Good Morning, Quilters!
A few weeks ago, I received some rather bad news about this website.
Five years ago, when I re-branded from The Inbox Jaunt to Lori Kennedy Quilts, , I used a small web developer and hosting company, Lifted Logic. They now inform me that the website architecture will soon be obsolete and the site will experience fatal errors. However, for the cost of a new longarm, it can be repaired- but it must be done immediately.
LK: Seriously? Those are my only options? I’m going to need a second opinion. Web developers –Sorry it’s true.
LK: What if I save only the motif tutorials and projects? Web Dev-Won’t help.
LK: What can you do for 50% of the cost of a new long arm? WD: It’s all or nothing. We suggest you move to a new host who might be able to do it cheaper.
LK’s Mother ringing in ears: If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything…….
LK: Silence
After moving to new host...(Bluehost-way less expensive for hosting and for development)
Bluehost: “Old architecture is going to cause your website to break at some unknown date.” We recommend rebuilding the site from scratch and we can do it at a (somewhat) affordable price.
LK: Can we save motifs and projects? Bluehost: Not easily-you will have to copy and paste every post manually. (But there are more than 2400 posts with texts and photos!?!)
LK-Can we save my subscribers list? Bluehost-NO!
LK: Waa waa waawaa
What’s A Girl to Do?
For several days I moped around in a funk.
In the grand scheme of life, I know that losing my website is low on the hierarchy,
But it is still a loss. A lot of time and effort went into those 2400 posts over 12 years. It’s frustrating to learn that in a puff of electronic vapor-all will vanish!
I decided it was over.
My blogging days were over. I simply could not start from scratch.
Minnesota Sun Comes Out
But then an interesting thing happened. The rainy days of MN spring opened up to a few days of sunshine.
A small voice inside said “this is an opportunity”.
“You still know the information.”
“You could organize in an all new way”.
“We can make it pretty!”
A New Website
So I’ve decided to start again with a brand new website! The name will remain Lori Kennedy Quilts, but the content will be all new and organized for easier access. I will copy a small number of posts from my current site. (I’d rather start fresh than spend hours copying and pasting.)
It’s scary to start again….
But there’s also something exciting about a fresh start!
What This Means for YOU
First of all, this website will stay in tact through mid-July. I will continue to write posts and send them to you via email, or you can access the site at any time.
If there are any tutorials, projects or information you would like to save, please do so as soon as possible. (“Fatal errors, unknown time frame“)
When the new site goes live, you will be required to re-subscribe.
I will keep you up to date on the progress,
Please sign up for my Facebook page and the Quillting with LKQ Facebook Group to keep up with current developments.
Please Share!
When is the last time a door closed and a window opened in YOUR life?
Was it a little scary or a little exciting or both?
Are YOU ready for a fresh start or a new look in some aspect of YOUR life?
Are YOU ready to roll up your sleeves and join me in this new quilting adventure?
We’d LOVE to hear!
Mother’s Day Weekend
Happy Mother’s Day, first to my Mom who taught me to hold my tongue–I’m never sorry when I do!
And to my daughters who are wonderful mothers!
And to all the mothers and grandmothers out there–
Wishing you all the best this weekend and this year!–I hope you have plenty of time with family and a little time to yourself to quilt!
Kind Regards,
Lori
98 comments
Gwyned
Not sure if you are still looking for a host/server, but I have been super impressed with the support I get with SiteGround. I do design and maintain my own site. I’ve done it twice over 15 years or so. Feeling your pain. Best of luck.
Shirl
Do we know which site Lori picked to create her website?
Minnie
Happy Mother’s Day to you as well.
I’ll be signing up as soon as your new site is up.
Mary Northway
So sorry to hear about your website troubles. I admire your decision to move on and create something even better. I will pray for a smooth transition. What you don’t do for us quilters!❤️
Elle
I do enjoy your blog and your posts so very much and I look forward to your new endeavor with much anticipation!!
Maryann Anderson
Good to hear that you are ready to regroup and roll up your sleeved!!! Love your quilting!
maryheard
Thank you for letting us know. Hope it all goes as smoothly as possible, I look forward to further contact with your new venture
Anne Godwin
You were one of the first free motion quilters I followed. Your directions and step-outs were always so clear! Best of luck! On to a bigger and better website.
theresa sieczynski
sorry to here of ur problems. Sunny days r coming!
Judy Veltidi
Happy a Mother’s Day Lori!
Cindy Kucharski
Hi, Before you despair, consider going with a larger company who will provide a team and will keep your platform up to date, not letting it get “obsolete”. GoDaddy was recommended to me and they built a fantastic website and are always available to increase functions of any of my pages. You can contact them at godaddy.com and they will have a phone # there to get any questions answered. I put my web address below for you to check out. The good news is they duplicated MY previous website, bringing it from front page construction to Word Press.
