Happy Memorial Day! Day of Remembering. . . . . .

Hi! Welcome to PassnItOn! Glad to have you visiting with me today!


Short, and very simple for all of you today with this posting. It's a holiday. This is a special day to remember, and be thankful for those who fought for the rights we have today. Today I am taking a break from things, lounging around, having fun grilling out, and just having some good old family time. I hope that all of you are able to be some where, able to share with someone, and have something you can do for this special day to all of us. 

Please, if you will, take a moment to remember someone and thank them, remember a special time, maybe a significant date, etc. Don't forget to think of, and thank those men and women who have fought for to allow us to have in our country the freedoms that we now have, and enjoy. Bless those who fought for us, those who have passed fighting for us, and God be with those who are still fighting for us. 

Thanks for stopping by, and visiting with me today everyone! Have a Very Happy Memorial Day! Enjoy, have fun, and please be safe!

What to Know About Internet Copyright Laws

Hello, and Welcome to PassnItOn where vintage, collectibles, gently used, home decor, repurposed, and upcycled are passions of mine.

I finally am getting to my blog to share with you lovely visitors more of things that I find, read, want to share, experience, have learned, and so on. Today I want to cover Copy Right Laws. This is something that is often discussed, mentioned, and that many people have issues with. I considered myself to be fortunate, and never noticed any problems. Then, one day with research in google, with my business name of LilacsNDreams, there it was. Some of my blog posts had been copied by someone on word press, and showing them. At first it was nice that someone wanted to share some of my writings, but then it hit me how I felt violated. I've tried contacting this person about this to talk with them, and to further pursue this issue. Everything I tried to do with their contact buttons was a dead end. So, I then did a little research on the internet for this kind of issue with Copy Right Laws, what they are, what you need to do, are you covered, and is it something you have to pay for to protect yourself?

I found that a correct form of copyright notice is "Copyright or ©, Date, by Author/Owner". Everything from April 1, 1989 is copyrighted by owner/author whether it has a notice, or not. All internet users must assume work is copyrighted, unless other wise specified by the author. "I grant this to the public domain" Anybody can copy, take, or use without giving credit to the owner IF this has been announced. A user can also contact the author, and be granted permission of use too. Copyright Law is Civil Law. I got this information from: http://www.pit.edu/~skvarka/education/copyright/

Everywhere you go to read on this it pretty much says the same thing. So, I apologize ahead of time for repeating myself to you about this. Some things just need to be announced again, read again, or sometimes said maybe in a different way with different references too. 

Copyright protects original works of authorship including literacy, dramatic, musical, and artistic works such as poetry, novels, movies, songs, computer software, and architecture. Copyright Does NOT protect facts, ideas, systems, or methods of operation. Although it may protect the way these things are expressed. 

Names are NOT protected by copyright law. Some names may be protected under trademark law. Does Not protect names, titles, slogans, or short phrases. In some cases they may be protected as trademarks. http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq-protect.html

Copyrights protect creative expressions that has been reduced to a tangible form such as a book, piece of recorded music, computer program, screenplay, painting, photograph, or motion picture. 

Trademarks protect brand names, literally marking items in trade. Idea behind the trademark is to protect the consumer by giving them some confidence that items branded with a certain mark are authentic, and come from where they purpote to come from. 

Patents protects innovation. While you can't copyright an idea, you can patent one. www.benedict.com

Copyrighted works on the net include news stories, software, novels, screenplays, graphics, pictures, usenet messages, and even email. In fact, the frightening reality is that Almost Everything on the Net is protected by copyright law. 

It use to be in order to be afforded any copyright protection, one needed to put the world on notice by attaching a copyright notice to the work. While this is no longer the case, it is still customary to attach a copyright notice on copyrighted works in order to be eligible for certain types of damages. 

4 elements needed: Term copyright or the copyright symbol ~ Year of Copyright ~ Name of copyright holder ~ And the phrase "All Rights Reserved"

The symbol is required in many foreign countries in order for copyright protection to attach. However, in the United States the term "copyright" may now be used in lieu of the copyright symbol. Unless noted which the first part of this discussion was, the rest of this came from here that I found in research from google. http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq-protect.html

Also, keep in mind that the copyright is not necessarily the author, or creator of the work. There are companies to consider, the employees who work for them, and so on. 

So, when we show pictures of others we need to give them the credit for it...which has also happened to me with a reputable social media that was corrected when I made them aware of it. I don't mind my things being shown with other places, and feel privileged it would be considered. But, please, ask me first, and also upon using anything here make sure you give the proper credit needed for everything. If I got it from some where, and noted it, make sure you also note it too. If it is something that came from me, please acknowledge that too. 


Well, everyone, sorry it was a bit longer today, and I know there are repeats there too. Sorry, but I just took the content from what I was finding, and noting to put here for all to read. 


