Well, the saga continues… as I was hoping this was a one-time thing. Apparently not. Thanks to more of my faithful Followers, we now know that the same studio in San Jose has used MY images before!!! Seems to be a thing for them. Stealing other potters images without permission. So obnoxious.

Create your own content.
Create your own brand.
Create your own pottery.
DON’T STEAL MINE!!!

Again, special THANKS to all of my pottery peeps that have been so supportive & encouraging over the years. Like Dawn who spotted this image in one of their Reels from awhile back. I know it’s a risk putting so many of my images out there… but I wish to view the good in the world. And not the trolls who try to ruin it for everyone else!

So here’s a story for you…
Last Wednesday evening I received an email from a Facebook Follower who lives out in California. She said she saw some of my images on an Instagram Post for a pottery studio out in San Jose. She got all excited thinking that I was going out there to teach a workshop. She commented on the Instagram post asking if I was coming out to do a workshop and how can she get more information. But then she saw that her comment was “Hidden” on Instagram, instead of getting a response.

That raised a red flag… and so she contacted me. I immediately went on Instagram to see for myself. And here it was… a full video Reel starting off with several of MY images leading into shots of their art center in San Jose. I immediately sent a direct & succinct Comment message telling them they CAN NOT use my images like that… that they are using my own proprietary images for their own business. Totally rude, unprofessional & quite possibly illegal. I told them to remove the images & send me a confirmation that it was done.

In the meantime, I shared the story with a few of my friends, and they “may have” left some very direct & pointed Comments on their Instagram post as well… and reported them to Instagram! Needless to say, the post was removed pretty quickly… and yet I have NOT heard anything from them.

It was a weird feeling having my own hybrid mug images stolen off my social media… unethically used to promote another pottery business. It may have happened before, but this was the first time I was made aware of it… and it was SO obvious!!!! They didn’t even think to remove the Chicago flag flowerpot that lives in my studio from one of the pictures!!!

Thanks for letting me know so quickly Neha… I have the BEST FOLLOWERS EVER!!!

“Come and hang out with us?”…. NOPE!!!