Originally Posted by crafterbarbara
Yes, thank you. Do you design a lot of blocks? I am working on a snowman. If I am satisfied I will share it.
Well, there's really no good answer to that question. I guess I just do what is necessary! :lol:
As a baker, there are a lot of times I get asked to make a cake with a certain design on it and I am not the best frehand draw-er in the crowd. So years ago I picked up a supply of very easy coloring books with great kid-themed pages. The kind where I had the basic shape to work with and then I could embellish it on a cake until it was "right".
I find that skill to be helpful whenever I want to do a special type of applique, or some form of "picture" block or quilt. By taking a very simple shape and embellishing it, the block then becomes my own. I don't want to copy anyone's design without paying for it (I know I would be ticked off if someone was ripping off MY designs without paying for a pattern!), so I try to find free images/designs/line drawings, etc. online or in coloring books, etc., and work from those simple images.
But, if you go back through history and look at traditional quilt block patterns, you will discover that many designs have the same exact pattern with very different names. It's not that Suzie from Ohio had an idea and Becky from Indiana copied it and just re-named it, but they may have had the same idea, idependent of each other, and just called their blocks whatever they felt it should be called. Great minds think alike, sometimes.
Designing your own block can be very rewarding and I applaud those who can do it on a continuous basis. It is very fun to see your own design interpreted. Good luck with your snowman. I'm sure it will be a success for you.
Odessa