I was unsure about writing this post. I always feel very on-edge when to comes to using someone else’s idea. I’ll see things online that I like, whether they are clothes or home goods, and I think to myself, “Oh, I can easily make that.” I wanted to get your thoughts on this though. What do you think about recreating someone else’s idea?
Sure, there are whole blogs dedicated to telling you how to reproduce that necklace from Anthropologie or how to knock-off a designer dress. We feel okay with those things because surely it “can’t hurt” the big company. What about when we use an idea from an individual though? Is it different to use their idea if you’re making it for a gift or for personal use?
A friend of mine called me up before her baby shower and requested a very specific quilt design from me. She specifically wanted this quilt, originally made by Crafty Blossom. You’ll have to check out the link to see the original quilt, because I don’t have permission to post Erica’s photos on my site. I wasn’t about to tell a soon-to-be-momma that I wouldn’t do it, especially because I loved the original quilt, and hey, the job of picking the colors and the pattern was already done for me!
I did feel a little weird about it though. I’ve never copied something that someone else has made. I did my best to match the colors that Crafty Blossom used, and even used her layout, with the exception of a few blocks that I switched around.
I think mind ended up being a little larger than hers. I quilted it a bit differently as well, but it still has the same look and feel of the original inspiration piece.
The backing was my own idea. My friend got her way with the quilt front, but I had my own thoughts on how the back should look. I used a print of cameras for the middle of the back squares (since her husband is a photographer) and I had to include a strip of the Portland Bridges print!
She was really happy with the quilt, and it looks great in the nursery (the photo is from her Instagram feed).
I really wanted to share this project and get your ideas on making replicas of the work of others. To clarify, I would never ever make something and sell it when it wasn’t my idea. What do you think about creating a gift like this though? Is it wrong, or is it okay if you are sure to share the original inspiration/idea piece as well?