We wish to announce that Her Majesty, the Empress of Dirt, has a whole new look. Not that we didn’t love her as she was, but, after many years in the same outfit, it was time for a nice, fresh start.
First, let me give you a little history. Some of you have been following my blogs from the beginning (hello!) and remember these early years.
The Pioneer Days of Blogging
Back in the early 2000s, I had a blog called Pioneer Woman with Cell Phone. It was a place to share my love of old-fashioned life skills combined with a healthy appreciation for the usefulness and brilliance of modern inventions and conveniences. It’s quite a world we live in that we can sew clothes by hand and make bread from scratch, all while talking on a mini handheld computer known as a mobile phone.
Time to Grow
By 2005, I was ready for a change, and turned the blog into Empress of Dirt, with a new focus on my main love: life in the garden.
The name Empress of Dirt came to me after hearing a line in a song,
you can have it all, my empire of dirt.
It was Johnny Cash singing Hurt by Nine Inch Nails. If you are familiar with the lyrics, you may see how it struck me as a good name for a blog about (mostly) a love of gardening, frugality, making-do with what we have, and the contentment we can only find in nature—all sprinkled with a healthy dose of life-is-short, and we are stewards, not owners of this earth.
I hastily made up the logo with Queen Victoria as the Empress, thinking this would be temporary until I came up with the ‘real design’. I never anticipated it would take 12 years to get it done.
With no particular design or technical skills, I finally had the good sense to hire someone who does.
Alice Priestley
Alice Priestley is a ‘web designer / front-end developer with a background in book illustration‘ and the person who was able to turn my seemingly unrealistic dreams for this site into reality.
Alice provides the story of the creative development process here. Basically, I uttered some far-out ideas about the look and feel I was hoping for, and Alice disappeared with her magical sketchbook, fine coding skills, intuition, and a lovely determination to push the boundaries, and came back with something much better than I could have hoped for.
Art + Tech
In this era where a website must serve a tiny mobile screen and at the same time look right on a giant desktop computer monitor, it is no small task to design something that is playful and engaging yet technically proficient. Alice managed to capture the old-fashioned storybook feeling I was after yet still meet all the demands (and confinements) of a blog. I could not be more pleased, and, I hope, of course, that you will enjoy it too.
DIY VIDEOS
Dig In
To explore more of the new artistry on the site, and see the Empress come to life, have a look at Grow, Make, and Ideas.
To find out who is the inspiration behind the Empress of Dirt character, you will enjoy Alice’s story here.
And, to see more of her work, including beloved children’s books and web designs, visit Alice here:
Enjoy!
And thank you, Alice, for a beautiful new Empire of Dirt.
~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛
I love your new look and that beautiful bee flying around! You are so creative, Melissa, and Alice most definitely captured what you are all about.
Thank you so much, Esther Suzee! I’ll be sure Alice sees your note.
I love your delightful new ‘look’!… I always look forward to your newsletters. You’ve inspired me to try many of your creations to add to my garden and to give away as gifts.
Thank you!
Lovely! Thank you, Leticia. 🙂
Just have to give a big shout out for you. The new look is awesome and entices us readers to keep on following and keep on being inspired by all things you do. I always enjoy reading your newsletter and the lovely ideas you share with all of us.
Lovely to hear, thank you, Kathy!
Love your makeover!
Thanks, Pat!
Love the new design and artwork!! Love all of your ideas as well! Thanks for informing and entertaining us!
Thanks, Jane!
I look forward to your newsletter every two weeks, Melissa! I’m not the most creative person in the world, but the projects you have in your newsletter are ones even I can do! Keep up the good work. I love the new website!
Just what I love to hear! Thank you, Dana!
I look forward to every email I get from you! We are currently selling our 1870 home (after41 years) and building a completely modern home! I’m looking forward to adding lots of cute ideas to the new garden! It’s so tiny compared to the other yard! The front has to be our Adult garden but the back will be all me!!!! I love the fun stuff!!! Thanks for what you do! Love the new look.
Wow, Susie, big changes ahead for you! I hope it’s a fun adventure. Thank you for the kind words. xo
Fantastically refreshing! Love the “new” you Melissa! Alice & you have created a ‘Wonderland’!
So glad you like it. Thanks, Sue!
Love the new look!!
Love all your work l find you so inspiring with all your ideas
There is nothing like having fun with being creative in the garden and getting all that energy from the earth!
I always smile when a new email with your ideas comes in.
Keep Digging 🙂
Lovely! Thank you, Sonia.
Love the makeover, although I did get a kick out of the queen with daisies on her head! Love all your creative ideas too! They help stimulate MY ideas!! “For everything there is a season…” Carry on!
I’ll try again……
The new website is enchanting, Melissa! The animation is delightful! Alice did a wonderful job and I so appreciate it.
So fresh and pretty!!
Nice to hear, thank you, Janet!
I love the new look
Yay! Thanks, Jackie. 🙂
Love the new format! Enjoyed reading about PeeBee.
Hi Sharon! Glad you like it. PeeBee was a sweetie. 🙂
Looks great!! If I’ve been getting your emails, do I have to apply again? Thanks always look forward to emails.
Hi Marlene, Everything is fine with the emails–no need to subscribe again. 🙂
Looking fantastic Sistah!
Thanks, Sistah! Alice is da bomb diggidy!
Love your new design. But even if it was still the old one I enjoy reading it. Congratulations !,
Sweet. Thanks, Venus. 🙂
Love, absolutely love your new look!
Wonderful, thanks, Annette!
Love the new look!
Thank you, Linda! I think Alice did a great job transforming the Empress. 🙂
This is so fresh and totally you! I love your new design! Congratulations! Alice did a fantastic job.
Thanks, Michele. Alice has amazing talents! I’ll make sure she sees your message.
Great look, congratulations!
Thanks, Tom. 🙂
I love your new design,great job Alice.The lady is so enchanting and lovely to see.
Thanks, Marlene!
The new site looks wonderful. Looking forward to more!
Thank you, Diane!
I LOVE It 💕I saw it and said Wow someone dressed up for me. Good job
Her Majesty wants to look her best for you. 😉
This is terrific. Kudos!
Thank, Laura! 🙂
LOVE the new look. But what I want o know how did you get to age in reverse!!!!! If only we could really do that.
It’s all this good, healthy gardening. Takes years of a person! 😉
Well done ladies. Makes me feel like I’m walking right into a mystical garden. Beautiful artwork Alice. And Melissa, thank you for such an enlightening world of wonderful ideas.
Thank you so much, Cindy! That’s just what we were aiming for.
I absolutely love the new look, Melissa. It reminds me of my favorite childhood author and illustrator, Beatrix Potter. Her gardens always drew me in.
Thanks, Pamela! Beatrix was definitely an influence (Peter Rabbit’s blue jacket is a fave). And what a gardener she was!
It’s magical, Melissa. Well done you and Alice! Cheers, Ardith
Thank you, Ardith!
Love the new look! Animations are so fun!!! Great job but…….I was getting attached to the old Empress and had been working on mimicking that look! Oh well! Love your content and never leave an email unopened!
haha, thank you, Pamela. The old Empress will live in our hearts forever. 🙂
Very, very nice! I love the new look!
Very nice to hear, thank you, Kaycee!
Wow! This is so much better…so “you”. Softer, more inviting and inspiring; energetic and playful, yet peaceful.
Glad you like it. Thanks, Kathy!
Wow, this is truly an amazing makeover- kudos!!
Thank you, Jami. It’s fun to have a whole new playground to blog in. 🙂