Claudine Geisel
I love your website. It has been so helpful for me over the years. I can’t wait to sign up again! Looking forward to it! Have a wonderful Happy Mother’s day.
Patty
Lori, I am sick to hear this! Ugh! Well, when one door closes, another opens, right? If I know you, this next venture is going to even more awesome than the first! <3
Mary Leonard
I love your texts and designs, I’ve learned to free motion over the years with your site, books, and columns. So glad you are starting over. Resubscribing is a small thing and this will give us a push to review and save our favorites
After having two computers crash taking with them really time consuming embroidery file indexes amount other things I understand starting over.
God bless and give you peace and patience
Fran Larsen
Well, this is disappointing but I really do understand your dilemma and wish you had a better option. So, I have a lot saved to my computer.
Is there an easy way to search for videos?
Karlene Macken
I am so sorry to hear this! I will definitely be signing up to the new site 😁
How do you save things to your computer? I’ve never done this before and I would really like to save the QAL series that you did.
Good luck for the move and Happy Mothers Day xox
Lynn
Lori, I am so sorry to hear that you have to start completely over with your website. You have developed a great resource and I love it. I am echoing Karlene, in that I need to find a way to save the QAL series. I have just started the 25 week QAL 2020 and planned to use 2021 also. I am so sad I may not be able to finish. But…life goes on. If there is any way that any of us users can help you out, just ask. You have helped us immensely over the years. I have just finished my first quilt. Thank you. Best of luck to you in the coming months. I’ll watch for the new site.
Roxanne Schnitzler
I’d follow you anywhere, you and your work are amazing! You go girl!
JoyceO
Oh my golly, devastation but then a ray of sunshine. Things always happen for a reason, good will come 🙂
Krys Koniecko
Dear Lori,
How awful for you…and what a great opportunity to do it all again…with changes, and updates! We don’t always get “do-overs” in life, so make the most of it.
I will say my heart sank when I first started reading your blog, but I’m thrilled you aren’t leaving us, your loyal followers!
Take care, be well, and carry on!
Krys💕
Cindy Clark
So sorry you are having this setback. I admire your positive attitude. I know it must be frustrating. Sending hugs
Lynne
Good luck, Lori! Praise God for mothers who tell us to hold our tongues! I’m sorry for your loss but you can do this 🌹‼️
Louise W.
I will be signing up for your new newsletters, I am always learning from you and want to continue to learn, you are always giving me inspiration to learn more!
Sally McFerren
Keep going Lori! You have so much to share! I’ll be anxious to se the new web site/ Happy Mothers Day.
Jennifer
I LOVE your creative free motion quilting and I’ve been following your posts for years. Your Craftsy class took the fear out of FMQ for me! Thank you! I’ve been helping a local quilt guild with their website and FB presence. This is new for me but I am learning lots as I go but it can be challenging! So glad you didn’t give up! We need your quilting encouragement! Praying you find joy in the process of setting up a new website!
Karen Dustrude
I am so sorry to learn of the debacle with the website. Computers are a love – hate relationship. I am sooo happy you’ve decided to start anew and carryon. Thank you, thank you.
Linda Swanekamp
Oh what terrible news! I have learned so much from you over the years and your books. I am not a panto quilter or overly ruler based. Your style is much more how I work. I was glad you started blogging again. I am afraid one day Google will pull the plug on blogger where I am, but I do not have the content you do. Please keep me in the loop. I do not have/use Facebook anymore as their censorship and intrusive data mining made it impossible for me to continue. I am not some weird out there person, but because of my beliefs and follows about the whole covid debacle, I could not continue on there. Here is a thought- you can turn any web page into a pdf with https://www.printfriendly.com. I use it for keeping patterns. You could convert your tutorials into pdfs that you could edit if you want or just post. This way you would not have to copy and paste everything. I appreciate you did not give up. I appreciate your work
Anita
Happy Mother’s day to you too. I stay with a blog instead of a website to save on cost. I’ve had to start a new blog a couple of times. Nothing lasts forever. After the initial shock and disappointment I realized that losing a blog wasn’t nearly as bad as for someone who loses absolutely everything in a natural disaster. Fires, floods, tornadoes, earthquakes hurricanes, etc are much worse. Your fans will move with you. I certainly will! I don’t do Facebook so I’ll probably miss all the information updates. Please let us know when to sign up with email.
Julie
I will continue to follow. Things change, it pays to be flexible. Time to design some Gumby motifs.
GrammyJo
Oh Lori! If anyone can pull this off, it’s you.
The best is yet to be.
Ellen
I am crying with you! Your website is the place I turn to when I need ideas for FMQ. Please consider re-creating stuff that ISN’T in your books first when you start re-creating. I really, really miss seeing you in my inbox on a regular basis, and wish you all the best.
