Caelestis.nu came to life in
November 2020, born from a spontaneous urge to create a collective domain. Hosted under
Aelyn, it found its place on
NuNames.nu.
Originally founded around 2016 under the name
Celestialis.com, the project didn't quite stick with that name or extension.
In the end, Celestialis just didn't capture the essence of what the network was meant to be. Thus, a new identity was born—
Caelestis—more fitting and in tune with the vision I had.
A name change had always been on the horizon, something I felt was inevitable, and when it finally happened, it came rather unexpectedly.
But in the end, I found that
Caelestis was the perfect fit — short, meaningful, and still connected to the essence of the previous name.
With the birth of Caelestis, a new chapter in web design began. This shift marked a turning point for both Aelyn and me, as we decided to unify our
domains into one cohesive network, all while maintaining the freedom to run our individual projects. And so, here we are, under the unified
umbrella of the
Celestial Oracle Studio!
The domain name Caelestis is rooted in the Latin word caelum, meaning
"sky" or "heaven." I'll admit, I was initially frustrated when the more
common TLDs like .net and .org were taken. The idea of paying a premium for a parked domain just wasn't an option. So, I turned to the next best
thing — a .nu extension. Looking back, though, I can't help but think it turned out to be a blessing in disguise!
Caelestis.nu has a certain ring
to it. Much more pleasant than I originally anticipated.
As someone once wisely said, every site should have a purpose behind it. Well, this one doesn't really follow that rule. At least not in the
traditional sense. This site exists primarily as a collection ground for various creations and personal projects. In essence, it's a space for
me to indulge in as a hobby; no grand mission, just a place to let my creativity roam! If I were to sum up my intentions for creating this
collective, it could be boiled down to two simple points:
To share my
personal interests with everyone.
To have a
self-gratifying little home on the web.
Design
This layout marks a new chapter in my design journey, showcasing a trend that's becoming more and more apparent in my recent work: a strong focus on coding
and content. With this larger, revamped space, I've introduced some fresh features that enhance the overall efficiency of the site.
One of the updates I'm particularly fond of is incorporating Lightview, which I
chose for its rounded corners and centered design. These details make pop-up windows feel much more inviting and polished. On top of that, I've been diving
into the world of pastel colors, which bring a sense of freshness and warmth to this design. These soft, light hues aren't just visually pleasing. They
also carry positive emotional connotations. The balance between clean, sleek lines and organic, curved elements creates an overall aesthetic that is both
calming and cheerful, pleasing the eye in all the right ways.
One of the most notable changes in this new version of the site is the switch to a
pure table-less design. Initially, I had planned to separate my
sections into different pages, much like many other collective sites do. But in the end, I decided to stick with my original vision of keeping everything
on a single page. It just felt simpler and more streamlined that way.
Version two of the site features Tanaka Mamimi from
THE iDOLM@STER: Shiny Colors, a character I've grown quite fond of. The design was crafted using
Photoshop
and handcoded in
Notepad. For the unique irregular shapes, I used the fantastic
Fancy Border Radius,
which helped give the layout its distinct edge.
As for the fonts, I used Daily (via
StudioCherii), Delius and Mali (via
Google Fonts),
and Pea Steph (via
Fonts for Peas). The official artwork featured here is courtesy of
Zerochan, while the adorable chibi illustrations sprinkled throughout the site come from
Animate Café.
Textures were sourced from
PNGWing, and the PNG cutouts were kindly shared by
akumaLoveSongs on DeviantArt.
For those curious, this layout has been optimized for the latest versions of Firefox and Chrome, with a recommended resolution of
1280x960 (4:3) or higher.
If you're interested, you can also view additional resources used across my other sites at
Memento.
Webmiss
visual diary enthusiast
cute/aesthetics ◦ animanga/gaming ◦ pastels
My journey into the world of web design began in 2009, a year that marked the start of my personal adventure as a hobbyist web designer, alongside many others.
Back then, my knowledge of
HTML and CSS was minimal... just enough to spark the desire to
create, but not nearly enough to bring an entire website to life from scratch.
But stubbornness is a powerful thing, and rather than asking for help, I threw myself into the vast world of online tutorials, seeking inspiration wherever
I could find it. After what felt like an
eternity of trial and error, I finally managed to put together my first site. I was proud of the result, even if it
wasn't perfect. In that moment, I swore to myself that I would never subject myself to the stress of web design again.
Of course, as is the nature of human beings, I eventually broke my own promise. A school project sparked the creation of what would become my most successful
web endeavor. Before I knew it, I had learned a bit of PHP, and the thrill of building websites reignited within me. I dove back into web design, determined
to conquer the internet one site at a time.
However, as quickly as the spark had been lit, it fizzled out. I found myself taking an indefinite hiatus—the familiar cycle of passion, burnout, and re-ignition.
But by the end of 2015, I found my way back to the web once again.
In hindsight, my time away helped solidify something important: web design, for me, is a hobby, pure and simple. It's not something I ever planned to turn into a
career, and yet, I can't quite shake my love for it. I'm a bit of a walking contradiction, and that confusion is reflected in every corner of this site.
21 October '25: