Responsive Design Update - Sneak Peek

Julia M. UsherFounder and Host, Cookie Connection; Owner, Recipes for a Sweet Life

Hi, all! As I mentioned in a previous post, Cookie Connection is currently being overhauled as part of Hoop.la's (the site host's) responsive design project, which will allow the site to be viewed and accessed the same way on all devices. It will also create a bigger, more photo-centric user experience!

For now, I just wanted to give you a quick update on what's been happening with this project and a rough idea of when you can expect to see changes rolled out to you. For the last two weeks, I've had access to the new site in beta-test mode, and I have been working to restore the formatting (fonts, page layouts, etc.) to something close to what you are used to seeing. This has been a large task, as every user and admin interface on the site has changed in some way, and photo sizes have changed across the board. The good news is the site will have a lot more eye-appeal, as the sneak peek of the home page (formatting still in process, BTW) shows. All galleries and images will display at greatly increased sizes!

The not-so-good news is I still have several weeks of re-formatting to do. All ads on the site need to be re-sized, as do all of the default avatars and some other things.

But my best guess is that the new site will go live sometime in the next four to six weeks. Once it does, I will have a very important post that details anything you may want or need to adjust so that your profiles and images view at their best. (One thing I already know is that many of you may want to load larger profile images. The new site will accept 300 x 300 pixel thumbnails; anything smaller may look blurry.) Contributors will also receive messages outlining the major changes to the blog and chat room admin areas. (Most notably, there are new areas to upload "title" images, and those images will display much larger on the site.)

Until this time, there is nothing for you to do, other than sit tight and wish me luck as I wade through all of the remaining formatting changes.

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10/15/1512:53 PM

Original Post

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Adriana Lora (Antali Cookies)Super Gobbler

¡Vamos a estrenar! Muchas gracias por todo lo que haces, me gusta mucho participar.

10/15/151:52 PM

Julia M. UsherFounder and Host, Cookie Connection; Owner, Recipes for a Sweet Life

Originally Posted by Adriana Lora:

¡Vamos a estrenar! Muchas gracias por todo lo que haces, me gusta mucho participar.

Thanks; it will look very different! I think you will love it!

Just to clarify: Everyone currently on the site will be automatically migrated to the new site, as will all of the content ever posted to the site. So nothing already posted will be lost. And there should be very little for members to change, other than possibly adjusting profile images.

10/15/152:07 PM

Cookies FantastiqueCookie Queen in Training

Talk about challenging and perhaps a bit daunting...Julia, you're a master at perfection in all you do and I'm excited to see the changes to come . Thanks again for making Cookie Connection a wonderful community for all of us cookiers.

I feel like I've come to know so many special people here who also love to decorate cookies . You are truly amazing (don't know how you do it all but Thank You)!

10/15/152:55 PM

Julia M. UsherFounder and Host, Cookie Connection; Owner, Recipes for a Sweet Life

Originally Posted by Cookies Fantistique by Carol:

I feel like I've come to know so many special people here who also love to decorate cookies . You are truly amazing (don't know how you do it all but Thank You)!

Awww, thanks! Fortunately, the Hoop.la team has lent a lot of support to me to get the site largely reformatted, but my time to start digging into the details is about to begin - and I know it will end up being more than ever anticipated. Onward!

10/15/153:07 PM

Tina at Sugar WishesCookie Queen in Training

You continue to do so much for the cookie community. Many thanks for your tireless efforts. I can't wait to see the changes!

10/15/153:08 PM

Julia M. UsherFounder and Host, Cookie Connection; Owner, Recipes for a Sweet Life

Originally Posted by Tina At Sugar Wishes:

You continue to do so much for the cookie community. Many thanks for your tireless efforts. I can't wait to see the changes!

Thanks, Tina! I'm excited about the changes too - they'll take some getting used to by everyone, but in the end, the site should be easier to view and navigate.

10/15/153:10 PM

Barbara at Blue Sky CookiesGobbler

Thanks so much for all you do, Julia~!!! Cookie Connection is a lifeline for many of us out in the "wilderness". You're my heroine!

10/16/158:09 AM

Julia M. UsherFounder and Host, Cookie Connection; Owner, Recipes for a Sweet Life

Originally Posted by Blue Sky Cookies:

Thanks so much for all you do, Julia~!!! Cookie Connection is a lifeline for many of us out in the "wilderness". You're my heroine!

LOL - thanks! I just started digging into all of the changes last night, and making corrections . . . it's going to be a long process of tuning it 'til launch. Fingers crossed!

10/16/1511:09 AM

donaharrisburgSuper Gobbler

You deserve kudos too bad no one can help you in this - what has to be - tedious endeavor

10/16/1511:26 AM

pipSuper Gobbler

Julia,

Thank you. What you're doing is a labor of love.

I'm grateful that you've compiled so much information on to one web site. I'm getting a free education regarding the cookie world.

The talent here is remarkable. Members graciously share their experiences and techniques and now you're making it even more accessible.

Have you ever considered that you've probably attracted a 100 years of cookie expertise all in one spot?! That's because you're dedicated, talented, enthusiastic and gracious.

Job well done Julia.

Pip

10/20/156:43 PM

Julia M. UsherFounder and Host, Cookie Connection; Owner, Recipes for a Sweet Life

Originally Posted by pip:

Julia,

Thank you. What you're doing is a labor of love.

I'm grateful that you've compiled so much information on to one web site. I'm getting a free education regarding the cookie world.

The talent here is remarkable. Members graciously share their experiences and techniques and now you're making it even more accessible.

Have you ever considered that you've probably attracted a 100 years of cookie expertise all in one spot?! That's because you're dedicated, talented, enthusiastic and gracious.

Job well done Julia.

Pip

Wow, thanks so much! You've truly made my day!

10/20/157:01 PM

Cookies FantastiqueCookie Queen in Training

Originally Posted by pip:

Julia,

Thank you. What you're doing is a labor of love.

I'm grateful that you've compiled so much information on to one web site. I'm getting a free education regarding the cookie world.

The talent here is remarkable. Members graciously share their experiences and techniques and now you're making it even more accessible.

Have you ever considered that you've probably attracted a 100 years of cookie expertise all in one spot?! That's because you're dedicated, talented, enthusiastic and gracious.

Job well done Julia.

Pip

Beautifully stated, Pip! I couldn't agree more...

10/21/153:21 PM