I've just implemented a new template on this blog, having selected a creative commons licensed one from Themecraft. After several hours of testing, tweaking and modifying widgets I'm not inclined to change it for quite a while.
However, I've just read on "Quick Online tips" about the template designer that is coming to Blogger soon, and tried it out in a "draft" blogger area. If I'd seen this sooner I might have given this a try instead.
The article on Quick Online Tips has more detail and illustrations.
If you just want to dive straight in you can get to it at http://draft.blogger.com/ and will find the Template Designer on the layout tab.
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I'm also putting together a profession/bio type site and trying to get that to blend in as well has its challenges. That's not released as yet.