Diane Clancy’s Art Blog

I am at work on getting this site and blog and email all fixed up. My host had emergency surgery today and my work was moved to another server. These technical problems have been consuming trying to get it all cleared up. I made you a new digital image for today, but I can’t get it be recognized by the site … so here is one that some of you have seen before. 

Abstract Design II, Digital © Diane Clancy

Last night we had a wonderful reunion for our Business Class for Artists.  It is great to connect with other artists who are serious about both creating and marketing.  I at least wanted to say Hi and Thanks for stopping by!!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: technical problems, Business Class for Artists, creating, marketing

Illustrator Friday has a challenge every week. This week is Stitch. I think this looks like fabric with stitching on it. I hope you enjoy it! Illustrator Friday is a fun challenge with many, many participants. The type of art is very wide ranging and I have run into a couple of children’s entries too. I have also found a couple of wonderful bloggers this way! You might want to check it out and look at some entries. There is a “link viewer” that makes that easier.

Stitch, Digital © Diane Clancy

Stitch

A stitch in time saves nine

Many little stitches together

Can create Beauty

Stitching is what Art

Women were allowed

For Centuries

Stitch – one little stitch

Creates the whole.

Les from My Radical Blogs does reviews of blogs to see how they function and are written. His tag line is “Rant Raves and Blog Reviews by the radical blogger.” This is the link to his blog. He gives reviews based on a 10 point system. The reviews this week ranged from 8 to 9.5. My review was rated at 9. From his feedback (and I think he is correct) I put the subscription form and rss feeds back closer to the top – for your convenience!

He thought my writing is interesting and the art superb! He made some other sidebar suggestions that I am not going to take for now because I like it the way it is. But he has put an idea in my head and I will consider it. It was nice, he thinks anyone interested in art should visit regularly. You can see my review right here. Thank you, Les!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: Illustrator Friday, Les, My Radical Blogs, rss feeds

CAPTCHA – those annoying little numbers and letters that are all tipsy that you have to figure out what they look like untipsy and then write them into a little box and push a button … and half the time redo it because you didn’t untipsy the stuff correctly! According to Wikipedia, “a CAPTCHA is a type of challenge-response test used in computing to determine whether the user is human. “CAPTCHA” is an acronym for “Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart”, trademarked by Carnegie Mellon University.” Wow – that is a mouthful!!

Monkeys and Owls, Digital © Diane Clancy

Completely understandably, many people start using CAPTCHA to protect their hard drives and computers from computer viruses. Understandable!! to want to protect yourself and your computer (is there a difference?) But that is not what CAPTCHA does.

CAPTCHA protects you from spammers. But, I don’t know about you, I don’t get that many spammers … in the spirit of full disclosure, WordPress has a dynamite spam catcher (Akismet) that comes installed with WordPress and you just have to activate it. And it is very effective – sometimes it catches your comments and I have to go free them from the Akismet monster …

And after a certain site linked to me while showcasing some of my graphic design work, my name did get out there for awhile. And I have traveled wide and far on the web asking technical questions and leaving my address … you have seen how I do …. so my blog has gotten out there in one sense.

But, for most of us blogging, we don’t really need to protect ourselves from those who are leaving comments just to link our blogs to their blogs (usually lists of links from what I see – I check them out before I delete them) so that we will go check them out. And I have friends who would love to have so much traffic at their blog that they needed protection … but no, most of us I know would LOVE more traffic!! So, if you are using CAPTCHA to protect your hard drive, then it is not necessary.

And anyone who has to use CAPTCHA because they are getting too much spam, I sure do understand! But you might want to try out and see if you really need the CAPTCHA … or not. I know I often have to try several times to get it correct … oh, oh … does this make me a computer rather than human? Nah … I make WAY too many mistakes … then again, I don’t think computers are as perfect as they are cracked up to be!! Well, you decide.

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: computer viruses, CAPTCHA, spam, WordPress, Akismet, graphic design

This week we have been working on helping you get Cluster Maps onto your blog and/or site. Look back over the last several days for details. You may have noticed that Blogger and the WordPress widgets functioned very much alike – you don’t need to touch the code very much at all! On the other hand, not using widgets in WordPress makes it much more similar to adding a Cluster Map to a website – which we will do right now.

You will probably be glad to know that this will be the end to this Cluster Maps series of tutorials. When we work with other statistics tools – exciting little toys – in the future, I will be referring you back to these technical details so we won’t have to go through them again!! Did I just hear a sigh of relief?

