My niece and I were talking about blogs on Saturday. She is considering starting one (well a new one for a fresh start) and was asking for ideas on coming up with a name. As part of our discussion we talked about coming up with a name that doesn’t really tie her to one topic and allows her to grow along the way. So I suggested a brainstorm session – sit down with a note pad and jot down things she likes: animals, times of year, weather, emotions, nick names, books, quotes, symbols, activities, colors etc. Then ask if anything on the list makes a light bulb turn on.
This got us talking about my blogs name, Not Quite Vintage. I remember trying to come up with something way back when (goodness, I started in 2004, but wasn’t at all consistent and it was private at the beginning). I kept a notebook with a list of ideas, but then one day while driving Not Quite Vintage popped into my head and it stuck. As you know I have an affinity for vintage things, not always technically vintage, but always well loved. I am drawn to the domestic arts my Gram was so very good at and many of my prized possessions were once hers. I live in a 1940 bungalow... It just worked for me and although it points to one era, it doesn’t tie me to any one topic.
I have been pretty lazy on the look and feel of my blog. It has been pretty much the same since I turned it on publically in 2006 – especially the masthead. Same pink typewriter, wooden tennis racquet, yellow stand mixer and green dress pattern lady... And same vintage typewriter inspired logo. To me, this 3+ year history pretty much makes it mine – don’t you think?
So, when Shannon Googled Not Quite Vintage to see if my blog popped up near the top of the natural search results, she was quite surprised to find an Etsy store called by the same name (opened in August 2008). Her first thought was “If Colleen opened an Etsy store without telling me, I am going to be so mad.” Of course I hadn’t, but someone else had. My Etsy login is Not Quite Vintage, so that confuses me a bit. It looks like the shop owners address and login is her name and she just used Not Quite Vintage in her store masthead, but take a look at this masthead:
Looks a bit inspired to me. I can see someone who is thinking vintage might think old typewriters and sewing patterns, but it seems a bit too similar in my mind. I know nothing is original – this has been a big blog topic – but I am still surprised.
Well, I guess it all isn’t technically mine. I own it in TypePad world, but not everywhere else. I am just a bit aggravated and possibly mad at myself for not protecting it more. I work in marketing so I know the whole “your brand is the most valuable thing you have” thing. But I didn’t follow through.
And, I even dug a bit more. There is a not-quite-vintage BlogSpot blogger a n.quite.vintage Google mail user and more out there. This is so interesting. I guess if I ever really want to do anything with Not Quite Vintage I better start protecting it better... At least my blog and flickr are still the first two Google result!
Hmmm. What do you think? Should I even care?