2021...Let's Do This!
Hi!
Remember me? Yeah, it has been a long while. If you read my “November Catch-Up” post, then you know the second half of 2020 was basically a write-off. There was just no way to focus on any sewing or video projects with all the real life happenings in our family…and that was fine. I do not regret refocusing, which is something we all have to do from time to time.
Now that we’ve made it through the holidays and have had a chance to draw breath, I feel good about moving forward on several new projects. First off, I was approached by a fellow pattern designer about revamping my ePatterns to make them into layered PDFs (meaning you could print just one size at a time if you wanted to). Rebecca showed me an example she had made with my Edwardian Apron pattern, and I was just thrilled by the results. So, starting February 1, we are going to work through all of my patterns, beginning with the best-sellers and hoping to tackle one every six weeks or so. If you have already purchased an ePattern from me in the past, the newer version will be available to you free of charge (I just need proof of prior purchase). I’m very excited to finally “upgrade” the ePatterns to make them more user friendly!!
Sample of a new ePattern tile in progress, complete with cutting lines for the margins and a one-inch ruler for accuracy. This will make it MUCH easier to match up the tiles and join them together.
At the same time, I am finishing up the new sizes for the Regency Underthings and Girls’ Spencer Jacket/Pelisse patterns. This will correct fitting issues with the former (it runs a size large) and add larger sizes for pre-teen and teenage girls on the latter. Again—if you already own a copy of either pattern, you won’t need to buy the update all over again. My patterns come with a lifetime guarantee!
Correcting the Blog—an ongoing project…
I’m setting aside time to fix some issues with images in past blog posts that occurred when I moved from WordPress to Squarespace. I really appreciate those who have taken time to drop me links to posts with problems, because combing through 3,000+ posts/pages to find them isn’t easy! It’s not as simple as using a tool to find broken links, or it would go a lot faster. This involves old image galleries that didn’t convert, leaving a lot of posts without pictures. I’ll keep working through these as I locate them (and please keep sending URLs if you run across them—thanks!).
Social Media Hiatus…for now
If you followed me on Instagram, you’ll see that I shut down my account right before the TOS update on December 20. I’ve read all the arguments on either side, and it just boils down to me not being comfortable with the powers IG is taking. Several people mentioned that “they’ve already been doing this for a while,” but that argument doesn’t really sway me. If I found out my neighbor had been taking videos of me in the shower since last March, I wouldn’t just shrug my shoulders and say, “Oh, well…it’s already out there.” 😳
‘Fraid we’ve gone way beyond binoculars, dears…
I know we live in a post-privacy world in many ways, but I don’t believe in just accepting that and not fighting back. I deleted FB Messenger when they made similar changes to their TOS. I deleted FB and WhatsApp, and now I’ve decided to stay off Instagram unless/until users are given back control of their own data, images, and camera controls. I do not judge anyone who chooses to stay—this is just where my comfort level ends.
So, that effectively puts me off all social media platforms except Pinterest right now. I have left my IG feed up as an archive but deleted the app from my devices. You can still view past posts in my IG feed on the front page of my website without having to login to IG to do it. I am looking into alternatives that are easy to use and don’t come with the same privacy concerns. Until I find something that seems workable, I will focus on my own blog here and my eNewsletter.
As always, I LOVE hearing from you via email or on my live chat box. I honestly feel like I have the best, most wonderfully creative customers on earth. YOU are the sewing geniuses, my dears, and you inspire me so very much. Here’s to making beautiful things in 2021—and making the world a more beautiful place as we do it!
Warmly,
Jennie
