Just Wanna Copyright for Makers: It Starts with an Idea… and Project Quilting.

Welcome to Post #2 of the blog series, Just Wanna Copyright for Makers, highlighting concepts from the recently released book and accompanying exhibit at the New England Quilt Museum. For more about ideas and other aspects of copyright, purchase a copy of the book!

We start our exhibit with an idea..and that’s where most creative works begin too. The creative journey often begins with a simple idea.

We use the work of Project Quilting as an example. Starting each January, quilters are invited to interpret a phrase, theme, or concept. They have one week to do this, and then the work is presented online. It runs for 12 weeks, with 6 projects. This year, Kim Lapacek and Trish Frankland continue to motivate and lead the quilting community with innovative challenges and a supportive network. Season 16 starts on January 5th.

In the exhibit, we highlight the idea of the "Hourglass" challenge from Season 15. Quilters interpreted this theme in various ways, showcasing the richness of their talents and experiences. Each piece is a testament to the personal journey of the artist and how they express their creativity through the fabric.

Megan Connolly's 'Skimmer Time'

A shining example from the "Hourglass" challenge is Megan Connolly's quilt titled "Skimmer Time." Megan's passion for birdwatching deeply influenced her design. She crafted this quilt using a photograph of a block skimmer. The clever use of negative space created illusory hourglass shapes formed by the birds and their reflections in the water. This quilt is more than visually captivating; it embodies the intersection of Megan's interests in nature and quilting. Each stitch reflects her artistic vision and connects her hobbies in a meaningful way. This example highlights how personal stories can enhance artistic creativity, making the quilting process profoundly moving. 

Brenda Ferrero's Black Widow

When Brenda accepted the Project Quilting Challenge, she jumped at the chance to immerse herself in this spontaneous style. With a focus on half-square and quarter-square triangles, she crafted an eye-catching hourglass pattern that took shape in ways she hadn’t imagined.

What surprised Brenda was the fulfillment she found in this unstructured journey. Initially, it felt a bit daunting not to have a clear plan, but as she worked, her creativity blossomed. With each stitch, Brenda felt a connection to nature, interpreting the hourglass shape as a reflection of her personal experiences. As Brenda continued to quilt, she drew inspiration from an unexpected source—the Black Widow spider. The spider contained the “hourglass” requirement.

Joy Murphy

Brenda and Megan were not alone on this creative adventure. Numerous quilters shared in the hourglass challenge, each contributing their distinct styles and ideas.

Joy Murphy, for instance, crafted her piece titled "Mini Hourglass" using an array of scrap fabrics given to her by friends. One vibrant floral fabric she included perfectly complemented February 2024’s Color of the Month from the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. Joy loves to be challenged by challenges -- prompts that inspire her to think creatively about her work. Joy's creative endeavors and insights are explored on her blog, The Joyful Quilter. 

So Many More...

In addition to Joy, other talented quilters like Beth Strand, Laura Richardson-Gentry, Deborah Ward, Kim Lapacek, and Trish Frankland showcased their imaginative versions of hourglass quilts. Together, they reflect the diverse interpretations that this simple shape can inspire within the quilting community.

Copyright Lesson for This Week

Ideas are not protected; they are only potentially the expression of those ideas. Anyone can take an idea and make it their own. We can all create a quilt based on the word "hourglass."  That’s the loveliness of our world. Copyright steps in when the work we have done is sufficiently creative—and we will discuss just what that means shortly!

For more on Project Quilting, see https://kimlapacek.com/. Season 16 starts in early January.

For more on the New England Quilt Museum, see https://www.neqm.org/.

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Elizabeth Townsend Gard is the John E. Koerner Endowed Professor of Law at Tulane University Law School and an avid quilter since childhood. She holds a Ph.D. in Cultural History from UCLA and has been cited by the U.S. Supreme Court for her work on copyright. Elizabeth is the lead author of the series. Elizabeth focuses on the legal expertise of the book.

Sidne K. Gard is a Distinguished Scholar Scholarship student at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and an Entertainment Editor at F Newsmagazine. Sidne focuses on translating legal concepts to artists and crafters. Sidne is the Managing Editor and Design Director for the Just Wanna Trademark for Makers series.

Elizabeth and Sidne started Just Wanna Quilt, which has also expanded to crafts and art. Listen to the podcast and learn more at justwannaquilt.com.