Carol
Remember, when one door closes, another opens! You can do this and we will all stand by one.❤️
Glenda Reece
OMG, I had tears in my eyes this morning. But I am so happy to hear that you are on the come back. You are my Hero… Happy mom’s day to all mothers.
linmidquilts
Love your site and hope I find your new one. Best of luck on this new adventure.
plumdelice
I am a member of your groups already, so I’m happy about that. I wish you much happiness with your new website. Forwards is the way to go.
stripeyquilter
Thank you so much for not giving up. You are such an inspiration and not just for quilting. I’m looking forward to seeing your new website and learning more from you.
Linda
Lori you are so talented. I’m so happy that your going to continue. You are a blessing to many.
Patricia Lediard
Happy Mother’s Day to you. And to your mother who taught you to bite your tongue; dear lord, put one hand on my shoulder and one over my mouth.
See you soon ✂️✂️✂️✂️
Martha
Wish you many blessings with the new site: the “old” blessed me in many ways!
CarolE
In the face of such circumstances, I admire your tenacity and so grateful! I have so enjoyed your blog over the years and all of us quilters are so lucky to see you are going forge ahead with a new website, a new adventure. Happy Mother’s Day to you and your daughters.
Aggie Bollhorn
So sorry to hear about your problems and so glad to hear that you will be continuing. I have followed you for years and have learned so much. Thank you for sticking this out. I will be looking forward to the new website!
Happy Mother’s Day!
Lyn
I’ve been following you on Facebook !! Such is the way with hardware and software improvements, sometimes the old has to be tossed to make way for the newer and better. It’s a pain, but the end result are usually much better than ever imagined. Or such has been my experience…. Looking forward to your new site!!
lizzerdblog
Curious why your entire website info is NOT backed up to a separate, dedicated hard drive?
Sandra Taylor
I’m so sorry to hear of this. I have a Facebook page I hardly ever post on and it has been locked because of “possible unauthorized activity.|” of which this happened after I changed my password. I am told I must provide proof of identity to them in the form of a drivers license, marriage license, if I work for the government an ID from them or a passport they would accept a copy of that as proof of identification. The think is FB doesn’t have any of those document about me. Some people say it is a scam – I don’t know but that is traumatic enough for me. I can’t imagine how disconcerting this situation for you!!! My opinion of Lifted Logic and possibly FB and possibly Artificial Intellegence too is they are trying basically to rob and appear to steal your work and take your personal interactions hostage. It is greed and indecent and and should be considered a crime. Incidents as this makes me wonder why anyone would advocate for Artificial Intelligence to control the world, do away with paper currency and make all purchases digital. It seems to me if this small scale of Artificial Intelligence can make these policies on whims nothing on-line will ever include protection for those of us that participate using it.
Heartland Honey
AMEN!!!
Bobbie
Your blog kept me sane during Covid! I always look forward to reading your advice and benefitting from your lessons. I truly hope you can continue without hassles. Happy Mother’s Day!
MARY WRIGHT
So sorry to hear about your website. Starting over with anything is scary and exciting. Bigger and better things are headed your way. 24 years ago, I moved from Canada to the US with my 6 year old little boy. We brought what could fit in my car. I had a job waiting for me when I arrived. Being a nurse I could virtually move wherever I wanted. Started a new life. So, I can understand what you are feeling. Follow your hopes and dreams!
Leah Groenwald
Life is full of adventures! Your’s will be wonderful. Peace be with you
Pam
Can’t live without you. I will be there when you enter your new path.
jcbohn
Have you heard the coda to When one door closes another door opens? It’s but it sure is hell waiting in the hallway!
Barb Czarniecki
So sorry to hear about your troubles. Technology- aaaahhhhh. I’ll be signing up when your new site is unveiled. Thanks for all your inspiration!
Isabel Waddell
Happy Mother’s Day and Thanks for your continued talent and devotion in teaching us your gift… I’m sticking with you! Blessings Lori
kaywelch
WOW!!! That is quite a shock to your system. So glad to hear that you will be staring fresh. I will definitely be signing up. I hope the change goes smoother than expected, and you receive a huge positive response, as I’m sure you will. Doors close and windows open – they let in fresh air, fresh thinking, and fresh opportunities. Take Good Care as you navigate your new path. Excited to see what you create. Thanks for accepting this challenge.
Eugenia
Oh Lori, that was the devastating news! I am so glad you did not want to give up. We women are so resilient, we just cannot let something we love to crumble and be gone. We redo!
Thank you so much for your tutorials (website, books, articles), they have been inspiring me for many years. I admire your willingness to help all of us and share your passion and knowledge. You are the true artist!
Looking forward to browsing your new website, I know it would be wonderful.
Good luck and Happy Mother’s day!
Scott Penning
You can see your old site here. https://web.archive.org/web/20230326123949/https://lorikennedyquilts.com/
This is a Non-Profit that stores sites so we do not loose content. it will still be there after you shut your site down.
You could also scrape your own site to get all the content and images. That way you and add it back in as is or edit them with a new eye to how you see the world today.
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