RoseRed Designs has been closed.

I apologize for any inconvenience.  

I do hope to reopen the Shoppe in the future.

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RRD will be closing

I know I haven't posted much on the blog but both the Ravelry and Etsy shops have been up and running.

It's been a very difficult year with family emergencies, caring for my Mother through her cancer ordeal and other life changing circumstances including moving 1,000 miles.

It is my hope that RoseRed Designs will re-open at some point in the future.  I simply have no idea when.

I also hope that my creative spark will return when life settles into something resembling normal again.

The new email address for RoseRed Designs is RoseRedDesigns@outlook.com

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Welcome to RoseRed Designs

Thank you for your interest in checking out 

RoseRed Designs.

This is 'officially' a blog.  However, it is set up as a website.  There are quite a few free patterns and tutorials.  There are also posts, articles and lots of projects interspersed if you want to look back through the blog posts.  I love that Blogger allows blogs to have 'pages' so that a blog can be set up as a website.

 Please enjoy your visit here at RoseRed Designs.

For those that are interested in my 'pay for' patterns they can be found at both Etsy and Ravelry.  Ravelry offers instant downloads and has a library option.  Etsy requires that you must wait for me to receive your order before it can be sent out via email.  Etsy is looking into instant downloads of purchased patterns.  I do not know when they will offer this.

RoseReds Designs at Etsy

http://www.etsy.com/shop/roseredsdesigns

RoseRed Designs at Ravelry

http://www.ravelry.com/stores/rosered-designs

If you look at the side bar to the right you'll find direct links to articles and free patterns.

You'll also see my Pinterest disclaimer.  Please feel free to pin my projects and patterns to Pinterest.  I only ask that you do not pin any of my personal pictures - especially those with children in them.  I'd hate to have to go through the blog posts and have to remove any of them.

And a couple of shout outs...

If you haven't already found Crochetville I suggest that you check it out.  It's a wonderful community of crocheters and an amazing resource for anyone who loves yarn.  It's one of my most favorite places on the web.

Crochetville

Jimbo makes the most amazing wood hooks.  I have several and they are awesome to work with.  He generally does auctions but you can contact him for custom work as well.  He also came up with a great specialty hook that was named the 'Hook Awl' in a contest he held.  They come in 2 sizes and they're super sharp and pointy for working  into fabric.

Jimbo's Front Porch

If you crochet - Ravelry is an amazing resource for patterns, ideas, yarn information, etc.  It has it's own forums - I don't belong to any of them but for those that are interested - it's there.  I have my bookmark set to the 'New Patterns' page.  It's a great way to get a look at what's been uploaded recently.

Ravelry

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Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays!

To all of my friends in yarn,

May you all have a wonderful holiday season and a happy & healthy New Year!

~Michele

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It's ok to pin to Pinterest

After much thought and consideration I've decided to allow pinning.

I can't stop the wave of the future.  I'm still not thrilled with the changes that Pinterest has made.  I think they could've done more BUT what can you do.

All that I ask is that you please not pin the pics of friends and family that I have on my blog.  I would hate to have to go through the entire blog and remove the personal pictures that I have here.

Thank you,
~Michele
aka RoseRed

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Not so random thoughts

I come to this blog every day and check out the free pattern shown in the sidebar.  Every day I come and look I feel as if I should be posting something.  That without new posts blogs die.  They just do.

This is supposed to be my designing blog but I haven't been designing.  Don't get me wrong - I still have ideas, notebooks with doodles and diagrams, swatch patterns that have already been tested and are just waiting to turn into something.  And they've been waiting for me to turn my attention back to them.

I'm not one to post personal stuff on the internet.  I know a lot of people do but it's not MY thing.  Most of my readers know I had back surgery almost a year ago.  It's been a long and slow recovery.  Sitting like you would at your kitchen table is the absolute worst position for me to be in.  Standing comes in 2nd place at the pain awards. 

It's taken almost a year but I've finally reached the 4 hour mark.  At 4 hours I'm pretty much done for.  This includes sitting to drive, standing to walk, standing to rest while I'm walking, sitting to drive home, etc.  I can push it to 6 hours but them I'm in bed for a day or two and completely useless for much of anything.  Even 4 hours has me finished for the rest of the day.

You may be wondering what this has to do with designing.  Quite a bit actually.  In between running a home, trying to keep up with my teenage daughter, feeding my family and doctors appointments - I just don't have the intestinal fortitude to do much more.  I don't have the ability to do much more.

