Now Reading ...I’ve been released from the Jungle of Code yesterday. Although I’m still making some finishing code for my own blog, I could really feel that I’m free from them now! 
Actually, coding is fun. But if I do it for a long time, I will feel dizzy looking at them.
I spent almost 10 days creating, adjusting and modifying the CSS and XHTML codes like a nuts. Well, since I’m an amateur coder and designer, I work slower then anybody else.
Here is my Working Hierarchy when creating Transformation Theme:
- Day 1: Researching for tutorials suitable theme layout
- Day 2: Creating basic layout and choosing suitable colors
- Day 3: Blending Wordpress template code together with the design
- Day 4 - 6: Coding CSS
- Day 7 - 8: Adding whistles & bells
- Day 9: Performing beta testing
- Day 10: Bugs hunting & fixing
Well, apart of my full time job, I only have around 5 hours left for blogging. I use all of them for developing the Transformation theme.
I used up to 10 days or 50 hours to develop that theme. I think if you are a professional Wordpress theme designer, you could’ve done all above tasks in a matter of 20-30 hours only!
I am an amateur, and that my record. I wouldn’t want to develop another theme anymore for certain of time. The reason is pretty common: My Blog Stats is Dropping Seriously!
Really, from the daily 400 - 500 visitors into 100 - 200 visitors is not what I’m searching for. But I’m quite happy to witness on my feed subscribers count is not dropping at all. It’s increasing significantly although I’m not posting regularly for the last 10 days.
Thanks for your support, readers. You are my biggest source of motivation! 
I’m really motivated within the passed 10 days. I used up all my motivation to learn more on how to improve design and optimization. I’ve learned about how to tweaks my theme in a better ways and optimize it for the engine with a better methods.
It’s fun. But, I have one warning for you. If your target is to earn serious money with your blog, you should never meddle with designing and tweaking too much.
To tell you the truth, designing a theme is solely for building incoming links from the user. I cannot find more benefits for it if you design and let people download it for free.
Except your design is for sell like UniqueBlogDesigns or RevolutionTheme, you could get a nice income online if your design is love by the mass.
But always remember that selling theme files is like selling a code. It’s high risk or error and you need to provide an extra service if your user is going through a hard time with your code, which mean extra time is needed to help your user.
The hardest part for me is the CSS + PHP coding. It’s hell lot more harder then coding a HTML page. I code them based on a CSS + PHP for dummies book, just like Evan Almighty building an Ark using God’s Dummies Guide! 
Ok, Joke aside. Building a theme is sure not a hard task if you know what is the important element. I made a lucky search with Google and arrive at Small’s Potato (wpdesigner.com) Blog.
He have a series of guide that is pretty good to help me begin my design project. Since he is a pro wordpress theme designer, I’d learned a lot of tips and tricks within his theme files.
I think it’s time to make a conclusion. I suggest you to avoid making your own theme if you don’t have much time like me.
It’s simply time eater. Better spend your time in building your blog posts and relationship with other. Leave the design matter for your designer. With a little pay out of hundred dollars could save lot of time for you to do a better project.
More projects on this blog in the future. But I promise no more ‘time hungry’ project that force me to sacrifice my posting schedule anymore.
I think it’s time to say goodbye and thanks for reading this post.
Feel free to download my Transformation theme and make sure to leave a comment to let me know your thought about it.
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Leave a comment
(October 24, 2007, 1:58 am)
but all hard work and frustration aside, it must make you feel good, doesn’t it? I couldn’t have done it even if I wanted to… don’t have the patience to sit and look at the code that long! but your theme is very nice and i haven’t seen some of the features you implemented here, anywhere else.. like Advance Reading Options
Colors are very nice and soothing too… well, I have a feeling by next year or so you’ll want to develop another one and would want to charge for it too 
Reply to pearl(October 24, 2007, 10:41 am)
Well, I’m have a future planning about it though.
Going to make some money from my design in the future. But I think it’s too common to do the same things again and again. I want to invent an idea that could help me looks unique! 
Oh, the Advance reading option is not available for the downloadable version, Pearl. I want to keep the size small because it need a set of Javascript to run properly.
Thanks for your compliment. I’m really appreciate your help about the name, too. It’s suit like a twins!
Reply to Ken Xu(October 24, 2007, 7:59 am)
I’m sure you must be feeling at the top of the world…..don’t you?
Reply to ReviewSaurusHopefully you’ll get back to your blogging spree….after this coding spree
(October 24, 2007, 10:49 am)
lolz. Sure, mate! I have back and will continue to blog on a regular basis. No more slack from now.
Reply to Ken XuBut before that, I need to finish some due date promises.
Btw, I really like the visual style of your new theme. I’m going to change my Technology nest into something like yours soon. But don’t worry, I won’t copycat your creation at all.
(October 25, 2007, 9:14 am)
I have fun coding with wordpress (I’m not a coder), going nuts with themes and pull my hair because I missed a closing > and wondering why the layout was screwed. It’s a love/hate thing I guess, I don’t do it for money but I don’t spit on few extra clicks if you know what I mean.
You did a good job btw
Reply to TheMystical(October 26, 2007, 10:01 am)
I agree. It’s about love and hate!
I found myself addicted to coding, but get annoyed when forgot to close a tag and make the whole sky fall down on my head. :p
Reply to Ken XuThanks for commenting, Mystical! Stop by anytime.
(October 26, 2007, 8:57 am)
Designing the theme is really a good work. BTW soon after you changed your theme, you changed your avatar also?
Reply to Nirmal(October 26, 2007, 10:03 am)
Oh!
Reply to Ken XuYou are the only one that notice the change??!
Thanks a lot. I thought nobody noticing that avatar.