Greetings! ...from Kimberly Shaw

Stolen Design Work?

Found THIS posted at QUILT NEWS.

I'm speechless.

Protecting My Intellectual Property

Fabri-Quilt's lawyer wrote me stating that his client understands I must protect my Intellectual Property, yet informed us that Fabri-Quilt was not going to contact the "numerous small stores" that carry their fabric. So I began contacting the stores myself, informing them that the designs on Fabri-Quilt's Victoria's Tea Room fabric infringes on my original copyrighted designs.  While Fabri-Quilt may understand I must protect my Intellectual Property, I'm not sure their lawyer does, because today he seemed upset.

For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,  according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. Philippians 1:19 & 20.

UPDATE: Some online stores glady removed Fabri-Quilt's "Victoria's Tea Room" fabric from their stores, some ebay shops have not, and some stores informed me they were returning the fabric to Fabri-Quilt.  My lawyer conveyed a message from Mr. Braun where he said there is no way Fabri-Quilt can settle this issue as long as I have this info posted on my blog. Settle? What's changed? Mr. Braun already told me previously that Fabri-Quilt does not take responsibliity nor will pay me anything for their copy of my designs, since they don't have designers and didn't design "Victoria's Tea Room" fabric line.  Mr. Braun also urged me to remove all my blog text about Fabri-Quilt without mentioning that he asked me to do it.

New York, Here They Come

One of the ways we market to stores is to simply send them one of our cards (a Thank You, Birthday, or Thinking of You) with info on how to contact us if they are interested.  Once when a store owner called to request a catalog, after receiving a card, asked how we knew it was her birthday.

These Birthday cards with Tropical White Tea are headed to New York stores.  But first I made a cup of tea, grabbed a stack of cards, 100 teabags and my double stick tape.

All that's left is to put them in envelopes and add the mailing labels.  Maybe one of these cards will surprise a New Yorker on their birthday.

Looks Like a Good Cover-Up

Edmund studied Fabri-Quilt's Victoria's Tea Room fabric and asked me what I was going to do.

Being a curious monkey he dove in under the stack of fabric on my desk and crawled out the other side.

He said it looks like it would make a good cover-up

and wants to know who Victoria is.

Fabri-Quilt's "Victoria's Tea Room" fabrics

"Victoria's Tea Room" by Fabri-Quilt, Inc. Pattern #9336
 
 
"Victoria's Tea Room" by Fabri-Quilt, Inc. Pattern #9338
 

 
My single blue-banded teacup was re-designed in my office by my Graphics Designer from the stacked cups in my original painting to be used on the back of this greeting card and for stickers.

When artwork is stolen it effects people, making them feel violated. I am personally grieved, but so are those who also contribute to the success of Kimberly Shaw Graphics.

Adlai Kunst, owner of Fabri-Quilt, who I originally contacted is out of the picture.  He placed me in contact with John Linam of Fabri-Quilt, who thought my claim needed to be submitted to experts in this field and passed me on to their lawyer Steven Braun of Krigel & Krigel, P.C.   Mr. Braun made it very clear that while his client appreciates that I must protect my Intellectual Property, Fabri-Quilt denies liability and must respectfully decline to pay me anything.  He adds he could not see any similarities between my cards and the fabric. 

                 My cards:                               Fabri-Quilt's fabric:

Any Similarities? I don't know, maybe Mr. Braun is the expert.

Fabri-Quilt Denies Unauthorized Use of Copyrighted Artwork on Fabric

Detail from my "Getting Together" Teacup Greeting card.

                                                                                       Artwork © Kimberly Shaw Graphics
Fabri-Quilt's Lawyer is correct in stating that there is no law against the use of teacups and teapots, or stacked teacups for that matter, on fabric.

Seen on Fabri-Quilt's "Victoria's Tea Room" fabric Pattern #9335 are stacked teacups with both cup's handles on the left side, with gold trim on the rims, handles, and edging around the blue bands, blue bands of color on the teacups interrupted with an opening of pinkish-red flowers and green leaves, white cut work lace sitting on a burgundy field under the teacups. Did I forget any similarities?

However, when my mathematical hubby calculated the similarities between my Teacup Greeting cards and it's representative copies found on Fabri-Quilt's fabric, the probability that the design was independently created by another artist (as FQ's Lawyer suggested) was conservatively in the Nonillions.  That's 1 in a 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 chance.  Who knew?

