Sunday 4 January 2015

A Blog by any Other Name.


While arranging my new studio in the last few weeks, bringing order, making plans, diving into new projects, it suddenly struck me that something that had been on my mind for around two years, that is to change my blog name, had now shed any barriers standing in my way.
Tickle & Hide started as a handmade, reversible kids clothing brand which sold at local markets and on Etsy. But while I enjoyed making kids clothes, I wasn't driven by it. When I followed new blogs, they were always quilters. When I had new ideas, it was for quilts. I never ventured into the online world of kids couture with new designs and ideas and relationships. I just liked the way beautiful prints looked like wearable art on the flat, almost seamless design of the crossover pinafore.


When I opened my pop up shop in town, pinnies sold like hot cakes. My brand became truly 'local' and well received. And even though I already had doubts as to whether Tickle & Hide would serve me well long term, I decided it was too late to change. It wasn't worth starting over.


In a way, that starting over has happened naturally the past year on its own. As a maternity leave treat to myself, I dropped the expectation to make any money and just make for fun. And slowly, I have shed the image (for myself at least) as a kids clothing label, and morphed into a quilter. Moving here to our new country home has felt like a reinforcing of that, leaving the customers and fellow market sellers that so connected me to gifts for children.



When I sat not so long ago and wrote my thoughts and dreams for the new year, like a bolt of lightning, it struck me. Now is the right time to change. Partly because by the grace of Google, I should be able to change things now without losing you all and begging you to follow me, an option not available to me two years ago. And partly because a lot of our connecting has moved to Instagram, where it's easy (and fairly common) to change names. Finally, all my ideas felt a bit disconnected, a bit uncomfortable under this beloved old name. I didn't really like the idea of Tickle & Hide branding on pattern publications or on ideas for magazines. I'd spent the last 4 years growing up as a creative person, first only using others' ideas, now developing my own. I needed a name to reflect that maturation.


And so I chose a new name, after lots of brainstorming, messaging friends, Googling to check if names were already taken. I'll be spending the new week or so switching everything to Tales of Cloth. I wanted a name more closely connected my area of interest, but still broad enough to evolve. I wanted an emphasis on storytelling through making, on inspiration from history and everyday life. So really, what I write about here won't change all that much. I have hopes for growth, for stretching myself, but the heart of why I write remains to same.

I hope you'll stay with me in this next chapter! It is your encouragement here that has done just that - given courage - to be more myself. I feel excited to move forward without the 'shackles' of a name that no longer fits, and to just give myself permission to make in a way that energises me, rather than trying to maintain an old, lost vision.

And I'd love to know what you think!

Jodi. xx

23 comments:

  1. I certainly will still be looking forward to reading your very welcome posts and Tales of Cloth sounds just great, I hope you can go with that one.

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  2. Growth and change are good - onwards and upwards :)

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  3. I'm excited for you - and look forward to reading more of your stories as you continue to create and grow :-)

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  4. It's a fabulous name and I admire your reflection and am excited to see what you achieve this year! Happy 2015!

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  5. I like the new name and will of course continue reading. Had the same problem with my own blog trying to think of a name that is versatile enough go cover the different things I sew

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  6. It sounds like a very grown up name and a natural progression in your career. Love it and will definitely continue reading your blog and checking out IG (where I spend way too much time ! ) :-)

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  7. Congratulations on the new name and the new home and the new year! As a recently acquired follower, I am excited to be a part of your new adventure and am looking forward to spending 2015 with you. Loved reading your post!

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  8. This is going to be great! I love the new name and really look forward to seeing your projects in 2015. I love seeing the photos of your new home on IG. This new environment will be a te source of inspiration for your creativity, I'm sure!

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  9. excellent name and I like the heading graphic at the top! Good luck this year!

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  10. I love your name change, and the accompanying top picture change to my favorite quilt as well :)

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  11. Woohoo! What a well done transition. And you have me drooling over some makes on this page =) I really, REALLY want to be sewing right now, but a flu is keeping me in bed. Thanks for the fun read!

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  12. That's exciting news and sounds like a great change. Looking forward to seeing more.

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  13. I love the name Tales of Cloth. Hope the bloglovin followers transition automatically. If not, I'll search you out :)

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  14. I use bloglovin and I made sure to add your new url to my following. Like the name.

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  15. I like the new name and heading, but I'm going to miss the old one. Your little girl made me laugh every time! :)

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  16. Well suited! Love all those projects I'm seeing

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  17. Love it - what a great way to start the new year :)

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  18. wonderful! glad you are following your passions. i am trying to do the same but am stuck right now. maybe soon

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  19. Congratulations on the fresh start! Looking forward to seeing what's next for Tales of Cloth! Happy New Year!

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  20. Splendid! You are moving in a positive direction and honoring your authentic self! Good things are sure to follow. By the way, you came up in my Bloglovin feed as Tales of Cloth so it would seem the transition works!!

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  21. Wonderful name! It's funny that I can't remember when I started reading your blog, but I always thought of you as a quilter anyway.

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  22. Thanks for the post Jodi, I wish you all the best for Tales of Cloth! Crystal x

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  23. I love the name change and have been following you on IG and Flickr for a while. I've been thinking of making a name change. I'm curious, what do you put on the your labels? "Tales of Cloth?" Your real name? I'm struggling with this. Don't know why!

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I so love your comments! I read all of them and reply when I can. If you don't hear back, I'm lost under a mound of scraps or outside jumping on the trampoline with the kids. Jodi. xx