When Was It Due?, Digital © Diane Clancy

Now on to putting Cluster Maps into a website. You will want to have signed up for Cluster Maps and have the code ready to be pasted in. Look at this post again if you need help with this part.

I am making the assumption that you are used to working with your website code – to at least some degree … whether using a web design program or an html program. The biggest challenge is to make sure that the code goes in a place where it does no damage.

Basically, you can put the code wherever you want to! You need the code on each page that you want the Cluster Map to track. That is, if someone stops by your site to visit a favorite picture and you have your Cluster Map only on the front page, it will miss that person’s visit. I have used a little “component” (GoLive) to add code to each page. I personally add it to my navigation links at the bottom so that it is easy to keep track of and easy to put on each page. There are many ways to do it and that is what I have chosen.

After you have inserted the code, save any files you have changed and get ready to upload the newly revised files. Whether you use a web ftp or a standalone ftp, the process is similar. Log into your site so you have access to upload a file. Make sure you upload the files in the correct places. Remember they overwrite the old files so – of course – be careful as you do this.

No matter how you have changed you site, I encourage you to go and check it out – see how it looks. If there is a mistake, just go through the process again … noticing where the problem is. One trick I use is to put several blank lines before and after the code so I can find it easily again …

As always, I would be delighted to hear how you are doing! Thank you for traveling this path of Cluster Maps with me! I know I am so grateful for each reader and commenter!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: Cluster Maps, Blogger, WordPress, widgets, website, statistics tools, html, ftp

Now it is time to do more work on the WordPress blogs for Cluster Maps. For an overview of Cluster Maps read my post from a few days ago. Another post starts the process of signing up for Cluster Maps and shares how to install a Cluster map on Blogger. Then we worked with putting Cluster Maps in WordPress widgets. Today we will work with WordPress for those who do not use widgets.

Camelot, Digital © Diane Clancy

You will want to have signed up for Cluster Maps and have the code ready to be pasted in. Look at this post again if you need help with this part.

In the post the other day, we put the code into a widget. Many people are now using widgets – but not all of us! There are 2 basic ways to access your sidebar without a widget. One is working on your desktop and then uploading it and the other way it to edit the sidebar as it is on your server. Have I lost you yet? I hope not!

If you work on your blog code on your computer and then upload it to your blog, we will add the code to the “sidebar.php.” Find your sidebar.php that goes with the theme that you are using. Open it up and insert the code where you want it in the sidebar. Make sure you do not break up any other pieces of code or else you will run into problems. At any point, if you want more help in following these directions, please comment or email me.

You probably have already tweaked your blog’s look some if you are working with files on your desktop – you probably use a web design program or an html program. The biggest challenge is to make sure that the code goes in a place where it does no damage.

After you have inserted the code, save the file and get ready to upload the newly revised “sidebar.php.” Whether you use a web ftp or a standalone ftp, the process is similar. Log into your site so you have access to upload a file. Find your WordPress files. Go to the “blog” folder, to “wp-content” folder, to “themes” folder to the name of the theme that you are using. Make sure that you do put it into the right theme!!

If you want to check your theme beforehand (a good idea unless you are *positive*!!), login to your admin dashboard. Go to “Presentation” and it will automatically land you into “themes.” Look at the name of the theme that is at the top – that is the theme that is active. So, when you upload your files, make sure that is the folder you upload your file into.

Now if you want to edit your sidebar while it is on the server, then go to “Presentation” and then choose “Themes Editor.” On the side, you will see a list of the files, and you should choose “Sidebar.” Sometimes it is helpful to have a second browser window open so that you can look at your sidebar as you edit it … to get a better idea of where you are in the file.

Again, like the above process, carefully put the code into the sidebar. Be careful where you put it to not break up phrases of code … When you have the code where you want it, click the “update file” button to save the changes.

No matter how you have changed you sidebar, I encourage you to go and check it out – “View Site” – see how it looks. If there is a mistake, just go through the process again … noticing where the problem is. One trick I use is to put several blank lines before and after the code so I can find it easily again …

Tomorrow we will finish up with Cluster Maps – hurray! As always, I would be delighted to hear how you are doing! Thank you for bearing with me.

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: WordPress, Cluster Maps, html, ftp

Would you like to learn more about Cluster Maps? Would you like a Cluster Map on your site or blog? For an overview of Cluster Maps read my post from a few days ago. Yesterday’s post starts the process of signing up for Cluster Maps and shares how to install a Cluster map on Blogger. Today we will work with WordPress widgets. Tomorrow we will work with WordPress for those who do not use widgets and perhaps we will finish and work with regular websites too.

