Last year at this time I was finishing the necklace above, a commissioned piece for an acquaintance. She described what she wanted and I designed and made it for her: right-angle weave links made of bright sterling plated size 11 seed beads. Both of us were happy with the result, which evolved directly from the piece I had just finished, "Open and Shut," which was a necklace composed of a rainbow of colored loop and toggle pieces designed so it could be taken apart and put together in many ways, to attract a child's attention. Imagine my surprise when browsing "Vanity Fair" on March 12th that I saw this photo for an ad for "Ce`line!" It looks like the "Vanity Fair" necklace has larger links, and I am not sure how they are made, but the similarities are remarkable. Previously, I had worked on several necklaces for an exhibit. Each was made of gold seed beads and pearls, some of which were being reused from a broken necklace that had belonged to my then recently deceased mother. The final piece that I was feverishly trying to finish for the exhibit deadline bore an uncanny resemblance to a piece that another artist, and friend, had submitted. I stopped work on mine and brought it to show her at a later date and we commiserated on the fact that ideas do sometimes seem to arrive in different brains at similar times. It can be frustrating, and it can induce a defensive reflex to prove one's independent thought, but it should not keep us from creating. I once read a book that posited that an individual genius credited with an amazing discovery was often riding a tide of research, public thought and trends, that might have been developed (or in some cases, actually was developed) by someone else a little later, or less publicly. Such breakthroughs help us all, no matter whose name gets the credit. Artistically, an honestly conceived and executed piece reflects the artist's vision and skills, and advances the artist's craft as well as all those who get to appreciate the piece. An atmosphere of goodwill, accompanied by careful documentation (I noted the date I saw the ad, to prove I'd seen it after finishing my own work.), can go a long way to protect each artist as well as promoting an environment of creative exploration.