Tuesday, August 20, 2013

I scream Ice-cream

Free Herringbone Tutorial
There is a lot going on in the beadworld, but first let me present: Herringbone Stitch Tutorial, a free pattern to show you what my patterns look like and of course for you to have fun with flat Herringbone, or make a regular or a twisted rope. See how well the page layout suits a tablet? That is why I write in landscape and with a big font size.

There are more free patterns on my Facebook page for you. Typically my style, but the work is not  representative of my patterns. This one really shows the way I write and illustrate them. You can share it, copy it, transmit the link. No problem. But please don't do this with my other patterns.

My heart beats for The Beat
I live on a small budget and really need the little extra you bring to my family. You have no idea how grateful I am, dear beader with noble heart who buys my patterns! You have an unknown impact on my life. You not only allow me to buy beads (for new designs for you, and  mental stability for me), but also tea (Oolong -  for my physical health) and Croc's + medical soles for in my shoes which aren't reimbursed by my insurance (I can't walk without these). In addition, you make me dream. Dream that one day I might be able to buy new books or my favorite perfume again (my old bottle is desperately empty since months...). Books and perfume soothen the pain...


I dream of offering a big aquarium to my hubby one day. And maybe one day I won't have to worry about how the heck I'm gonna pay for the new computer... And you know what? I wouldn't need a new computer if I didn't write patterns, because even if the software is free, it needs power to run...and my old machine just can't have it anymore.

I never go on holidays, never go to the theatre or a concert, etc... but that is also photophobia-related and I have to live with it (or actually, without a lot of things). And I do. With passion. I'm a beadist!

At 'work'
What is a beadist? I hope that I don't mis-use the word. One day I saw that the brilliant Jean Campbell used it, and I immediately thought "Wow, a Beading Scientist". A searcher. A researcher (searching again, like "how did I do that, what if I change this") and teacher.
Yes. That is what we, pattern writers, are.
We search for new designs, we explore techniques 'to the bone', try to develop new stitches and threadpaths and tricks and teach them further, to you. We ask for as little money as possible for the huge amount of time going into this work. Yes, work. Many of us could have a job with paycheck at the end of the month. It might seem nice to bead and write tutorials. It is. It is as nice as selling ice-cream. Customers are always happy and smile when they buy it from you. Most tutorials are the price of two flavours on a cone.
Now, it may sound odd, but imagine that people steal your ice cream... You are so lucky to do that job, lucky to have so much ice-cream... hey! how can one make a living with selling ice-cream! You surely do it for the fun, don't need a job.

La Venezia,
Home-made Ice-cream Success Story
Would you continue selling ice-cream? No. You'd find another job, because you need the extra money, because it's a hard world for you too. Some, like me, have no other option than doing this type of work from home. Some beaders choose to stop a 'good' job they didn't like, sacrifice a lot to try to make a living with their passion.

People stand in a row, queuing to buy Daniele's divine icecream... He started with his tiny little ice-cream shop La Venezia all alone 20 years ago. His gelateria now not only pays the rent, but also the wages of several part-time employees... Yes. Those who are successful grant an income, even small, to others. Apparently, selling ice-cream can make a living for more than one person. Of course it has to be good. I remember him saying "that is 'XXX sport' when we said that his vanilla ice cream was the best in the world - which meant the 250th new, improved, recipe. Beading is also a question of doing a good job. Testing it. Recommencing.

Rania - Dangle Earrings
Less then two ice cream
So if certain people buy a pattern, why do they share it with all their contacts via PM or e-mail, of which some contacts share it further with all their contacts, and so on? Because they want to be loved by others. They want others to be grateful for the gift. And so the pattern goes round the world, gets added to huge 'libraries' of patterns stored in computers, sometimes on servers with limited acces - only available to those who are part of the club and won't tell anything... and the designer feels miserable because nobody seems to like what s/he makes. Why not pay for the pattern? It will bring you hours, and maybe years of fun (making and wearing your own jewelry). Ice-cream far less...

