You read my blog and became excited about my upcoming project - so excited that you joined my Yahoo BOM Group the very same month my pattern was first launched in June 2013. You know the one: the historic, epic, heartfelt work I spent years drafting just so I could share it with the world - and did so, -freely- in order to revive interest in it's legacy. You know all about that too, because you faithfully downloaded my free patterns each month alongside thousands of other quilters. And like many others, you opened an album in my Group and shared images of your progress on the quilt I had released. You enjoyed working on such a historic and beautiful pattern.You were moved by the story behind the once lost quilt - but not because of its historic value, no, you were motivated by other factors.
Like many members making the pattern, you were inspired. But then you went and did something very different to all those other quilters. You waited. And once my pattern release was complete, once all 18 parts had been freely given and downloaded, you decided that it was now time for you to start your own historic quilt. Coincidentally, it was of course the very same historic quilt which I had just released. It was, you would point out, very different from mine. And yet, not really.
For this time around, you had the luxury of using my pattern as the foundation basis from which you could work from and tweak to suit. You pretended to create a pattern in the manner I had documented several years before. But you forgot to mention that you already had my pattern available to copy from. And copy you did. To you, Copyright meant nothing. Sharing my skills was simply a platform for you to take from. And you took. And you made superficial changes which you thought made you a new original, but it did not make you any such thing. You made a counterfeit in the truest sense of the word, for you copied without acknowledging the source design, you copied without respect for me or my work, without respect for the original, without respect for the first quilter who had labored and who's identity was lost and without respect for yourself.
You know that I strongly encouraged quilters to take my pattern and 'make it their own' with my best wishes on one condition - that they acknowledge the source of their design. Many did this with increasingly wonderful results. But not you. You refuse to acknowledge and credit the source of your design.
Now I get continuous emails letting me know you're selling this pattern of yours. And I wonder: do your students know the source of your design? Do they know the legacy of the work? Do they know the original was found and potentially saved because of the free pattern release? Do they understand what Copyright means? Do they know what a destructive domino effect occurs when quilter's start turning a blind eye to Copyright? With all these documented facts recorded, I'm shocked and disappointed by your brazen, dishonest behavior.
Quilter, you know who you are.
But, I wonder, do you know what you are?
How very sad that someone stumped this low!
ReplyDeleteShame shame shame on this "person". Esther has put her heart and soul as well as her talent and time inher her beautiful patterns that she then shares with us. The pattern is a GIFT FROM ESTHER. How could you be so cruel. May karma take a huge bite out of you.
ReplyDeleteI am so very sorry that someone is trying to benefit from your work. You are so faithful to share your work with us. I don't understand what people would benefit from theft. Thank you Esther.
ReplyDeleteOh Esther! You are so incredibly generous, I am so sorry you have to deal with this....disgusting reality. Far too many think they can "take" what they please and blatantly call the work "theirs" Hopefully others will see this and she will NOT profit from your hard work.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lousy, low-down person she would have to be to pull this really pathetic scam. She deserves to be sued and have her name plastered on the FB quilt pages! Sorry this happened to you!
ReplyDeleteKaren
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ReplyDeleteThat is so sad Esther, that one of your bloggy quilter "friends could do that to you. Of course you are deeply upset - I'm sure it takes a lot to make you write such a blog. You are incredibly generous, and just about everyone else plays by the copy-write rules. May she hang her head in shame.
ReplyDeleteOh Esther I am so sorry to hear this has happened to you.
ReplyDeleteFeeling so sorry that someone has done this to you...very unethical
ReplyDeleteEsther, I'm so sorry! You should call this person out so nobody buys the pattern from her. Don't look at it as stooping to her level; think of it as saving Love Entwined.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry this has happened, Esther, after all the work you've put in and after your generosity in sharing the pattern. Do modern folks think that because it's available free on the internet that they don't have to acknowledge copyright? I have a family history blog and have found family photos and some of the things I've written copied and used just as if it belongs to them.
ReplyDeleteDo you have any recourse as far as copyright infringement goes? Can you more publicly denounce this person so that others know to avoid his/her patterns and publications?
How very sad it all is.