The Duchess, Digital © Diane Clancy

Hopefully you have read yesterday’s post and have already copied the code you need for the Cluster Map. If you need to, go back and get the code from the Cluster Maps site. For most cases option A is just fine.

If you use widgets, login to your admin panel. Then go to “Presentation” to “Widgets.” Widgets will be on the line underneath Presentations after you choose Presentations.

Look to see if you have a “text” widget under “Available Widgets.” If you do not see a text widget that is there, go further down the page to “Text Widgets” and choose one or more text widgets. Then click “save.”

Grab one of the “text” widgets under “Widgets Available.” Drag it to the “Sidebar.” Double click the little icon on the top right with a blue bar and a couple of black lines underneath it. It will open into a box that you can put the info into. If you want, there is a place for a title – like “Cluster Map” or “Stats.” Then in the larger box underneath the title, paste the code for you Cluster Map. Then close the box with a click onto the “X” on the upper right.

To the right of the “Sidebar,” across the work space, there is Save Changes” – click on that. Alternatively, underneath “Available Widgets”, on the the right, is “Save Changes” – click on that.

Then … ta da!!! Go the “View Site” (next to the name of your blog) and see how gorgeous your map looks.  It will be empty for now, but soon your little red dots will start to show up as we all coming visiting you!!

Aside – If your blog is hosted on WordPress (that is, if www.yourname.wordpress.com is your blog), then I think you will need to use option B or option D. I am not sure. You can try and see which works … and perhaps leave us a comment so we can all learn. I just know there are some restrictions that aren’t there if you host your blog yourself. If you run into problems, email me or make a comment and I will see if we can’t get it figured out.

I hope this is being useful to someone! As always, I am delighted to hear how you are doing! Thank you for following with me through using Cluster Maps!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: Cluster Maps, Blogger, WordPress, widgets

So you would like a Cluster Map? Follow along and we will get you set up! (A warning – The post got long so I am going to start everyone tonight and finish Blogger. Tomorrow we will look at the different ways you would put it into WordPress.)

The Peacock Queen, Digital © Diane Clancy

First you may want to reread my post with the overview of Cluster Maps. Next click on the Cluster Map on the bottom of my sidebar (the map with all the little red dots). You may want to open it in a new tab or window so that you can read and do this at the same time. Alternatively, use this link to open up to this same step. (http://clustrmaps.com/getone.php)

One this page click on “Register Here” and you will come to another page. I chose the regular (the default) – which is free. Starting with “http://” put in the name of your blog or site. You need to enter your email twice for confirmation of the right email. Then read the “terms of service” and check that you have read and agreed to the terms. (I had no problem myself with the terms.)

OK, now they are sending you the temporary password – check your email that you gave them. Their password is long and rigorous – I would suggest copying and pasting. Go back to where you were in Cluster Maps and click continue. If you have lost the window, there is a admin link in the email – so click that please.

Put your password in where it says “password.” Click the “login” link below where you put in your password. At the next page you may want to take the time right now to change your password. You can “change password.” Hopefully you still have their password and you can paste it right in to “old password.” Then put in your new password – twice. Click “change password.” When you click “continue,” you will go back to the page we came from.

Here comes the only part that is a little tricky – but we will do it together! You need to choose the type code that is most appropriate for your site or blog. Most of you will probably choose option A. I know I did. There are other options available – read the other ones if you want. If you are hosted with Blogger or have a blog with your website name (yoursite.com/blog or blog.yoursite.com), I would think that option A is fine. I think if you are hosted at WordPress, I think you use option B. Copy your code so you can paste it in a bit.

Let’s tackle Blogger first. At Blogger go to “customize.” Go to template, to page elements. Then on the sidebar part, choose”add a page element.” A smallish window pops up. Choose “HMTL/JavaScript” “add to blog (on the right side, third down.) Click that “add to blog” and up will come another window (or it will transform actually.)

If you like you can give a title to this section – like “Cluster Maps.” Then take your code that is still hopefully with you, and paste it into the content section – the big box. Hit “save changes” and you are almost there! If you like you can drag the Cluster Map to a different place on your sidebar. Click save and you are golden – go view the blog and your map should be there – empty for now, but there! It may be until tomorrow until your dots start showing up – but they will!