UPDATE: That caculation is for just one of my designs. Four of my designs are found on Fabri-Quilt's "Victoria's Tea Room" fabric.  Also, Fabri-Quilt's lawyer said this fabric is discontinued and Fabri-Quilt doesn't have it any more. Is that supposed to make me feel better?  If a theif robs your home, sells what he took, and doesn't have it anymore (even if he didn't get that much for the items he stole) what law states he is no longer guilty of his crime? 

Teapot with NO LID

THANK YOU my dear blogging buddies for for your awesome support!!! I can't begin to express how encouraging your comments have been to me.   I wish it were under different circumstances that I was able to post this "You Are Special" card for my appreciation of your uplifting words.

 However, every time I make this cards I think of Fabri-Quilt's "Victoria's Tea Room" fabric.

It was brought to my attention that the teapot on Fabri-Quilt's fabric does not have a lid. Who would design a teapot without a lid unless they intended to put something in it, like a teabag?  Oh, ya, that would be me.
The "Congratulations" tag on this fabric also came from one of my card designs which I created from my climbing rose at home and a potted plant I received as a gift.

My Bible verse for yesterday read,
"Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous." 1 Peter 3:8. 
You have all demonstrated this and so much more!!!
God's Blessings for all!!! -Kim

Fabri-Quilt has now turned this matter over to a lawyer, who has stated in his letter to me that Fabri-Quilt had nothing to do with the design of the fabric, and (I quote) "Fabri-Quilt has the means and the will to vigourously oppose any baseless suit you may bring, and to file a suit against you for any false, libelous and slanderous statements you may make. I urge you to consult with an attorney" (end quote). I HAVE! 

"For You Teacher" on Fabri-Quilt's "Victoria's Tea Room" fabric

My "For You Teacher" teacup greeting card made it's debut January 2004.

                                                                                          Artwork © Kimberly Shaw Graphics

The image below on Fabri-Quilt's "Victoria's Tea Room" fabric isn't exact, but the design and arrangement of the objects are so similar there is no way it could have been created except from my original artwork.

                                                                                                                      Photo by Kimberly Shaw
The similarities include:

A red floral teacup with gold trim, it's handle on the right, with a scalloped sauce. 

The same number of multi-colored books with gold accents, 2 smaller, 3 larger1 , angled resting against stacked books, behind the teacup on the left side. 

A red apple, with its green leaves still attached, in the lower left hand corner. 

White lace angled in the same direction with the same little + design on the edge. 

A tag tied on the teacup's handle, with a red bow, which also reads, "For You, Teacher". 

Victoria's Tea Room Fabric

                                                                                                                      Photo by Kimberly Shaw
I was first introduced to "Victoria's Tea Room" fabric by Fabri-Quilt, Inc early March of this year when I received this note from one of my clients, written on her invoice.

She writes, "To Kimberly Shaw, I just bought teacup/teapot fabric for one of my employees who makes tea cozies for us & it was the design of the "Teacher" card you had designed. Do you have other designs you are licensing out? She quick "whipped" them up this week for an open house we had (I only had 1 of those cards left!)".

This is what is called Copyright Infringement. Fabri-Quilt, Inc is located in North Kansas City, MO so I quick gave the owner, Adlai Kunst, a call because I have never licensed out my designs to be used on fabric.  

The saga continues...

"Take a Bloging Friend To Work" Day

OK, so I know there is no such day as "Take a Blogging Friend To Work" day, but since my children have participated in "Take Your Daughter/Son to Work" day, I thought I'd invite you, my blogging buddies, to join me at work.  Welcome, let me tell you what's going on...

Georgia has let me know we have an order for 45 "Oceanside" Teacup Greeting cards to make for a special event. "No Problem," I said, "45 cards won't take that long to make."  She clarified by explaining  we need 45 sets.            "45 SETS!"  A set is a pack of 6.   I'm not sure I even know what 45 sets looks like. We began multiplying... 45x6=270. 270! WOW! I better get busy. Here's what I need to do...

First I need to make tea. I'm having English Breakfast with honey and milk, what can I get for you?  Next I grab 2 big stacks of cards, a box and an extra bag of teabags, and envelopes. Then I lay out  teabags upside down. I'll start with 72 teabags and add a bit of double-stick tape to the back of each one to hold them in place in the card.

Once all the teabags are taped, I'll assemble them by hand into each card & stack the cards in piles of 6.

Then I'll cross stack them so they're level, add 6 envelopes,

and bag them in custom sized gusseted bags.
 
12 sets down & 33 more to go, so I'll continue to set out more teabags, tape each, assemble, stack and bag while I sip my tea.


