"Ugly modern 60's look" Shag carpeting is back in a big way. So is the decor of the late 50's and early to mid 60's ranch style houses that some of us remember from our childhood - I figure if you already lived it, you are *so* done with it. But, all that stuff is very big with those who were born after all that stuff got thrown in the trash with a big sigh of relief. My first brand new washer in the early 70's and dryer was Harvest Gold. I thought I'd died and gone to heaven, it was be-u-ti-ful. It really wasn't bad as far as colors go, but oh lord, that avacado green was pretty terrible, even for that time. I haven't seen any signs in our Wal-mart yet - will have to try to notice it next time I go in. I would think in these harder economic times, people would be doing more things themselves.

If you use a pattern and use different colors, materials, change the measurements, I believe it's considered a derivative work and is still covered by the original copyright. Your work has to look completely different from the original - at which point, of course, it wouldn't be the same pattern, right?. Regarding Cotton Theory, which is a technique, and copyright doesn't cover techniques, however, Betty Cotton has a PATENT for it. Patents are a whole 'nother story. ***My disclaimer here is that I've only skimmed the patent, so I'm just making my best guesses and I am not an expert on patent law.*** So this might just be the one case where writing a quilt pattern in your own words using the same technique might NOT be legal, under patent laws, NOT under copyright laws. (Disclaimer: I'm not a lawyer, etc. etc.) The technique described in the patent is very detailed and very specific to the way Betty Cotton does it. It's not "make a traditional quilt block, quilt the block, then join", it's "make and quilt each sub-unit of a block and join using specific folding techniques". So Rosa's technique of using Gloria Bonesteel's lap quilting technique, then joining the blocks with the seams on top probably does NOT come under the patent. Since Betty Cotton sells books and patterns, obviously she means for people to use the technique, so I assume (Disclaimer: I'm not a lawyer, yadda, yadda.) the patent gives her the exclusive right to publish books and patterns with that technique. Copyright laws alone would not do that. (I know from reading biographical articles about her that she had another business where someone stole her ideas/designs and she had no recourse because she had never patented them.) In any case, copyright laws would also apply to Betty Cotton's printed patterns, books, and quilt designs. Her technique can't be copyrighted, but, she patented it! In the case of the tote bag pattern I was looking at, it has some features that I've been looking for in a tote bag, but that I haven't seen in other tote bag patterns that I've looked at so far. If I wanted to sell them (including advertising, which would come under "publishing"), even if I modified the pattern somewhat (derivative work), I think I'd just pay the $100, put the name of the pattern on the hang tag and be done with it. That particular cottage license allows you to make and sell as many bags as you want for a year, which, if you are serious about your cottage industry, is a reasonable expense to protect yourself legally. CMC Here is a link that might be useful: Cotton Theory Patent

Hi everyone... Well, I was across the border and visited the WALMART store in upstate NY today - OH MY....what to know what damage I did....but it's not my fault - there are such great prices on the cottons at Walmart in the U.S. compared to what we can find in Canada......I came back with bags and bags..just added up my quantites - 108 Yards...YEP...that's one hundered and 8 yards....you'd think I was getting ready for the dessert island..guess I should start looking for a solar powered machine next....but I AM SO HAPPY!!!! I have them all rolled back on the cardboard cores (which the lady happily gave me because I bought the balances on most of these items....)..As you get to know me - you'll find out that I'm a giant fabricolic.....I believe in having a big stash....not that I don't already have one.... Have a great weekend everyone... It's a beautiful sunny (but cool) weekend in Montreal. Bill

Fabric departments require customer assistance to cut and measure and mark material. If you look at their meat cases in the super stores, the meats are not cut in store, but come pre-packaged from the processor. It's cost effective to cut work forces as much as possible. I suppose box stores consider the decision to keep a labour intensive department based more on how much business they'll lose if they shut one, than how much their customers complain. The ironic thing is I suspect they'd be more likely to keep the department open if there is a competing box nearby. If there isn't, then they know they got you coming back, fabric department or not.