I've written a couple patterns but to tell the truth - pain brain does NOT make for writing easy to follow or well written patterns.  Pain brain saps the creativity right out of me.  Hell, pain brain can make it difficult to follow easy and well written patterns.  Those of you that either live in pain or have experienced it for a substantial length of time know exactly what I'm talking about.

I have a new design in a PIG (pattern in grocery bag) sitting next to my recliner (put a pillow under my knees and behind my head and I've found my comfy spot) and I can't bring myself to put it together and try to write it out because I've seen the mess I've made out of other patterns I've tried to write.

Now that the holidays are over (and we all know how much work those are) I'm hoping that life will slow down enough that I'll have enough time to sit (recline) and recover from all the over-doing it that I can actually get back to designing.  To writing out the ideas floating in my head.  To get back to creating new and wonderful things. 

I made 5 ghans for Christmas and as usual, I waited too long to get all of them started.  I haven't been crocheting much in the last week or so - my poor fingers needed the break.  I took pics so now I just need to put them up so I can share with you guys - my friends in yarn.

I'm not writing this as an excuse but I thought I owed you guys an explanation on why I seem to have stalled.  It's because I did.  And on that thought I'm going to close this blog post.  May we all have a healthy and prosperous new year.

Merry Christmas & Solstice Greetings!

I just wanted to wish all of my friends in yarn a Happy and Healthy holiday season regardless of which holiday is celebrated.

I finally finished a 7 1/2 foot long ghan - now I just need to wrap it, a few animal hats for my daughter and have 1 last batch of cookies to make (30 dozen so far and still counting).

It's really hard to be in the Christmas spirit when it's 80 degrees out but I'm trying!

The mad Christmas rush!

I can't be the only crocheter who just realized how far behind I am and how close Christmas is.

UGH!

I have 2 afghans totally completed and washed just waiting to be gift bagged.

I have a 3rd ghan (2 strands and an N hook) yup - call me a cheater! I'm in a time crunch.  I could say that thick cozy afghans just can't be beat for presents heading north to the colder states and it would be true but it's mostly the time crunch.

I have a 4th afghan that I just realized I will NOT have enough yarn to finish.  I'm going to need at least another pound of red and possibly 2 more pounds of blue. Yup - another 2 strander but this is one of the VERY FEW truly custom ghans I've made.  I was specifically asked to make this one super thick and cozy so i don't feel like I'm cheating but originally - I only bought enough yarn to make it a 1 strander. 

Looks like I have a 100 mile round trip to hit Michael's and Joann's to HOPE they have the colors I need in stock.

So - how about you guys?  Are any of you done for Christmas yet?

Happy Thanksgiving!

May you all have a wonderful day!

~Michele

Explaining Copyright & Terms of Use

Copyright and ToU Information

"Every time a pattern is 'ripped off' a designer loses their wings"

Or so I've heard.   I think most times it's more like a few feathers than actually both wings. Although, with some new designers who are very sensitive - it is enough to make them stop designing and stop putting their patterns out there ever again.

We love our craft.  We love to share.  If we didn't there wouldn't be so many blogs dedicated to crochet and we wouldn't have so many people reading them.  One of the problems is that Copyright & ToU seems like such a huge gray area.  Trying to understand it all can make your head hurt. (usual disclaimer -I'm not a lawyer, this isn't legal advice, yada, yada, yada)  After studying this for years this is my understanding of it.

In it's simplest form it comes down to Kindergarten Rules.  

If it's not yours - don't take it without permission. 

In the US (I can't speak for other countries because I don't know what their laws are), Copyright Protection is granted the moment you put an idea into a usable format - whether it's a pattern, a picture, a poem, etc.  Copyright protection is given to 'Intellectual Property'.  That means "I thought of it - I created it - it belongs to me".

There is a difference between Copyright and Terms of Use.  

Copyright protection is automatically granted whether or not it is marked on the pattern or picture.  (For the purpose of this article I'm discussing patterns and pictures - it does extend further into realms that I have not studied and cannot speak on).  You'll normally see the little tiny c in a circle or (C), the year it was created, the designers name and All rights reserved on the first line.  Technically, it should be the creator's name - not the name of the company but regardless - marked or not it's still protected under Copyright. 

