Karma Maybe

A few days ago I received a comment from an anonymous person.

Here's the exchange:

1. Anonymous2/18/15, 11:44 AM

   I've found a copy of one of your bracelets, I was asking to sell it, but the owner already sold it somewhere. I'm sending the link to the copy: http://i57.tinypic.com/9avmsx.jpg

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   Morwyn2/20/15, 9:55 AM
   I don't normally publish anonymous comments, but I'm making an exception here.
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2. 
   Anonymous2/18/15, 1:49 PM

   https://www.facebook.com/JewelryDesignByVitalija/photos/a.438567969557970.1073741825.368474843233950/784886871592743/?type=1&theater

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   1. 
      Morwyn2/20/15, 9:57 AM

      As my daughter says, "i don't know why it's so hard for people to say "hey, i got some ideas after seeing *insert inspiration here.*" I've always made an effort to credit my inspirations. It's not that difficult. Or is the artist not much of an artist? Is any of her work her own? Makes you wonder.

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So I wondered about this. I wasn't really sure how I felt about it. I followed the link, and this is what I saw.

I was still in a kind of gray area about this. Is it enough like my work to want some recognition for the original design? What should be my response? I talked it over with my daughter, Darcy.

She felt it was a direct lift of my design, and left a comment on the person's FB page. It was polite, noting the similarity between my work from some time ago and the above, making a statement about how great it is to be inspired by other people's work, and how nice it is to give credit where it's due. She then helpfully provided a link to the Etsy listing for my cuff.  Immediately after her posting, I got a new follower on Etsy. Coincidence, I'm sure.

The next day we notice Darcy's comment and link have been deleted. This doesn't speak well for the designer's intent, I think. Darcy asked if I'd like to comment myself, or have a fellow artisan comment on my behalf at this point. I told her any further comments along those lines would meet the same fate and really - what would it accomplish? I decided to let it go.

And this morning I wake up to find that very same cuff of mine is today's featured item on Aftcra's Facebook page.

By taking the high road, I think the gods that attend on mortal artisans have seen fit to reward me with a bit of unexpected exposure.

Right now, I'm attempting to conjure spring through beadwork. So of course, there will be more later.

Post-Tucson

My daughter Darcy and I went on a road trip to the biggest, craziest, most intense bead show on the planet - the 2015 Tucson bead show. We spent five days and four nights in a luxury hotel where we got free breakfast, dinner, and all the wine we wanted. I was dazzled, blinded, exhausted, elated, never quite drunk, and completely overwhelmed.

 This was the result of two days of shopping.

This is what I bought on our third day in Tucson.

I didn't take any pictures from my fourth day - it was just a handful of size 15 seed beads in earth tones, a wooden bracelet display, and a wooden business card holder shaped like a pair of hands. Our first day back from the Tucson Bead and Gem show we went to Thunderbird Supply, where I found more gemstone drum beads, much like the crazy lace agate ones pictured above.

I haven't had a chance to really absorb my purchases or think clearly about what I'm going to do with everything.  I'm clearing some time this weekend to go through my whole bead stash, and start sketching ideas.

In the meantime, Darcy was working on some loomed wrap bracelets. I also have the same type of loom and was able to finally understand how it works. After she left, I managed to make a loomed wrap bracelet of my own with some leftover Delica beads. Here's how it looks:

It was fun to do pattern work again - it's been a long time. 

More later.