--Nancy. (ndmessier @ aol.com, joyforgrce.blogspot.com)
I agree with all of the above postings. What more can I say. Your generosity is appreciated by most of us. The Internet, unfortunately, can have its downside, too.
ReplyDeleteDear Esther, I am appalled at such theft. I and many others give you permission to go after the perpetrator with the full strength of litigation. It's ugly and unfair and we are behind you all the way. Please keep us posted.
ReplyDeleteDear Esther
ReplyDeleteThe lowest of the low would do something like this! Environment determine behaviour.
You have the power and by allowing her to continue to pass your hard work of as her own, you give her the power.
Name her, it is the only way to take back the power.It disable what they do. If one have ever been taken down that road, one know it is the first step to eradicating the problem. Cleave it open, expose it and flush it out! Then the healing can begin. LE is not a Quilt which takes kindly to being abused. The original maker of this Quilt knew it, hence the reason it is not shared with the world.
Those four willow branches symbolise great loss four times in one life time.
We stand behind you and support you!
I agree WHOLEheartedly. This person should be named. I will follow this and maybe someone else who knows will be brave and 'out' this 'well-known designer'. Shame is the only way to stop them.
DeleteDisputable! Those who see this hacks " pattern" should point it out loud and clear to whoever will see.
ReplyDeleteI understand more than you can imagine and am so sorry it's happened to you too.
ReplyDeleteEster, I know your pain. I gave free quilting classes to a coworker, she then turned around started an online business with my designs and that of another designer she took a class,with. Karma is a ______. Her business did not succeed
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry that someone has taken advantage of your generosity. I have not made this quilt myself, but I have so enjoyed watching the progress and creativity of those who have. Ordinarily, I would say turn the other cheek, but in this instance I would have to agree with others who suggest you name the thief. This person is counting on you to be silent ( as women we tend to do this-not make waves). Be strong. Stand up for yourself. Quilters will rally to your side. This woman will not be allowed to get away with this and will be sorry that she tried to!
ReplyDeleteDear Esther,
ReplyDeleteMy heart goes out to you. After all your amazing generosity in sharing your pattern, (this one and many others too) this low life can do such a thing to you. It is totally disgusting.
Just know that we are totally with you.
Warm hugs,
Ruthie
Esther, I am so sorry to hear this. It's people like this that make it impossible to share with others and ruin it for everyone. I so appreciate your sharing of patterns and designs online for free! I love the inspiration and motivation that comes with a quilt along and the excitement of seeing other quilters progress. Shocked that anyone would pull such a stunt. We should all boycott everything she or he sells.
ReplyDeleteHow low!!! You should name this person Esther,
ReplyDeletexx
I am so sad to hear of this.
ReplyDeleteI am so sad to hear of this. You are such an inspiration. Your open letter is written with the same class and uniqueness of your patterns. BRAVO Esther.
ReplyDeletehere's hoping the hairs on her (Y) turn into fish hooks
ReplyDeleteDo people realise what the fines are for copyright. They could lose their house. I know of one lady who HAD a quilt shop, she stole a pattern and changed a little bit of it and called it her own. She got caught out and lost her shop as well as a lot of money. What's wrong with acknowledging the original designer, at least contact them and get their permission to use their patterns in workshops. SHAME SHME SHAME
ReplyDeleteFeeling so sorry for you Ester, Such a low act to abuse your generosity.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry this happened to you. I love your work and am proud to be part of your group. Love entwined taught me so much and my finished project has given full credit to you as the designer. Copyright is just that. People have been sued for not respecting the copyright. It is theft, pure and simple.
ReplyDeleteI have just recently seen this "version" by the un-named, but well known quilter on her blog site & thought it was pushing the copyright limits. Although she states that she drafted her own pattern from the same publication, there is no doubt that it is the same design & not substantially different from you original that pre-dates her version by a significant time frame.
ReplyDeleteThis is a quilter was well respected, has been around for many years & has published many books over the years, so I too was shocked to see what she has come up with. Copyright has been such a big issue in the USA that I would not have expected this from such an experienced quilt designer.
In this blog she does reference you & your design, but seems to think that hers is different enough that the copyright is not an issue. However, it is very recognizable as the design you published.
I hope that you will consider legal action if that is a viable option for you.