(C)2011 - Michele Shirley - All rights reserved

You can make 1 (one) working copy for yourself.  An example of this is copying the pages from a book or printing off a pdf so you don't mark up the original.  You cannot make several copies and pass them around to your friends.  In the digital age we live in it's all to simple to forward a pdf to our friends.  Just because it's simple doesn't mean it's ok.

Terms of Use is usually the 2nd line of the Copyright statement.  This is a licensing agreement.  It'll tell you if the pattern is for personal use, charity use, commercial use - whether or not you can sell the finished items created from the pattern, etc.  Many designers add that you may not share (by mechanical or digital means).  The sad fact is that they shouldn't have to add it.  If you are aware of the ToU before you purchase or use a free pattern then you're legally bound to it.

I'll use my Etsy Shoppe as an example.  This is listed at the bottom of each product page.

Terms of Use/Licensing – Personal, private & local sales of 

finished items are allowed. Please contact RoseRed Designs

for questions regarding internet sales or commercial use of

items made from this pattern. RoseRedDesigns @ bellsouth.net

Many designers don't know that they're supposed to list the licensing agreement before you purchase the pattern.  Technically and legally (and I hate to say this because there are some people that will use it as a loophole but for the sake of honesty...) you are not bound to the ToU if you don't have the ability to read it before you make your purchase (or use a free pattern).

So - if it's not listed prior to your purchase or use - is it OK to blatantly ignore it and do whatever you want to with the finished items?  Legally - yes.  Morally - well, that's entirely up to each individual and their own moral compass.  Maybe I'm just a hopeless romantic but I like to think that there is more good in people and in the world than bad.  My hope would be that anyone who reads this and sees a pattern that doesn't have the ToU listed prior to purchase or use would gently mention it to the designer. 

One thing to remember with this is that you cannot add a restrictive ToU after a pattern has been purchased.  It only holds to future purchases or use.  You can go back and add less restrictions to patterns that are already out there.  I did this.  It used to say that you can not sell the finished products on all of my patterns.  Now my ToU restriction is that you cannot sell them on the internet BUT you can use them for local or personal sales.  If someone in Seattle wants to make a bunch of something and sell it at a craft show - it's not going to hurt me in any way, shape or form.  Go for it!

Copyright Infringement occurs when you 'share' something that's not yours.  Copyright Infringement hurts designers in ways you may not normally think about.  For 'pay for' patterns sharing them illegally amongst your friends is literally taking money out of the Indie (Independent) Designers pocket.  It raises the cost of the books, pamphlets and e-patterns coming out of the Design Houses (like Annie's Attic, DRG Publishing, etc).  It hurts the designers feelings and tests their professionalism when they need to confront someone who has illegally shared what was not theirs to share in the first place.  In some cases in can cause someone to stop designing altogether.


What is included/not included under Copyright Protection?

It includes the exact wording of the pattern and and all pictures (whether they belong to a pattern or not).

Stitches, shapes and ideas are NOT covered by Copyright Protection.  You cannot copyright a stitch pattern.  You can only copyright your wording of how to create the stitch.


You cannot copyright an idea.  A sleeveless vest, a hexagon lapghan, a round ripple with added points are examples of ideas.  Your wording and pictures telling a person how to create your idea are protected.

So, is it ok to see something and make your own version of it?  Short answer - yes.  That's how the fashion industry works.  That's why there's so many patterns for round ripples and sweaters and scarves, etc.

The long answer - ask yourself if you want to be known as a designer that copies other peoples designs or if you want to be known for your own designs.

Derivative Works are patterns created from the original.  Part of the problem with making your own version of something is that it may fall into the realm of Derivative Works.  Changing the yarn, color or hook does not make it your own.  Adding a different edge does not make it your own. Combining several different patterns does not make it your own if you are working directly from the original.

Part of claiming All Rights Reserved is saying that the designer reserves the right to create their own derivative works from the original pattern.  It also says that the designer holds the original copyright and is allowing you to use their pattern (whether free or for purchase).  Simply purchasing a pattern does NOT transfer copyright ownership.

The Useful Items clause says that anything that is a useful item (clothing, blankets, pretty much anything you can use other than artwork for the sake of it being art) is not covered under copyrights.  So - it goes right back to only the wording and pictures are covered under copyright protection.


What can you do if you see Copyright Violations?

