Hi All,

I must appologize for the lack of updates during the past couple months. This has been due to technical difficulties with the back end of my web site. Just to post this brief text blog entry, I will be lucky if 1 out of 6 clicks of the “Save” button actually saves the article instead of kicking me out and erasing all my changes.

I am my own tech support, and my time is spread thin, so I have thus far been unable to fix the problem. Add this ongoing update issue to a host of other problems with my site engine (mostly involving a massive lack of flexibility and poorly designed comment/contact system), and I have decided to bite the bullet and completely redesign the site from the ground up using an entirely different back end. I’d rather do it now than continue digging myself a bigger hole and just have to do it later anyway.

I have two corsets to make first, and then I expect to dedicate a week or two to constructing the new site. If all goes according to plan, the new site should be up before the New Year. Specific page addresses will change, as will the RSS feed for my blog, because this blog is part of the problem engine. I don’t know if I will be able to export the current blog to the new blog or not. I plan to export as much as possible, and place redirect pages from the current site. When the new site is ready, I will fight this engine at least one more time to provide the details of the move and new subscription address.

My domain name will not be changing, and neither will my email address.

Things to look forward to!

Conical/Renaissance Stays Tutorials: I have a set of four tutorials, fully written and waiting to be uploaded. They will walk the reader through drafting a conical corset block, creating a working pattern for Renaissance stays, and creating Renaissance stays using modern materials and techniques.

Historical Inspirations: I am planning a new feature to my blog, where every couple days I will provide information and images on period clothing to inspire your own projects. This will most often be in the form of links to items shown elsewhere on the web, like museum websites, personal collection web sites, and other enthusiasts’ blogs. When I have the chance to see and photograph historic garments in person, I’ll share those experiences as well.

Expanding Tutorials and Workshops: During the next year I am refocusing my energy on free tutorials and developing in-person workshops. I will be scheduling more dates for Beginning Corset Flossing, as well as setting up workshops on the creation of custom Renaissance stays (modern method and historic style construction), Renaissance underthings, and many other topics as well. Whenever possible, I am also going to be assembling Learning Kits with professionally printed instructions and the materials needed to learn how to make the various items described in my tutorials. These Learning Kits will be included with the applicable workshops, and available for general sale.

I hope you all have a wonderful Holiday Season, and I look forward to sharing with all of you in 2011. :)

Cheers,

Sidney Eileen