FIRSTLY -If you didn't wipe clean when you installed sapphire 1.1.1, you may be having problems with a couple FCs. If you see an app force close, try and clear the data for that app in settings -> applications. But, we don't actually want you to do this, we'd rather you wiped when you installed sapphire. :X
1. BLACK APPS WALLPAPER - A freshly installed copy of avalon over a freshly installed copy of sapphire 1.1.1 has a white background. Using a third party launcher, though, obviously resets that background to whatever the third party launcher has. Some have the option to change it, if so, give that a shot. If not, consider using this for now:
http://avalondroid.info/forums/index.php?/topic/22-lp-dock-icons-updated/
2. GOOGLE ACCOUNT NOT SHOWING UP - We have not touched anything in the account sync section, however, when you install sapphire do you not get the account setup on first boot? As stated on the download page, we expect a wipe when installing sapphire.
3. WHITE TEXT ON WHITE BACKGROUND - this is a common problem with editing so much of the framework, and especially true because avalon is a white theme. Avalon has done a ton of "firsts", so we have some things to work out. Metamorph patches are going to be one way to fix apps on a per-app basis. We'll be adding a section on avalondroid.info to request any app you want fixed, and there is already a "white on white fixes" section in the downloads section of avalondroid.info to let you download what we've got. Just need a couple days.