Tomorrow we will install the Cluster Map in WordPress blogs. There are 3 – 4 different ways, so that is a whole post. I hope you are getting excited, as I am, about the fact we are connecting with people around the world!!! To me it is blissful!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: Cluster Maps, Blogger, customize, WordPress, connecting, world

Cluster Maps are a free tool that anyone with a blog or site can use. I think they are an incredibly exciting tool! If you go way down to the bottom of the sidebar here, you can see the Cluster Map. It is a map of the world with little red dots. The smallest dots represent 1 – 9 visits of people to this blog. The next size up is for 10 – 99 visits to the blog.

Turtle Batik, Digital © Diane Clancy

After that size, the larger one is for 100 – 999 visits to the blog. Are you getting excited yet? The largest red dots represent 1000 or more separate visits to this blog (or any other blog or site). When you first get a Cluster Map, you start with a blank map of the world. According to some formula, the Cluster Map gets updated regularly.

It is such a great experience to watch the map accumulate red dots – these are PEOPLE – real, live people who have taken the time to come and visit!!! If you look at the map (at the bottom of the sidebar), you can click on the map and it will show you a much bigger version of the map.

Sometimes I check it daily and sometimes not for a few days. Besides the US (and southern Canada), I have 19 red dots that represent 10 or more visits. It is one of the most exciting things in my blogging life to think that people have been moved enough by this blog – including by your comments, of course! – to return. Overnight I went from 11 medium dots to 19 dots … I had been watching because I tell from another tool that it looked like people were returning from some places that didn’t have a medium dot yet.

When Neda was in Beriut, I watched to see when her little red dot would grow to the next size. It was like a personal connection to Neda when she jumped to 10 visits … I knew she was really there.

It is also a fun way to pay attention to geography – Australia, Asia – lots of places in Asia, South America, Europe, and North America each have at least one mid-size visitor. Africa has some small visits but it has not made the leap yet. I encourage you to click on the map so you can see how much fun it is.

Another odd thing, my web site, Diane Clancy’s Art, has 12 red dots (outside the US) that are more than 10 visits. But they are distributed somewhat differently than the blog visits. I think that is fun and it draws me into realizing that this is a real blogosphere with people from lots of parts of the world.

I bet many of you will know what I am talking about when I work very hard to set up a site and blog and then I am not sure if they are worth anything. Am I just talking to myself? These red dots are a validation that what I have shared here on the site and blog is worthwhile to some people. Thank you for visiting!!

Tomorrow (or the next day) I will explain how YOU can get a Cluster Map so you can watch all of us visit too! Thank you for letting me share my excitement about being meaningful enough to people that some people come back and visit again!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: Cluster Maps, visits, map, Neda, geography, blogosphere

In the next few days I am going to teach people how to get set up with several different statistic counters – stats. Three of these that I like are Cluster Maps, Stat Counter, and Map Stats. You can take a peek at them on my sidebar ahead of time if you want. Sometimes Map Stats disappears but it is often there. So, make sure you come by the next few days!

The Labyrinth, Digital © Diane Clancy

Frances was kind enough to award me a “Nice Matters” Award! Thank you, Frances!!! Here is a bit of what Genevieve has to say about this award she created:

A new Friendship blogger award !
So I have noticed a lot of blog awards out there lately, and it has gotten me thinking about nominations. … there is caring, friendship and inspiration too. So I am starting my own blog award! This award will be awarded to those that are just nice people , good blog friends and those that inspire good feelings and inspiration! Those that care about others that are there to lend support or those that are just a positive influence in our blogging world! …

Nice Matters Award

This is a nice added bonus that people are creating awards to appreciate others on the blogosphere – yet another nice connection! The awards and the stats will go quite nicely together! Please share what you are up to!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: statistic counters, stats, Cluster Maps, Stat Counter, Map Stats, Frances, Nice Matters Award, blogosphere

From Blog Action Day: “What would happen if every blog published posts discussing the same issue, on the same day? One issue. One day. Thousands of voices.”

Neda Doany of Papiers Collés mentioned that Blog Action Day is is sponsoring such a day on Oct 15 to promote caring for the environment. I know I plan to participate and encourage you to consider getting involved too. Details are at the site Blog Action Day.

Buddha’s Dance, Digital © Diane Clancy

This is quoted from their site – “On October 15th, bloggers around the web will unite to put a single important issue on everyone’s mind – the environment. Every blogger will post about the environment in their own way and relating to their own topic. Our aim is to get everyone talking towards a better future.”

I know this issue concerns me greatly and I am sure it does you too. I also participate in the global meditations for peace. I have done lots of activist work also, but will jump at the chance to do this raising of awareness too.

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: Neda Doany, environment, activism