Welcome! We are multi-faceted. We began as a research podcast by Dr. Townsend Gard at Tulane University.
We've grown into a community about quilting, crafting, entrepreneurship and intellectual property.
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We have books!
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We are an authorized Grace Longarm dealer
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We experiment in all kinds of fun.
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We are undefinable.
Our research is based at Tulane University, and our products are sold through Quilting Army Krewe, LLC.
Interviewed by Elizabeth Townsend Gard
Barbara Brackman is the genius behind the Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns. This is a book that documents when standard blocks first appeared in the U.S. in a published format. It's brilliant. The book was published by the American Quilter's Society in 1993. It is still very relevant and important, both for quilters trying to date or choose a quilt block, but also (for me) in establishing a common pool of blocks in a systematic manner.
For this project, it is especially interesting. How many of the blocks are still under copyright? How would they be under copyright? Are these blocks like facts -- not copyrightable? Even if some of the publications are still under copyright, Barbara's work is a perfect example of a transformative fair use. She is using the blocks to catalog blocks, and not sell magazines, or create patterns, etc. And, my question - are there new blocks being created that should be added, or is the Encylopedia a static thing? What happens when new blocks are created? Should they be protected by copyright?
(click image to take you to Amazon)