Just in case (re: the Dolls)...

I thought I should make a mini-post about this, since it has come up quite a few times in the last few days. Of course, if you're reading this, there is about a 100% chance you're too considerate to need this clarification. Given that, I just felt like I should get it out there.

Please keep in mind that the pattern for the dolls featured on Martha is for your private use only. Make them for yourself/your children, make them as gifts, but please don't sell them (or make a teeny change to the pattern/template and then consider it saleable).

I have been so, so thrilled to get all of the emails with wonderful photos of the completed dolls (maybe we should start a flickr group for them?).
They make me so happy!
However, nothing would make me feel worse than, say, an Etsy shop that has opened, and is selling my dolls, or some approximation of them...which I know you understand.
xo

EDIT: To address some of your concerns, let me be clear that I know the dolls aren't groundbreaking...of course not. The shape, the generalities of the structure...all simple, nothing new. I don't labor under the delusion that I invented the ragdoll. What I'm afraid of is copyright infringement: people taking the exact pattern + instructions I designed, drafted and made available and creating exact replicas of my work and profiting from it. Nobody wants to share their ideas (and ideas that they make their livelihood on, might I add) in the spirit of goodwill and have somebody turn around and try to turn a quick buck.
However, I would love it if more people designed and made their own cool cloth dolls (like Fanja's Babettes I've blogged about a few times)...I'd be at the front of the line to buy them! Anybody interested in getting into the doll-business, I say A.) Get out a sketchbook and dream up some cool dolls B.) Make yourself a pattern and C.) Commence to sewin'!

EDIT PART TWO: I have closed comments on this post (for the first time in the history of this blog, actually) because there were too many folks posting multiple comments using psuedonymns, and really, I should've left the comments closed in the first place, but didn't think to. This was intended as a "bulletin", simply making the (common) request that no one use my pattern/template, which is provided on the Martha website, for commercial use.

Comments

[Projectblancoyd.com]

you tell em girlfriend!

[gaia]

oh no! I hope this isn't happening. Those dolls are darling.
ps Thanks for the tip about Oh My Cavalier-- what an amazing shop!

[Sheila D.]

Whilst wondering Etsy yesterday, I stumbled across a said individual and had wondered that same thing, Miss Emily! Good luck keeping that under control...people just don't get it sometimes! I think the flickr group is a neccessity! I'll be looking forward to it!

[Elisa]

I think it is always a good idea to state things like this- and you do it in a terribly nice way. Thanks for sharing your patterns. I look forward to making one for my niece.

[Susan]

Ooooooooooooh that is playing dirty for them to think they can do that! Hopefully this post will make them think twice and come up with their own original idea the way you did!

[Kate]

Please do start a flikr group for the dolls! I'd be so thrilled to see what others are coming up with!

[Amber]

What a bummer - as if you should need to state this! I think a flikr group would be great. We've printed out the template but haven't gotten around to making one yet!

[ngaire Bartlam]

sad that it even NEEDs to be said!!!

I AM SOO LOOKING FORWARD TO MAKING MY OWN DOLLY.. and would love to see a flickr group started!

:)
Ngaire in Brisbane Australia

[Mim]

I'm so sorry that you needed to post this. I knew from the moment that I made my dolls that this would be a problem (you're too generous for your own good!).

I'd love to see what others have created with the pattern! A flickr group would be fantastic!

[Belinda Catt]

Let's get perspective.
Dolls have been made since god was a boy and this style is just the latest craft.
I think that there is many people on etsy that have been making "martha" like dolls for a long time and really craft is only ever what others teach you or your interpretion of the latest styles.
I have been using my grandmother's pattern for dolls for a long as I can remember, don't we all get ideas from somewhere?

[Kira]

You are the best, Emily! You know that your fanbase is devoted to you and would never do such a thing :)

[Sally]

Go get 'em girl!

[Cordelia]

It's too bad that things like this happen. But on the flickr group, I say, Yes! Let's do it. I have one dolly already made. I love her and would love to show her off. I'm going to make another for a newborn niece that will go with the quilt I'm making for her. She will need to be there too.
Let me add, I love your shop, your blog and your creativity. They are such an inspiration!

[Greta]

I do have to say though that while I adore you for sharing your pattern it isn't in and of itself all that unique. I by no means say this to mean your ideas aren't unique, I just mean similar doll forms have been done for hundreds of years.

I have a vintage rag doll that is very much the same shape and it was made in the 1930s. The arms are a bit different and the head is a little more rounded but otherwise it is the same idea and made the same way. Just think of a raggedy ann doll, those are basically the same as your dolls, just styled differently. They even have the striped legs! Two layers of fabric, the legs and arms sewn on and then turned out. I've also seen simple rag doll patterns that were similar.

This being said, if someone is now opening a shop and selling your dolls on Etsy, using your actual pattern and done in the same style then that is a whole different story! Don't worry though, copycats will never last, especially if they are up against you.

A flickr group is a lovely idea!

[Janis]

Emily,

Your talent comes through in the mixing of fabric prints on the dolls as well as your ability to paint such expressions on the dolls' faces. You have also solved the very challenging problem of how to avoid the stringy yarn hair that takes forever to make and is ruined when that, inevitable, one strand gets pulled out of place. I doubt you can copyright the dolls but do copyright as much as you can.

