Dangers of Sharing Jewelry Techniques
When I first began seriously making jewelry, I was uneasy about sharing my (what I thought at the time) wealth of information. Just finding beads back then was a major hassel because there weren’t all these bead vendors around that you find now. Even Bead and Button magazine didn’t have ads back then, so it was hard to locate vendors. I found my first load of gemstone beads at a rock show, but those only happened a few times a year. So I had to make a ton of phone calls before I found a guy who had strands of those gemstone chip beads. I cut them up and used them for my jewelry.
Same story with learning techniques - lots of trial and error - lots of research. So, I felt at the time that I was a treasure trove of knowledge, that I had earned this knowledge in fact, and I wasn’t very interested in sharing. In fact, the first time I did show a “friend” how to make jewelry and where I got some of my supplies, she went out, found other suppliers, whom she didn’t tell me about, and started making jewelry and selling it hereself.
I think this idea of hoarding information is a common idea among some jewelry makers, especially those fairly new to the craft. The fear that if you tell someone else they may do what my “friend” did and the idea that you worked too darn hard to give away information is compelling.
I’m not sure if it because I just chilled out and realized that the way I learned a lot of what I know now is because someone, somewhere shared their knowledge with me or what, but I eventually realized that sharing is much more fun than hoarding what I know. Yes, I felt my “friend” sort of stabbed me in the back, but you know what? Her jewelry was totally different than mine, and I was much more driven and had much more experience selling than she did. So, eventually, it didn’t matter other than I got my feelings hurt a little. But, if it hadn’t been jewelry it would have come out in some other way that she wasn’t really (duh) my friend.
Cyndi at Mazel Tov! Jewelry Treasures as a similar philosophy when asked about why she posts free tutorials on her blog:
Whether I put tutorials out there or not, I am always running the risk that someone might decide to actually copy my designs rather than just be inspired by them.Shame on them. But, eat my dust if you do decide to copy me, because I’m moving on!
One of the reasons that I will continue to post tutorials and write articles until no one seems to care anymore is that sharing is central to my personal code. Fear of sharing says that if I help you, I might diminish my own share. What nonsense ~ share of what, exactly? There is more than enough in the world to go around.
Exactly! I love that “eat my dust.” This is so true. If you are a real jewelry designer, you will go on to learn new techniques and make new designs with those who can only copy will continue to copy and never grow as an artist. Also, I have found that by sharing what I know, in the long run I have benefited by emotionally and financially. Call it karma or what goes around comes around.
Tags: bead, jewelry-makingRelated Stories
POSTED IN: General Jewelry Musings
5 opinions for Dangers of Sharing Jewelry Techniques
Heather
Nov 20, 2006 at 1:08 am
Hey Tammy,
I just thought I’d let you know; I won one of your books from an Aussie beading mag. It’s the Seed Bead, Stone and Crystal one. I was thrilled to win something, even more so because I had to write one of those 25 words or less things. ;-)
Tammy
Nov 20, 2006 at 10:26 am
Oh, how cool! You’ll love that book. I think it’s the “prettiest” of them so far.
Linelle Lane
Nov 20, 2006 at 5:17 pm
I’m very new to beading and have a lot to learn. I look at designs and try to figure out how they’re put together. Many are not my cup of tea, but I appreciate the work and artistry that goes into them. I haven’t found one yet that I want to copy *exactly* as it was made. I would like to hear more from those of you who’ve been at this for a while what you consider to be copyright infringement or outright stealing ideas. How does one get inspired by a design without plagiarizing it? I want to have fun and stretch my abilities, but I don’t want to steal someone’s ideas.
Tammy Powley
Nov 20, 2006 at 6:35 pm
Hi Linelle, I think to a certain extent it can be okay to copy or almost copy - for example - tutorials on line, books, magazines. The intent is obviously that the reader will copy or make the design shown. Now, making the same exact design and selling it is another ball of wax. I think if you sell a design it should be your unless you have specific ask the designer about it and gotten an okay to do that.
Carolina - NeoVamp Jewelry
Dec 5, 2006 at 7:49 am
you are so right! we all learn inspired by someone else and I think you honour yourself when you teach what you know. Everyday I find wonderful artists (not only jewelers) who inspired me in so many ways. Yes, people may copy, but we did too and still do! Those who make your designs as copycats will not endure because it is the inner spark of inspiration that led us here, and not the desire of being like someone else. We will be making crafty stuff when they abandon for more profitable businessess because no-one who copycats stuff will survive in this business (fortunately for us).
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