Thanks for visiting with PassnItOn today. Hope you enjoyed your visit, and know you are welcome to visit here anytime. If you have something to share with us here, please do. Comments are always welcome from everyone. All I ask is that it is kept civil, no arguing, and remember others do have their own opinions with some things too. Thanks again everyone.  

The Shabby and Chic Decor, Lifestyle, What Does It Mean

Hi! Welcome to PassnItOn! Glad you could stop by, and visit with us today.

Today I will discuss a style that is familiar to some of us, loved, and admired Shabby Chic. First of all, I would like to clarify and make you aware that using some of these words can have legal issues with it too. I have seen some people receive letters, notices, have complained of being notified, and have also had their sale listings removed because of using these words. To clarify just a little bit of this I went to the official site for Rachel Ashwell http://www.shabbychic.com to see if I could read a little bit of their terms, and what it said. On the bottom of her site I could click on the terms which in reading I had found that "shabby chic" "simply chic" and "Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic Couture" are not to be used. I know, to us they are common words, we see them used all the time, and the question is why can we not use them? Rachel Ashwell has them trademarked and/or registerd trademarks of SCB. She does not just have them copy righted, but she went through further legalities to have them trademarked too.

When I see the term shabby chic being used I envision like a story book princess dream, and I think of being feminine too. I also picture white, chippy, and worn looking. Hmmm, some pink too. The term does come from the 80s. Shabby Chic is a form of interior design where furniture, and the furnishings are either chosen for their age, for the signs of wear and tear, or new items that are distressed to get the appearance of antique. Yet, it has a soft, and feminine feel that makes it different from regular vintage decor. 

The items are often heavily painted through the years with many layers showing through for that time-worn era. The style is intimidated with painting using a glaze, by painting and rubbing, or sanding away the top coat to show the wood, or some of the base coating. 

The fabrics tend to be cottens, and linens. The linen is the popular one, and is inspired by old French linens. Whites, worn, or even bleached out pastels are favorite colors. The fabric can often be stained with tea to give a look of old fabric. This method is also the same used with some papers to add with the decor of pictures, and different arrangements done through out the home. Using the bleached, and faded terms will often be applied to the style.

Todays Shabby Chic style is vintage, and antique furniture. 

Popular decor items used are pillows made of a vintage bark cloth fabric, using vintage linens, chenille bedspreads, vintage chandeliers or lighting, picture frames, wired baskets, and of course anything with roses on it. A soft, and a relaxed feminine romantic way to decorate with and that looks comfortable, and inviting. This method is sometimes also called, or referred to as Cottage Style. 

I also found that Shabby Chic is a general term which can be used to refer to a person who is stylish rather than fashionable.

Shabby Chic isn't simply elegant, or a decorating style . . . . It's an Attitude!

Some of this content noted is from the official Rachel Ashwell Site at the beginning of this with regards to the terms, and use of the words. The rest of this mostly came from http://www.en-wikipedia.org/wiki/Shabby_Chic

I want to thank everyone for visiting with PassnItOn today. You are always Welcome to comment here, leave a message, and share with everyone a thought or discussion for topics that have been done here. 

Thanks again everyone, and look forward to your next visit with PassnItOn! Don't forget to visit with my other blog at LilacsNDreams Blog, and also at LilacsNDreams Website that has been revised recently. And, check out some goodies with my LilacsNDreams Artfire Store also.

Artfire, Blog, LilacsNDreams, Vintage, Collectibles, Repruposed, Upcycled

Hello everyone, and Welcome to PassnItOn! Wonderful to see you here!

I like many others have gotten into some kind of slump of not getting things done. I think with all the google changes of the UPI, having to redo listings to help them get accepted with google, and each site you belong to seems to do it just a lil bit differently. So, that has taken some work to do that, and then also keep up with Facebook, blogs, website, and so on. 

I have been working with my website the past few days. Know how you do something, and it just feels unfinished, not full done, like it is missing something? Well, I was getting that on my website I was working with. Did not feel fully like I wanted it to. I had done quite a bit with it, but it just felt like there was something missing, and could not put my finger on it. Well, I worked with it, and think I have it to a point I can enjoy it more. Right now I have it set up with different tabs for venues I sell with, and am using all widgets that I can to either click, and view more, or have it take you to purchasing pieces too. 

I have reworded some of my Welcome, and About Me, and hopefully I can leave it alone for a while now. I need to work on adding more content with it, but that is one thing I am thankful for that I did add a Blog Tab to the top of my site so there is a place to blog with. At least I can offer things there, show things, and keep everyone updated with things by using my website blog too. 

So, what has everyone else been up to? I know around here this weekend is a very big weekend for graduation! Another year gone by, and another time in life for those who will be stepping forward to experience life, and the new roads that they will take. How scarey, how fun, how exciting, and how heart felt too. 