The best and most helpful thing that you can do is to notify the designer or copyright holder.  They are the only people that can do anything about it.  Under the DMCA (Digital Millennial Copyright Act) there is a set procedure for the copyright holder to follow.  Hosting sites will do nothing about infringements unless they are contacted by the copyright holder.  This is the law and they will follow it to the letter.

Just remember that there are NO official Copyright Police.  There are, however, people that have taken it upon themselves to help protect the copyrights of designers.  Many of them don't understand the basics of Copyrights but they do mean well.

I hope that you find this article helpful in navigating the 'murky waters' of Copyright-land.

~

Universal Craft Blog Directory

What a great idea!  They're hoping to have the biggest craft blog directory on the web.

Check it out and see if you'd like to add your blog to the list.

Universal Craft Blog Directory

and the winner is ..... again 11/3

Congratulations!

Bailey!

I will be emailing you in just a moment!

Please contact me within the next 48 hours

with your shipping information!

Thank you.

Catherine - Please contact me!

I'm still waiting to hear back from Catherine so I can mail her her winnings!   I've emailed you at the address you left and have posted here.

If I don't hear from you by 9 am tomorrow - November 3 - I will be picking another winner.

Please contact me with your shipping information.

Thank you,

~Michele

and the winner is.........

Catherine!

I have already sent an email to the addy you provided!

Please get back to me within the next 48 hours 

so I can address and mail you your box of goodies!

Congratulations!

Last day to enter the give-away!

 

Today is the last chance to enter the RRD Give-Away!

It's easy - join with Google Friend Connect

and leave a comment on this blog post.

RRDs 1st Ever Give-Away

Drawing will he held tomorrow!

1st ever RoseRed Designs Contest / Give-away!

Thank you for checking out

RoseRed Designs

1st ever Contest / Give-Away!

What you see in the above picture is what is you can win!

If you'd like the chance to win some great hooks, great yarn and some RoseRed Designs merchandise - here's your chance.

As shown in the picture above:

RoseRed Designs project tote bag

RoseRed Designs Coffee cup/hook holder

Susan Bates Bamboo Handle I - 5.5 hook

Addi Swing hook I - 5.5 hook

Crochet Lite K - 6.5 hook

Bernat Matrix 50gram ball (pinks)

2 skeins Bernat Haven 50 gram (black)

Lion Chenille 3oz (black) 

Debbie Bliss cashmerino aran 50gr ball (pale bluish)

Premier Yarn Flipper 50gr skein (off white)

This will be mailed in a medium size Flat Rate Priority Mail box.

To enter simply Join this Site with Google Friend Connect on the right side of the screen AND leave a comment letting me that you have.
If you are already a member - simply leave a comment.

For extra chances to win you can post about this contest on your blog and/or link to it on your FaceBook page.  You must leave a comment and post the URL to where this can be found.

All valid entries will be comments to notify me that you have joined this site (or that you already have).

All extra entries will be comments with links to your posts about this contest.  Please leave your contact information in each comment.

Each comment will be given a number and the number will be drawn randomly out of a hat by my dear daughter.

The drawing will be held on November 1st, 2011

I will post the winner here.  If you wish to be contacted personally, please leave your email address in your comment.  If I cannot get in contact the winner within 48 hours I will draw another number.

I apologize but this contest is only open to those within the United States.

Good luck and I truly hope that this first contest is a great success!

Thoughts on laptop covers - Are they a good idea?

I've been considering making a laptop cover.  I've seen some really adorable ones and I have an undying love for cozies whether they be kitschy or elegant or anything in between.  It's almost surprizing how deeply one can consider this question.  Go figure!

Are they practical?  If if's a means of keeping dust off of your laptop then yes.  I think they can be but I use my laptop pretty consistently throughout the day so for me - not really.

Do they really offer any form of protection?  I don't think so.  If I drop my laptop (God forbid!) I don't think a crocheted cozy regardless of how many post stitches or popcorns are on it will do much of anything to help cushion the fall.  A 5 pound laptop is just too heavy for a popcorn to save.


Are they pretty?  Of course.  I'm sure you'll get plenty of oooh's and aaahhh's when you take it out of it's carrying case.  Or it could be cute or silly or whatever a person's personal style would lead them to create.

