You feel like you’ve done a good job of  preparing the ground, choosing and then planting the right seeds, nurturing by way of hard work, giving attention, thinking things through, following up…Of course, I’m speaking metaphorically for being in the business of creativity and art. Then along comes a big retailer who now is in the business of manufacturing their own product, and who wants to see artists and designers work “for consideration”…hmmmm.  The problem here is, they refuse to sign a non-disclosure agreement, my only protection from them “being inspired by” my unique and very marketable idea. WHAT TO DO??? What would you do? I’m a little guy who they know would not have the means to take action against them if they chose to use my concept without benefit of agreement. After careful consideration and a discussion with my lawyer, I decided that sometimes you have to go with your gut. -I passed. -I’ll hang onto this idea until a different opportunity comes my way and the players will be respectful of the creative process enough to sign an agreement. I respect my own time and creativity. I hope you respect yours as well. So, I’ll be shopping around to see if I can find a home for this gem. It’s a program so it will need some shelf space.

I make a lot of projects that were initially intended for sharing on my blog, just to inspire and promote my own and my friend’s products. Because I’m in the business of product creation and art and design for licensing, about half the time I end up not showing what I’ve made because it has very strong commercial potential. This happened last week. I was working with someone else’s art products and ended up with a technique that I’ll be adding to my portfolio of marketable art. It happens. I’d love to teach the process in classes, after I send in my copyrights on the finished art.

Here’s a fun project I WILL share… I’ve been playing around with my fabric line (available from http://www.henryglassfabrics.com/)and love these flower pins made by layering hand cut flower shapes! I used black Pelon heavy duty (craft) interfacing under each layer and stitched around the edges. They are backed with a jewelry pin back from the craft store and I’ll be wearing one tonight when hubby and I go out for our Friday night Mexican fix. I’m so glad that leaving raw edges is fashionable! Here are a couple of close-ups. The flower with the white background sports bits of leftover ribbons, a good way to use up those little pieces!

I hope you’ll make some of these for yourself or for a friend. They make good coasters, too! If you would like the pattern, please leave me a comment, I’ll send it to you directly.

Have a great weekend!

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