I'm setting up a sewing/costuming business so I've been doing a lot of research in both the market of hand-made items & use of patterns/fabric for further sale.
What I've found is that there is a market for high priced hand-made items, however, lace isn't one of them. Things like pillows, dolls, dresses, corsets, etc are very popular. People are not going to pay HUGE money for my tatted bookmarks so I will eat the cost on those, but I can charge more for the Comic/Geek themed items to make up the difference. It's a balance between cost & what people will pay. I've found the successful sellers have a mix of "cheep" and "custom" items. As to the copyright/IP side of things most of what I found is that the courts (in the US) have ruled that a person who buys a pattern or some fabric with a licensed image on it does have the right to then use those objects to create another thing which can be sold. The buying of a pattern or the buying of the fabric has been ruled to fall under first sale use. So, if I buy a magazine with a pattern in it, then make a bunch and sell them on ebay, that is legal; at least in the USA. Though it is recommended to put - Big and obvious - a disclaimer of affiliation on items with clearly licensed images - like Disney. This is not a licensed Disney product. It is however, hand-crafted from licensed Disney fabric. I am not affiliated with or sponsored by Disney Enterprises. It's also recommended that listings be worded clearly...ie Sundress made with Disney princess fabric. NOT Disney Sundress. Hope that helps someone. Robin -- Never, ever, let anyone tell you what you can and can't do. Prove the cynics wrong. Pity them for they have no imagination. The sky's the limit. *Your* sky. *Your *limit. Now, let's dance. *~Tom Hiddleston* - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
