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How do you sleep at night?
By Vanda, February 7, 2010 12:53 am
I was actually having a nice day today. That is, until I opened up Etsy’s front page.
Plagiarism is not new to me – I’ve come to accept that Paraphernalia’s style of jewellery has become a style on its own, and it doesn’t belong to me anymore. I’ve had run-ins with crazy copycat people, like the one who copied my entire followers list on Twitter, thinking I wouldn’t notice, and then proceeded to tell everyone that I was bullying her, when my friends called her out (and rightly so).
This particular one, though, I ignored for a long time. I ignored her until I happened upon her website (outside of Etsy), saw the Heart and the Goldfish that remain my best sellers for sale there, and realized that her wholesale information was mine, word for word. I sent her an e-mail, expressing dissapointment and disbelief, telling her (truthfully) that I had actually bothered in the past to check her Etsy shop to make sure we weren’t selling the same images when I was creating new collections.
I never got a reply, but her wholesale information was changed. The necklaces remained up.
I don’t think I’ll ever understand this. I’m aware that I use vintage illustrations that are copyright free, and although as far as I know (and I researched this thoroughly before opening Paraphernalia) no one had quite used them in the way I do before I did, there is no reason to use the same images, and doing it so callously. I had come to terms with dress necklaces, typewriter necklaces, heart necklaces, binocular necklaces, etc – because at least they weren’t exactly like mine.
It’s clear to everyone with eyes where she got the idea for her Wonderland necklaces. It’s mind-boggling why she chose to use the exact same frames I do to make her bracelets, which are also exactly like mine. Why copy? Why not use your brain to create something new?
This is what gives indie artists and Etsy a bad name. Etsy who decided to reward someone like this.
I’m confused, and upset, and I truly wonder how someone who consistently plagiarizes another artist can sleep at night.
04-05/02
By Vanda, February 5, 2010 5:10 pm
04/02 – It’s one of those “oh, right, photo a day!”
05/02 – Dusty
02-03/02
By Vanda, February 3, 2010 9:52 pm
02/02 – I might start the Society for the Appreciation of Porcelain Boobies. Who’s with me?
03/02 – Rainy day blues
IFM – Portugal, mon amour outtakes
By Vanda, February 3, 2010 6:24 pm
The gorgeous models, are, again, Liliana Teixeira and Alex Neves. Hair and make-up by Sara Marques de Oliveira.
Kate MacDowell
Imaginary Film Stills – Portugal, mon amour
By Vanda, February 1, 2010 7:26 pm
Portugal, mon amour was my first series of filmstills, inspired by my return to my home country after eight years in rainy England. It’s the usual love story, told through lines of poetry by José Régio, Sophia de Mello Breyner and Eugénio de Andrade.
The actors are the multitalented Liliana Teixeira and Alex Neves.
Prints are available at Portugal, mon amour.
30/01 – 01/02
By Vanda, February 1, 2010 1:16 am
30/01 – Merci beaucoup, Monsieur Robot
01/02 – Our house is a little odd.
