Had this fear for a long time

Many months ago I was on Quilter's blog and thought I had better get off of it. Part of it was the SPAM and part of it was I didn't want to step on toes. I am a pretty private person and my sewing habits were placed on a blog for my own reference to my accomplishments. I enjoy reading other blogs and also enjoy the ideas so many of you have and then I think why didn't I think of that. I read about new techniques and also challenges others have and thinking to myself I wish I could be teaching a class. Well that idea is all going by the way side. This is my book shelf full of quilting magazines and instruction books. I enjoy reading all that others have done and see the potential of things I could do. Now I wonder if I should have bought them or should keep them. Big question is am I copying someone? Yes this issue is all over the blogs and has played out in the courts.
I question the legal ramifications of EQ7 and all programs like it. I question the purchase of patterns and the freebies off of the web. Who is right who is wrong?
Several have addressed the copyright issue in recent postings and many have a very definite opinion. Some feel the way I do and some are on the other side.
Copyright is a good thing if not pushed to extremes. Yes it is a tool that has been stretched to the length of the meaning of what a copyright is. Assuming is another issue that plays into the use of the copyright and the interpretation of the copyright laws is a fine line to hold us accountable. I am not a copyright attorney or a student of the law, but am I harming some one by sewing and making quilts? Some may question this issue and yet I want to make quilts for my own use and for gifts.
I wanted to make quilted items and sell them, but not now. I can't afford a law suit against me and also I don't want to be accused of showing something on a blog that will step on any ones toes. The question is do I blog, do I sew or do I ignore all the rumblings and threats and move forward?
I have scraps I work with most of the time. I do not always remember who's fabric lines they are and I have been given scraps that I used from other's without a label on them. Am I wrong to take pictures and show you my progress? Maybe I am boastful to think any one really cares anyway. Yes comments are wonderful to receive and I do comment on others of how much I enjoy looking at their projects. Is it wrong? Some in the quilting and legal worlds think it is.
If in fact I have stepped on any toes I am sorry.
What is a quilter to do? I want to show pictures and I like doing it, but am I setting myself up for a major problem?
I do not understand the laws to see where if you purchase a pattern or fabric that it becomes yours that you cannot use it with out a law suit coming into play. Ownership of a car after the sale doesn't make it belong to the manufacturer. To me, but who am I? The purchase of an item is my choice what I do with the item should be up to me. Most don't render a pattern exactly as it is in the book or on the printed page. So who is right and who is wrong? Are the Attorney's chasing quilters and are quilters being selfish?
There are copyright free patterns, but I don't want to make 4 patch quilts all the time. Is this what our fore sisters wanted when they created a quilt? Lawsuits are nasty and costly so maybe my quilts from now on will be 4 patches. How do you feel? Chris

See I have been working at my scraps

Well that statement isn't completely true. I have been working at it. I didn't sew today yet. But this is the basket where I sit and sew and cut. As you can see it is overflowing with small pieces I have cut off. Yes some could be large enough for applique, but I am trying to let go of some things. I have been outside the last two days working in the yard and doing my monthly shopping. So I think tomorrow will be an inside day because of rain over night.
Sunday is my Mother's 84th birthday on April Fools Day. We are going to cook out and have my son and just have a quite celebration. As she says it is just another day. She loves food grilled so it will be a treat for her.

Chris

Obsessed

Maybe have a problem here. Obsession is a thing that makes me want to keep going. I did three loads of laundry in between doing this sewing yesterday. I did make a good supper last night and yet I got a lot of slicing and dicing done. The colors were a welcome change from the gray skies that were going on outside. My electric bill went sky high yesterday with the iron on from 5am until about 3pm.

Definitely a work in progress. I keep getting more scraps out and mixing them with a different batch. This way I have variety.

I was gifted a batch of leftover scraps from Wanda a while back and I am using them with civil war repros and more modern prints. I am sure she will recognize some of the prints when she looks at this block.

As they are laid out in the previous picture you see they have a square that is empty and is connection for all the blocks. I think this will be a 5inch block cut diagonally in two twice. So I will alternate the triangles of the octo with white and black, so it will give it sort of a Harlequin look to pull these busy blocks together.

Hope to sew some more today, but need to see if we need to mow again. The grass has grown so fast that every other day we need to address the mowing issue around here. We live on a River bank and the ground is really fertile and things grow so fast.

