Using landscape and other prints in competition quilts

[Betty J.]

I see these wonderful prints now designed for landscape quilts and I also see other prints with animals and birds and such that could be carefully cut out and appliqued in a broiderie perse manner. These could be used to add wonderful elements to a quilt, such as sky prints for skies (as I did for my brother-in-law's cross by the river quilt, which I enhanced with some paint), and trees in a woods, and birds in the air and so on. But I wonder if these items are used in a competition quilt, does it make it a lot less likely to be a winner even if it makes the overall quilt more beautiful. I'm thinking of using some of them to make the sky and background of my knight quilt. What do you think?

[Margo C.]

I absolutely would not use ANYTHING that is not clearly stated that it is copyright free, and even still would keep a meticulous list of any design references. You don't want to deal with a lawyer about your art!

[Betty J.]

Margo, I meant commercial printed fabrics. Guess I wasn't very clear...sure, copyright has to be carefully observed. But I think that using such fabrics for a quilt is what they are intended for...doesn't violate a copyright don't you think?

[Margo C.]

Oh yeah! Gotcha! I think that's what those fabrics are intended for! Can't wait to see what you do!

[Betty J.]

I'm starting on the knight today. Wish I could take the rest of the year off and quilt...hahaha.