Johanna

That's a legacy from the old board which didn't display that additional information by the avatar, just in the user profile. I am hoping people take the time to log into their control panel area and reset things the way they want them. Not all the personal settings survived the upgrade, so check that your email is being delivered as you wish and all the other options you have available in there. Especially list your websites! LW can significantly help your Google rankings. I'm going to set up the gallery shortly which will be another opportunity for people to introduce themselves, show what they do, let us know what's for sale or in a museum, and upload lessons, videos etc. Our community is growing, and we want to give our members every opportunity to get publicity if they want it. You know what we say here on LW- "trying to keep leatherworkers from having to get day jobs..." Thanks for the feedback- keep it coming! Johanna

My reservations are made- I will be there from around lunch time Thurs to Sunday afternoon. Whoo-hoo! I'm looking forward to this show! Johanna

PMs are kind of a mess still. Some have been restored, some are there but are not wanting to display, and some are not converting to the new "conversation" format. grrr... We're working on all that. Meanwhile, permissions got messed up during the transition so I have to back and set all the user groups size mailbox, room for uploaded attachments, and all that other stuff you just set and forget...until the next upgrade. Until we beat IE into submission, I probably won't mess with the PMs unless someone needs them back or needs more room right away. If you figure out how to "archive" the PMs like the option we had before, please let me know. I haven't run into that one yet. I want to hurry up and get the leftover issues fixed so we can set up the Gallery addition. I think some of you folks are going to be tickled when you see all it does, and all the control you will have over your section. We've got some exciting things going on right now- Paul Burnett teaching, video chat and uploads, a link manager for the shoppers that wander in here, raffles (TBA) by Chan Geer and Pete Gorrell, and, maybe someday, ads that pay expenses, so we don't have to beg you wonderful members for money. LW needs a dedicated server now as it continues to grow daily. While you guys are waiting for pages to load, call or email your favorite suppliers and urge them to sponsor us. We have their target market, and we need their financial support. I'll keep you up to date on the PMs. Please- email me with anything I need to know about your PMs at admin@leatherworker.net and I'll do what I can to get you to the front of the line. Johanna

Bear we are working to bring the board back to its usual speed. We needed to do this upgrade for the improved security, and we ran into a glitch where the Internet Explorer browser isn't playing nice with the new forum software. Other than that, most people seem to like the new features and flexibility, and we hope everyone will give us a little time to fix the problems before they consider leaving. We have tried to build a board that is easy and convenient to use, and serves the needs of our members. Our first priority is making sure the leatherworkers are happy! Your patience is deeply appreciated. Johanna tip: if you need a LW fix, scroll to the bottom of the page and use the drop down menu to click "lo fi" instead of our default "comfy" skin. It's not fancy, but you can see all the content.

Joet!!! You can't imagine how far a little encouragement and confidence from people like you means right now. We think we have figured out the problem with IE, and will be glad when we can mark it "resolved" so that people can start enjoying the nifty features the new format has. i will be setting up the Gallery area soon, and I hope it makes all you custom leatherworkers a couple extra $$ by promoting your work and getting people to your websites. I'd rather focus on the good that will result in the security updates and the couple of bells and whistles we can provide for our community. As anyone who has tried to write code for Internet Explorer knows, it's not a day in the park. Thank you for your understanding and patience- and not giving up on us. You've been with LW since almost day one, and I appreciate your support of what we're trying to do here- education, entertainment and fellowship. God bless and best regards, Johanna

No offense at all taken, guys! No one wants this board to be down, least of all me. I'm grateful for the feedback from all of you, and the help coming from all sorts of unexpected places. I'm thankful to Kate for her patience and diligence. With some hard work and a little luck, soon we'll have a new and improved board with some better security features and a few bells and whistles to keep you all entertained. Thank you for your patience- I won't quit until I get everything in order for you all. Keep the comments coming- good and bad, so we can make better decisions for YOUR board. Johanna

The hover preview was a mod, and I'll get it restored when I get some of the other issues sorted out. I like it too- saved time. Thanks for all your help today, Dick! Much appreciated! Johanna

It's getting better- don't lose heart. Johanna

You don't have to be a guild member to enjoy the show, but you do have to belong to an IFoLG guild if you are entering pieces in competition. Hope to see you there! Johanna

Russ, I'm sorry. We're working on it right now, and I am pretty sure we can get the kinks worked out and running smoothly again, despite the new features. In the meantime, use the lofi version at the bottom of the page in the drop down menu until things are right again. I'm sorry for the inconvenience, but the security updates and other stability issues require that we update, and I'd rather do it it now than before the old board crashed. I promise we won't quit until we get things satisfactory again. Thank you for your patience. We really are trying to bring everyone a better board. Johanna

Use the "Today's Active Topics" right above the members online at the bottom of the page for now. We will get it sorted soon. Johanna

The server is converting 20,000 PMs to the new format, and when the task is completed, I expect the site to be running at normal speed and your inboxes to be restored. I could have taken the board offline while we waited, but you guys get the shakes when I do that. The upgrades are almost done, and I will be fixing the new gallery areas next. We needed to do the software upgrade because we ant to increase the content we can bring you, and we are growing every day. The older software is not as capable of handling the traffic and modifications. Keep letting us know about any bugs if you find them- it helps! Inboxes and speed are being addressed right now- thank you for your patience! Johanna

I'm moving this to "Show Off". I nearly fell out of my chair! WOW!! (Maybe John can translate: thatissofreakingawesomeIdon'thavewords!) Johanna

