyes. Beautiful quilts.
Kathy: Sorry, I don’t know how to make it opne in a tab instead of a window. Most people who go there won’t have a tabbed browser anyway. I don’t want to open in the same window because by the time people navigate through the Gallery it will be too difficult to get back to the home page.
And yes, you could do it about as well in WordPress.
CW: Thanks. You are probably looking at version two. For some reason simple and plain just seems more natural to me. I looked around at a lot of site templates the last few days and concluded that I must be the only person in the world who likes one-column layouts and horizontal menus.
Linda: What a good suggestion! I did not even realize how much I was straining to see the text.
I like it. It’s easy to read and invites the reader to browse.
Nice job.
I looked at it again. Having the cat on every page is a very good improvement, and the larger type helps a lot as well. Both changes make the site a lot more welcoming and friendly.
I like it. I’ve been trying to figure out Joomla/Mambo, very complicated, taking quite a bit of time to get familiar and understand what does what. I’m not liking the templates I’ve found and yours is along the line I would like. How hard was it to make you own?
Bill,
I’ve enjoyed reading your weblog for a while, and it has inspired me to create my own Austin garden diary, at http://www.penick.net/digging. I hope you will take the time to visit and let me know what you think. If you find it appropriate, I would love to have a link through Prairie Point. Happy digging!
Pam