Violin Bags

[MonicaJacobson]

Ha ha, I wondered how long it would take before China got around to making a mass produced version of my bag -- Or am I being totally unfair?

http://www.auca.com/sale/Violin-Series-Tanning-Stuff-Handmade-bags/272.html

I do like their wallets better, though. The clicker cut pieces look neater.

[kiwican]

They are nothing like yours, your work has heart and soul and spirit in each and everything you make. A parrot cant talk, it can only mimic

[MonicaJacobson]

lol, thanks, Kiwi - I can't decide if I should be irritated or flattered. Or tell myself to stop being so egotistical - it's just possible they did come up with the idea themselves. People have had the same ideas often enough before. At least they aren't pricing them at like.... $50.00. And they are clearly machine sewn and the edges are unfinished. It could be a lot worse.

[dbusarow]

I think you should be flattered. And you deserve to be.

Dan

Edited September 29, 2015 by dbusarow

[zuludog]

Monica, we have never met, and I don't suppose we ever will, yet I feel I know you.

I must say that none of the patterned edges suited my style, though I can appreciate the work & quality that went into them. That's the thing about leatherwork, we are all different.

I do hope no - one has come here with a blatant rip - of of your style & ideas. If they have, then I'm sorry for you, but that's the way of the world now, and we must all be aware of that

But people will always appreciate the original & individually made items, I hope you can continue

Best Wishes Zuludog

[MonicaJacobson]

Ha, thanks, Dan.

Zulu-

Absolutely. Several people have asked if I minded if they used my pattern, and I told them go ahead! The idea only half-way originated with me, anyway. Also, I've run across pictures posted by two different Russian guys who made one, and I thought it was awesome. It's fun when someone else thinks your idea is worth trying. Seeing techniques and gleaning good ideas from others is one of the best parts of leatherworking. People who try to hold onto an idea as their own just get frustrated. :-D There's nothing new under the sun, and certainly not many new bags. Ultimately, the way we all put things together are so different, it will inevitably look different.

This was just a little more shocking, though, since it's not just similar, it's strikingly similar, and so much thought was put into it. That's okay, more power to them. They certainly took the idea further than I would have done, or will ever want to do, likely.

[thefanninator]

I saw the movie Once but don't recall a violin bag or wallet in it - their website says it was inspired by the movie Once.

Monica, you're very creative - move on and stay two steps ahead of them!

[MonicaJacobson]

I haven't seen "Once", so I can't say, but I bet the inspiration was a lot more fluid. Maybe the movie is so bad it inspired whoever it was to pull up pinterest - wham! Inspiration.

It's actually very non-threatening in a way -- while the products are really kind of nice, they way over-sold the violin theme. It's just too much. It's like dog paw prints or deer tracks. Use it sometimes, but seriously..... too much is no longer cool.

[BigMatt]

I just saw this post.

There is nothing about those items that are threatening to your products. In other words, I don't think you are going to lose sales to them.

Someone saw your bags and thought they were nice enough to have clicker dies and stamps made to mass produce them. There are people all over the world copying Hermes bags. I have never made anything nice/distinctive enough for someone to copy...and I probably never will.

Be flattered.

[MonicaJacobson]

Oh, no way. The latest blue bag you made is sweet. And the handle is awesome. All they copied was an idea - if all it takes is a couple of clicker dies and stamps, it's a good sign to move on and try something harder. Like... turned edges. :-D

[Grey Drakkon]

Looking at their stuff compared to yours, their stuff is definitely soulless. I also agree with you that they pushed the violin thing way too far, yours has an "Oh yeah, look at that!" while theirs is a bludgeon over the head. Gotta say though, you should really have more "tanning stuff" on your leather pieces. ;D

[MonicaJacobson]

LOL, I didn't even register that. Maybe they're trying to pacify vegans. Wait. There is NO mention of leather in that whole post. Weird.

[BigMatt]

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying my bags aren't good. I am not trying to fish for compliments.

I am however, saying the violin bags are a product that has enough of a unique quality that they are being copied. You do a great job with them and I think they will be a huge hit.

Edited October 19, 2015 by BigMatt

[MonicaJacobson]

No worries, I didn't think you were. But when I saw their line, I had a "see yourself as others see you" moment. You know how some etsy shops execute a simple design, and belabor it to death, because as a business, selling becomes the most important thing. That isn't what I want to do. I was moving away from the idea already out of boredom, but now I'm probably done with it for good, unless I get a special request. Thanks for the encouragement, I do appreciate it.

[antonyt]

Ha ha, I wondered how long it would take before China got around to making a mass produced version of my bag -- Or am I being totally unfair?

http://www.auca.com/sale/Violin-Series-Tanning-Stuff-Handmade-bags/272.html

I do like their wallets better, though. The clicker cut pieces look neater.

I don't think that experience can be compared to copy. Your work will always be better of a copy because you know how to do it and you know all the problems that can occur during the work. They have to study for a long time i think...

[Tannin]

Neat idea. I wonder if it might work with a guitar theme, either with a regular round sound hole or a similar violin-like f-hole (as found on some Jazz/rock & roll guitars)?

[MonicaJacobson]

That's a cool idea, Tannin - the jazz archtop guitar with f-holes is my favorite guitar look.