Saturday, January 10, 2009

Changes

Graphite pencil on paper, 11'x8'
Copyright Laura Hardie 2009

Something I have been meaning to do for a long time is to update my blog and move with the times as far as it was concerned. I think I was the only blogger left using the old template and I was feeling a bit left out especially when I saw all the wonderful things you could add using the layout tab.

Of course, it was easy enough to change and I did this last year but disliked the way it moved everything around in my earlier posts – mainly squashing everything together and leaving no spaces between paragraphs and pictures. Being a perfectionist and not having the faintest idea how to amend all this I went back to the old template – at least this way everything looked alright.

But I guess the layout tab has won (it was either that or starting a new blog) because I’ve now changed back as you can probably tell with all the additions I’ve added to my sidebar. I spent quite a bit of time on this last night, even tried to edit my text in previous posts with the spacebar so everything didn’t look so cramped but it didn’t work – that will probably niggle away at me until I find a solution or grow to accept it. What is bothering me more however is the appearance of what looks like a small spanner and screwdriver appearing several times down the sidebar on the left – can you see them? I went to bed last night and they were there, got up this morning and they’d gone, made a change in layouts and they’re back to haunt me. Now everytime I check my blog they are there – does anyone know what they are and how to get rid of them? And there are people I have added to my blogroll who aren’t showing and I’m at a loss to why. I’m sure I make things difficult for myself as nothing ever seems to run smoothly.

My blog will probably be a work in progress for a couple of weeks until I get everything as I like it so bear (or is it bare) with me as I play around with it.

I’m calling my graphite drawing of a horse finished for the time being – I’m still undecided what to do with the background and I may yet continue the shading to the edges of the paper. Looking at it now on screen I think something needs to be done though it does look better in real life.

5 comments:

Gillian McMurray said...

The little spanner and screwdrivers are where you can click to edit your post if you are reading it while signed in to your blogger account. It is quite normal. It allows you to go back and edit without going all the way through the dashboard. Only you can see them when signed in, the rest of us just see an ordinary blog post :o) Hope that puts your mind at rest a little. Love the new horse portrait too.

Laura said...

Thanks Gillian:)It's comforting to know you can't see any spanners or screwdrivers. Makes sense and now I feel quite - no, VERY - stupid now, although I was convinced I'd signed out of blogger when I saw them last night.

I can't see them now which is good:)

Anonymous said...

Was just going to say what Gillian said. Just new to this and haven't a clue what I'm doing....I noticed them too sitting there like little sneaky beaks watching my every move...then figured out what they were LOL. Love your horse portrait it must take a lot of patience to complete but the affact is stunning :)

Teresa Mallen said...

Hi Laura,

Beautiful graphite piece!!

I think we have all been thrown by the spanners and screwdrivers. :-)Even if you have signed out of blogger, you will continue to see them until the next time you turn your computer on. The info is stored in your cache and one way to eliminate the spanners and screwdrivers is to 'refresh' your page (usually located under 'view' in your menu bar).

Thank you for including my blog on your blog roll. Your support and readership is much appreciated!

Laura said...

Thanks Elizabeth - so good to hear I'm not the only one out there that can get easily confused with things like this:)

Thank you too Teresa:) What you say explains why I still saw the spanners and screwdrivers after I signed out of blogger - I knew i'd signed out so i'm not going mad after all:)

I love reading your blog and seeing what you're doing with your coloured pencils Teresa - you had to be on my blog roll:)