Wednesday, August 8, 2012

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

Friday, August 3, 2012

Soft Pretzels - From Scratch!

I made homemade soft pretzels the other day from a recipe on the Food Network website from Alton Brown and I can't stop thinking about them!  They truly were very easy to make and this is a recipe I'll definitely use again.  My dad is coming into town for a visit this weekend and I may just have to bake some more...

Monday, July 30, 2012

Day Hike to Multnomah Falls

This weekend I was fortunate to get out of the house and into nature on a sunny day.  The weather was perfect and no more than 81 degrees.  We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day to take a hike to the top of Multnomah Falls in the Columbia River Gorge.  If you ever have an opportunity to visit this part of Oregon, I highly recommend a day trip to discover the beauty of the Historic Columbia River Highway US Route 30, and plan to make stops at the many waterfalls and trails along it's path. 

A view of Multnomah Falls from the trail.
A beautiful view of the Columbia River and the state of Washington from the trail.
The top of the trail to Multnomah Falls.  This IS the top of the waterfall.


Multnomah Falls
Vista House 
The view of the Columbia River Gorge from Vista House.