Modcloth Update

Thanks to everyone who has written me telling of their experiences with having their designs copied and/or giving advice.  I really appreciate it and it makes me feel less like I am going through this by myself.  I am saddened by how often this seems to happen.

I have since received some emails from Modcloth, who are looking into the issue.  The skirt is not being produced by Modcloth, but through a vendor.  They are getting in contace with the vendor about the situation and are cancelling their reorder of the skirt, which makes me feel so much better.  So, I am happy to report that they are being more helpful than I would have imagined a big company to be.   Thank you Turi and Modcloth for looking out for an independent designer.

Knocked Off

So, this morning I got an email from the lovely Lilli at Frocks and Frou Frou.  She was shopping around Modcloth and came upon this....

Click here to go see the actual page

...and asked me if I was selling my skirts on Modcloth.

Ummmm.....no.

It sure looks a lot like this skirt that I have made in the past...

It looks like, and is, a cheaper version of the skirt that make my living off of.  It's made of polyester instead of wool and cotton and sells for $30 less than mine.  It is most likely being made in a sweatshop in a third world country by people being paid unfair wages.  That makes me feel a little icky.

Should I be flattered that I've been copied?  Or should I be mad that someone is making money off of my design?  Or do I pretend that it didn't happen?  I know you cannot copyright clothing, but it just seems wrong for someone to do this.

Can anyone weigh in on this?  I don't know what to do.  I did write Modcloth and let them know with photos as proof.

The Further Adventures of Mingus the Cat

Mingus, the wild cat.

Those of you who have been following my blog may have already read of Mingus.  If not, here is a little background information.  We adopted the little guy in December, thinking that he was the mellow, little lap cat that he appeard to be when we met him at the Humane Society.  No so.

We quickly learned that he wished to be an outdoor cat and would dart out the door as soon as it opened.  We gave in and let him do some exploring.  One day, he decided he wanted to explore our neighbors' yard and jumped over their six foot fence into the jaws of their two dogs.  That did not end well, but it could have been worse.

Woe is me.

He lost a leg.

Then got an infection and then an asthma attack.

Excuse me, have you seen my leg around here?  I seem to have misplaced it.

Yes, our cat is a tripod and yes, he's adorable- and he hops like a bunny.  It hasn't slowed him down much and he still manages to race around the house at top speed...and unfortunately get into trouble.  

Like today.

This morning I went downstairs to use the iron and I heard a meowing, but saw no cat.  The meowing was coming from a corner of the basement and I neared the corner, I realized that he was IN in the wall.  I'm still not 100% sure how he got in there.  I think he managed to jump into the small unfinished space under the floorboards of the first floor (which he has done before) and fell between the drywall.

So, how you get a cat out of the wall, you may ask. 

Destroy the wall, of course.

I had to tear up the drywall by the floor and pull the cat out, then scold him when he seemed to be perfectly fine and unharmed.  Five minutes later he tried to climb back into the hole I pulled him out of.  The cat is insane.  He seems to be using his nine lives up rather quickly.  We thought keeping him indoors would help, but apparently not.

Just what I needed, after a day like today.

Oh me, oh my.  

Indie Lovely

This morning I got an email from the lovely Anne, who has an Etsy shop called Renovation Alley and a crafty blog called Indie Lovely.

She has put together a beautiful online magazine and featured one of my skirts in her indie shopping guide.  Click on the image below to check out her handywork.

Open publication - Free publishing - More crafting