Yesterday was all frivolous and frothy. Today there aren't even any pictures, just me chattering on. I've been getting a lot of inquiries lately about the patterns for the things I make...where I find them, are they for sale, etc. I thought I'd give some answers here and then I'm also going to add this to the FAQs on my about me page.
For those of you who don't want to read through all this, here's the good part...
We've set up a mailing list (over there on the side) to notify people when tutorials and patterns become available or when things are put up for auction or swap or other exciting new developments. Please sign up if you're interested!
Where do I get the patterns:
Some are ones I've created and some are from books or sewing patterns. I've made quite a few things from Japanese craft books like this patchwork bag, the scottie dog and this puppy purse. I've listed over here all of my Japanese craft books and given some info on how to find and purchase them. I've used patterns from other sources like this elephant which was a pattern in a 70s craft book (Splendid Soft Toys) I got from the library or the bunnies which were from a vintage McCalls pattern (Forest Family, #5369). The rest of my projects are from patterns I design and draw up myself, like the kitty dolls, the robots, Betsy and Daisy, the bunny doll, pointy kitty, these guys, Oscar's bunny, the quilted bag, etc. I always say in my posts whether the pattern I use is one I created or from somewhere else. For the patterns that are not mine I'm sorry but I can't send out copies because they are copyrighted and I can't distribute them like that. Sorry to be so uptight -- it's the librarian in me -- but also I do feel that artists, crafters and designers deserve credit and compensation for their work.
For the patterns that I come up with:
My goal is to eventually clean them all up and make them available with tutorials in some form or another. Some will be free here on wee wonderfuls -- like the wee pattern is now and this bunny doll pattern will be soon. I'm currently working on a pattern and tutorial for it. Some patterns will be available for free other places, like the pointy kitty whose pattern will be available on MagKnit's new sewing site, SewPretty this Fall. I'd also like to eventually sell some patterns on wee wonderfuls. My loftiest goal/dream is to some day write a crafty how-to book.
What about dolls and other items for sale:
I'd always like to have something available up for sale on the wee auction. I get bogged down with so many projects that I have a hard time keeping up with making things for sale, but I'm going to try to make that a priority soon.
Creative Commons Copyright:
So the deal is, by default anything I create is copyrighted. I feel the standard copyright is way too rigid so I'm putting a creative commons coyright on my site. This means that others can modify, improve, recreate, etc. entire designs of elements of my designs to their heart's content for personal use but not for commercial use. You can read more about the details, restrictions and requirements here. I think the creative commons copyright is a really great way to create a community of sharing and building on each others ideas without robbing people of their original work.
Where to start if you want to design your own patterns:
I started at the library. I'd never made a stuffed animal or doll before last summer when I checked out some vintage craft books from the library. I just started following patterns and then after making a few was able to start altering them and then drawing them up on my own. Get yourself a pile of muslin and just jump in!
So that's all I've got. Hopefully that answers more questions than it creates. I'm tring to get organized with these FAQs so it won't take me as long to return people's emails. I'm also working on answers for "I'm coming to Chicago can you recommend some crafty stops" and "what's with this swapping". Please let me know (hillarylang at gmail dot com) if there's anything else you'd like to see answered.
