BOGUK the Web Designer

In my usual mode, I'm writing up my BOGUK badge in a blog post, this blog is not the website for this badge.

Clause 1

I have dutifully followed that link, and feel it falls readily into best practice. For the other licenses I kept it to Google, using https://creativecommons.org/ to ensure I was up to date in my attempts to keep this in place. Generally the images used on the site are applicable to the organisation in question, either directly or indirectly, or have licenses that allow free use. Should I be made aware of any infringements, I will remove the item as soon as possible. One specific item that I trued to be sure of was the tartan, the information on https://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/copyright implied that it is usable.

Clause 2

The site in question was an overhaul of https://www.foxleasesingingcircle.org.uk/index.html, and whilst it was only announced obviously in April, it had gone live prior to that. I had been maintain the previous site as best I could fir about a year. I had limited options for host etc. as this was an update. But, as it is now in HTML and a tiny bit of JavaScript I was able to have enough control to keep me happy. When I resurrected a Web space for the BOGUK badges, I used WordPress for ease. Given that I do maintain sites, I know that updates can be infrequent. I'm hoping that that experience will provide a little understanding for the three months maintenance aspect, and that I have proven my consistency at this well enough. Otherwise, it will just mean I consider this done in 3 months.

Optional Clauses

Clause 4

Being a programmer using HTML is an obvious option for me. Most of the site is in simple HTML, however I also use it heavily on the BOGUK badge site. The HTML there allows for the lists to behave in a way the WordPress interface doesn't let me. 

Clause 5

A page of links was kind of a given for that kind of site. Whilst adding links isn't necessarily hard for me, choosing which to retain, which to add, and which to remove was a challenge. The links for email addresses are all appropriate as well. Possibly of greater challenge to me was the use of links for items such as CSS (content style sheets) and java libraries. This improved the options immensely for making the site behave as I wanted. The font site used for the icons was also a wonderful find.

Clause 12

I'm keen on at least trying to ensure accessibility at least somewhat. Using https://wave.webaim.org/ it is easy to check individual pages for certain levels of accessibility. It told me that I was missing a language tag, which is considered an error. I went through and added that tag to each page. All images have alternative text tags. A slightly more subtle consideration is the background colour, which isn't white, but just off it towards Blue, which ensures a reasonable contrast, making it easier for neuro-diverse individuals to read it. 

Clause 13

This kind of extra item is exactly where I thrive. Using external JavaScript libraries I was able to not only use some fancy icons, I was able to create the dropdown menus. Less direct for me was the desire to embed aspects of html in various pages, and the use if JavaScript, meant I could not build pages and test them simply, as those behaviours just don't work. A little on-line research and I realised that I could use the web server in Python to serve them locally and view and test things that way. 

Clause 14

I'm aware that this is almost an extra clause, but the links and programming are both somewhat intertwined, and so adding this in shows at least some extra consideration. I've used the WordPress interface to create Web pages, and find myself fighting it more than anything else. I had a look at some other tools that may help, especially in relation to things like the use of CSS, notably I looked Canva and nicepage. I did not get on with either. In the case of all of these the user interface which would be of benefit to those with limited skills were hampering me in creating what I wanted to do. I quickly ended up in Notepad++, it's a simple text editor in some ways, but having told it that the files are html, it will then offer at least limited auto-completion giving me just enough focus to create the pages easily.

BOGUK gets Needled

I started this badge a few times, but have finally done enough to call it finished, I think. It's slightly heavy on the Christmas theme, but I hope that doesn't matter. I did the following clauses:

Clause 4 - Embroidered a sampler, card, picture or similar using counted cross stitch.

This little bear was a kit on a magazine, and it isn't obvious but the snow flakes and parts of the scarf use a metallic thread. It was an interesting challenge getting it situated to the cut out, but I'm quite pleased that I managed it.

Clause 5 - Embroider a sampler, card, picture or similar using blackwork embroidery.

This is about 8x8 inches, and I do love the art deco effect that it has. It's one of my favourite things about blackwork, that particular aesthetic is a common one for this style of embroidery.

Clause 6 - Embroider a sampler, card, picture or similar using Hardanger embroidery.

This was new to me, and I found it quite hard to do the cutting, and it has ended up looking a little tatty on the edges. I don't think I'll be taking this up as a style of embroidery, but I enjoyed this taster.

Clause 7 - Embroider a sampler, card, picture or similar that incorporates beadwork.

Whilst I've done things with beadwork before, I did get to try something new with the perforated paper this is worked on. Although the tiniest beads which have a full cross stitch through them were a bit of a pain, and not all of them could fit the needle through twice. Luckily the kit came with plenty of beads.

Clause ? - Embroider a sampler, card, picture or similar using Sashiko embroidery.

This Japanese embroidery technique was new to me, and whilst it isn't an existing clause, I'm sure this should count, as this is a completely different style to anything else I had done. The fabric is folded onto the needle and then it is stretched out to give the running stitch. I've fallen in love with this technique from the portability point of view, as the traditional fabric for this is so forgiving of being folded, screwed up and generally treated badly, and it turns out good at the end. Expect to see more of this from me in the future.