In case you don’t visit my blog project on WordPress regularly… I will be releasing two new themes soon: Isla theme and Kurtina theme.

The reason for the hold up is because I haven’t submitted those two themes to the Theme Browser and WordPress Theme Park yet. I honestly don’t want SheeroMedia’s server to handle all download requests. At least when people get to download it on those sites first, I’ll only have to provide an alternate download locations. But primarily the downloads will be made there on those sites.

Just to give you a brief on those themes…

Isla is one of the first fluid layouts I’ve ever made since the ’90s. I don’t know, I guess I just never really liked them… I am quite particular when it comes to paragraph width, considering that I’m also a print graphic designer. Fluid layouts usually make text span across the screen with a ridiculously wide width that I find the text hard to read. Well, that’s my opinion at least. I know some people like them, that’s why I made the Isla theme that way. 🙂 Maybe when I have time I’ll release a fixed width alternative for those people too lazy to modify it themselves 😀

If you’ve seen my photoblog you’ll know where Kurtina comes from 🙂 Let’s just say Pixeliera version 2 is in the works that’s why I released the theme to the public. I just thought that it would be a waste to just junk—it there might be some people who’d like to use it for their WordPress blogs.

Anyway, just check out The Filipino Web Designer to see the themes in action. To switch themes, just use your eyes and brains hehe. There’s a section on the sidebar that says, “Switch Theme.”

Been snooping around my Technorati page and saw another great modification of my Dapit Hapon theme.

That’s actually one of the things I love about open-source: seeing your work improved by different people, and knowing how much they appreciate it. Truth be told, I never really thought I’d end up releasing a design to the public. Call me a selfish bitch, but it just wasn’t my cup of tea. It was when I truly appreciated WordPress that I decided to give something back to the community.

Yeah, that’s the main reason for the delay in the new layout 🙂 Apart from my work in SheeroMedia and my wedding, I have a new blog project: The Filipino Web Designer. This is actually the development blog of the WordPress theme I’ve released under a GPL license. I’m planning to release more (a series of Pinoy-inspired themes), but I’ll probably do that if I get lucky and have free time to spare again.

I’m really happy about the response my free theme is getting. Although I have to admit that I’m also a bit disappointed that most of the people downloading and installing the theme aren’t Filipinos. It’s getting recognition in the international WordPress community, but not here. Oh well, I’m not saying I’m surprised. Just disappointed, I guess. I was vying for some kind of a “be proud to be Pinoy” campaign with the release of this theme, but I suppose we really aren’t ready yet for that. Oh, well. That’s life. Colonial mentality is such a sad thing.

Anyway, on the bright side, at least the theme is getting good feedback so far (thanks to David of BloggingPro). And thanks to Shadow’s Theme Browser and Silkjaer’s WordPress Theme Park, SheeroMedia’s server don’t need to take in too much strain in order to accomodate download requests. I’ve only released the Dapit Hapon theme for less than a week, and I’ve already seen such a great modification of the theme. I never really thought my theme could look pretty with a medieval feel.

I honestly don’t know what came over me when I decided to make this theme and give it out for free. Sure, the exposure is great… But if that was the only reason, I don’t think I would have wasted so much time on it, made sure that almost every aspect of the theme is covered, and has a validated code. I don’t know really. Although I have to admit it’s nice to do a good deed like this once in a while 🙂 It’s a nice feeling, specially when you see your work evolving and improving through the efforts of other people.

I’m already working on the new layout of Kutitots (I swear, I really am now). I’m honestly getting a bit pressured already to do that since it’s kind of embarrassing to have a free unique theme for release but my personal blog is using the Kubrick default theme. 😀 So yeah, you can expect a new design soon.

Before anybody asks… Nope, the new design won’t have Flash anymore. It will still have my fleas though 🙂 I just don’t have time to make a full-blown Flash site at this point. Anyway, I’ll still leave the link to Kutitots v.6 Flash site on my other server so you guys can still view it. I won’t be updating it much though (probably once in a blue moon hehehe). I’m kind of getting more into blogging now 🙂