Kootenay Quilter, can you please tell us where to find this quilter's blog site? I know Esther is trying to be the bigger person, but sometimes the community needs to come together in support of one another. I'd like to see this other quilt for myself.
DeleteDid anyone stop to think that if two people reproduce the same quilt, they WOULD look alike. The other pattern has as many differences as similiarities to Esther's, and some elements, as well as some of the techniques, are actually closer to the original. She's quite open about the fact that she first saw the Colby picture on Esther's blog, then bought the book and started her own journey to reproduce it. You can't sue someone using speculation and assumptions. These hateful, and in a couple of cases vulgar, comments are very disturbing. Perhaps this would be better settled privately, rather than on social media?
DeleteDear 'Anonymous,
DeleteHow interesting that you choose not to put your name to your comment. I wonder why that would be. If you had actually read my post you would understand that my issue is NOT with the fact that another pattern from the 1790 Coverlet was created, but rather that the maker created it, pretending she was undertaking the same journey I had - except that by 2015 she already had my full pattern downloaded - and for free.
She undertook this 'journey' after I had already provided the full pattern to do so. All she had to do was acknowledge the source of her design, which was my pattern and my tireless work. As a matter of fact, the 1790 Coverlet is in the public domain and could have been created at ANY time since it's publication in the 1950's. The real problem here is that her pattern was a copy and superficial change of MY pattern which was released 2 years earlier.
Again, if you had actually read my post instead of rushing down here to the comment section you would also know that she was a member of my Group and I documented her progress photos in her own created album and have proof of her downloads. My pattern being the basis of her pattern is not in question, it's fact.
Lastly, her pattern did nothing to preserve the original or bring attention to it, which was a further insult given that this was the whole point of the exercise - to revive the legacy of the original. At the point of release it was lost to quilting. That's why I released it completely for free for 18 months - to find it and give it it's rightful place in history - NOT for another quilter to take that free gift and make their own version for financial gain.
This is disgraceful behaviour and if you can't see that, then you have missed the point.
Anonymous or not they make a very good point. Why not handle this privately? Going to social media seems down right childish. I had a lot of respect for you Esther, but this blog post is very sour.
DeleteThe answer is quite simple. I do not believe that the onus is on me to 'handle this privately' because I am not the one who used another quilter's work as the basis of my new pattern.
DeleteUnpleasant? It sure is. But it's also unfortunately quite common and something that needs to be addressed in public because it's only through awareness that others are prevented from doing the same. Again, that's a sad state of affairs, but a true one.
Childish? Sour? I have to disagree with you there. But then again, it is not you who has been disadvantaged by this quilter's behavior, I have. So perhaps a kinder person or a person who themselves had experienced this would be more generous and less likely to call me such things in the face of the circumstances. I can only speculate.
Where does it say that Esther wants to sue this person?
DeleteShe just wants recognition for all her hard work producing the Love Entwined pattern.
Is that so much to ask for?
Just imagine if this happened to you....
Also, we know that this person has an album in the old Yahoo Group (it is still there for all to see) where several stages of the Love Entwined pattern are shown by this person...
DeleteI think the hole quiltersworld knows it is your pattern. But it is very low to do this
ReplyDeleteI am very sad to hear this . Know that very many quilters are greatfull for your generosity.
Ineke
Thinking of you and sending 'Hugs'
ReplyDeleteThat's not very nice thing to do!..Name and shame !!!
ReplyDeleteEsther, you should name this person on fb,and all other public media, so that nobody stocks or buys her patterns.
ReplyDeleteThis is so wrong, I enjoy all of your patterns, they give such impact and inspire me. luckely every real quilter knows your patterns and know: this is you: Esther!
ReplyDeleteOne thing about this Esther...you have a whole brigade who will point out the theft whenever they see it used be it on a blog, webpage, facebook-you name it! We all stand behind you and your creative, generous soul.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing..this person seems rather pathetic that they would be forced thru their lack of ability to create something of their own to sell. Especially in the close knit world of quilting where everyone pretty much knows who has made what. The truth always outs. This person is very short sighted and will only embarrass herself especially after your brigade has their say!
