Copycat, you dirty rat!

Copycat, you dirty rat! Remember that saying from childhood? It's been in my head a little bit lately as I and friends have experienced having a product copied. And it just isn't nice!!
  
To me the whole copying thing feels like a massive invasion of my creative life. The things that I've done the proverbial blood, sweat and tears over have just been stolen from me. I've spent weeks perfecting a style and they're my babies. And now someone else is using them!! Using them to make money.

And the worst part is when it is someone you know.  That really made my skin crawl. I sell in a market community. There is no sense of community when you can't trust your stall neighbours not to steal your stuff. It's like someone put their hand into your cash float and just took what they wanted. And ignored all the work that you had done to earn that money.

On the bright side - the support from others in that community has been wonderful and I really appreciate that. One bad apple doesn't spoil the whole barrel.

And while we're dragging out the old sayings, Imitation is NOT the highest form of flattery! It just sucks.

So here's the thing. Many of us have been in a place when we've had a brilliant idea, checked it out on Google or Etsy and it's been thought of by other people and you've never had contact with them or their product ever! Yep, seems like nothing is really original.  

So how do you walk in the world between imitation and inspiration?  Well go read How to steal like an artist by Austin Kleon.




http://www.amazon.com/Steal-Like-Artist-Things-Creative/dp/0761169253

Here are his words of wisdom:

And remember this one too!

Okay, I feel much better now that I've got that off my chest.  Back to being my usual happy self now. Thanks for listening ...
Ree
xox