Well, technical issues between myself and Wordpress aside, we’re willing – and ready – to proceed with this week’s post for One Quilting Circle. There are weeks where it is a planned, scheduled post about something that’s both timely and relevant; there are weeks – such as this one, where it more or less falls into place. With or without computers.

This week’s post is about the dreaded C word – that’s right – Copyright. I said it. It’s become a hot bed of discussion within the professional community, and it conjures up pictures of lawyers,  scales and  hassles.  It’s a very simple concept that’s often mis-understood.  I’m going to be looking into this in more detail – and reporting back in the future, but this week’s post has a very practical application. One that’s easily understood and implemented.

In my non-working life, I am the Workshop chair of my local guild, and as such, I am looking into the scheduling of workshops for the next year.  There is a pattern that someone made last year which, when we all saw it, generated the immediate reaction – When is this going to be a workshop?  This week, I set out to make that a reality.

Once we located the pattern, and found someone to teach the class, we set about looking into the logistics. The pattern initially was published in a Quiltmaker Magazine’s November/December 2008 issue, and is no longer readily available on the company’s back issue website.  I even looked at Ebay and Etsy, and wasn’t able to locate extra copies of the magazines.

There are times I tend to make things more difficult than they need be. I posted a question on Quiltmaker’s Facebook page,  and received a prompt response – offering assistance if I would email them directly with my question.  The email was sent within a half hour, and I prepared to wait. I was sure I’d be dogging this all summer, hoping to get an answer (but prepared with plan B if things didn’t work out).

I had an answer from Quiltmaker within an hour; it couldn’t have been simpler.  “…You’re in luck! We recently decided to grant permission for use of the type you described below, at no charge. We’d be happy to have you use our pattern. Please add this to the copies you make: Copyright Quiltmaker 2008. Used with permission. Not to be sold or reproduced…”

It seems an easy and reasonable disclaimer to add.   The Magazine really just wants to be credited as the source of the pattern.  I can’t promise you that all magazines will be as easy to work with, or as cooperative…but it does make this whole copyright experience less intimidating.

Comments? Questions about Copyright? Agree? Disagree? Please leave a comment below…

Tonight’s post marks the return to posting the One Quilting Circle entries, designed to target crafting professionals, whether they be quilters, artists, or shop owners.  Business people who are also crafters often find their creativity at odds with the needs of a business owner to be organized, detail oriented and good with numbers. I’m going back to the old schedule – please stop laughing – of general posts on Monday, and OQC posts on Thursday. The sign above was given to me several years ago by Secret Santa Karra, and I’ve joked ever since that now I know where I’m going to live someday, we just have to find the roadway. The sign is still up in my office.

I’ve been on the road a lot lately, much more in fact than in the past couple of years. Today, I was in one of my favorite quilt shops, dropping off rack cards when all of a sudden the woman behind the counter recognized me. I mean, she struck up a conversation with me as if she saw me last month. Quilt shops can be like very small towns, so I played along – until I realized that I had seen her. She took part in the bus trip that I ran to Joanna Rose’s Red and White Quilt Exhibition in NYC at the end of March. I knew the name on the registration sheet, but I didn’t connect her with the quilt shop.

I will say that I knew or got to know most of the people on that bus, but I missed the opportunity to connect the dots. I apologized, we continued to chat – while she told other customers how much she’d enjoyed the chance to go to the exhibit, and how much fun she had with my rolling show and tell.

I walked out of the shop, thanking the universe for the reinforcement of my mantra – try to execute a plan as well as you possibly can, and thinking once again of the basic lesson – KNOW YOUR CUSTOMER.

We’ve heard a lot (unfortunately) in the past few days about the aftermath of the massive tornado that touched Joplin Missouri (and many other midwest towns that we don’t hear about) last week. The pictures are mind-numbing. Relief efforts began immediately, and will continue to be a integral portion of the community going forward.  Many of the basic services are needed, and we should all do what we can to help those affected, whether it’s a donation to a national charity, a faith based relief effort, or helping out families and friends.

It should surprise no one who knows quilters  – and the history of quilts in our country – that our community is already stepping forward to help. I want to highlight two here – and spread the word…

http://oldredbarnco.blogspot.com/

is a blog by a woman who’s husband is a Joplin Mo native, and who is looking for a way to help. She’s taking and raffling off one of her quilts – and it’s beautiful – in exchange for a donation to the American Red Cross through her site. Each dollar donated receives a chance to win her raffle quilt.  Her website also lists several updated resources for obtaining up-to-date information in Joplin.

The other website is www.ackfieldwire.com which is a Reeds Spring Mo company who is offering to serve as a collection and distribution point for quilts for the affected areas.  If you’ve ever shopped at a quilt shop which has those cute little quilt hangers, this is the company that makes those.

Quilter’s helping quilters…

The Patchwork Pearl’s blog has returned – with a new look, a new link, and a lot of upcoming events activities inthe coming months. Thank you to my webmistress (Connie Sherlock) for working with me to get the new page up and ready as quickly as you did.

Some of you have seen the advertisement for the bus to MQX from Nashua on April 17, 2010. Unfortunately, about the time that the blog died, the bus trip had to be cancelled because I didn’t have the necessary number of seats sold.  I’m going to MQX – and I hope to see many New Hampshire quilters there to support the world class show.

I can tell you- finally! – that the Fall Retreat will be held at the Franciscan Guest House in Kennebunk Maine the weekend of October 8,9 and 10th.  I’m very plased to say that BethHelfter, the owner of EvaPaige Quilt Designs and author of Once Upon a Time (Fairy Tale Puzzle Quilts)  will be teaching the techniques needed at this class. If you’ve ever seen a lecture with Beth, or fallen in love with her book and want to play, please come join us.  Email me at Linda@thepatchworkpearl.com for details and reservations now.  Of course, if you’re just in the mood to come for a sit and sew – with a few laughs thrown in – the more the merrier.