Are they good for the laptop?  Hmmmmm - to me, this is the most important consideration.  I don't know but I lean towards probably not.  Yarn by it's design is made from fibers.  We've all experienced yarn that fuzzes.  I don't know about your laptop (or tablet or pad or whatever other doodads they've come up with that I'm not familiar with) but MINE has a bunch of holes (I believe they're called ports) on the sides of it.

There's places for usb cables, monitor cables, jacks for microphones and headphones and other assorted openings that i have absolutely NO IDEA what is supposed to go in them (but they come with the machine whether we know how to use them or not).

This is where my line of thinking has taken me.  I don't know of any yarn that doesn't fuzz at some point. Some are way worse at fuzzing at others.  Some, like mohair, are made fuzzy.

What are the chances that the fuzz from the yarn can get into the little port openings?

Do I really want to add another step to cleaning my laptop by having to remember to clean out each of the opening with compressed air because I added fuzzies to the situation?

Do i want to take a chance on these fuzzies getting into the openings and when I plug something in - it doesn't work because there's something in the way of the connection?

I find these thoughts to be really disappointing because I was looking forward to making a laptop cover.  I like pretty things.  I like to make pretty things.  I like to cover my stuff with pretty things.  (ok - I'm getting carried away with the pretty things thing here but you get my point, right?)

So - I find myself truly disappointed that I won't be making a laptop cover for myself.  My husband surprised me with a very boring and utilitarian laptop bag.  (It's an excellent brand and something that he wouldn't be embarrassed to carry unlike the red snakeskin shoulder bag I had my eye on).  I wanted something more 'me' for when I took my laptop out of the bag.

With all of the computer problems I've had recently including the loss of a year and a half's worth of photo's.  (I found a back up disk I made in Jan 2010 so I didn't lose 8 YEARS worth of pictures  - YES!!!)  I find myself not wanting to add any potential problems to my computer.

For those of you that have made laptop cozies or those of you that want to - by all means - do what makes you happy.  I believe that, as with most decisions in life, this is only a personal opinion and that we each need to decide for ourselves what we're going to do.  Unfortunately, I've decided not to make the cute little cover with the cables on it that I had already designed in my minds eye.

As with all my posts - comments are always welcome.  I'd love to know what you, my friends in yarn, think of laptop covers in general or in my thoughts on the topic.

Computer Problems

My dear friends in yarn,

I know I posted a teaser in my last post that this post would be a give-away.  I am sorry to dissapoint.

But I do have a really good reason!

I have been going thru computer hell!  I'm on my 3rd machine in 3 weeks.  I am soooo happy that Best Buy has a 2 week exchange period.  Technically, I'm on my 4th machine as my old laptop gave up the ghost, the first 2 computers that I replaced it with had malfunctions.  So far (cross your fingers for me) this one seems to be doing well.

Unfortunately, I lost quite a bit of personal files - pictures and documents and such.  It's not for lack of backing up.  The problem is - my back-ups failed also.  Fortunately, I did not lose any of my RoseRed Designs files.

I'll be back to my regularly scheduled postings soon.

~Michele

New Pattern Release - A Modern Heirloom baby/toddler/lap Afghan

I am so pleased to announce that my newest design, 

A Modern Heirloom

is being released today!  

You can find the pattern at either:

 (links are clickable)

RoseRed's Designs Etsy Shoppe

RoseRed Designs Ravelry Store

This is one of my most favorite patterns that I've come up with so far.  It is so versatile.  It can be used as a baby ghan, is large enough to be a toddler/ small child ghan, gorgeous enough to be a crib cover, or used as a lap or wheelchair ghan.  

The applications for this afghan are endless.  The only thing that needs to be changed for it's different purposes is the color.  Winter white or beige for the heirloom look, baby blue or pinks for infants, favorite colors for older children or for those of use that refuse to grow up :)

I strongly recommend making this afghan in Caron Pounders

or any other of the thicker 4 ply worsted weight yarns.  

Warning - Teaser Alert!  My next post will be the first ever RoseRed Designs Give-Away Contest!  I think you guys will be quite happy with the contents of the up-coming give-away.

So excited!!! Designer Profile at AllFreeCrochet.com

I am just soooooooo excited!

I have several patterns listed at AllFreeCrochet.  As if that wasn't exciting enough - I also have a Designer Profile!

I am so honored to be included in with these other GREAT designers!

All Free Crochet.com is an AWESOME website that lists tons of free patterns from across the web.  Make sure to check it out when you have a chance!

All Free Crochet.com

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