I just stumbled upon these gorgeous pillows on West Elm, pinned them, and right away thought, "Oh, those would be so fun and simple to make!"
This happens to me ALL the time! How about you?
The thing is, I'm not sure if this is alright.
I few years back I was on the receiving end of a mean-spirited and ridiculous attack from some local women (this wasn't online and wasn't something sewn -- I don't think I even owned a computer yet and definitely didn't use my sewing machine yet), who thought I had created something based on a product they had seen that looked similar. They were completely wrong, but it was awful, and hurtful, and sad!
It changed me forever. In a lot of ways.
Artistically, it made me question where my inspiration for my own projects can come from. Where is it ok to pull inspiration from?
As an artist and maker and blogger, my goal is to inspire! I hope that those of you who have found me, see what I make, and it inspires you! To make something or to even try to make what I've made, yourself.
I hope it makes you happy, like it makes me! I hope it makes me you feel all the kinds of wonderful I feel, when I give something that is made with my own two hands to someone, who might love that thing. It's amazing! And that's the reason for ALL of this for me.
For companies, I realize it's different. But is it ok for us as makers, to see a product and then make it ourselves, rather than purchase it? Is it ok for us as bloggers, to then create a tutorial for how to make it? etc...
I know this happens ALL the time. And so, I thought I'd quickly throw this out there and finally ask these questions...
I'd love to know your thoughts on this -- please share!! ♥ Maureen
edited to add -- I am not planning to make this pillow. This is just an example of what makes me think, "I could make that!" Here's another good example -- and this has been recreated a zillion times on blogs and flickr -- The Orimono Flower Pillow on Anthropologie
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| photo from West Elm |
This happens to me ALL the time! How about you?
The thing is, I'm not sure if this is alright.
I few years back I was on the receiving end of a mean-spirited and ridiculous attack from some local women (this wasn't online and wasn't something sewn -- I don't think I even owned a computer yet and definitely didn't use my sewing machine yet), who thought I had created something based on a product they had seen that looked similar. They were completely wrong, but it was awful, and hurtful, and sad!
It changed me forever. In a lot of ways.
Artistically, it made me question where my inspiration for my own projects can come from. Where is it ok to pull inspiration from?
As an artist and maker and blogger, my goal is to inspire! I hope that those of you who have found me, see what I make, and it inspires you! To make something or to even try to make what I've made, yourself.
I hope it makes you happy, like it makes me! I hope it makes me you feel all the kinds of wonderful I feel, when I give something that is made with my own two hands to someone, who might love that thing. It's amazing! And that's the reason for ALL of this for me.
For companies, I realize it's different. But is it ok for us as makers, to see a product and then make it ourselves, rather than purchase it? Is it ok for us as bloggers, to then create a tutorial for how to make it? etc...
I know this happens ALL the time. And so, I thought I'd quickly throw this out there and finally ask these questions...
I'd love to know your thoughts on this -- please share!! ♥ Maureen
edited to add -- I am not planning to make this pillow. This is just an example of what makes me think, "I could make that!" Here's another good example -- and this has been recreated a zillion times on blogs and flickr -- The Orimono Flower Pillow on Anthropologie
