Making things
It’s no secret that I’d like to make things to sell (I’d even to be happy to make one thing that I sell just once to someone I know!). I often come up with ideas for things only to then discover a really good tutorial for something similar already exists so everyone is making their own, or that the idea is already being done to death. For fear of being called a copycat I move on from that idea and think of something else (rinse, repeat).
At present I’m really excited about something I’m making for Elijah’s room and after a quick Google it appears that identical versions of it aren’t already all over google images and Etsy – perhaps I’ve finally found something I can do! Stay tuned!
Sometimes I actually wonder if I’m over cautious. Everyone gets their ideas from somewhere – you can hardly embroider a dog shape and say it’s your idea – it can be your unique way of embroidering a dog, but you couldn’t claim to be the only person to ever do it and storm around in outrage if someone else embroidered a dog too. I think it’s ok if your idea is similar to someone else’s and so long as you haven’t directly copied someone else’s work or pattern then you can proceed with it. What do you think?
{Blogtoberfest Day Twenty-Two} Post 11 (looks like I’ve got some catching up to do!)
I’m participating in Blogtoberfest. Click here for more information.
essie
October 22, 2011 at 12:31 pmi think “there’s nothing new under the sun”, and so long as you are doing your own version of things, and doing so with honest intentions, then you are fine.
i’m looking forward to seeing your latest projects! x
Jen
October 22, 2011 at 1:28 pmdo it! if no ones selling kits or final products (that you can easily find) then i don’t think you’re at risk of poaching anyone’s stuff. And even if you find tutorials for things LIKE that, as long as it’s not exactly the same and they’re not trying to make a profit from it, it’s not like you’re taking their work and making a profit from it. you’ve taken the initiative, created your own process independently of anyone else’s ideas and as you said, we all take inspiration from SOMETHING!
Amie
October 24, 2011 at 9:45 amI fight these same thoughts all the time!
For the sake of making a quick gift for a friend (I would never do this to make sales products) I recently did a quick copy of something from Etsy, in the end I pleasantly surprised that my product turned out quite different from the original – because I am a creative person I actually can’t help but change things on my way. I also got ideas for new projects at the same time. I think this might be a new occasional way of working for me… like for the times when I feel stuck in a rut because all my ‘ideas’ are taken already. :)
Everyone is influenced by current fads and fashions so it’s very hard to be completely original. I think in the end if you’re an honest crafty person you’re never going to end up being a ‘copycat’.
Even saying this, I still know I personally still always have a little part of my brain concerned that I’m copying something from someone somewhere :P
Joanne
October 26, 2011 at 7:23 pmI know exactly what you mean, Ren. I use this an excuse at times for not trying new things, not that I need an excuse with my pile of UFOs. I even left Pinterest, despite loving it and finding heaps of beautiful images because I was afraid of losing any hope of an original idea if I kept looking at Other Peoples’ ideas.