Please Don't Steal

So often in the arts and crafts community I see and hear that photographs are used by people without permission.  If you did not take a photograph, please do not use it as your own.  We should be honest with our work.  If you wish to use somebody else's photograph, you MUST ask permission first AND give them credit for their work.  An artist is deserving of recognition.

This did not happen to me.  Not that I know of.  But this morning I learned that many crochet and knitting pattern authors' work has been shared without permission and this saddens me.  I know that many times their patterns say, ON THE PATTERN: For personal use only - do not share or copy.  Please don't share or copy a pattern that has been paid for.  A pattern author works hard to create an original pattern and they sell it often times because they have a family to support.  Whatever the reason, they have the right to receive compensation and recognition for their time and effort.

Yesterday I posted a collage of photographs of a hat I made for a friend of mine.  I don't intend to sell this hat, but wanted to share my work with others.  I realized later in the day that I should have put a 'signature' or 'watermark' on it.  I'm curious to see how long it takes for somebody to use my photograph as an example to advertise for work they can do for others.  (Yes, that's stealing!) I'm sure they can re-create the hat, but this is MY photograph.  Make the hat.  I don't care.  But take your own photographs.

Always dream and shoot higher than you know you can do. Don't bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself.
~William Faulkner