tAngled by Laura

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1BFw8ijPuGxSN3ngCJLf2w7pJBFa0KrLP

Ok this is not the blog I had in mind nor am I sure it belongs here but I'm way overdue and I need to work my way through this.

To be quite honest, I'm dealing with a setback and a blow to my ego. This is regarding my handmade business endeavor which I finally gained some confidence with. 2022 was a great year, I was acccepted into some tough competition markets and events as well as invited to a few. The success was thrilling and motivating and I was all pumped for this year's festival season.

Well, I now got my second "not- accepted for this event" notification, this time from the Edmonton folk fest. Last year I had my most significant success yet with that event and I planned my whole summer around it this year.

So why would I choose to write a blog about this and how does it relate to my Kung Fu?  For one I'm having a tough time thinking about anything else and second, part of my personal requirements is to attend at least 6 markets this year and with two falling off my calendar just like that, I'm scrambling to apply and schedule in other events. And last but not least it's kind of a big deal for me and facing this setback made me think of our last IHC meeting and Sifu Ryback's words about how we can use these obstacles on our path to our advantage.

I have been preoccupied all day with this and my day didn't go at all as it was planned.

I feel like I moved in the right direction today. I made some changes to my schedule and I applied for an event I wanted to attend for a while but couldn't do to my scheduel before.  Obviously, I can't celebrate this yet as the outcome is still unknown.

But I had another big moment today regarding my dilemma, it's a bit too much to get into details but as everybody can probably imagine when you apply for anything and you are not accepted your first thought is. Why? Because only when you figure out where the issue is you can attempt to fix it. I think I have finally found it.

Back story: I have had a very easy time getting into any markets I wanted because let's face it the competition in wet felting is very limited. On top of it, I have done pretty well and received many compliments, and gained fans over time so the rejections just didn't make sense. That being said I have been thinking about what could be the reason and I had a hunch for a while now.

My business name is "cKreeAte"! Any thoughts when you guys read this? 

When I came up with my name 5 years ago I had a tough time and I tried to stay neutral with my work but I love creating so this is what I went for. Turns out that this name is anything but unique and I had to get really CREATIVE to make it unique. 

I have been told many times over the years that my name reminds people strongly of Cree nations local to our area. It's been on my mind because the last thing I want is to be associated with cultural inappropriateness. But until now I fluffed it off and convinced myself that this is me overthinking it, after all it's a specialty of mine. 

Today I decided to contact an indigenous person I have known for a while and asked her for an opinion and possibly advice, she got back to me within minutes with very kind words and lots of patience but strongly suggested changing my name as soon as possible. It's eye-opening and while I don't know for sure that this is the thing lately kicking me in the butt, there is a very good chance this has been an issue.

All these special events I like to apply for have a jury selecting the art and the vendors, in one information package I got, cultural appropriateness was one of the major requirements. I of course applied because in my mind this didn't apply to me. Turns out I was wrong. I feel silly and oblivious but a little bit of relief as well. The lady I contacted today was very appreciative that I decided to get an opinion from an indigenous person. And if nothing else I'm glad I did so.

I guess rebranding is going to have to happen.

I'm thinking "tAngled by laura" any thoughts?




Comments

  1. Kayley BurkeApril 27, 2023 at 9:53 PM

    I think this is a fantastic blog! And has really strong connections to kung fu, both in terms of how being on the I Ho Chuan team and striving for mastery can help to improve all corners of our lives but also how we can have unconscious blind spots (in our training) and how when things float past our awareness, they can be detrimental to us and the only way to fix them is by applying our eye for detail and asking “why?”
    (Also love the new name!)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Malinda FerrisApril 28, 2023 at 7:21 AM

    Excellent blog. Sihing Burke said it perfectly above. 🙂

    ReplyDelete
  3. KhonaApril 29, 2023 at 6:09 AM

    Beautiful business card! It’s a bummer you have to rebrand, but who knows what that change may bring into being. Love the new name as well!

    ReplyDelete
  4. SharidactylApril 30, 2023 at 9:29 AM

    I like the new name. Maybe a rebrand is what you need. I only today read your business name as create. For some reason I always read Knee Alt. LOL. I love your products and own a few that I won at past banquets. Keep going. Don't give up.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Bjork2BlogApril 30, 2023 at 12:24 PM

    I also agree, your work is beautiful, and I love the new name!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Jeff BrinkerMay 1, 2023 at 6:20 AM

    I'm not a guy who can be trusted to judge names. My goal is to open a bridal shop someday and name it 'TimberTown'.

    I like how you responded here Laura. You took the rejection and did not leave it at that. You took control and analyzed the situation and you took action. Exactly what needs to be done when we run into obstacles. This strategy and approach is going to serve your Kung Fu (Mastery) very well.

    ReplyDelete

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