Ditto

This is a cool idea. Maybe they were looking through the same Pottery Barn catalog as you!

See, we thought that too except that Pottery Barn filled their jars with water and sand. So in our adaptation of the idea we suggested adding everything from Metro Cards to rocks and little trinkets collected on each trip. But it’s totally possible that they just had the same idea.

xoxo,
Sherry

Hmmm. Imitation can be the sincerest form of flattery, but sometimes it’s just irritating. They did add a cord to their “time capsules”, you know, just to mix things up a bit.

it seems martha had this idea too. in a 2002 issue of her kids magazine:

http://www.marthastewart.com/article/vacation-memory-jars?autonomy_kw=vacation%20jar&rsc=header_1

just saying…

… Or maybe it’s just a good idea that more than one person thought of. I think you are jumping to conclusions here.

Ok, ok, it looks like I’m just crazy. Which I mentioned was a definite possibility (which is why I asked you guys to sound off). I love that Martha beat everyone to the punch like six years ago. Lol.

xoxo,
s

I don’t think you’re crazy at all! It’s totally possible that they got that idea from you guys, especially since you’re one of only seven blogs that they include on their blog roll. I smell a rat.

I don’t think you’re crazy, nor are you overreacting. It would be one thing if they had a similar concept/idea, but it’s something completely different when they plagiarize the words right from your blog/publication. I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t lift words from another magazine, a book or newspaper - a blog is no different.

Amen Celeste and Desiree. What’s with all the mean girls above? It’s totally obvious that they copied your idea. The jar is even photographed on a wood shelf at the same angle of the one you guys pictured. You have to be kidding me if you think this whole thing is a coincidence.

I’ve done some freelance magazine work in the past and it’s my experience that mags work pretty far in advance. It’s possible that they could have taken the idea, but doesn’t seem likely that the timelines match up. I’m already pitching Thanksgiving.

I used to subscribe to BH&G, but I couldn’t stand all of the ads (a Christmas ornament for 4 easy payments), so I dropped it. Did that drive anyone else crazy, too?

I’ve got to say I LOVE BH&G. It’s the only magazine I feel pretty confident ordering 3 years at a time. I certainly would hope that they would credit you if they got this idea from you. Keep up the good work. Your blog is WONDERFUL.

I don’t think this idea originated with Martha either…I had a friend who did this when I was in high school.

I don’t think I would think anything of it, except for the fact that they used the same wording…. that’s a little too close for coincidence! Pretty awesome idea, though.

This reminds me a lot of something I read about a few years back where an artist in New York puts garbage in little boxes and sells it. They were pretty cool.

What’s the old saying…everything that comes around goes around. In Art and decor there are hardly ever “new” ideas. Sometimes it can be subliminal (you don’t remember seeing it…but can recreate it).

Keep creating!

Hi Sherry,

I’m a huge fan of your blog (as are a lot of people on staff here at BHG), so I just wanted to make sure you knew we weren’t ripping you guys off! Like one of your commenters mentioned, we work so far in advance—I think this story was shot back in May, and the project ideas are decided on well ahead of that. It’s entirely possible our producer drew from the same Pottery Barn inspiration as you, but please know the idea and even “time capsule” word repetition was entirely coincidental. We would never knowingly run an identical project and copy, especially since we love what you guys do on your blog and respect the blogosphere so much.

And, yes, sadly Martha always seems to beat the world to the punch…I guess there are no new ideas.

Have a great holiday weekend,
Joanna

Joanna Smith | Assistant Home Design Editor
Better Homes and Gardens

Hey Joanna,

Thanks for your comment! We had no idea that our post would ruffle so many feathers. We were entertained at the similarities that we noticed, but weren’t offended by any means - so you can imagine our surprise when things got pretty heated. We even got an anonymous comment- our first ever in the history of This Young House. But that person was the one pointing out that Martha was way ahead of the game (as usual) so we had to laugh.

Anyway, you guys know we love you right back and truly appreciate the kind words about our blog. The verdict: coincidence. Case closed.

xoxo,
Sherry (& John)

I think it was Sunset mag (or maybe Coastal Living?) that ran it last month too, it is a popular idea appearantly! They pasted a pic to the back of the jar, added sand & trinkets. Great minds think alike. :)

As mainstream media, especially magazines, continue to lose their footing they will continue to look for inspiration from blogs. Staffing and budgets at magazines are at an all time low and editors have little time to source or repurpose old articles.

At this point they (mags) need us (bloggers) more than we need them.

This is happening all the time and it’s nice for BHG to reply but it’s no excuse to steal content.

well, it’s still a great idea whoever thought of it. How funny that they even used the same jars as you. Mind you, I live in England so perhaps all your jars look like that which would increase the chance of it being a coincidence.

I still think it’s a great idea - in fact, we created two from our vacations this summer! I’ve been meaning to take a photo and e-mail my thanks!! :)

Believe it or not, this kind of thing happens to me all the time. You just have the blog to prove it. Last year, I painted a couple of bookshelves a really odd green color. And this year to my (and my husband’s) surprise, Pottery Barn has a bookshelf the EXACT same color. I just think that culture inspires design trends! Funny though that they used the same lingo. :)

It’s like when I search and search for something I have in mind, can’t find it and resort to making it myself. Then, lo and behold, months or even years later whatever “it” was can be found at any store. Go figure!

Well, it came from somewhere…and it wasn’t Ms. Stewart, either. We did these at camp when I was in about 6th grade. I’m not going to mention how very long ago THAT was.

Anyway, I like the ones you’ve done and your display. We’ve been gathering some things from our various trips and travels to put in our own jars, once we move.

We were on vacation last week. My husband - who does NOT read any decor blogs - turns to me while we’re on our way to the beach and mentions that we should start collecting trinkets from our vacations and display them in jars in our living room. He didn’t see Martha do this, he didn’t see Sunset do it, he didn’t see you do it and he definitely did not see BH&G do it. What I mean is, it’s a fairly common concept in decorating right now and if someone so not clued in like my husband could come up with it, I imagine there are thousands of others out there who are thinking of the exact same idea and thinking they’re being very creative. They are, they’re just not being original. And there’s nothing wrong with that.

But casacaudill, did your husband call them “little time capsules”? I’m sorry but I work in the magazine industry and if Sherry and John published this in early June and BHG ran it in late August/September, it’s the PERFECT amount of lag time to convince me that they ripped it off. And the fact that the description of the project is exactly the same makes me even more convinced that it was copied. Why not “vacation keepsakes” or “souvenirs in a jar”? Heck even “time capsule” without the word “little” in front of it. Too much of a coincidence for me.