Orphan Works Bill

I don't have a full grasp of the Orphan Works Bill. I have received enough email about it from various organizations that I belong to and feel it's time to take action. I've sat on the sidelines long enough. The down and dirt for all artists, designers, creative people in general: If enacted, this legislation will basically allow anyone to use a design after a 'reasonable search'-- without the copyright holder's permission. Even if the copyright holder objects, he has no recourse because the bill eliminates the statutory damages that currently prevent rampant infringement.

I have highlighted the main points I gathered from Creative Leisure News. They have more info to click and read.

1. It changes the 1976 U.S. Copyright Act (enacted in 1978), and makes it virtually impossible for artists to protect their work. It basically allows anyone to use a design without the copyright holder’s permission.

2. It requires artists to attempt to protect their work by registering it with a digital data base system (presumably for a fee, in addition to the copyright filing fee) – when no such system exists!

3. It eliminates statutory damages wherever an infringer can successfully claim an orphan works defense, thus eliminating the only tool the law provides to prevent deliberate infringement.

4. It allows for an infringer to create – and copyright – a derivative work from the original design.

Under current law, the right to create a derivative work is one of an artist’s exclusive rights. Section103(a) says a user can’t copyright a derivative image that he’s infringed. "Protection for a work employing preexisting material in which copyright subsists does not extend to any part of the work in which such material has been used unlawfully." Under the proposed new bills, since the entirety of an infringed work can be included in a derivative use, then the copyright of the derivative will amount to a copyright of the original. This would be a de facto capture of new exclusive rights by the infringer. In other words, these bills allow infringers to make and copyright derivatives – even if the copyright holder to the original work objects.

Time is of the essence­ we need to get the word out to people so they know about the devastating consequences this legislation could have for us ­and we need to do it NOW.

Take Action: Don't Let Congress Orphan Our Work
2 minutes is all it takes to write Congress and protect your copyright: Just click on the link below, pick the letter you'd like to use, fill in the info needed, click send. Very easy. Pass along to all your friends even if they aren't artists. We need everyone's support.

Let your voice be heard - Click here to take action!

A patriotic Art Bead Scene salute:

Glass Links from Cindy Gimbrone

Shoe Button by Creative Impressions in Clay

Muse Stone Pendant by Earthenwood Studio

Disk Beads by Humblebeads

Featured Designer of the Week - Goddess Joy

Paisley Earth necklace
Originally uploaded by goddessjoy

Each Monday we feature the Designer of the Week. One of our editors pick their favorite from the Monthly Challenge entries.

I picked Goddessjoy's Paisley Earth Necklace. It caught my attention right away. I love the colors of the pendant and the earthy mix of beads that compliment it so well. I could see Mother Earth donning this one for special occasions!

Our theme for May is Mother Earth and Goddessjoy's necklace is a a perfect fit for anyone wanting to express their inner goddess!

To see more of Goddessjoy's creations and read her blog, visit her website www.goddessjoy.com.

Want to be next week's featured designer? Take a moment to enter May's monthly challenge!

Desperate ABS Neighbors Comissions Paparazzi

Commissioned by the ABS Neighbors, the paparazzi have been lurking in the neighborhood to snap photos of the Desperate ABS Editor - The ABS Neighborhood wants to know who she is and take their revenge for all the posts she's done about Tari, Heather and Melanie! Hiding in her backyard, one photographer was able to snap this picture when she was stepped onto her porch for the Sunday paper.




Not very camera friendly is she? While the paparazzi continue to stalk her to get a good photo, let's see what else is going on with the Creative Bloggers on Hysteria Lane....

About.com Jewelry Making
Wire is a great medium for jewelry making, and with this new DVD review you can findout how you can turn straight wire into super cool bangle bracelets.

Art Bead Scene
Obessing over details leads Cindy Gimbrone to revise her MF Bird. No, she's not frustrated she means Modern Folk Bird.

Jennifer Jangles Blog
See the first ceramic beads Jennifer made.

Jewelry & Beading
What to do with those odd-shaped treasures you pick up on vacation this summer!

Katie's Beading Blog
Feeling the economic pinch in your purse? There are plenty of ways to make cool jewelry with stuff you already have.

Naughty Secretary Club
So many social networking web sites and so little time. Find out how Jen utilizes websites like My Space, Indie Public, Twitter and more to help promote her jewelry business Naughty Secretary Club and spread the crafty gospel.

PearlEsq.
Check out what blingy wonders Robin's been beading while recovering from her knee surgery!

Savvy Crafter
Need a card for your favorite beader? Candie may have just the thing!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Margot will be posting in a cool crafting group but still visiting here. When I get the url, I will post it for that group. Until then, check out this repost of her fantastic pocketbook which I adore and treasure she made me!

Did you know the Desperate ABS Neighbors open up their studios on Saturdays? Stop by and read Studio Saturdays to find out more about the Desperate Neighbors of the Art Bead Scene!

Did you read or write any good dirt on a bead blog this week?
Leave us a comment and a link and tell us the latest scoop!

Studio Saturday - Random Inspirations

Welcome to Studio Saturday! Each week one of our contributors gives you a sneak peek into their studio, creative process or inspirations. We ask a related question of our readers and hope you'll leave comments! As an incentive we offer a free prize each week to bribe you to use that keyboard. The following week we choose a random winner. This week's winner of Cindy's Modern Bird is Gaea! Please use the suggestion box on the sidebar to send us your address.

More photos than words today, as I have more orders than minutes! My latest seed bead stash, which is telling of my current color inspirations.

I found these pink pearls at the bead show and had to have them. Why pink? I'm so not a pink person, but they called to me. Of course, my job is to transform them into something that is me. I like the idea of mixing dark woods and maybe gray with them. The remind me of the brilliant sunsets on Lake Michigan.

Some very cool seaweed stuff that I found at the beach last week. I love the colors and design. (Although, not the best photo) I could see this becoming a cane for a series of beachy beads.

And speaking of beachy, here I mixed one of my new sea urchins with pearls, a few little wood beads that reminded me of driftwood, silver shells, crystals and a seaweed pewter button from Mamacita beads that works as the clasp. I love those!

Part of my sea urchin collection. I've made many more since this, they take me right to the beach.

Which leads me to this week's question: name one thing in nature that is the biggest source of inspiration for your jewelry designs. For me, it's the ocean. While I'm inspired by many things, the pieces that I love the most have a tie to the water, beach or it's creatures.

Take a minute to share with me and next week we'll pick a random winner to receive one of my urchins.

Faux Pas - Avoiding the Fakes!

A few weeks ago I was selling my beads at a local bead show. And of course, when you are selling at a show, that means you are shopping too!

I found one dealer who was selling silver findings. I was looking for some unique clasps, when what to my wondering eyes appeared but Green Girl Studios' shell clasps. It was perfect for the seashell inspired necklace I was creating. But wait, why did it only have one shell and some weird ugly loop for the other side? My beady senses were tingling. I looked around, they had the sunflower, the bird and a few others. All at quite a discounted price. I felt a little sick to my stomach to see that one of my favorite artists were knocked off and being sold right here at my local bead show. What can I say, I'm a little naive!

I took them up to the dealer and asked the origin of the clasps? Did you purchase these from the artist, I inquired? No they came from Indonesia. I explained that these were copies from a famous beadmaker called Green Girl Studios. She gave me a shrug and blank expression. I put down my tray of beads and politely said I would not be shopping with her.

So how can you avoid buying knock-off art beads when you are shopping at a bead show. It's very simple, ask the seller. A reputable seller will know who the artist is and will probably give you some background information on the creator. Don't commit a designer faux pas by picking up a few of the cheaper copies. It's just not worth the measly dollars saved to know that you are cheating a family out of their bread and butter! And what a cute family behind Green Girl Studios, you can see the very real designer on her blog.

I Heart Tools- Metal Stamping Kit

You've probably seen examples of stamped metal charms in quite a few designers' jewelry lately. I know I have! A wonderful example of this is in Heather Wynn's jewelry.

Whether you want to personalize a piece of jewelry for a gift, or if you want to display a quote, these stamped charms can definitely jazz up any piece!
I know I'll be saving my pennies to buy my own set of stamping tools. They now have them available at Fusion Beads! They have stamp sets available in a few different sizes, as well as the silver blanks. OR if you want to save some cash, you can also get a cool 1.5mm set on Etsy at Evies Tool Emporium for only $12.00 (plus shipping)!

The only other thing you'll need for this project is a bench block and a regular household hammer.