They're not gone, we just didn't put them back yet. They have to be converted into "conversations". It's putting a load on the server which is why some of you are experiencing slow load times. We picked this weekend because we hoped we wouldn't inconvenience everyone when they got to work Monday morning. We still need a little time, things are moving along well so far. Johanna

Aaron, I hear you! But LW is growing every day, and the upgrades are necessary to insure that the high traffic doesn't crash the board or worse. Don't get too excited about the general appearance yet- no skin has been installed. Anyone missing the "view new posts" can use the "Today's Active Content" link right above the members online today list. Bear with us- when we are done, I think you will all be pleased, and we will be ready for more members, content and options. Johanna

I'm not seeing the old PMs yet either, or the calendar, or the ads...LOL give me a little bit to see what we can sort out yet. Johanna

I wanted to warn you now before the board goes offline temporarily and you all get the shakes. We are going to be down for a few hours while we add some new fancy features to serve you better. In the meantime, while the board is down, or anytime you have a free moment, please contact your favorite vendors and urge them to support LW. Ad details are here: http://leatherworker.../adnews/ad.html Call Jerry of artisansew.com, Kevin of Springfield Leather, Peter of Waterhouse Leather, Cobra Steve and Ivan Sampson, the rosewood burnisher guy, and tell them you appreciate their support of leatherworker. They have made the new improvements possible. But we have so many quality vendors who should be advertising here- directly to their target market, our 6500+ members, people like you! Please contact them and tell them how great LW is, and how much you would like to see their ads supporting our efforts to grow and bring education, entertainment and fellowship to all leatherworkers, their current and future customers. We support the leather community, but LW is growing so quickly that we need funding to pay for the expansions. In exchange for backing LW, our advertisers get exposure to the people who will buy, delivered directly to their website from potential customers from all over the world! YOU can help LW by encouraging your favorite suppliers and vendors to support LW, and you can help them to increase their sales and reputations. Sellings advertising during a recession isn't easy, but so far our advertisers have found their investments have paid off. I need your help to convince more of them. Here is a handy list of people and places to contact: RETAILERS: Tandy Leather Factory www.tandyleatherfactory.com Dana Jones djones@tandyleather.com Worth Jackson wjackson@leatherfactory.com 817-872-3200 Siegel of California www.siegelofca.com Steven Stiegel siegel.leather@gmail.com 800-862-8956 Hidecrafter www.hidecrafter.com Eric Edrich eric@hidecrafter.com 817-878-5797 Zack Whites www.eleatherworks.com Tim Cox 800-633-0396 Standing Bears Trading Post www.sbearstradingpost.com WC (Wayne Christenson) cowboywc@earthlink.net 818 342-9120 Brettuns Village www.brettunsvillage.com Churchill Barton trunks@brettunsvillage.com 207-782-7863 Fire Mountain Gems www.firemountaingems.com 800-423-2319 Chris & Stuart Crazy Crow crazycrow.com 903-786-2287 PUBLICATIONS Leathercrafters and Saddlers Journal www.leathercraftersjornal.com David Reis davidjournal@newworth.net 715-362-5393 Shop Talk! www.proleptic.net Dr. Dan Preston shoptalk@proleptic.net 207-495-3600 Smoke and Fire www.smoke-fire.com editor@smoke-fire.com 800-766-5334 LEATHER Hermann Oak Leather Shep Hermann holc@hermannoakleather.com 800-325-7950 Wicket & Craig Matt Bressler mbressler@wicket-craig.com 814-236-2220 SEWING MACHINES Tippmann Industrial Products www.tippmannindustrial.com Bob Tippmann bob@tippmannindustrial.com 800-533-4831 Cowboy Sewing Machines www.neelsaddlery.com Ryan Neel neelre@comcast.net (866) 507-8926 Raphael Sewing Machines www.raphaelsewing.com mail@raphaelsewing.com 866-415-8223 Super Suppliers C. S. Osborne www.csosborne.com 973-483-3232 cso@csosborne.com Ohio Travel Bag www.ohiotravelbag.com info@ohiotravelbag.com 800-800-1941 Feibing www.fiebing.com custserv@fiebing.com 800-558-1033 Standard Rivet Company www.standardrivet.com 617-268-3100 Chaylor Fenneli www.chaylor.com Keith Johnson chaylor@bigpond.net.au

That is what good leatherwork is all about, Spider! It looks cool, and it's practical and functional. I enjoy seeing your work. Thanks for sharing! Johanna

This thread is about the new machine from Artisan. If anyone wants to comment on the new machine, wonderful. If you want to spread rumors and take sides- please do it by PM. Thank you! Johanna

Artisan has been hard at work! Check out their latest machine! The Artisan Toro 3200 is complete with a twelve and a half inch throat and will sew 7/8 oz leather! Johanna

Kate and I are ahead of you guys. We are installing a link manager to LW, and you will get more details as soon as we have all the kinks ironed out. If anyone needs help with their web site, please PM me or Kate. Johanna

He last logged in about a week ago. Oh dear, nothing is wrong I hope. Sidney Wood. Calling Sidney Wood! Check in and let us know you are okay, please! Johanna

Kevin has been busy- check out his "new and improved" website! http://springfieldleather.com/store/ Forget Fire Mountain! Who knew he had all those beads and findings there too? I didn't! Memo to self: never give Jane (my 11 yr. old daughter) a credit card after she's been looking at Kevin's store online! She wants it ALL! They are still running the $4.79 square foot price for Hermann Oak Leather, too. The store has finished leather goods, sewing machines and splitters, and every leatherworking supply you can think of, plus they have top notch customer service. Springfield Leather tip #279 If you don't see it in the catalog, call. If Kevin doesn't have it, he knows where to get it. Johanna