Did you know there are ways to save in my Etsy shop?
Save yourself 10% by using coupon code MYWHIMSEY10
Help me save 6% in shop fees by using the Share & Save link where my shop name comes before Etsy: https://amillinerswhimsy.etsy.com
If you are looking for a way to encourage me as I try to write more while I need to sew less, consider supporting me through Patreon.
Kind of an absurd notion, isn’t it?
I should be 100% angry that Google led me to a popular platform where my Straw Bonnet Workbook was available for anyone to download for free.
But, I’m not.
Or, at least the researcher side, the educator side, the social-historian side is not.
Isn’t the goal afer all the digging, piecing together, exploring, trial & error, examining and reexamining….. to share the discoveries?
Isn’t the ideal to be able to share knowledge freely?
Part of me is happy to know someone found my work interesting enough to think, “other people need to read this.” Someone thought my work useful enough to think.”Other people need to read this.”
Shouldn’t I be happy that someone thought my work should be shared with others?
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if it were as simple as that?
I wish I lived a life where I could freely share all of my work; where I could research to my heart content and share what I write freely, each of my research books, each of my workbooks, each of my patterns. How great would it be to send off a free pattern to every historic site interpreter who needed to make a warm winter hood for themselves? Imagine what it would be like if I could send an accurate straw bonnet to each reennactor wanting to improve their impression. Ask any of my past event assistants whose job it was to stop me from giving too much away at events.
I truly wish I lived a life where I could freely share my work.
But, I don’t.
My work is my livelihood.
My millinery work, including my publications, is a significant portion of my income. It pays for my rent, my utlities, my food. I don’t live an extravagant life. If you ask my friends and colleagues, they will likely tell you I don’t even live an average life in terms of expenses. When I cut expenses because I don’t meet my sales goals, I am cutting my groceries, allergen free soap or moisturizer, or other things many would consider essential needs.
So, while part of me is elated someone wanted to share my work for free with the world. Another part of me is sad that I can not.
Instead, I speed sew through the weekends despite my hands hurting and needing to rest. I put aside my personal goals to make another hat for the shop. I push off going for a much needed walk so I can sew just a few more hours. I have bedtime panics about paying bills and spending hours trying to think about how I can write faster, sew faster, and promote my work more.
So, while part of me is elated, someone wanted to share my work for free. Another part of me is angry that I have to work so hard just to keep my head above water.
Thanks for listening.
(Not bad for typing in the dark.)
I am rather upset as I write this. Please bare with me. I just found one of my publications uploaded to a public site, available for free without my consent.
All of my publications—print and digital—are copyrighted.
Any versions of my e-books, e-workbooks, or e-patterns offered for free or for sale on platforms other than my Etsy shop or my Patreon are not authorized and did not come from me.
These unauthorized copies violate my intellectual property rights, undermine my work, and take income directly from a small, independent maker. I put years of research, labor, and care into what I create, and this work is how I support myself.
If you want to support my work, please purchase or access it only through my official channels. I’m grateful to those of you who already do.
If you come across my work being shared or sold elsewhere, please know that it is unethical and unlawful. The only legitimate ways to purchase or access my digital publications are through my official shops.
Thank you to everyone who supports original work and helps ensure artists and researchers can continue creating.
Today is the first shop drop of the month. At 6pm, Eastern Time, I will be adding a beautiful assortment of Bergère hats. Each is handsewn and blocked using lovely 6mm straw plait.
This is also my birthday month! I wanted to do something fun. So, I’ve marked all patterns & e-books 25% off.
If I Had My Own Blue Box: 