Another cool feature about Fusion Beads is they also offer a free instructional stamping technique! Click here to learn how to make your own stamped charms!

Written by Guest Blogger, Lorelei Eurto
Read her Blog, Buy her Jewelry!

Bead Arist Interview-Sarah Hornik

What is your personal name, business name, website and location?
Name - Sarah Hornik :: Business – Glass by Sarah
Location – Tel Aviv, Israel
Website –http://www.glassbysarah.com
Blog – http://blog.glassbysarah.com
eBay - http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZsarahQ5fhornik
Etsy – http://sarahhornik.etsy.com

What kind of beads do you make? What kinds of processes do you use? What is your favorite beadmaking technique?
I make glass beads. The process I use is called lampwork. In a nutshell - rods of colored glass are melted over a flame and wound around a steel mandrel to form a bead. I don’t know if I could pick a favorite technique, as I like to combine many different elements in my beads. One of the great things about working with glass is that you’re constantly discovering new things you can do with it. I like layering opaque and transparent colors to create a sense of depth in my beads. I usually add a lot of decoration on top of that, so each bead turns out interesting from whatever angle you look at it!

How did you get into beadmaking? What are some of the important things you do for your business?
Pure coincidence – I was looking something up on Google, when I came across a sponsored link for a place here in Tel Aviv that was offering lampwork classes. Before that moment, I had no idea one could even make glass beads at home! At the time, I was a web designer – I had been one for eight years, was running my own business and beginning to feel very burnt out. I thought I’d give “the glass bead thing” a try, just to get out of the office and away from the computer, expand my horizons, find a new hobby, something like that. I was instantly hooked. Within just a few months, I closed down my web design business and decided to devote my life to being a full-time beadmaker. No regrets whatsoever there! I think one of the most important things I do for my business is maintaining an online presence. As I sell exclusively on the internet, it is important to me to give people a sense of who I am – the personality behind the work. I run a website and a blog, and I am also active on several web communities and social networking sites.

What is your workspace like and how do you work in your studio?
What is a typical day like?
My workspace is quite small and always chaotic – but for now, I like it that way. I hope to get a larger studio someday. A typical day… I usually wake up in the early afternoon (I’m not a morning person!), photograph yesterday’s “crop” of beads while the light is still good, pack orders and take them to the post office if I need to, and then it’s torch time! I try to work on the torch for at least a few hours each day. I spend most evenings editing photos and/or listing new items on eBay.

How do you stay inspired and motivated?
How could you not? :-) As I mentioned – when you’re working with hot glass, there are always new things to be discovered, new techniques to explore, new colors you’ve never tried before – it’s a whole little world of ideas. It never gets boring. Besides the glass itself, some of my inspiration comes from other types of art – anything from painting to photography to music. Inspiration is everywhere really, if you keep your eyes open. Of course, there are also “bad bead days” when nothing seems to go right and I feel like I’m out of ideas – but those pass, thankfully.

What type of beads and jewelry designs do you feel best compliment your art beads? Do you design your own jewelry too?
I don’t design jewelry. I thought I’d want to when I started out with this business, but discovered I was too obsessed with the glass itself to focus on learning other things – so I leave that up to my buyers. Since my beads usually have a lot “going on”, I feel that clean and simple jewelry designs usually compliment them best, but there are always exceptions.

What beady plans do you have for the future? Do you have new designs or ideas you will be exploring soon?
One thing I’ve learned through working with glass – you can make as many “plans” as you like, but eventually, the glass will take you wherever it wants to go and you’ll find yourself creating designs that never even occurred to you before. Glass is definitely a material that has “a mind of its own”. Even when you think you’re controlling it, it’s really controlling you! Since writing is another activity I enjoy, I plan on writing a book (or possibly a series of booklets) about glass beadmaking in the near future. I have taught some beadmaking classes in Europe over the past few months, and I am heading out to teach in Australia this summer – and then to the International Festival of Glass (www.ifg.org.uk) in the UK. I hope more travel opportunities come up in the future – what could be a better way to see the world, than sharing a love for glass beads?

If you have a discount code you would like to give our readers, please list it here, including the expiration date:
I’d be glad to give your readers free shipping on any order from my Etsy shop (http://sarahhornik.etsy.com) – just place your order, contact me through Etsy and tell me you read this interview, and I will refund your shipping costs.