To be slightly annoyed/threatened by this copycat?

[poshsinglemum]

My friend is an amazing artist/sculpter and I greatly admire her work.

I am starting out as a jewellery designer and I am doing a course in silver smithing. This friend then decided she would dabble in silver smithing too and make some silver jewellery to sell in her regular galleries. I probably am being unreasonable but I feelthreatened as she is so much bettre than me and I feel that she is onl;y now working in my medium because I started it. It's like she's trying to corner the market which she can easily do.

She now feels like a competitor rather than a friend.

sorry about the typos. No sleep last night.

That's slightly unreasonable. She still feels like a friend but I felt that silver smithing was ''my'' thing.That sounds soooo unreasonable dosn't it? I guess it's flattering that I'm inspiring others and I should stop being so mean minded!

Maybe you inspired her.

If you enjoy doing what you do, just do it. It's a crerative thing - some people might perfer your work.

You sound bitter. Why waste energy on being bitter? It will only make you miserable. Be happy for your friend and do what makes you happy.

Creative, even.

I do sound like a mean old cow don't i? I am choosing to be flattred. She is doing a differenmt style of jewellery anyway. I am envious of her talent but she's an inspiration to me so I musn't grumble. We met through art and I guess it's part of teh process.

Well, on the bright side, is she wants to sell silver jewelery in her galleries, you can ask if she wants to sell some of yours!

Your OP does make you sound like a mean old cow a bit, yeah but sometimes putting it into words and reading them back makes you realise that!

I think supporting each other is the key, as with anything in friendship. If you are pleased with your work, don't look over your shoulder at hers. Sorry to be a bit hippy about it, but what comes out in your work is you. And she comes out in her work. You will never produce the same stuff. Better is eeeerrrrr... word that means personal opinion. Sorry, dumb moment..

Subjective! I remembered. Subjective.

Well we give each other tips and help which is really nice. Mabe we should just see it as a sort of art collective.

YABU and I don't think you should be either bitter or flattered. She probably has done it because you told her about it and she thought she would like to do it too. I doubt her decision is made on a desire to copy you.

YABU unreasonable and you know it, but I know how you feel. I have a friend who 'copied' my unusual career after not knowing what she wanted to do for ages, and whenever I meet her other friends it's always framed as if I'm the copycat (it's quite an unusual job which sounds more prestigious and fun than it actually is). I know it's pathetic and childish but it smarts a little.

And anyway, who is to say she's better at it? I doubt she'll be as prolific anyway if it's a sideline for her.