Copyrights, Patents and the Ethics of Jewelry Design

The title indicates an issue that I’ve danced around for a long time; yet it is one of great importance in the field of jewelry making. Is it OK to copy someone else’s design and sell it or teach how to make it? I thought I knew the answer to this question, but just in case, I’ve done some research on the topic.

Why should we even care about the copying of a design? First and foremost, it’s good to realize that this can be a legal matter and I certainly don’t want to end up in court – do you? Secondly, if we copy someone’s design for profit or do not acknowledge that the design is theirs we may be called out for the action. With Facebook and the many chat groups that can bring us instant fame, we must also realize the same venues can provide instant embarrassment. There have been a number of instances where I’ve read the admonishments of a designer who has been wronged by another. I don’t want to see my name in that kind of lights! I also think we should care about design copying since one of us could be next. I’ve actually had the experience of someone copying one of my designs and presenting it for sale as their own. It didn’t make me happy! Finally, copying and selling someone else’s design can just plain make us feel bad about our actions. I have a little voice in my head that warns me about such things and I need to pay attention. Would you call that my ..... to read more.

http://www.magpiegemstones.com

Tumbling

Do you tumble? I didn't tumble as a child being from the generation before it was the thing to do. Yet, I remember taking tumbling as a college sophomore and truly enjoying it. Now my tumbling is relegated to using a tumbler in jewelry design and since some of you inquired about how to do just that, Magpie Gemstones is giving you the free information I wrote about it. I hope this will help you get started with appropriate tumbling. http://www.magpiegemstones.com/tumbling_jewelry.html My young grandson likes to watch the tumbler go round and round and is fascinated by how it works. I like how it gently cleans and polishes the jewelry components.

Magpie had a few things take a tumble this week. An inadvertent click of the keypad accidentally removed the pictures from previous blog entries. Szarka has worked hard to restore some of these, but the rest are just gone. Another click removed many of the photos from the clients' blog and we certainly regret this loss. Why don't you help refill the gallery of client work by sending us your beauties made with Magpie Gemstones? We appologize if yours was a photo that tumbled away. Surely some good has come from this mishap. We now know that we shouldn't work on the computer while talking on the phone to our mothers. You just never know when the conversation might initiate an errant click, click, click.

I tumbled right into a beautiful group of pearls on the Magpie Gemstone site. Have you seen the new large hole pearls that are available? I don't recall every finding such large holes in pretty pearls. These are great for rings and wire bracelets as well as other things. I challenge you to see what YOU can make with them. Let's see do you want white, grey or gold???

There are some new saphires on the site now, also. If you want sparkle, tumble right over to those!

Magpie Gemstones is having a Facebook giveaway with a drawing that ends on the 25th of this month. Tell your friends to tumble on over to this link http://www.facebook.com/MagpieGemstones?sk=app_237202476309340 and sign up for a chance to win an amethyst stalactite.

Finally, while you're considering how you too can tumble, could you go out to Georgetown this weekend and say hello to Kateri in the booth at the show? She (and the beads) will be at the Williamson County Gemboree held the 18th and 19th at the Community Center in San Gabriel Park.

Tumbling for you, we are Magpie Gemstones.

Karen Meador, writer
www.dreamcatcherranch.net/designs

Been There . . .

I started to write the title of this post as "been there . . . done that". It is an appropriate title, but doesn't quite give the right connotation. Yet, Magpie has "been there" (many different times) and "done that" (the Tuscon buy). The two chief Magpies just returned from a week long buying trip to Tuscon loaded with all manner of goodies for us. It will take a long time to get all the new beads into the store, but I can, at least, show you how things are coming along. Below are photos of the Wall of New that I snapped yesterday. I didn't capture the boxes of new, as you wouldn't see much from a photo; so you'll just have to trust me regarding the outstanding contents of each one. I was drooling over the plethora of cabachons.

Have you ever stayed up way too late because you were excitedly working on a design project? I've certainly "been there" and wished I hadn't "done that" by the next day. Thankfully, one Magpie has done that several nights in a row in order to get a nice sampling of the new beads in the store and ready for customers. I've selected just a few turquoise beauties to show in this entry. You'll have to decide whether you like the Nacozari or prefer the Hubei. I'm still trying to decide.

I know that Kateri will have some new things, purchased especially for the shows, when she arrives at the Williamson County Gemboree in Georgetown, TX. This event will be held on February 18-19 at the Community Center in San Gabriel Park. It's your first good chance to see the beads out and about in 2012 and even though you may have previously "done that", the inventory is ever changing. You wouldn't want to miss out, now would you?

We're busily working on new free tutorials and articles for you and should have those ready soon. Don't forget that if you have specific interests or questions, we'd like to hear from you.

Happily sorting new beads for you, we are Magpie Gemstones.

Karen Meador, writer
www.dreamcatcherranch.net/designs