Over the winter I contributed a project to a book edited by Kathreen from Whip Up entitled Kid’s Crafternoon Felting: 25 Projects for a Crafty Afternoon and today my copy arrived in the mail.
My project is a set of five animal finger puppets and it is on the cover of the book.
I really enjoyed making this project. I never expected that it would make the cover and it was thrilling news to receive when I found out.
I ended up with mixed feelings about this experience, though. I failed to read the fine print in the contract I signed with Hardie Grant and it turned out that they kept my finger puppets and are not going to return them to me. Ever.
It turns out that Hardie Grant wrote into the contract that they can retain all of the projects from all of the books (this is one in a series that Kathreen edited for them). Hardie Grant did pay me for my contribution, but I didn’t realize that I was essentially selling them not only the pattern, but also the objects themselves.
I’ve contributed to nearly a dozen books, and have written one myself, and I’ve always gotten my projects back eventually, even if the publisher has kept them during the promotional period when the book is first released.
I like this book and I love Kathreen. I’m proud of my project and I’m psyched it made the cover. I just wish I could get my finger puppets back, even if it took another year.
Those are some very cute finger puppets!
Reference the publisher, Abby, that does seem an atypical situation. What a shame you’ve been left with a bad taste in your mouth. I guess it’s a useful (if painfully learned) lesson to read all contracts extremely thoroughly.
You are so right. It was a good lesson learned. The book is very cool and I am really happy my puppets made the cover. I just need to start reading the fine print carefully.
It looks like a great book. Your puppets are really cute but I reckon you could make them again and even better 😉
Congratulations!! They’re really so cute! 🙂