Today may well be another gray day and I think the sewing room will be lit up and bright in there. Hope you have a Great Day. Chris

Thanks again Wanda

Monday Tip

My tip is simple. Review your passions and go forward and pursue them. As you can tell I like scrappy. But I am so stagnant of my pursuit of doing different patterns. This is stepping outside the norm for me. Make goals and try them. Even if it is only one block. It needs not just be sewing or quilting. If you enjoy woodworking or painting or any other hobbies go out and find your challenges and meet them head on. The sky is the limit. Back to sewing today. Cloudy and suppose to get rain. Chris

Three year project coming up

Yes I tried the scrappy look. Yes I am nuts, but I think the look will be interesting when completed. I am sure I will get tired of it and let it rest for a period of time, but it is going to be a challenge to get enough scraps to make this block. So far I am not repeating a piece in the blocks. I stitched my pieces so when I cut the wedge all are on the straight of the grain with the lines on the ruler.

Here I am testing the look before I cut this one out. Also pressing opposing seams helps in the over all stitching of this block.

Here are the first two wedges sewn together. I did as Hettie and Wanda suggested and trimmed the points off and it did help with the over all positioning to stitch everything together.


This didn't turn out to bad. The seams meshed together with opposing seam allowances.

Here is two wedges sewn together and the sections seem to be ok up to this point.

Here I trimmed the pints off and it makes it lay much flatter when pressed.

The two half Octagons are now ready to sew together.

Here is the stitching line of the two sections. So far so good.

Doesn't look to bad. Maybe a little tweaking. For a scrappy look it will use up pieces that I need to get used up.













This is the same block but from another view. I tried to get enough light and dark in the wedges to make it interesting. For a scrappy quilt the eye needs to move all over and not get stuck in one spot. Not sure what I will use to connect the blocks. Maybe white and black.

I guess it works and yet I am using up things that are laying around. Not sure if much more will get sewn today we have to fix out van. The belt came off in driving yesterday and it is going to take some will power to get it done. Car problems are not fun to deal with. Chris








PS. The van is fixed and runs fine. My husband has bruises and scraped up arms trying to work in the engine compartment of the car, but it is all done.

Trying but not succeeding

Ok here is my attempt. Doesn't look to bad this far away, but the points in the center are a little off. I think my ruler slipped when I was cutting the wedges. It seems awkward to me to cut this way. I am right handed and I guess I need a moveable table to get the other direction cut accurate. Wanda talked about the wedges she was using and I am not that good to try the cone shapes so I will do this in a center of a block. I got this ruler probably 10 years ago and never used it.

I think is the same one she uses. I showed Wanda's blocks to my Granddaughter and she said do it scrappy to use up some of this stuff you have. Well to get the design you need to be somewhat planned out to make the right look.

See my center is off with this first test. I know what the trouble is and I have to correct it.

I did attempt using a foot for a different purpose. This came with my machine for a blind hem stitching foot.
I thought well sewing long seams I need a true 1/4 inch so I placed the edge of the white piece on a 1/4 inch and guided my long seams up against it and it work wonderfully. So I have a true 1/4 seam allowance.




I also have made a purchase recently and I tried them for several applications and I am quite pleased with their performance. The Magic Bobbin Washers. They work really well.

I even use them in my bobbin case to sew regular seams and not just for quilting.
They make the best stitch and yet the tension is perfect now that I am using it. I have a front drop in bobbin case and it works well for it. Worth the little bit of money for them. As I said I am trying a few new techniques to get me motivated. Chris

Monday Tip

Storage is always a problem. I have this thing about visual images help me to remember where I placed things. I use a lot of generic zipper bags for most of my storage of small pieces. This has applique pieces or templates and small extra pieces cut out for circles and shapes that are left over. I have it pinned to a bulletin board behind my machine.

Here are some small sewn HST I have saved for something in the future. If I get anymore I throw them in the bag. But you see it is right in front of me and easy to get to.

Here is a freebie. It is a clam shell from Strawberries. I take it with me at times with hexie pieces. I keep the hexie paper pieces in the clam shell and it is handy to throw in a small pair of scissors and a bobbin with basting thread and also my hand sewing thread and a thimble and needle.

So many times I am tempted to buy the latest project storage pieces out on the market and I think I can use that money for more fabric instead of a fancy storage piece. Look at things as they come into your house. See it washed and made ready for hand sewing or small pieces of applique or template pieces.
Saves the landfill and yet it is useful all at the same time. Chris