After a few days......

This may be long.  It has taken me a few days to get my thoughts straight to make sense out of this.

  In a post in January,  I mentioned that I was changing my focus on this blog to put forth the design process in my content.  I was committing to sharing my thought process, the trial and error things that happen in the piecing and quilting.  I wanted to share and freely give instructions on techniques and methods that I used.   A finished quilt is great/wonderful/exciting.......but the journey to get there presents more opportunities for inspiration to others. That is what I wanted.

  Within a couple of weeks, I began the Friday Finds posts.  It was intended to share interesting projects, tutorials, ideas of others, and fun things too.I love putting the spotlight on others and the things they do.  I admitted to snitching photos from Jasmine at Quilt Kisses, and Sharon at Vroomans Quilts.  Both were forgiving and gave approval to share some of their ideas and projects.
Wanda at Exuberant Color has always been gracious and inspirational  when I borrowed her ideas and explored the world of color and value.  Connie at Freemotion by the river    has also been a big source of patterns and techniques.  I have shared techniques from various manufacture's website  from their huge store of free patterns and layouts.   I have directed you to Quiltville,  and Patsy Thompson  Designs.     Both were wonderful about letting me  share their designs......and I gladly linked to them.

   It was after the event of last week that I questioned the wisdom of pursuing the Friday Finds.  Was I setting myself up for another crisis?   Was I going to destroy my blog and  loose that safe place I enjoy so much?    Would it be worth it?  Would anyone notice?     By the comments and emails, I see that Friday Finds is worth the effort and it is inspiring to many.   I will pick it up again and proceed with care to share a lot of  good things.

     Pinterest is loaded with all sorts of information and inspiration.   You could follow my boards or not....and find a wonderland of boards that interest you, and reflect your style.   I encouraged everyone to follow the links, and to pin projects from the original source....not from me.

   So what led to this......while we were visiting Sir Old Man's cousins in the mountains, I had an over whelming urge to check my email.  But I did not.  The feeling persisted, getting stronger, and yet I waited until we returned home to check.  Sure enough an email was there that made me want to arm for battle.  I wanted to put on full quilter battle gear.....pull out the scissors, change the rotary blade,  and find my sharp stiletto.  Fortunately, I am blessed with a calming influence.  Sir Old Man sat quietly by letting me rant, and listening to my discourse.  Then he was supportive in whatever I decided to do.

   The email was over a tutorial and post from 2011 claiming copyright violation.  Up front, I will say I did not use any photos or instructions from the pattern in question.  My own words, my photos, my hand drawn pattern, my sizing, my small project......were used in the posts and tutorial.
   The technique has been around  and can be found in older publications, even on youtube.    I could not link or refer anyone to this person's blog or website because  I could not find one.  Yet rather than place my blog in jeopardy,  I  acquiesced and complied with the request to remove the  tutorial and post.

    Why do this?  This person felt my tutorial/post was depriving them of possible income.  While I gain no monetary benefit from my blog, it is very important to me, and preserving it was my foremost concern.    The result is a few "dead links" from pins on Pinterest.  For that I apologize.

  All this leads to the copyright issue.....a can of worms I detest with a passion.  Like Bonnie Hunter said in one post....and I paraphrase her example......a nine patch on point is still a nine patch, and it is universal.   Our society has allowed the world view to over take common sense.   Yes, you need to protect your intellectual property but we can't claim ownership of universal things.   Most quilters in blogland seem to get this.   I hope to end this topic here, please. As my daughter says.....the horse is dead.  Quit beating it.

   Photos.....those belong to me if I took them.  I strongly urge bloggers to mark their photos, especially of their quilts, with their blog name at least.  If it is a photo of someone else's quilt, I try to add their name, like I do for the doll quilts now.  It's a good thing to do....but each one can do as they like.   If my photo pops up on someone else's blog at least  I will know it and so will everyone else.  Actually,  a link back to me is fine.

  And finally, "no-reply" commenters......please link your email or include your email addy when you ask a question.  If you comment on a post older than 2 weeks, it usually just gets deleted.    I am always glad to answer serious questions, so if you want to comment on them, send an email instead with your questions.

  A favorite quote sums up how I try to live and give....
  Thomas Jefferson said "He who receives an idea from me, receives it without lessening me, as he who lights his candle at mine receives light without diminishing me."   That sounds exactly  like what I want to do.  Thanks for sticking with me.   Happy stitching.