I think I am going to hibernate. . . . .

Have you read the latest copyright hullaballoo going through "blogland"? 

I don't know if I've read every single blog entry on it. . . but I've read enough to consider hibernating in my own workshop with all the fabric that I purchased and not show another quilt, tote bag, mug rug, lap throw, baby quilt, wall hanging, etc. etc., and on to any other person on the planet.

While I understand that there are many people in the quilt world that are "designers" I wonder just where everything will end?

My point is. . . . there is a quilt pattern (that I saw on a quilt shop website) that is a copyrighted pattern. . . .but it is a pattern for a Bow Tie block with different colors of fabric for the four corners --- I did the same thing probably 20 - 25 years ago just to see what it looked like --- how can THAT be copyrighted since the Bow Tie pattern is one of those "old as the hills" patterns?

My other thought is that these same "designers" keep trying to "re-invent" the wheel. . . . there are only so many ways to take squares, rectangles and strips to create blocks. . . . .so, does it become a case of every time I (or any one) makes up a design on EQ7 (or 6, 5, 4, etc.) we have to run and pore over copyright listings to see if we are setting ourselves up for "copyright infringement"?

Yes, I realize that the current furor is over a different "section" of copyright issue. . . . but between that and the Pinterest uproar I have been thinking.

Will the next battleground be color schemes? Will we have to request permission from the descendants of Betsy Ross to put red, white & blue together?  What if we want to put stars on someting. . . or yo yo's, who invented them?

So, if I need to acknowledge every single designer of every single fabric that I ever hope to use in a quilted project does that mean that I have to go back to all the quilt shops that have ever sold me a fat quarter that doesn't have a selvedge and ask them to provide me that information so that I can make a label (which would be larger than the original quilted piece)?

What if the quilt shop is now out-of-business?  Or if it is now on it's third or fourth owner. . . .do I have to file a "freedom of information" petition to get the information from the original owner?

I guess what this uprising is really telling me is that I have enough fabric, books, magazines, patterns, print outs, etc. to last me the rest of my life.

So, in order to protect myself from any future potential lawsuit I better not buy any new fabric, none of the "latest thing" patterns, forget any new books, and, since most of the magazine are getting redundant anyway, I better not get any of them either.

Ok. . . . where does that leave all the "designers". . . . on the unemployment line with a lot of other really hard working people that were downsized, outsourced, or displaced.

Guess everyone needs to remember the phrase "be careful what you wish for. . . . you just might get it".

If there are no further pictures on this blog at least you will know why. . . . . but wait. . . . .can my words or thoughts or ideas possibly be similar to someone else's?  Could they already have put a copyright on them?  Guess I better check the mail to see if there are any attorneys "gunning" for me.

Maybe I should just keep to myself and, like the heading of this post says, just hibernate.

In peace and pieces,
 

I've dumped Pinterest

There have been many blog mentions about problems that could occur from using Pinterest. . . so I have deleted my account from that program.

I'm sad. . . .because there were alot of cool ideas that I had posted there, for my inspiration, since I admire the work of quilters throughout the world.  Plus there were alot of great room designs that I may not have had a chance of seeing had I not been able to see them on any of the blogs that I read.

However, I am not willing to expose myself to any copyright or other legal proceedings --- there is enough drama in my life as it is.

If you are still on Pinterest you might want to really, really read the terms you have agreed to. . . .and then make your own decision as to whether you plan on staying or going.


In peace and pieces,
 

FNSI - 3-16-2012 version

I was able to get some sewing done last night.  I also got a bit of crochet done last night on a Prayer Shawl that I am working on.

I finished a name tag for DH for our guild.  It is a paperpieced birdhouse for the front.  I used a pieced "cast off" for the back and cotton batting.  It came out pretty well. It is the little piece in the following picture.

I also did the blocks for our Block of the Month drawing --- actually 2 blocks; but as they are the same color and pattern I only took a picture of one of the blocks:

The other thing that I worked on was a Weathervane block.  Way back in 2007 I was in a swap and there were 6 of us that traded blocks.  I liked the fabrics that I used so I cut sets of the blocks for myself.  While working on cleaning & clearing out the basement I found the cut pieces so I started working on the other 3 blocks.

This block looks weird because I had pieced one of the sides. . . .but for some reason I have a problem in getting the sides to fit the center. . . I didn't finish the block because I have to go back & check my measurements.

While it doesn't look like I accomplished much I am very pleased with how much I got done. 

I'm hoping to be able to get more stitching done in the next little while.  If I do you will see it here.


In peace and pieces,
 

Disenchanted & Frustrated

This is going to be a major rant entry. . . . . so if you don't want to read whining you should stop reading. . . .RIGHT NOW. . . . .

