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August 30th, 2007 at 10:14 am »
Comments (0)I was pleased to read Carol Ventura’s recent blog-a-mentary detailing on her view of “Free” patterns and information.
Carol’s commentary opens the door to an important discussion and I would hope one that helps us all to understand the difference between that which an author/teacher choose to gift to Stitchers and that which is taken with only the most base of rationalizations.
So what is the issue?
It is about the MIS_USE of Complimentary Patterns, Charts, & Instructions
And, how often, almost innocently damage is done by that Mis-Use through a desire to “help”
Usually not realizing, but all to often simply not caring, if by helping some, you are hurting others.
It does not matter what the craft, but for today, it’s Crochet.
At the core of the discussion has to be and is the shared basic belief of the importance of “passing on the traditions”
To name just a few others, and in no particular order other than alphabetical by first name
Darla Fanton, Janet Rehfeldt, Jean Leinhauser, and
Kim Guzman
All of the above, like Carol, give of their time and expertise not just thru their publishing and teaching, but by their participation “on line” helping others to “learn the craft” and by offering help in a dozen other ways.
Aside from excellence in teaching and a dedication to producing quality patterns another thing all of above share is that they have been victimized by those who improperly share their work, both what is for sale and what is offered via the web on a complimentary basis.
When an author or publisher offers knowledge on their website, in a “group” or through “A-Longs” on their blog for your personal use, that is truly wonderful and you should take advantage of that offering for your personal use.
We need to distinguish what and how we can ethically share the information and knowledge offered for so tiny a price as to be considered free.
First, Personal Use does not grant you right to copy and distribute
Second, “Education” does not, unless you are a licensed educational institution, permit copying and distribution.
This means:
It is NOT OKAY to duplicate and distribute it without specific permission of the author.
It is not okay for another teacher to take that and share it by using it in their own classes without specific permission.
It is not okay for a shop owner to download and print out patterns – with or without charge
What is OKAY is to provide a link and then the “Personal User” will be obtaining the information in a fair and ethical manner.
Why, because as Carol so correctly pointed out in her blog
” Back to reality. Free patterns are part of my answer to (gaining) increased visibility – and it’s working. My books are not flying off the shelves, but they are slowly making their way into loving homes. “
The very small price these sharing individuals are asking is that the individual visit their websites, groups and blogs to obtain their gift to you the stitcher. They sincerely hope you will find the information and instruction they share for your personal use is helpful.
It is also, as Carol pointed out, their hope that as a result of that visit you will find their style and presentation will lead to your investing in one of their publications or taking a class with them.
Don’t we owe each of these sharing individuals that iota of courtesy and respect?
Shouldn’t we be willing to pay the tiny price of a moment of our time for all the instruction and inspiration they freely offer to us?
P.S. My thanks to Carol for raising this issue, and more importantly for that class at South East Fiber Forum so many years ago that taught me Tapestry Crochet – I happily recommend all of her books.
July 22nd, 2007 at 00:01 am »
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| n keeping with my new tradition of Saturday & Sunday are meant for Silliness, my new BloGoal is to share at least one “just for fun” thing each weekend. Better will be two. Since this week had a double whammy of Harry Potter |
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It is really wonderful to have a chance to learn all the history and see so many examples of the wonders of flight. Did I mention I am a space junkie? It just never cease to amaze and delight me.
So what has all this to with with Harry Potter you reasonably ask?
Well The Udvar-Haze center has an IMAX theater. We were sort of disappointed when the sign at the gate said the shows were sold out, but decided we would see one of the others.
Well someone up there watches out for Fools, Little Children and The Birthday Boy – cause guess who got the LAST two Tickets for the ENTIRE day. (and yes there is a reason for the sign at the gate-parking is charged – museum admission is not.
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Still wondering what makes this entry Silly? Why getting Sorted.
IT is just amazing how many sorting hat quizzes are out there – you can find under Harry Potter in the links – |
Oh, you may not think I’m pretty,
But don’t judge on what you see,
I’ll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I’m the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There’s nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can’t see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
So put me on! Don’t be afraid!
And don’t get in a flap!
You’re in safe hands
(though I have none)
For I’m a Thinking Cap!
Thanks to the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, I am now
Queen White Thunder of the Hogwarts House of:
Here is a link to the quickest Sorting Hat Quiz
Have Fun
December 24th, 2006 at 13:32 pm »
Comments (1)To heck with reality, Christmas is a concept, so as you go about your day
I hope you will have this playing in your head
Peace & Joy This Holiday Season
Wheat, Henry
& Mom/Frances
December 23rd, 2006 at 12:13 pm »
Comments (0)Something for you to listen to while we are out putting up the lights
It is one of my favorite mixes.
Because my family celebrates both “regular” Christmas and “Real” Christmas in January, we have always delayed setting up decorations until “just before” the 25th.
The off to the store for some last minute ingredients so we can include some of the recipes we found during the Arm Chair Chef’s Holiday Bake Along
Best Wishes for your Holiday Weekend
Peace of the Season
Wheat
December 20th, 2006 at 10:40 am »
Comments (0)Today, in Quilt Art, the always inspiring Karey Breshenhan began another of her wonderful ideas about something to do for our military – more of that another day.
In response, Tomme Fent shared a poem she had received.
After a bit of research, I located the poem and a tiny bit about the author in Ziplo’s pages
For a less graphically intense “read” you can try the Black Five blog
A Soldier’s Christmas
The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
my daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree, I believe,
completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
secure and surrounded by love,
I would sleep in perfect contentment,
or so it would seem.
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.
The sound wasn’t loud, and it wasn’t too near,
but I opened my eye when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn’t quite know,
then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
and I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold, and the dark of the night,
a lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
“What are you doing?” I asked without fear,
“come in this moment, it’s freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
you should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!”
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts,
to the window that danced with a warm fire’s light ,
then he sighed and he said “Its really all right,
I’m out here by choice. I’m here every night”
“Its my duty to stand at the front of the line,
that separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I’m proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at ‘Pearl on a day in December,”
then he sighed, “that’s a Christmas ‘Gram always remembers.”
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ‘Nam,
and now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I’ve not seen my own son in more than a while,
but my wife sends me pictures, he’s sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
the red white and blue…. an American flag.
“I can live through the cold and the being alone,
away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
or lay down my life with my sisters and brothers,
who stand at the front against any and all,
to insure for all time that this flag will not fall.”
“So go back inside,” he said, “harbor no fright,
your family is waiting and I’ll be all right.”
“But isn’t there something I can do,
at the least, “Give you money,”
I asked, “or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you’ve done,
for being away from your wife and your son.”
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
“just tell us you love us, and never forget,
to fight for our rights back at home while we’re gone.
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
to know you remember we fought and we bled,
is payment enough, and with that we will trust.
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us
Written by
Michael Parks
copyright © 2000
Michael wrote: was thinking about our servicemen overseas this Holiday Season and wrote the following in hope of bringing a small bit of Christmas cheer to active
duty and veterans alike … just a humble thanks and “God Bless.”
Flame of Life