On to round 3, & I noticed not only is my box of tea empty, but my cup of tea is also empty.
 
So, if you'll excuse me, I'll boil water for more tea.
Are you ready for another cup yet?

We don't get orders like this very often, and I'm happy you stopped by for a visit.  Let me know if you have any questions about what we do or how the Greeting Card business operates. 

Thanks for visiting!!!

Working at Home in My PJ's

Hello friends, I believe I promised you a funny story about working at home in my PJ's.  When I started my stationery line from my small 1950's beach cottage, my kids were all very young.  They kept me so busy during the day that I resolved to do my work at night.  So, after putting the kids to bed, my husband brewed some coffee, while I took a refreshing shower and put my comfy PJ’s on. I put tea in the cards, while Steve helped tie ribbons on notepads.

When I worked in the corporate world, the owner was always the best dressed. Now that I was an owner, and working in PJ’s, I thought  I should at least have some very nice PJ’s.  Then a Victoria Secrets catalog came un-expectantly in the mail. Browsing through, I finally found a classic pair of pink pajamas in the back, and on sale, too.  I ordered them.  When my UPS man, Vince, delivered them, I proclaimed, “Oh, yea! My work clothes are here!”  Vince’s eyes got big and his jaw dropped.  It took me a moment, but then I realize the VS logo wasn’t that discrete, and Vince had a whole different view of “work” clothes than I did.  I quickly set him straight before he left with my packages.

Benefits of a Cottage Business

There are many benefits to working from your home. Your commute is very short, you have a full kitchen for serving tea or baking scones, there are more sounds of birds in a residential area than an industrial area, and a home is more insulated than a concrete warehouse.  Additionally, the traffic of business solicitors who just walk into your front office will diminish. In a home solicitors knock on the door and you are not obligated to answer it.  At home I'm blessed with Rose bushes, Camellias, English daisies, Gardenias and fruit trees in the yard, contrasted to a parking lot lined with low maintenance ground cover.

We've started moving our business out of our warehouse and into our home.  It's been a lot of hard work cutting down 12' shelving, moving boxes of cards, and packing up desks. Our feet and backs are sore, we're exhausted, but filled with a sense of joy.  The benefits of simplifying and downsizing  are revealed as clutter and unnecessary items are removed.  I actually believe these benefits outweigh the loss of a building space.  I may even get caught working in my PJ's, which reminds me of a funny story which I write about next time.

Cottage Business

Kimberly Shaw Graphics started as a cottage business.

As we grew, we moved into a warehouse. Now as times change, we have to adjust again. We are moving back into our cottage. Do I feel sad, a little. Is there a blessing, I believe so. Like so many other companies we are selling significantly less than in previous years.  We can't afford to produce new product, but we still have plenty of Teacup Stationery to offer. Only now, we'll be much cozier. For those who continue using Kimberly Shaw Graphics Teacup Greeting Cards and Specialtea Stationery I want to express my heartfelt "THANKS" and give you a great big HUG!

Anyone who received my Cottage "Thank You" Teacup Greeting card shown here will also enjoy the bold English Breakfast teabag which comes with it, delicious with milk and honey.  Now ON SALE for HALF OFF in my store.

TeaGuide Review

I received an overwhelming review of my Teacup Greeting cards by Janis Badarau, Editor & Publisher of TeaGuide: Reviews and Ramblings.  She is an incredible writer and her site is brimming with reviews on tea facts and products including cookbooks, tea sources, tea history, gifts, and one of my favorites "Sugars by Sharon".  You'll also find beautiful tea book reviews and numberous links to exquisite tea blogs and web stores.

Ganged Up

My five newest Teacup Greeting cards are ganged together with three other Teacup Greeting cards at the Printers. One of the jobs of printing greeting cards requires going to the Printers for a press check.  As the first sheets come off the press, they are pulled from the stack for review. The colors can be corrected to match the proof sheet which was created from the original artwork. My five newest Teacup Greeting cards are ganged with three other Teacup cards we've run out of.

Notepads at press check needed only a few color adjustments.

Sheets of my Notepads in the Printing Press. The reflection in the glass (on the front of the Press) is of the Pressman making color adjustments.

Greeting Card Business Card

Because a traditional 2"x3-1/2" business card doesn't easily represent the Teacup Greeting Cards I design, I created a mini version of my favorite Thank You greeting card. All the business information is on the back. The inside was left blank so I can write specific information: how to get to my office, the web address, where to meet for coffee... Maintaining the standard 3'1/2" width but a bit taller, it was an added bonus to discover a yummy Royal Imperial teabag fits inside. 

