Hello? Is Anyone Out There?

Hello?  Hello?  Are you there?

I've been writing this blog for 5 1/2 years.  For the last month, I've been tracking the time I put into it and it averages out to about 6 hours a week.  Yes, 6 hours.  Nearly a full work day.  I usually sneak those hours out of my weekend and they are spent searching my magazine archive for images, researching the subjects of those images, and writing about the designers, the clothes, the styles and the trends of the past for you.

In the last several months, comments on this blog have dropped off dramatically and I'm starting to wonder if anyone is actually reading what it takes all those hours to write.  I'm starting to wonder if I'm talking to an empty room, if anyone is listening.

I know we all have a lot to juggle these days.  There are now hundreds of blogs that talk about vintage clothing.  There are thousands of Facebook pages to like.  Following your Twitter feed can take all day.  Not to mention Tumblr, Flickr, and on and on............  And somewhere in there we have jobs and homes to take care of.  I myself am guilty of not keeping up with as many blogs as I used to.  There just don't seem to be enough hours in the day.

My original intention in writing this blog was to form a community where I could connect with fellow lovers of vintage fashion.  I wanted it to be a place where we could all fall in love with and talk about clothing from the past.  I wanted it to be a place to form lasting online friendships.  But now I wonder if I'm all alone.  Perhaps blogs are becoming passé.  Or maybe you just want to look at pictures for a minute or two before you move on.

Can you help me figure out where to go from here?  If you are reading the words it takes me all those hours to write, can you take a quick moment and just say "I'm here" in a comment?  If you have suggestions about what I can change to open up the conversation again, would you either post them here or send me an email?  If you'd rather just see pictures and the words don't matter, would you tell me please?

Please don't misunderstand.  I don't want this post to sound like a pity party.  I am asking for guidance from you as I make decisions about prioritizing my time and the future of this blog.  I truly appreciate you being here and listening!  And I would be grateful for your feedback!