And honestly, what's the fun in making beaded jewelry and not being able to show it to all your friends online? Also, wouldn't you love to have your beautiful work showcased by the designer? It feels mighty good to be featured you know! Except the one who paid for the pattern, nobody can lightheartedly showcase her (his) latest beaded marvel, certainly not on FB or in groups, in public... Maybe at meetings  or on forums under cover of a nickname... But hey, the beadist - who also has a nickname on forums -, sooner or later will see it, or his/her friends will report it... And it hurts. It feels like a knife in the heart... It leads to bitterness and grief.

Now, why spend endless hours beading and re-beading and photograph and photoshop and write and illustrate and list and customer service, and, and, and? Because there are customers who are worth it and because we believe and hope that there will always be customers worth it. And we dream of / believe in a world with more honest beaders.

Many designers believe that we can reduce copyright infringement, little by little, through education. There is a new Facebook Group where designers get together to discuss these issues. I am going to join this group because I want these Korean thieves to take down my design, offered a few years ago to Firemountaingems. And because I believe in this 'education' idea. And because I believe in you.

You don't want to bead bad



May I scream? Please buy my patterns! They're good! They're fresh! As good as Ice-cream!


20 comments:

  1. Great post Cath! Thank you! I agree ,you are so right!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Excellent article Cath....well written and I love the reference to ice cream.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love this, Cath! It is brilliant, indeed!
    ~Ileana

    ReplyDelete
  4. Very well said and well written. Hopefully it will make a difference. One can only hope.

    ReplyDelete
  5. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It saddens me to read that you are going through depression and hope that you have the needed support from a medical professional. I doubt seriously that something can be done about this Korean site, but that is also why the group can help us.
      I know that in Asian mentality, copying is the highest praise they can give you... it is cultural. However, sometimes things can change. I called Panda Hall over the phone some time ago and they changed their Facebook activity a little bit. They actually started quoting the names of the designers whose pictures they shared...
      I wish you the fastest recovery possible.

      Delete
    2. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    3. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    4. Aleta, it seems to me that you are misunderstood by only one person and she could write her feelings here instead of modifying the threads of discussion on Facebook, because there the claim is totally out of context. However, it brings people to the blog to read my message of hope :) I know that you are not a racist, nor am I. And the group to learn and find solutions and I am sure that the entire world is welcome there too, to cooperate peacefully. If we all remain in our corner, we don't learn. We need to learn. If we are together, we can benefit from the experience of those who have and those who haven't succeeded to stop the abuse. IIt is a platform where we can exchange information on what the best solutions are / or if there are no solutions.

      Delete
    5. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
  6. Great post, Kath! You've put in writing what so many of we who design pattern-work and tutorials would like to say.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I believe it takes authenticity and courage and also faith to write what you have written Cath, and for all these reasons and much more, I sincerely admire you.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Wonderful post Cath! How unthinking people can be.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love this Cath, it is so well said and explained and yes the reference to ice cream is terrific. I am certainly sharing this on Facebook. It is a topic of merit just lately.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thank you all very much for your comments. I really believe that a discussion group can help us go further. To find a way to positive changes.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Excellent very well said. I have seen some of the patterns I have purchased from other authors either on sites under another name or on you tube and have contaced the author so they can stop them. It's just not right. Again excellent discussion. Karen Lincoln USA

    ReplyDelete
  12. Very cool Cath! Your words resonate with me, particularly the part about being able to share your creations guilt free. It is indeed very true. I don't share patterns I buy, because it is unethical. Comparing the joy of using a pattern to eating an icecream cone is clever. I think it is great that you have reinforced that designing and selling patterns is in fact work (not a hobby) and bread and butter income.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Oh que c'est bien dis... C'est exactement le fond de mes pensées! Tu as su le dire avec beaucoup de tact. Bravo Cath et longue vie "aux bonnes glaces" ;)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Well said, Cath !!! will share it on fb and personally as much as I can. Keep up a terrific job you are already doing :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Great writing Cath! Thank you and will share

    ReplyDelete

Your comments are welcome!