Cheese Ball Battles

When I began painting tea cup greeting cards I was approached by Carol Nave to sell my cards at her home boutique.  This was no ordinary boutique.  She set up four luxurious model homes for women to sell their hand craft items.  When I tried selling my cards at a previous home boutique I didn't even sell enough to cover the fee.  With much prodding Carol convinced me to try it again.

I set up my basket of hand painted cards the day before the sale on the long serving counter in the kitchen of the first home where Carol asked me to place them. My basket neatly arranged, I anticipated returning at the end of the next day, on my scheduled shift, to help with the sale.  Carol asked if I would help by rotating through the homes making sure everyone’s items stayed tidy. Going first to see if any of my cards sold earlier that morning I found they were no longer on the counter. Instead they had been moved to the breakfast table next to a platter of cheese balls.  Happy that a few cards sold I went throughout the rest of the homes tidying as I went.  On my return to check on my basket I found they had been moved to the floor under the table and the cheese ball platter was now spread across the entire table.  I gingerly shifted the cheese ball platter over, returned my basket to the table top and meandered through the homes tidying as I went.  At the end of my second round I returned to my basket to find it again on the floor and the cheese balls spread back across the table.  This time I less-gingerly moved the cheese balls and placed by basket on its corner of the table wondering what will happen when I return after a final round of checking everyone else’s items. Sure enough, just as expected, I found my basket moved on the floor and the cheese balls spread out across the table.  Only this time an old woman with a grey-haired bun on the top her head sat guarding the cheese balls. 

“Are those your cheese balls?” I asked.  “Yes, I make them all by hand.” She replied in a squeaky voice.  After she told me how much effort she put into making each cheese ball and how she covered them in assorted nuts, I decided to leave my basket on the floor and give her the remaining time to sell her cheese.  I thought: maybe by next year at this time I’ll be in 100 stores while she will still be at Home Boutiques selling her cheese.  I can’t tell you what happened to the cheese ball lady, but I am happy to say that my fleeting thought of being in 100 stores actually came true the following year.  If anyone knows the cheese ball lady, please let me know, I’d like to know how she’s doing.

Dish-Clothe Doilies

The very first time I ever sold my cards was at a Home Boutique on the front driveway of a home adjacent an elementary school parking lot. I had never heard of a Home Boutique. My mom, having already paid for the opportunity to sell her hand-made dish-clothes, was unable to go because she had to work that Saturday. She asked if I'd take her place. Her Dish-Clothe Doilies were crocheted in a rainbow of pastel colors and tied with a ribbon. Each had a tag attached that I made for her. The poem she asked me to print on the tags read, "Untie my ribbon is my wish, So I can help you wash your dish."

This did not sound fun to me. Sensing my hesitation mom bated me with, "Why don't you make some hand-made and sell them at the same time?" which worked and I did.

So off I went to the Black-top Boutique with her fully loaded basket of dish-clothes under one arm and a small box of cards under the other.  I displayed them on my little folding table, sat in my folding chair, and waited to see what would happen.  I watched other women, some three times my age, set up canopies, unfold multi-tiered display racks and set out their numerous hand-made items.  There were other crocheted items (mostly dolls), lace trimmed baskets, hand-painted wooden plaques in various animal shapes, and embroidered flowers still in their hoops ready for hanging.  These woman were pros and I felt out of place.

Then I watched an amazing display unfold.  Hung on wire racks were the most beautiful little girl's dresses I've ever seen.  Next, adorable stuffed bunnies came out of their bins wearing matching dresses.  They were propped on a table beside their coordinating girl's dress.  I picked up my little table and scooted closer.

At the sale, shoppers gobbled up all the "ruffly" stuff. All my mom's dish-clothes sold while only 2 of my cards sold.  One card was purchased by the lady who decorated baskets. She later hired me to design a business card for her. It was one of two business cards I designed under the corporate entity of Kimberly Shaw Graphics.  The other business card I designed was for my Uncle's Construction company. 

The other greeting card was purchased by Trish, the lovely lady who made the exquisite dresses.  Trish asked if I ever considered selling my cards at a Gift Show.  "Gift Show?", I asked, "What's a Gift Show? I just learned today what a Home Boutique is."  She explained it was a trade show where owners come to order product for their stores.  She had a booth there and offered to take my cards for a small fee.  I excepted and the rest is, well, you know.....