Sharing.... or not?

[ShopMissElla]

Morning!

I have found one of the loveliest things about etsy and the craft community is that people aren't precious about the sharing of ideas.

If someone asks me what printer I use (Epson R3000) or where I get my fine art papers (hahnemuehle) or my purse clasps (http://www.etsy.com/shop/3Dpatternpaper) or fabrics printed (spoonflower) or laser cutting done(I used to work at the local art school) .... I am more than happy to share ideas.

Just in conversation I asked a fellow crafter where she got her laser cutting done (I have a really good contact myself and thought I could help her!) she told me it was top secret. This is fine but I just wondered how others feel about sharing, if you're good at what you do it doesn't matter if other people try and do it, it's impossible to avoid so why not share ideas, collaborate instead and in turn even make good friends!

Or am I really naive!

[Former_Member]

"If you're good at what you do it doesn't matter..."

Spot on. I'm happy sharing info.

[Former_Member]

I share to a certain level, but I draw a line when people start asking how I construct my hats, that normally leads onto pattern sharing. All my patterns are in my head and I don't sell them.

Then from another point of view, it took me years to find a reliable yarn supplier, supplies, tag printer etc etc I feel others should be doing the hard work and finding things out for themselves, I did it, so why can't they ; )

[Former_Member]

Yeah, I'm with MissBelluk. I'll tell you where I get my supplies and all that, but I'm not going to give out patterns. I've had people contact me straight up asking for my patterns for various items that I make and I can't believe someone would ask that.

There's certainly a line.

[Former_Member]

Oh, patterns etc are a step too far. That's like someone asking me for my films so they can use them. I'd class that as intellectual property.

[ShopMissElla]

Oh no I agree with you there, patterns and really personal things no. ( I sell patterns so giving them for free too wouldn't happen although I do keep meaning to make some promotional free tutorials)

[HeidiMillustration]

hi
i am happy to share if people want to know where i get supplies from of what pen i may use, but i did have to draw the line when someone messaged me saying they wanted to draw like me and to tell me exactly what i used and how !!!
but if people ask where i get my cards printed or ask advice then i am happy to share.

[Former_Member]

I get asked for my patterns, I get asked how I make my critters stand up "so they can do that too" and I say it took me a long time and lots of trial and error.

[Former_Member]

I was naive too, at the beginning... Now, I have much more realistic prices (1$ per hour was not realistic at all) and nobody ask me for patterns or free gifts like before ;-)
But (there is always a but uh ? ;-), I see lots of "how to make this" in my stats...

[Former_Member]

In the beginning I was always trying to talk to other woodworkers about there projects but all i got was dirty looks and a lot of suspicion . Its not because i was trying to steal their ideas I was simply trying to meet like minded people. I have customers asking me how I make my stuff all the time and I tell them, It doesn't mean they could do it. I wish etsy let you post Instructional videos that would be fun.

[Former_Member]

Maybe in your field you're right David. I've just had a look in your shop, and it'd cost me a lot of money to buy tools...not to mention a lot of time and effort to train to be as good as you!

But (nearly) everyone's gran has knitting needles and can follow a knitting pattern...

Everybody isn't necessarily able to make up patterns for themself though. And that's why I don't share the fruits of my labour.

[Former_Member]

I agree with Heather on this one. I get asked for my patterns a lot and I never give them away. I feel like the pattern is the actual product of our art though. It would be like someone asking Ella for a digital copy of an image so they could just print it themselves.

I am however more than happy to share where I buy my materials, what kind of sewing machine I use, etc.

[Former_Member]

OP, You come from a good place.

People are all too secretive about their resources. It should be natural to share and encourage others to do well with their own craftiness. I teach and instruct class at the local college to encourage people to find their crafty side.

Some here don't look at sharing as a positive thing...."OH, no she wants my secrets! She's gonna steal my thunder. She's gonna copy my shop! Its mine, I made it, I created it....No, I'm not sharing!!!!"

As creative people we should want to encourage others to be creative. Its a great outlet for stress and it makes us feel whole, complete and worth while to be productive.

[Former_Member]

I don't mind sharing things like my suppliers, and because I'm a graphic designer tip's and tricks for Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator. But I have worked very hard to develop a process and product that is totally unique, I combined digital imaging and quilling, so I would much less forthcoming with how exactly I create these images.

[Former_Member]

i think creativity is something that owns you, i sometimes feel good about sharing something and sometimes not. i believe it has to do with whom you are sharing (till now only my friends ask me for information). when somebody doesn't meantion me at all, i just don't tell him/her anything again.
so i agree that you have to lead them to creat something but not to copy what you ve done!

