About the site
Technical bit
Date of launch: October 13, 2003
Code: (X)HTML 1.0 Transitional + CSS
Software used: PSPad, TopStyle Lite, W3C Validator, Adobe Photoshop
Once upon a time, while still attending a grammar school, I got ill and had to stay at home - not that I was complaining about it! After a few day, I got bored and remembered the Namo WYSIWYG WebEditor 2.0 installation cd I'd got from my friend Anka. Being already a huge fan of Enya, I also had loads of self-made Enya wallpapers and other Enya-related goodies on my harddisk. So I thought it wouldn't be such a bad idea to set up a fansite and see how it goes. I might add that we were this geeky kind of school where they try to teach you Pascal, alghoritms and stuff like that, so I wasn't a complete newbie to computers even though I had no idea about HTML.
Why "Out of the Blue"?Because it's a sort of lovely name :) Actually, it's the title I gave to the Enya compilation cd I made for myself ages ago. When I was first designing this site I remembered the cd and wanted to (mis)use its cover as a header. In the end I didn't but the name stayed. It saddens my heart but I have no idea where I put the aforementioned cd therefore I can't feature it here. I'll keep looking for it though!
Past designsA lil' bit of history, I love browsing through old versions of this site from time to time. Those old, old are particularly fun to look at :) I had no previous experience with webdesign before OOTB and was super-happy with every single layout when I finished it.
1. October 13 - November 3, 2003
The very first version, which I loved to pieces and was so much proud of. Soooo much. You can't even
imagine. Completely made in a WYSIWYG editor,
I didn't get to see the source code.
2. November 3 - December 9, 2003
After 2 weeks and a conclusion that the design needed more images to be really cool,
I added a bit of wintery graphics.
3. December 9, 2003 - February 9, 2004
Winter didn't even start and another redesign took place.
This time in warm shades of brown, 3 columns and with absolutely cool falling snow on the index page :D
You should have seen it, master, you should have seen it!
4. February 9 - March 30, 2004
Tempus Vernum - Spring time :) Full of flowers and butterflies,
I really set my heart on this one. But as I later found out, the layout was too wide and didn't fit the screen
on 800x600 resolution so I replaced it.
5. March 30 - June 8, 2004
I implemented a theme switcher for the ultimate wonderfulness. You could choose between Shepherd Moons (blue),
A Day without Rain (green) and Watermark (red) style. Woooow! I hear you say.
6. June 8 - December 3, 2004
While being online, this one went through various colour changes. It ended in a purplish blue/black colour
scheme (yeah, Sumiregusa time) accompanied by two alternative autumn options.
7. December 3, 2004 - March 14, 2005
My first tableless layout *cheers* in a triad blue/maroon/orange colour scheme.
Honestly, I don't remember why exactly I drowned Eithne, I probably just liked the pictures.
8. March 14, 2005 - April 18, 2006
A variation on the previous design with a colour scheme built around the forest header photo and
a little pixie in the footer. I liked it a lot, it was calm and relaxing.
Amarantine special: Nov 8, 2005 - Dec 18, 2006
Squirry told me that I just have to make a webspecial for "Amarantine".
So I made this one very special webspecial. The design was inspired by my Pucca t-shirt ;)
9. April 18, 2006 - October 13, 2006
My first (finished and uploaded) layout made in Photoshop. I followed a tutorial to get
that drawing-like look for the photo I wanted to use, and then layered dozens of brushes and textures.
10. October 13, 2006 - December 18, 2006
"Happy birthday" design to celebrate the three years of the site's existence.
The colours were rather sensitive to the monitor's settings, so Enya's face got
green easily, hmmmm.
11. December 18, 2006 - March 15, 2007
While I was doing my Christmas shopping, all that wintery decoration left a mark on me.
As it was uploaded at the time of all special/collector's/etc. Amarantine releases,
I couldn't resist and named it "A special winter edition".
12. March 15, 2007 - June 27, 2007
Spring variation on the previous design.
...let the day go and on...
13. June 27, 2007 - April 13, 2009
Layout inspired by Brody Neuenschwander's "A Box of Dreams" artwork
and the earrings. Those dangly seahorse earrings every fan loves to pieces, y'know.
You love them too, don't you?