May 28th, 2025
The point of this website was as a live environment for me to develop my WordPress theming skills.
WordPress comes out of the box as a fully operational website, but the default site rarely looks the way I want it to. The beauty of WordPress is that I can change how a website looks by changing the Theme and add functionality by adding Plugins.
Over the last decade I have bought an assortment of WordPress themes, but I spend a lot of time fighting with other people’s code to make the finished website look exactly the way I want. Common sense dictates that I should just learn how to make my own themes and then I can build whatever I like. Unfortunately common sense isn’t always common. I’ve been talking a good game about building my own themes for almost as long as I’ve been working with WordPress, unfortunately when I’m not good at things straight away I tend to sulk, take my ball home and give up. 2025 is the year that I stop doing that.
The number of times I’ve stayed up until the wee small hours swearing at my screen, because I can’t force somebody else’s theme to comply with my wishes is way too many, so this year is the year.
I do however have a secret weapon in my corner called Prisca, who has been nudging me for at least 5 years to stop sulking and get on with learning how to create my own themes. Prisca has been teaching web development for over 20 years and I’m lucky enough to work with her at The University of Sheffield on the Digital Practices Unit. We work together for a couple of months a year, and every year she asks me if I’ve built my first theme and every year I admit that I haven’t, but enthusiastically agree that this year will be the year. Last year Prisca helped me with my rebrand, so 2025 is now officially going to be the year that I make good on my weak promises and actually put the work in.
The best time to learn theme development was probably 5 years ago. The next best time is right now. If I’m going to fight with WordPress themes, then I’m going to fight with WordPress themes that I’ve built.
Posted in Theme Development | Comments Off on Personal Development
May 5th, 2025
There are several answers to that question
- Answer One
- This is a WordPress blog to track my various experiments with different types of printing.
- Answer Two
- I’m a web developer and this is a development website to help me test out WordPress themes and plugins
- Answer Three
- I have lots of ideas for printed merchandise and would love to create a range of products for people to buy.
I spend a lot of time slagging off printers, because office printers have a habit of letting me down. The companies that make them aren’t great, the problems have been the same since the 90s and the cost of printer ink is extortionate. There’s a lot to dislike about office printers.
Now that we’ve established my feelings about office printers, let’s talk about the types of printing I do like, starting with 3Da.
3Da
3Da, pronounced Freda, is my 3D printer. I’ve had her for a while but I haven’t made the most of her. The majority of the designs I’ve printed so far aren’t original, but considering I started knowing absolutely nothing about CAD or 3D printing I think I’ve done pretty well.
Although 3D printing is capable of amazing things, so far I’ve mainly printed out calibration cubes and a variety of different cat themed items. Hopefully this blog will capture some original designs whilst I practice.
Sublimation Printing
Over Christmas I treated myself to a Sublimation printer and heat press. I love a printed hoodie and liked the idea of creating my own. Things aren’t going entirely to plan. I’ve made a couple of things, but there are definitely a few kinks to iron out.
It took a while to get used to how the printer works and I haven’t figured out how to stop the designs disappearing in the wash yet, but I’m looking forward to figuring it out.
Posted in Blog | Comments Off on What is Print Queen
May 5th, 2025
Hello World!
This is a development site to test out WordPress themes and plugins. One day it may turn into a place where you can buy cool merch – but one step at a time!
Posted in Blog | Comments Off on Hello world!