Flattering?

The never ending question for all us little designers is- 'How close is close when it comes to design similarity and is (possible) copying the sincerest form of flattery or basically a bit annoying'.......

For instance...

 

Above and below are images of one of three stag heads that I designed 18 months ago and were in stock a year ago (not to mention up online)...... 

 

Now- I know there are a lot of hand knitted covered things for the home out there- I've been doing it since 2005 after all, but I did feel like I'd seen the below version (cast complete with embossed knitting pattern) somewhere before when I spotted it in a well known high street store on Saturday- 

 

Luckily I've been around the block a few times and know chances are it's probably not a direct copy and not to let it bother me- but really it would be good for the whole of the craft and design world if the hours we put into original ideas were recognised rather than just 'flattered'.......I'll leave it to you to decide which you prefer!