Originally Posted by lfw045
Originally Posted by Skeat
I just usually search for 'quilt blogs' when I am surf'n blogs and a kazillion come up:)
Here's a big question I have always wondered and all you that blog can maybe answer it.
I'm just a country girl and I have always really wanted to know a few things...don't be offended, I am serious:)
'why do you blog'?
'What started you blogging'?
'Aren't you afraid of others stealing your creative ideas since they are all w/in reach (public)of those that always do anyways?'
'How did you do (start)your blog/it?'.....thanks Skeat
The question in bold is the important one.
I was a cardmaker before I got back into quilting, again. If there is a unique idea that I put out there, and I was afraid of others 'stealing' it, I would NEVER put it on the Internet. I did, actually, have an original idea stolen from me and sold on eBay. The person who reproduced my tutorial made more than $200 off my original idea. Lesson learned. Since then I have placed a copyright on each photograph I place on my blog. Also, there is a copyright statement on my blog saying that everything I place there is MY original work; and while folks are welcome to take my ideas and make their own art, they cannot take my photographs and words and claim them as their own on their blogs.
I blog for several reasons:
1) This is the only way my family around the country can see what I create. We are a military family. My mother lives in California. I live in Nebraska, and am about to Florida.
2) I like to document my progress and evolvment.
My cards have been published in numerous magazines. I don't post the cards on my blog until the publcation has hit the newsstands. This protects the integrity of the piece as an 'original' which nobody else can claim before the magazine is released to the public.
How does this translate to quilting? If you are working on a piece that you intend to turn in for competition, don't publish it on your blog. Wait until the competition has been held. That way nobody else can 'steal' your idea and say it was *their* original idea. I know it's difficult for many of us to hold back because we're just itching to share, but if you are really that concerned about others stealing your original idea, then don't post it ever on the Internet.
How did I start my blog? I have friends who were using blogspot.com. It's free. It also provides numerous templates for everyone and it's user-friendly.
In the event that anybody is interested in seeing my blog, it is:
http://thepaperquilter.blogspot.com
You'll see the Copyright statement I have right next to my photograph. Also, you'll see how I have placed a copyright watermark on each photo, so really, it would ridiculous for anyone to claim my work as theirs.