I got a concerned message on my Funky Friends Factory Facebook page when I logged on this morning:

Are we allowed to sell toys that are made from your patterns as I’m seeing so many of them on Facebook pages as custom toys for sale that don’t seem to acknowledge your patterns?

Please forgive me but I type so slowly so I’m just going to paste my reply here…

AND I’m using 2 fingers to type (of course!) so I’m sure you’ll understand!

Hi XXXXXXX,
Thanks for getting in touch. YES! You can sell items made from a Funky Friends Factory pattern.

I allow It really hurts me that people are so insensitive. I am working so hard to make a living myself… this is the 12th year have been working on my Funky Friends Factory and the first year I have started to replace a normal day job income! And all this time I have allowed people to use my patterns to make themselves some money?

The mind boggles that people cannot see that they are “biting the hand that feeds them?” Luckily my husband has been able to carry me through this time or I wouldn’t be able to carry on!

I LOVE what I do so much… my designs are part of me, I have found my niche (if you can say that about designing soft toys)… so no amount of people like this will stop me!

Usually I find if I ask people to credit my patterns, they do – they have simply didn’t realise forgotten to add a credit. at it makes sense to add the necessary credit, and we end up developing a wonderful friendship and work together to support each others businesses!

I even end up promoting their business and their Funky Friends toys MYSELF! I find that it is way more rewarding to work together than alone… and I haven’t had one single person who hasn’t seen this, once they see what they are doing looks really bad to others like you! 🙂

Thanks again for your concern on my behalf it’s heartwarming to know you are looking out for me, you are very kind. 🙂 It IS nice of you to make mention of their using my patterns but please be careful, I would hate for you to experience a nasty backlash from these insensitive folks on my behalf!!!!! It might be better for you to rather let me know if you see someone blatantly abusing the use of my patterns and I can send them a friendly email/message?

Thanks again, you are a honey!
😀
bye for now,
Pauline

LUCKILY…

I have to say there are more nice people (like XXXXXXX)  than insensitive ones and YOU are the ones who usually MAKE MY DAY!!!!

If YOU are one of the wonderful sewers making home made soft toys to sell from my Funky Friends Factory patterns and following my copyright policy, you have my heartfelt gratitude.

Thank you for your support and friendship!!!

.
.

Till next time,

Happy Sewing,
Pauline