Hopefully I can keep clearing things out of the house, narrow down some areas, reorganize & simplify, and start working with some crafts again. I have made notes, and hope to imply some of the ideas soon that I have been noting:)


Hope this finds everyone doing well, and wishing ya'll a super weekend! Visit my LilacsNDreams Artfire Store for vintage, collectibles, glassware, home decor, housewares, and also for repurposed and upcycled treasures too. Hope you enjoy the visit as well. 

Google Unique Product Identifiers UPI Starts Today for Google Shopping

Today is the BIG day with Google, and their changes they are laying out for ALL who sell online. Some of us might sell with a market place, sell with maybe our own websites, but as an Online Seller we all have to abide by some of the same rules. GOOGLE is the big dog search engine that we all try to work with. We do what we can to follow their rules which are forever changing, and it is hard to keep up with all the changes they do. As of today they are hitting us all with a Very Big step that they are implementing to all of us. Either follow the rules, or you will not show with Google Shopping. This can effect you alone, or if there are too many incidents it can also effect the whole market place site that you sell with too.

As of today (May 3) for Google Shopping Google is requesting Unique Product Identifiers to be added to specific listings. If your items do not have these identifiers they are requesting they will not be submitted to Google Shopping. 

Unique Product Identifiers are product codes, or other values that may be associated with an individual product, or a listing. These identifiers are like a UPC code, MPN manufacturer part number, ISBN or that of a Japanese or Eurpeon article number JAN, EAN.

Categories they mention are Media which would use the UPC, EAN, or JAN. Books ISBN 10 or 13. Exceptions would be for the books published before 1970. Apparel, Custom Made Goods will need NO identifiers required at the moment. All Other they want you to show at least 2 of the following identifiers which is -UPC, EAN, or JAN -Brand -MPN.

This unfortunately is making a lot of sellers go back through everything, and edit their listings, and making us aware of new listings for how they must be done. IF you yourself cannot find the UPI you can request an exemption from Google. Remember, even they make mistakes if they deny this to you as I seen done with 1 seller of a vintage item. If the UPI is available by any other retailer, then you must also include the UPI as well with no exemption. 

Categories NOT currently requiring the UPI: Apparel (including asseccories like jewelry) collectibles, vintage, antiques, one-of-a-kind OOAK, and custom made goods. Below I have copied a small chart being passed around for others to see, and I did get this one from the forums at Artfire too.

I would like to also note that at the same time these issues are strongly being informed by Google to PLEASE watch your duplicate content also. Google does not permit this. I know, I know, we are all seeing it all the time, everyone seems to be getting by with it, but read auctionbytes with an article recently of how they have shut off iOffer do to rules not being followed. At the end of this particular article is was also noted:  

Additionally, Google has a rigid policy against duplicate listings. "There is a strict "one item, one owner" policy," the terms state. "As the owner, you may only submit one listing per item, no matter if you own multiple websites."

I would like to emphasize this too...since I seen it with 1 of my Artfire listings out of the 97 listed so far....I have a vintage item not accepted to Google Shopping.......REMEMBER, Google Shopping is not the only search engine. There is still more of google that is used for searching. You also have search engines from Bing, Yahoo, MSN, The Find, and actually there are a lot of them out there. Google is the biggest one yes, but Google Shopping is not the biggest of the Google search engines either. Many people will go to Google, and type in their keywords they are searching. After viewing those pages they might then click on Shopping. But, the Shopping tab is not the first thing considered.

I have seen from Google Analytics, and other stats I have that it is not always Google Shopping that shows me, but rather it is from a normal Google Search, The Find, Bing, AOL, and etc. This informs me that my items are still being seen with other searches. What I myself can do is keep focusing on my keywords, titles, my SEO, tags, and etc. Let Google 'clean house' Should have been done a long time ago, but it is happening now. We can either deal with it, and do the best that we can, or like some have done...moved on, and given up. Sorry, I am too stubborn for the latter part of what some have done:)

I wish all of you the best of luck with all of these changes. Gonna be tough at first, but things will soon calm with us learning our own ways of dealing with this, reading from others about what they are doing that works, and as I always seem to do...Learn as I go:) Thanks for visiting with PassnItOn today. Take care, and I wish the best of luck to everyone!:) 

Here is a chart I copied to show you a bit of what was discussed. Good Luck to all of you, and I wish you well.

Category	Identifiers required for each product
Media (i.e., Music, Movies, Video games)	UPC, EAN, or JAN
Books	ISBN (Either ISBN-10 or ISBN-13. Exceptions apply for books published before 1970.)
Apparel, custom made goods	No identifiers are required at the moment Custom made: Custom made items include one-of-a-kind items include items which are custom made, vintage goods, collectibles etc. Custom made items can be in every product category.
All other	At least two of the following three identifiers: UPC, EAN, or JAN Brand MPN