Ethical Question -- Connie Fox

I spent a lot of time on her website yesterday. I have always wanted to learn
how to make that clasp. I did -- not very well, but I did. I made a couple of
bracelets that I really like, and thought I couldn't sell them because they are
clearly copying her clasp.

Then, I found this. Does anyone know if it is OK to sell work that looks like
hers? It will never feel right to me, but I wonder if that clasp has become
public domain or not. Would love to hear what you think about this. Because
if we can't sell them, then Carol is getting a bunch of great bracelets for
Christmas (but I really need the money, LOL). I can always change out the
clasp, and then sell it. It is, however a sharp look.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=2673564 356


Becki
"In between the moon and you, the angels have a better view of the crumbling
difference between wrong and right." -- Counting Crows

I was just going to "say" that vj. I saw that clasp in a museum catalog a
couple of years ago...and I believe it is in Making Wire Jewelry, and even
in one of the Design Originals leaflets.

There are really only so many things that can be done with wire, and it's
been around for quite some time LOL!


Lisa
"vj" wrote in message
...
vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from uybeads
(BeckiBead) :

]Does anyone know if it is OK to sell work that looks like
]hers?

i don't know who originated that clasp - but i've seen it on all kinds
of jewelry, from all kinds of people.

On 28 Nov 2003 08:40:22 GMT, uybeads (BeckiBead)
wrote:

I spent a lot of time on her website yesterday. I have always wanted to learn
how to make that clasp. I did -- not very well, but I did. I made a couple of
bracelets that I really like, and thought I couldn't sell them because they are
clearly copying her clasp.

Don't you just love Connie? I know for a fact that the clasp is used
by many artists. I bought a wire worked bracelet from Carol Nicholson
of CJ Creations, who used that clasp design. She is the one who
introduced me to Connie's site so that I could learn to do the clasp
myself. Don't you just love beady people? g

--
Margie
http://snurl.com/2u8t
http://snurl.com/245y

Because if we can't sell them, then Carol is getting a bunch of great
bracelets for Christmas

LOL!! Actually, I don't believe Connie Fox *invented* that clasp - I'm pretty
sure a coiled clasp like that was in one of my Wire Artist Jeweller mags a
LOOOOOOONG time ago!

Carol in SLC
My newest creation (11/24): http://members.aol.com/CarolinSLC/elissa.jpg
http://members.aol.com/CarolinSLC/elissacu.jpg

I've been taught a similar clasp in two different wire-wrapping classes, so
it's apparently out there in public domain one way or another. And honestly,
it's a logical offshoot from making coiled charms so it's kind of
inevitable.

--
KarenK
Desert Dreamer Designs
http://members.cox.net/desertdreameraz/
Ebay Sto http://www.stores.ebay.com/desertdreamerdesigns
JustBeads: http://www.justbeads.com/search/ql.cfm?s=DesertDreamer

Well, first of all I love and admire Connie's work. The way she puts
her designs together is just amazing. Now, as far as the clasp being
public domain, I was making that clasp nearly 20 years ago when I was
designing and selling jewelry to a chain of stores in California
called "Beadazzled", only in copper. I made bangles with African trade
beads and wire wrapped around a copper base then accented it with
brass wire wrapped in places. I sold them wholesale to Beadazzled. If
I were to make those today, someone might think I copied the idea from
Connie. I was also using the "clasp" design as earrings, both upright
and upside down with a bead hanging from it. Now that I'm back to
making some jewelry, I have thought about reviving that earring
design.

I'm not going to get into the ethics of copying or the perception of
copying, but just because someone is the first to become "known" for a
design, does not mean they were the first (or only one) to come up
with it. :-.

Mary Ann

uybeads (BeckiBead) wrote in message ...
I spent a lot of time on her website yesterday. I have always wanted to learn
how to make that clasp. I did -- not very well, but I did. I made a couple of
bracelets that I really like, and thought I couldn't sell them because they are
clearly copying her clasp.

Then, I found this. Does anyone know if it is OK to sell work that looks like
hers? It will never feel right to me, but I wonder if that clasp has become
public domain or not. Would love to hear what you think about this. Because
if we can't sell them, then Carol is getting a bunch of great bracelets for
Christmas (but I really need the money, LOL). I can always change out the
clasp, and then sell it. It is, however a sharp look.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=2673564 356


Becki
"In between the moon and you, the angels have a better view of the crumbling
difference between wrong and right." -- Counting Crows

"I was making that clasp nearly 20 years ago when I was
designing and selling jewelry to a chain of stores in California
called "Beadazzled","

Ha! My husband just reminded me it was 30 years ago, not 20. He, ever
carefully , reminded me I was 48, not 38. Yikes! When did I get that
old?? :-

Mary Ann

I'm thinking I had seen it before also, as a tutorial in one of the jewlery
magazines actually, but she is rather famous for using it, so I wanted to ask
the question first.



Becki
"In between the moon and you, the angels have a better view of the crumbling
difference between wrong and right." -- Counting Crows

Mary Ann -- thanks for that perspective. I have used coils also, at the bottom
of wires in place of a head pin, but not a clasp like that. I appreciate all
who weighed in.
Becki
"In between the moon and you, the angels have a better view of the crumbling
difference between wrong and right." -- Counting Crows

And how bruised did he get for reminding you? If I said something like to
my wife I'd end up in traction. She intends to maintain her age the same
way Jack Benny did (perpetually 30-somehting)
Val
--
Bringing you BeadWizard Design Software
www.beadwizard.com
***************************
Practice safe eating -- always use condiments.
***************************

"Mary Ann" wrote ...
"I was making that clasp nearly 20 years ago when I was
designing and selling jewelry to a chain of stores in California
called "Beadazzled","

Ha! My husband just reminded me it was 30 years ago, not 20. He, ever
carefully , reminded me I was 48, not 38. Yikes! When did I get that
old?? :-

Mary Ann