Ok, here goes:

I wasn't sure if I was going to post this here. . . . but I have found that if I get my feelings down "on paper" (so to speak) I can move on faster.

Yes, in the grand scheme of life this situation isn't any big deal. . . . .but it seems like a big deal to me right now.

There is a quilt show coming up.  It is held in an area that is, at least, a 3 hour drive one way.  There was only 1 class that DH & I wanted to take (especially since neither of us could get away from work to attend during the week).

Knowing all of that I sent in a paper registration --- making sure to get there well before the day that the registration process was to begin.

However, we didn't get the class. . . . even though the producers had our funds in their hands before the registration day.

Are you wondering why?  Because of the internet.  Because a computer situation did not allow for us to have access to the registration process.

To top it off. . . .when I spoke to the office I was told that DH & I would have been the first ones in the class had it not been for the computer situation.

That just seemed to add insult to injury. . . . and that is my opinion.

The class wasn't anything that either of us needed to take; our lives don't depend on taking any quilt class --- in fact, I have the book that has the pattern & have read enough tutorials from the teacher to know exactly how to make the quilt.

It is the principle of the situation that really gets to me. . . . . I don't always have computer access from home; so, in essence, I have become a "second class" citizen of the industry to which I have dedicated many hours and much money over the past 25 years.

So, instead of spending money at a campground near the show, plus spending money at the vendors in the show and supporting local businesses DH & I will probably go in a different direction. . . .and I'll be just as happy.

In the future I guess that I will have to read all the "fine print" and if internet registration will be taking precedence over mail-in registration I won't be going to the show.  After all, there are any number of local guilds that have shows that I can enjoy as much as (if not more than) the major shows.

Yes, I'm grumpy. . . . .but you were warned.

In peace and pieces,
 

Catching Up

There hasn't been too much happening.  I've been fighting some kind of a bug; missed 2 days of work last week and when I have gone to work I've just come home and gone to bed.

Things with my BIL have been progressing.  He went for his 2nd treatment but with the hassles with the insurance company it wasn't a pleasant situation. . . and the treatments are making him exceptionally ill.  It is very frustrating for me and I can't imagine what he and his family have been going through.

I don't remember that I announced that I won a giveaway!  The first giveaway that I have won!

It is for an exceptional wallhanging made by Nines.  Here is a link to the blog --- the picture is on the entry from January 6th -- for some reason I couldn't get the exact post to come up as an individual link.

Not much sewing has been going on. . . so the Stash Report has been stagnant.  But I have to get some energy soon since I am teaching at a one day retreat north of me this coming Saturday.

My other teaching opportunities (if there are sufficient sign ups) are for an 8 week quilting and 5 week crochet class through a local school district.  Those classes are scheduled to start in the next week or so and I need to get my materials and samples completed.

That's about all I have for now. . . . I'm going back to sleep.

Happy Sunday.




In peace and pieces,
 

Still Need Prayers. . . . .LOTS of them!!

Regular readers of this blog know that I do not often put family issues here. . . . my opinions on things, oh yeah; understated requests, yes; but actual details, not so much.

Today that will be different.

My BIL has been battling cancer for a while.  They thought that he was doing well.

Unfortunately, cancer has come roaring back in another part of his body.  The chemo he is undergoing is much, much stronger than what he had the last time.  He is continuing to work during this time while being hit with almost every side effect that the doctors warned him about.

The doctors said that he has to have chemo in order to live.

And now they have received a form letter from their insurance company that due to a "pre-existing condition" they will no longer cover the costs of his chemotherapy and related medical expenses.

He is only 50 years old.  They have 3 terrific kids. . . . their oldest is a senior in high school & is due to graduate in May.  The other kids are 14 and 9.

I don't know how they are holding things together. . . .I'm a basket case because there is nothing that I can do on my own to help them; except to pray, and to ask you all to pray for him as well.

This really sucks. . . . .we can send money to countries that hate us; we have politicans that give tuition and health care to illegal immigrants; there are able bodied workers "milking" the system for their housing and medical care; but this normal, middle-class, hard working guy is told "sorry, we aren't going to pay anymore".

I know life isn't fair and that God has a plan for everything and everything is done in His time. . . . . but this just really, really, really sucks.  (Yes, I've told God that quite a few times lately.)

Thank you for your anticipated prayers, and listening through my rant.

In peace and pieces,

Gee, why should I donate to the Humane Society?

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/pets/Harrisburg-stray-crisis-update-no-contract-plenty-of-finger-pointing.html?ref=facebook.com

In peace and pieces,