[Former_Member]

I have another shop which is supplies and I get people asking me all the time where I get my items now that is the whole process of opening up a supply shop is to find good items at a good price. I do alot of research not only searching but buying to see if they are of good quality before I would list them and for that reason I do not share to much .

when I started Etsy I thought yes lets share and share alike but I have gone to the other side now where I would rather not, I do not ask anyone and I prefer nobody ask me.

[Former_Member]

I'll share to an extent, but I'll also draw the line. I'm not sure how important the laser cutting is to the whole process, so I don't know if that was TOO protective or not :)

Personally, I'll share up to the point of sharing patterns, and that's because I sell most of them! All of my supplies are easy to get ahold of, other than the vintage stuff I use, so I don't feel too secretive about it.

[DarkRide]

I'm in jewelry assembly, so my supplies are an important part of what I do. I get asked where I get this and that, a lot. I always tell the inquirer that locating components is part of the fun of assembly and I'd never deny someone else the experience of the thrill of the chase.

I think that how invasive a question this becomes really does have a lot to do with what you do. Skilled craftspeople, like David, could probably draft an instructional pattern and still no one could recreate the art that comes from a skilled woodworker. If I was a supplier, though, or a vintage seller, whose inventory relies on the ability to scout and curate, I'd find this request totally out of line.

[Former_Member]

Just because curious people ask about "where did you get this" supply, stone, jump-ring, pillars, paper, paint, etc....doesn't necessarily mean they can incorporate it the way you do.

Agree about technique's, those are part of your creative process and one that you've perfected.

People are going to ask, convo and pry into artisan's and crafter's abilities. Some don't understand that its a wee bit rude. But for those of us who can share, encourage and promote within our limits all the better.

To "copy" ones craft would mean that your skills haven't been perfected....and you leave the door wide open for others to copy.......plus, I've had customer's purchase one of my handmade pouches, then walk into the aisle and pull it apart to understand how I made it. Once an item has been sold, it becomes the property of the purchaser.

There will always be those who take the easy way out.
I'm more interested in sharing skills that help others find their inner craft-person.

[ShopMissElla]

I think you're right Caroline it does depend on what you do. Possibly my open ness highlights that I am not the best business woman but the sharing aspect is something I won't change as I have made good friends of so many great people via sharing and collaboration who are all successful without worrying who might steal their idea. Nothing is new it's just how you choose to do it.

Heather don't put yourself down, everyone's gran may well have some needles but I for one cannot knit anything without it either turning into a fishing net or if it's crochet then I just end up with a pile of sausages! And I could never knit anything as beautiful and detailed as yours!

I realise there are lines, and if you are buying and selling supplies of course that's totally different to creating a hand made product. Sorry I seem to have opened a right old can of worms!!

Sarah that quilling is blimmin amazing!!!

[Former_Member]

Ella, really, I was like you before, sharing all I can to help people.
And I even opened 3 Etsy teams to share the Etsy love. I'm happy with these teams, as I believe it can help people a lot.

[WintergreenDesign]

Hmmmm... I think it all depends on the craft. I will share to a certain extent but at the same time I've gone through A LOT of trial and error in making the things I do and I believe that it is all apart of the creative process. I think other people need to source things out for themselves and make mistakes and try different things just like I did. If people want things to be easy than they should just buy a kit of some kind...

[Former_Member]

NO. It's one thing if somebody asks about what sort of printer or paper you use because they want to know if it's going to last or whatever (maybe if they bought from you and want to print forthemselves, even) but things like who does your laser cutting? No way. I would share details like if I used hot glue on a piece, or what sort of matterials I used, but I wouldn;t share anything that I would consider a 'trade secret' such as suppliers, how to get published, etc. I did the work, so can you. After touring at International Quilt Market I discovered a lot of piranas in the water waiting to try and move in on your turf, and I learnbed to shut down those lines of questions - you've invested lot of time & work into your business, so giving away your secrets isn;t a good idea. On the other hand, if you are among other sellers then it's different if you're having a community sharring experience to share things you've found out about, but I still wouldn't share my resuorces (of course, most of my experience came prior to the internet being such a part of our minute by minute lives! Now my resources are much easier to find just by using Google; in the late 90s it was still a lot of cloak & dagger moves!)

[RadicalWorks]

The only thing I don't share with people is the pattern to my Radical Bears.

Otherwise, ask away! :D

[ArtisanRoseCreations]

I have shared when asked what I used to make a certain painted feature on an item and I gave them the info. however, another wanted to know what I used to make a certain design and I didn't give that one out. I asked a successful seller a question on what paint she used and she happily told me. The one other time, I asked a successful seller a question which I thought was not inappropriate and they never responded so I left it alone.

So, like many have stated before my post, on some things I will share but on others I won't.