Monday, March 11, 2013

Dallas Quilt Celebration 2013

We had a great time at the Dallas Quilt Celebration and saw many lovely quilts, but there was bad news in this year's program: 

"Quilt Photography.  Taking photos of your favorite quilts to share with friends who couldn't come is part of the quilt show experience.  Please remember a few "rules of thumb" while viewing the many amazing works of art you will see here:
  • You may photograph entries in the judged show.  However, please respect the copyright protection to which our quiltmakers are entitled by obtaining written permission from the quiltmaker before posting a photo on the Internet."
I'll comply with the rules, of course, but I think it is a shame.  And with only a name and a city to go by, getting written permission from the maker seems almost impossible.  No one supports copyright protection more than me.  I get irritated with people who disrespect pattern copyrights or somehow think copyright law doesn't apply to them; however, sharing pictures of quilts put forth in a public venue seems different to me.  For one thing, most of the quilts would be impossible to recreate even with a detailed pattern, much less from one of my fuzzy photos.  And if selling patterns is their aim, they are getting free advertising, since I have always provided full attribution.

I'm concerned about this restrictive trend.   I know the guild was probably just listening to their lawyers, but it seemed like the show was smaller this year than in previous years, with both fewer vendors and fewer quilts.  Also, they didn't provide a show cd of all the winners, which was really disappointing.  At the very least, they need to have a mechanism in place where written permission can be easily requested.

The posts I've done on past quilt shows have been some of my most popular posts, so I know this is one way quilters love to share in their craft and get inspired.  Now it has been severely curtailed.  Your thoughts?

4 comments:

Megan F. said...

Oh, dear! As you said, I'm sure they have their reasons, but as someone who enters a lot of shows, it's always disappointing when a show has very restrictive photo posting guidelines. One of my favorite things is looking online after a show to see if anyone liked my quilt enough to feature it in their blog post(s) about a show -- it really is a thrill. I might write the organizers and weigh in on the side of allowing photos to be posted if credited.

margaret said...

seems like this is a step backwards, sharing photos for those who cannot get to the shows is so necessary, do the powers that be think we can all jump on a plane from anywhere in the world to visit these shows?This is how they get new quilters, very short thinking.

Rosa Robichaud said...

I agree with you... 100%, Susan!!!

I certainly don't have the funds to travel all over to go to these big quilt shows. And NO, I don't want to even ATTEMPT to reproduce one of these masterpieces, either!

Surfing blogs and looking at pics helps...

:-(

Rosa Robichaud

Dallas Tatters said...

Susan,

Are you are speaking of the Quilter’s Guild of Dallas?

My mother-in-law HELENA HIBBS, founded the QUILTER’S GUILD OF DALLAS, on 11/7/1979.
www.quiltersguildofdallas.org

If you have a quilter you are interested in contacting I will be happy to provide any contact information on the member in question that I have. I also have many patterns, perhaps one is what you were looking for. Most quilters are more then delighted to share their patterns!

Please feel free to contact me at dallastatters@yahoo.com

I also noticed on another site you were looking for tatting groups here in Texas. Here are a couple, also if you add DALLAS TATTERS on Facebook you will find tons of free patterns, online classes, tricks and techniques from tatters worldwide!

Dallas, Texas USA
Name:
Dallas Tatters
Contact Information:
dallastatters@yahoo.com
Description:
Come learn, laugh & TAT with us! Newbie to experts welcome! Our tatting group is composed of never tatted to the 2012 State Fair of Texas Blue Ribbon Winner (4th straight year)! Let us teach you!

We meet the 3rd Thursday of each month in Dallas, Texas (near Preston & Northwest Hwy). Meeting starts at 10AM and goes till our fingers get tired! No fee, parking is free, bring a snack/sack lunch, coffee provided. If you are interested in joining us please email for full details!


Richardson, Texas USA
Name:
Mary Jo (TUESDAY TATTERS)
Contact Information:
knit1beadtoo@yahoo.com
Description:
As a child, every Sunday afternoon was spent learning from my grandmother everything a young lady should know. I have a life long passion of playing with string in all forms, knitting, crocheting & various forms of lace making.

Three years ago I started a group called "Tuesday Tatters". We gather every Tuesday from 3:30 until 8 pm. We meet at the senior center in Richardson, Texas (a suburb of Dallas).

Originally I thought there would just be a few of us but our group has grown beyond my wildest dreams! On any Tuesday there will be up to 20 people. We offer free instruction. You don't need anything except the desire to learn. We have shuttles and string! Many of us have won ribbons at the state fair and have even been asked to demonstrate Tatting there. We have both shuttle and needle tatters in our group and would love to welcome you!

God Bless,
Heather Hibbs