Perhaps anyone who makes a doll from your pattern can write on the back in fine-lined permanent marker, "Auntie Zelda (from the pattern of Emily Martin)" and date the doll. That way, the niece or nephew, twenty years from now, will know the doll's origin.

[Janis]

Perhaps Emily's "Martha" dolls will become the next Blythe dolls. Blythe dolls change eye color. Any way for your dolls to change hair color? By the way, the dollies could use carrying cases.

Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize..............

[Trudy]

when we start putting limitations on the creative endeavors of others, the entire community suffers. it seems like you make plenty of money (didn't martha quote in the six figures?) to not have to worry about people attempting similar projects and making a few dollars in the meantime. like many of the other readers have said, a doll is a doll, and inspiration always comes from somewhere. i think emily--you would understand this, as you often mention and feature the sources of your inspiration on this blog. (hello, girl with the squirrel on a leash?) in this post-modern era, it's invariably clear that everything has already been done before--but imagine if we all just stopped because of it. the world would be a very dull and quiet place.

if someone is making dolls that are like yours, you should feel honored instead of threatened--because isn't imitation the sincerest form of flattery? and can you tell me where to buy one? because yours always sell out in two minutes.

i think you're great and an inspiration to us all. however the nature of crafting is freedom to make and do anything you want. please don't start making rules and limitations about what people can and can not create--and sell, as that will be the beginning of the end of the diy movement.

[michell ann]

i agree with trudy can someone tell me where they are because i would like to see what all the fuss is about..

[Marie]

I did see a doll the other day that was made with your pattern and I began to wonder if someone would try to sell your dolls on Etsy. It's good that you're making it clear here just in case it becomes a problem. They can't say you didn't say anything.

[jenny b harris]

Anyone who has dreamed up something unique only to see it made up and sold by someone else knows how frustrating that is. It makes you think why bother? Of course all sorts of dolls have been made forever, but it is fairly obvious when someone is duplicating the special personality that goes into one of your creations. The fact that they are selling them is the disappointing part. And if artists get discouraged and give up because others are stealing their designs, that would be a bigger reason for the diy movement to die out. You have been incredibly generous in sharing the pattern for people to make for themselves or their kids, but anyone making it to sell is taking advantage of your generosity. You have every right to set limits and I applaud you for speaking out.

[Ron 1st grader at arts and crafts elementary]

Okay, just because you were on "mothra stewart" does not mean that you become the principal of arts and crafts elementary. Do you think Hall and Oates get un-glued every time someone in a band has a moustache or or plays c,d, and g?

[karlita]

Well, it is interesting to read what other people have to say on the subject. While I do understand that inspiration comes from the world around is and that you will always be influenced by what you see - in my humble opinion there is a difference in interpretating what you see in the world and give it your own touch/soul or plain copying someone elses idea. I do feel Emily clearly stated that the first one is ok, but the second one isn't. And I agree with her. I have had several people that are working with felt (and selling it), inquire how exactly I make my coral-like scarves but I always tell them that they should find there own voice in making their creations and that it took a lot of experimenting and hard work to make mine. And yes, I have seen 'copies' or 'interpretation' of them and I know that is the way things work so I do consider that a form of flattery. And the world is so big, it would be strange if now one else would come up with a similar idea :)

I think it was wonderful of Emily to provide the pattern and the instruction to millions of potential buyers who can now make their own dolls. I don't think it would be fair to her if people would just totally copy it for their own profit.

But that is just my two cents, i understand that opinions differ greatly on this subject and probably always will.

[lisa]

Girl, you not only would it make you feel badly, it would be copyright infringement for people to sell dolls based on your pattern. So you go on with your bad self. You rock.

[Jenny]

I don't think Emily is trying to be the "arts and crafts elementary principal". She clearly stated above that she knows rag dolls have been made for forever and that she wasn't the first to come up with them, but I've personally never seen rag dolls EXACTLY like hers, especially with the felt hair, individually painted faces, and fashion accessories all together.

Please don't turn this into an attack on Emily just because she has had success. I know personally that Emily has deserved every bit of it, and has worked very hard for herself. She spends about every second of her life doing this, and to suggest that it's okay for someone to come along and profit off an idea that wasn't theirs is disheartening.

Isn't the whole idea behind the DIY movement to Do It YOURSELF. There are plenty of creative paths yet to be taken. It's completely unnecessary to take someone else's.

Sorry for the long post.

[LadyYing]

I think the dolls are adorable and I have been making ones very similar since I was a small girl.
It's pretty much the basic outline on how to make a simple rag doll, no different from many others I have seen growing up.
I used to always paint faces on mine and thought that was pretty much a common thing to do.

I think Emily's dolls are clearly her's because of the style of the faces and how they represent her characters from her paintings.
Maybe Emily you can add your signature or some kind of imprint that the dolls are yours just like the Cabbage patch dolls ;)

I enjoy your art and creations and don't let other people put you down from your success over rag dolls ;) there cute and adorable and the fact you want to share them with other people is great!