long overdue

I am very sad that Tonia doesn't understand what she has been doing for the past few years. I don't think I need to make another long post-it is very clear that she has crossed many lines.

I want to thank so many for their support, this post was not easy for me to make.

 

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Firstly, I want to say thank you to those who are regular visitors & followers of my blog. I know that some of you have been peeking in on me for years-pretty much since I have had this blog. Believe me, I’ve noticed! 

I also want to thank everyone who has taken the time to leave comments. I do love hearing your compliments and critiques.

My blog has been an open place for me to share my work with whom chooses to visit, and I hope that everyone becomes inspired with each visit. I also hope that everyone enjoys my postings & I encourage them to try out ideas that I have shared.

There are hundreds of talented blogs around, and I am lucky that people take time to visit mine. I hope that I have enticed you to buy the products that I have talked about & used. I have been extremely fortunate to work for some great companies, they have great products-these companies want me to show people what can be done with their products.

To date, there has not been a copyright statement on my blog. It is flattering to see people trying the products I love to use; it ‘s also flattering to see people “lifting” my layouts & projects. It flatters most of all when people credit me when they have “lifted” a project of mine. Most people have been very open with crediting “lifted” work. There have also been many times when people “forget” or just choose not to credit where they might have picked up certain ideas. This has been the most frustrating aspect of creating and can be detrimental for any original creator. I want my blog to be open to everyone; I want people to feel free to use ideas from my blog. I hope that I am given credit when it is due. I am proud of my projects. I am excited to share my work; I love to hear what people think. I am excited when I see someone who has “lifted” my projects. I never thought I needed to add any copyright statements, because sometimes I like to use common ideas-but with my take on that idea. I do understand why people need to add copyright clauses. There are some remarkable artists with truly unique styles that need to be protected-I totally agree with that. I certainly do not agree with someone who copyrights their work and uses the ideas of other without giving credit.

I made mention of how I am an original in a post not long ago-my projects are pretty much original. I do not stalk blogs for my ideas; this is why I needed to mention that:

For the past 3 years, I have had a blog follower, Tonia Grant(nyahnicole, scrapfashionmakeuphair, Nicole, nicolebee), who has been lifting a lot of my work and posting to public galleries. I am being modest when I say “a lot”. When I first noticed Tonia doing this, I just figured that because she was new to scrapbooking she did not understand how crucial it is to mention that her projects were “lifted”. I was flattered and was able to look the other way.

My problem with Tonia is that she has been lifting my projects for years, and when she posts to Two Peas, Studio Calico, and other public galleries she has only mentioned me once or twice-if even that much. There were times when people have stated to her that her projects were remarkably similar to my work. I have had people email me wondering if I knew her or have seen her postings. I do not know her; I have never exchanged emails with her-we have not ever been friends. A few years ago she became a regular on my blog, and always had questions about products I used. I have always taken the time to answer every question from her. I have made it extremely easy for her to obtain products for her to complete projects that were extremely similar to mine. A few months ago I left a comment on her blog that it would be great if she stated that someone inspired her work when posting to public galleries. She felt that she always gave me credit when needed. From time to time, she has said that she bought products because of me, very rarely has she said that her layouts were inspired by mine. I have a problem with the fact that she does not give credit in public gallery postings. Tonia also thinks that we share a similar style; I guess doing what I have done-right after me that does make our styles similar. I guess Tonia thinks that if she is not lifting an entire page exactly-it’s not a lifted page. After my comment on her blog and email from her that followed telling me about my ego, I had to block her from my blog and other social media. Recently, I have begun to mention on some of her public gallery postings that her layouts/albums have been inspired by my work in the comments.

I have never been in this situation, and I do not know how to take it (or how to react to it). I have tried to ignore Tonia. I have not said one word (for the past 3 years), except to close friends. At first we thought she is a “big fan”. They said to let it go, and I did. Only now it is getting out of hand. She has gone way beyond just lifting my scrapbook work-it's extremely obsessive. I am tired of changing things on my blog, and the watermarks on my photos. I truly could careless about what Tonia is doing, in general. I do care that it seems as though she is trying to make a name for herself by stepping over (and on) me-not by her own merit. I am all for anyone who wants to share their work, I am all for anyone who wants to be creative; even if they are strictly “lifters”-that’s not a terrible thing. I will not continue to look the other way, I have to speak up for myself.

I would like for everyone to understand that I am not saying never lift my projects, please take any inspiration that you need. I hope that you can share who inspired you. I do not think that I need to be credited for every detail of your work. I am proud of my projects & I try to have my own style. I am upset that I had to do this post, this is not what my blog is ever about. This is one unpleasant situation that I had to address openly, and I would like for Tonia to understand I am not looking for a literal “follower”. I hope Tonia will aspire to find her own style or at least be truthful when she posts lifted projects to public galleries. 

 

some random examples: