Still not flattering- come on High Street get your own designers.....

And again- a couple of years ago it was strikingly similar mug cosies popping up everywhere and this year it's knit effect Deer / Stag Heads...... 

So the competition is on- 5 points to anyone who can find any other (than the two we've spotted already) retailers who have a version of the below for sale this year.... Also- 5 points to any designer who can prove they had created a white knit covered stag/ deer head (like the old school taxidermy ones) which was published online or in the press earlier than February 2011....... the more similar the better!

Above- mine

Below- the most recent company to sell this strikingly similar item who is maybe not that 'Proud to back British' when it comes to British design!  Another 5 points if you can work out who it is....

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!