Chris K Designs

I’ve updated the code below so that it works properly. Sorry for any confusion this code was causing, but this should all be fixed now

I’ve been using the Mystique theme by Digitalnature for my personal blog for a few months now and after many updates, it’s really becoming quite the all inclusive design. The one thing it’s missing is a great login that’s themed along with it. So I’ve taken it upon myself to create it. You will need to make  a small customization to the functions.php file for the theme but I’ll walk you through it.

Click to preview the full image

First you need to download the custom-login.zip file, unpack it, then upload the custom-login folder to your mystique folder. The directory is ‘/wp-content/themes/mystique/’.

Download custom-login.zip

Step two is modify the /wp-content/themes/mystique/functions.php’. You only need to add about 4 lines of code to the file so it’s nothing to major. Open the file you in your favorite text editor and look at the end of the file for:

add_theme_support('automatic-feed-links');

endif;
?>

Paste the following code between the add_theme_support and endif; line.

function custom_login() {
echo ' ';
}
add_action('login_head', 'custom_login');

And there you have it, a custom login screen for people using the ‘Mystique’ theme. Thanks to Pro Blog Design for the great post about ‘Custom WordPress Login Screens‘

Updated: I have modified the Code Plugin I’m using so this code should work without error now. Let me know in the comments if you have any other issues. Thanks everyone for the help!

Update 3/26 – If you are using the WordPress nightly builds for testers, this isn’t working anymore due to a CSS change in the WordPress code. I’m looking into it.

It took me a few days but I finally have my notes edited and formatted from the early morning speakers at WordCamp 2009. Due to the fact that I was working the ‘Smart Bar’ for the afternoon I did not get notes from the speakers that came after lunch but I did get Lorelle VanFossen’s Keynote address, Dave Moyer’s talk on using WordPress for media, and Jim Christian’s talk on SEO. I hope these help you out.

Overall I thought the conference went great! I hope that we can get this to be an annual event here in Phoenix. There were some great speakers, some big names in attendance, and it was a fantastic networking event for anyone that blogs, develops, or is just interested in the WordPress scene. My only regret is not being able to make PodCampAZ the following two days. I’ll save that one for next year.

Download my Phoenix WordCamp 2009 notes on Google Docs

8:37AM: Just waiting for the event to start. Look at @ChurckReynolds

8:45AM: Were just given the 15 minute warning!

9:05AM: Phoenix Wordcamp has a Google Wave going! Just search for ‘with:public wordcamp’

9:07AM: Alon takes the state and announces a Sold Out event! wOOt!

9:25AM: Lorelle VanVossen is about to take the stage to give the Keynote – All About WP. (http://lorelle.wordpress.com)

Lorelle is talking about how to make “Your blog work for you” using the future post features.

Showing people how to use the ‘Press This’ option in WordPress to post articles you find in order to help you add original content based off your reactions to other articles you find online.

Will post the details, properly formatted so Lorelle doesn’t get angry, later.

9:55AM: Lorelle just finished up a great keynote giving her tips on blogging with WordPress.

10:05AM: Dave Moyer takes the stage talking about WordPress as a Multimedia Platform

Don’t worry, my notes will be in one big downloadable section after I get home to format them tonight. It’s all moving so QUICK!

10:20AM: Dave just finished up a drive by of multimedia information that was almost hard to grasp so quickly but got some good information from him. We’re about to hear from Jim Christian on Search Engine Optimization and WordPress.

10:37AM: Are you on the White Hate, Grey Hat, or Black Hat list of SEO?

I have to sign off for a bit. I am going to be taking my turn at the ‘SmartBar’ here at WordCamp Phoenix. If you are here at the event, and are looking for help with WordPress or just want to get some insight on a topic, stop on by from 11am – 12pm and 1pm – 2pm and I will be there!

So you’ve got an idea and you are going to start a blog. You’ve dug through the different blog platforms and landed upon WordPress. Once you either get your WordPress.com blog running, or you have installed WordPress on your server, you will no doubt be ready to start typing away. That’s great! Before you start publishing your award winning content there may be a few things you will want to take a look at to get your WordPress site looking like it’s a step above the rest.

Setup your user profile
By default a WordPress installation uses the name ‘admin’ and that crazy password that get’s emailed to the address you provided. If you don’t change this, all of our future posts will be attributed to ‘admin’. Once you get logged in with that password, you will want to go to the ‘Users’ menu from the left bar in your Dashboard and select ‘Your Profile’. Here you can change your username to start. Continue reading “3 Things to-do with a new WordPress site” »

Phoenix WordCamp has been confirmed and is open for registration! Checkout the details at phxwordcamp.com.  Here is some of the information. The cost is pretty minimal at $30 and you can register at the website. They have some pretty big sponsors lined up and hey there is free food involved. You can’t beat included meals as well as some of the best WordPress contributors, speakers, and geniuses out there not to mention a great community of users.

After a lot of work, legal paperwork and tons of emails, I’m very proud to say we have confirmed a date and officially have a venue and information for Wordcamp Phoenix 2009!

Venue: Arizona Grand Resort, 8000 S. Arizona Grand Parkway Phoenix, Az 85044 (venue info)

Date: Friday November 13th – Time: 8am – 5pm

The venue is beautiful with easy to access, being right off the I-10, within a few miles of Sky Harbor Airport, and is conveniently located down the road from where PodCampAz and the Az Entrepreneurship Conference are being held.  A continental breakfast, full lunch provided by GoDaddy, event t-shirt and door prizes will be provided to those who Register for Wordcamp Phoenix.