Not done, shame on her! Same story on supergoof blog! Even quiltteachers and shops dare to do this in there classes! Last year I spotted a copy of Laurie Wisburn fabric in a shop in Paris! Incredible and so sorry for you.Martine
ReplyDeleteEsther, I am so upset on your behalf! I know you're trying to rise above and be a better person here, but I would really, really like to see what this other quilter is passing off as her own work. It wouldn't be necessarily mean-spirited "naming and shaming." After all, if you posted a link to this other quilter's quilt, if hers really is unique as she claims, a truly different quilt of her own design and drafting, then all of us who followed the link to look at her quilt would support HER and she might even get business out of it. (How generous of you, sending her business, right?). But if she is ripping off your pattern and passing it off as her own, all of your blog followers will be outraged and will defend you. We love you, Esther, and as much as this violation of your trust and theft of your intellectual property pains you, please know that there are so many more of us out there who support you and who are grateful to you for your online generosity.
ReplyDeleteI am very sorry that you had this happen.
ReplyDeleteWhat a betrayal of your trust and generosity. I'm saddened to hear that one of our band of quilters has done this to you and hope that their business doesn't prosper when it is built on such unsafe foundations. Big hugs to you, Esther.
ReplyDeleteI saw the quilt on Jeana Kimball's blog a few weeks ago and was shocked. My initial thought was that she must have used Esther's pattern and changed a few things. I took a class from her some years ago and found her to be a very nice person so it was disappointing to see this. Elizabeth
ReplyDeleteI think one of the main problems is that on the Baltimore on the Prairie site, where the quilt is shown, there is not a single word crediting anything to Esther.
DeleteYes, that is really sad, and unfair to Esther.
DeleteSo now that the person has been identified, does she know or aware of what's going on? This is sad thing. How can someone who work hard to build her reputations ended up like this? Another sad part is that she can't deny it, there is documentations everywhere. Pictures, she posted to the yahoo group, her comments, her so called journal, her teaching courses etc..what way to go down..may this be a lesson to others who think they can get away from it. No you can't.
DeleteJust read her blog and you will know the answer to that question.
DeleteSo very sad.
ReplyDeleteWhat a mess
ReplyDeleteHi Esther, shame on this person. To think I have books by her too for which I paid, and she profited, so she knows how much work is involved in a project.
ReplyDeleteLove Entwined is so distinctive and so well known that every member of your original Yahoo group (and that's thousands of us all over the world)and everyone who'd drooled over originals at quilt shows will recognise this copy for what it is. Call it what you will, but it must be credited back to your wonderful pattern. Some sad people in this world Esther, so glad you aren't one of them. Many many thanks for your generosity, thousands of your old group truly appreciate this and are glad to assign credit to where it belongs -- you. Elaine B (England)
Thanks so much to each of you - I've had so much love and encouragement via comments, emails and messages, you have really touched my heart. You understand what I'm doing here on my blog - my little corner of the world where I share my work, ideas and creative daydreams with those of you who are interested.
ReplyDeleteIt means so much to me to know that there are people out there who understand what it means to connect with others who appreciate me for what I do - sharing my work in love and gratitude. I believe 'givers are receivers' and this has always been the philosophy behind starting and maintaining a blog in the first place. What l love about blogging is the freedom to create naturally and share spontaneously in an environment where I get to set the tone, free of negative noise. But sometimes, there are things that cannot be ignored and as much as it pains me to respond to the reality that that such negativity exists, there comes a time when ignoring it is no longer an option.
I'm deeply saddened that some people have invested their time in spreading misinformation regarding this blog post and I am genuinely surprised that other people have chimed in without even bothering to read the post for themselves!
Allow me to be extra clear for those readers who rush down to the comments section to post ill informed messages and who then go on to complain that I don't want those people in my creative space:
I have never claimed that I own the original 1790 coverlet and I have never claimed that I have exclusive copyright over this article. If you had actually read my blog you would know that I have tirelessly encouraged others to make this quilt, including their own versions since 2013. What I DO claim copyright over is MY PATTERN of the coverlet which has been used as the foundation for another quilt without acknowledgment or credit.
Simple, isn't it.
Wow. I just came across this posting and I am totally appalled that someone would do this to you! I think the way you have handled this is very professional and 100% spot on. I do however, agree that the person should be named.
ReplyDelete