Dorothy Ann

Hi Moon Wolf, I understand how you feel and I really ment it when I said I welcomed feedback. This issue has evidently been brought up before on this forum and I can see why. I don't go to quilt shows, I don't look at magazine quilts, and yes that even includeds the ones my quilts are published in. I don't do those things because I am afraid I will take away an idea from someone else's creative brain. I have been told that my designs are quite different. I just love to come up with fun stuff and because I don't look at other's work, I only submit the quilts that I hope are uniquely mine. You noticed the word hope. As to the quilts that are designed with public domain blocks and patterns, I wonder about whether those people should even be called designers. But, I do design, I usually have 20 versions of a quilt before I send one off for publication. I also have a quilt in the Sep/Oct issue which is on the stands now. It is shown in another fabric as my signature. Thanks for responding, I appreciate being able to share my views, I wanted to hear yours.

watson's mom

This controversy could be brought to a screeching halt by the designers and the quilt magazines. Anyone publishing or selling an ORIGINAL quilt design only has to state Clearly IN WRITING on the pattern , in an easily seen location, that it may or may not be used in a show, sold, or gifted or used for a raffle for any worthy cause. This way no one could say they didn't know the intent of the mag. or the designer and we would all know which designers to avoid if we want to do any of the above. Some quilters may or may not know or understand copyright laws and this would help us all avoid confusion.

moonwolf23

Yes it could be cleared up that way. However... Is it legal of them to claim that right. That's the other part of this discussion.

Dorothy Ann

Hi Dodie, please don't cancel your membership to one of the finest quilt magazines on the market. McCall's didn't write the laws and they are some of the sweetest people in the world. I know because I design for them and they are so wonderful. I email and speak to those fine ladies almost every week and I know that they are only trying to protect my rights along with all of their other designers. I have a quilt in another magazine and I signed my rights to the quilt over to the magazine. It wasn't all that original and quite frankly, it was the only reason I allowed the fabric company I designed it for to submit it. I didn't feel comfortable copyrighting it. McCall's finds patterns and quilts they think the general public will enjoy. You can make 20 of each of the quilts without asking permission, you can show them off to your friends, give them as gifts and I assume show them at show and tell at your guild. It's that if you place it in a public place, it can then easily become public property. McCall's often publish articles about quilting issues that don't pertain to a needle or thread. They are really an amazinrg group of hard working deligent people. I'm so very proud to be published in their magazine and I want you to see all of my quilts. I have two coming out next year, please don't miss them. Dorothy Ann

Dorothy Ann

Hi Linda, I am a designer for McCall's and have given my views and thoughts as such on pages 9 and 10, I think. McCall's writes wonderful articles on related issues all the time. This topic is very relevant and I do understand how you guys feel, but the article was an informative look at something that is very real in my world. If I thought McCall's Quilting wasn't ethical, I wouldn't want my name associated with them. But they work very hard to find and produce one of the best quilting magazines on the market.

Dodie

I do not need any magazines I can use EQ6 as well as anyone then when I enter the fair I will not have to look over my shoulder I already called the other 2 people that I gave the magazine to and explained why the next issue would be their last they also agreed did not know we cannot use the pattern or quilt after paying big bucks for both patterns and fabric wonder if those people even had a clue why we spent money on their magazines there was a pattern in the quilt shop I would of bought last week but 12.95 plus all the fabric then could not show it no thank you I left the pattern in the shop and told them why

BellaBoo

This is a very extreme. :?

Dodie

I already cancel my subscription plus the 2 I gave for gifts I called and explained to the people after paying big bucks for fabric and patterns that we could not even show them in the fair or our local quilt shows no thanks I do not need those magazines or any patterns I can use EQ6 as well as any one else I was in the quilt shop last week saw a pattern I loved 12.95 but I left it in the shop and told her why I consider my quilt mine after paying for everything and the day I can't do that I do not need their supplies

Dorothy Ann

It may be extreme, but I want to do the right thing. I used to look at them for inspiration, but now I get it from all that beautiful fabric out there. I think canceling your subscription because they printed the law could be viewed as extreme as well. Of course, it is a bit extreme for both of us to speak to each other in this manner. You are a free thinker, and as such, you have formed opinions. It would appear that both our rights to free speech is being excercised and I cherish that.

JJs

Where is it written in law that a person buying a pattern with the express purpose of making a quilt has to ask permission of the designer to show a quilt in a guild show or fair?
As has been asked ad infinitum, why can't that particular piece of information be included if not on each pattern, at LEAST SOMEWHERE IN EACH COPY OF THE MAGAZINE....
I've looked through my magazines and books and while the usual copyright information is there - you can't copy the pattern and pass it around, the 'designer' owns the copyright blah blah, NOWHERE does it say YOU HAVE TO ASK PERMISSION TO SHOW THIS QUILT.

Yes, your quilts look very original - you aren't making yet another 'derivative' work from traditional squares - one instance. But just as a for instance, the main body of quilts in the current issue of McCalls being discussed are DERIVATIVE works.... And just as you say that you do NOT LOOK AT MAGAZINES, maybe the rest of us want to say the same so that WE ALSO cannot be accused of making a derivative quilt or copied a quilt from some magazine. And we want to be able to enter a quilt in a fair or guild show or whatever without worrying about whether this or that pattern from such and so book or magrag is one that we forgot to get permission to take out of the house.

So EQ for me, even tho it bugs me that it phones home... It's something else that I paid money for - didn't steal it or copy it or pilfer it - bought it paid for it and fershure plan to get my money's worth out of it!