Seriously ? . . .

Dear Rick & Maria,

Since I became a CZT 3 years ago, the best and sweetest part of what I experienced at seminar (and still do today) is definitely the community, camaraderie, and cooperation that just emanates from everyone associated with this fabulous art form THAT YOU CREATED.

I think it is unconscionable of Ina S. to purport that her “program” has nothing to do with Zentangle®, when it is blatantly obvious to anyone who can read that she has stolen your intellectual property. She has turned and twisted everything, has disparaged CZTs and your methodology, has come up with some supposed “scientific” mumbo jumbo to boost her own “credibility”, is being defiant and rude having been caught in her web of untruths, and to top it all off has the unmitigated gall to make it into a pyramid scheme! It is so disturbing and shameful of her to steal from the two of you, and the whole world wide Zentangle® community, who in my estimation are constantly kind, caring, always willing to share, to teach, to listen, to help, to encourage and to cheer on.

I am very proud to be able to say I am a CZT, and to share the wonders of Zentangle® with my students, my fellow CZTs and even complete strangers who may come across me drawing in a coffee shop, or may admire a piece of ZIA I’ve created. I plan to do what I can to put an end to her divisiveness, and will post your calm, intelligent and gracious correspondence with her wherever I can. I am saddened that you must deal with such dishonesty, and I hope this whole affair can be put out with the trash (where it belongs) soon. Sending positive thoughts and energy that will lead you to a quick resolution. In sincere Zentangle® solidarity, Susan Reading CZT 20

I guess I hadn’t been on that FB site for quite a while to not have seen the change. I appreciate you sharing the information in one place. I’m shocked and dismayed about what Ina has done and you have my full support in whatever way you feel best to handle it.

When I read Rick’s email and Ina’s disrespectful response my blood began to boil. This woman has
no moral character or ethics. She has a blatant disregard for honest business practices.
I know a legal battle is distasteful and not how you want to spend dollars or your valuable time, however if not pursued you are doing an injustice to the integrity of Zentangle and the Zentangle community. Theft is not acceptable and Ina has without a doubt stolen your intellectual property.
I am so sorry that this is happening. Zentangle has done so much to enrich my life, both health wise and personal growth. Please protect Zentangle’s integrity. With love and respect, Lesley Goldberg, CZT24

I appreciate the transparency on this matter from all parties involved.

Hi Rick and Maria!

I wanted you to know this issue has been bothering me for almost 2 years, when I was sharing my artist focus blog posts from Thetirelesstangler dot Com with pattern-collections. It really took my breath away, the barely concealed loathing with which Ina wrote of her opinion of the non-representational naming convention and other aspects of the Zentangle ® Method. Over the months, I had more and more trouble adjusting the focus pieces to match her vision for pattern-collections and we decided to part ways. Since then, I’ve almost stopped posting there and stayed strictly away from discussions like this, as those who disagree get shredded there. Also, I hesitate to cheapen this beautiful, healing Method with the kind of nasty, backbiting ugliness that is bound to come up.

All that said, I am thrilled to see you address this issue! This has disturbed me greatly for some time! While I have directly benefited from the sharing for free attitude you have, I have developed a deep respect for this process, and it horrifies me to see it abused in this way. I have never understood why Ina doesn’t at least respect Zentangle for what it has given to her. Worse, is the division this will cause within the community. I hate to think that someone may leave Zentangle because of the caustic exchanges online! I encourage everyone to please remember and respect the goal of tangling and not allow yourselves to be dragged into the mud! This is as much about protecting the beauty of the method as it is intellectual property. Thanks!

I am very sorry that Ina responded so disrepectfully to your email. It is very obvious that she lacks moral character and ethics.
As much as a legal battle is distasteful, I hope you defend your intellectual property and the integrity of Zentangle. This affects everyone in the Zentangle community. As an avid tangler and a CZT I

For me, it is simple: there is right and wrong; good and bad; light and dark; fair and unfair; legal and illegal. What Ina Sonnenmoser has doomed is wrong, bad, dark, unfair and illegal.

The audacity! I’m saddened that someone would do this, betraying everything and everyone Zentangle stands for, and that you now have to deal with it. You guys have received the gift you were given and been excellent stewards of it. As a CZT and a Zentangle enthusiast, I stand with you in your continued stewardship of the Zentangle Method. May your humor serve you well and peace be with you always.

I have to agree with your lawyers. You should defend your ownership of your intellectual property. To not do so is to tell Ms Sonnenmoser and her CPT coaches that her appropriation of your intellectual property is not a serious infraction. Her books will continue to be published and her trainings will not abate. You need to nip it in the bud. You aren’t just doing this for yourself… You are doing this for every other individual who has spent time, energy, and money to bring an idea to fruition in the public forum. I am sure the legal costs will be great but less than losing proprietary ownership of your intellectual property.

First let me say that from the moment I took my first Zentangle introductory class to my certification in RI and now to my own classes, I have felt and continue to feel the power of the heart and intention behind this gift. I am so sorry that you are facing this challenge, but I can’t help but think that regardless of what Ina believes about her certification and process, the truth is that her students will feel the negative source from which she draws. I’ve been a classroom teacher for 32 years, if I’ve not learned anything else, I HAVE learned that the intention and heart with which you approach the classroom and your students resonates in them on a level that the teacher and the student isn’t even aware of. BUT it impacts the learning and the culture. I wish her students well; they don’t know what they have stepped in, but Ina, she is sending out a vibration of negativity that I can’t help but believe will undermine her teachers and their students as well as her own program. So sad. But Maria and Rick, so powerful to see you take the high road and at least give her the opportunity to step into light.

Dear Rick and Maria,

I am so sorry for the battle you are facing here – but you have the love and support of your CZT community and are not alone. Ms. Sonnenmoser’s theft of your beautiful creation affects us all – most especially our dedicated German CZTs. I am afraid that if this is not pursued legally that it will appear as if we condone this kind of thievery. This is, indeed, very distressing to all of us, and I am thankful for your carefully worded email to Ms. Sonnenmoser – direct, but kind and respectful. I sincerely hope and pray that you will not need to pursue this too much further in order to bring about a positive resolution.

I am so very proud to be a CZT (#26) and stand with you!

Kelly Houlton

I have started to add a phrase at the bottom of my flyers asking that students only learn zentangle from a czt. And that all czts have trained personally with you in Providence RI. I’m proud to have the training. As zentangle becomes more known we, as czts need to educate the public.

I always hated the phrase “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,” so I won’t actually say that. But what you do is amazing and I am not surprised that others attempt to imitate your work. (That does not make it right or acceptable.) For shame. What a frustrating way to have to spend your time, my thoughts and support are with you and the entire Zentangle Family. JPB, CZT17

I would just like to say how aghast I was when I saw Ina’s promotion of ‘her’ cpt method. Reading it I was probably doing a pretty good impression of Munch’ s The Scream…..I couldn’t believe it!

Zentangle has brought a wonderful art form and a fantastic community into my life that I am daily thankful for, and I wanted to let you know that you have my wholehearted support….❤️

Thank you for providing this explanation. It’s truly shameful what she is doing. There is so much love and support in the CZT community that we can and will overcome whatever assult she tries to bring. Thank you for all that you do!

Janet Burditt, CZT14

I am saddened by this situation and appreciate your open, thoughtful, considered and respectful response. This is the approach I have come to expect from the Zentangle family and proves that you ‘walk the talk’. I am proud to be a CZT, to teach in a way that protects the quality and integrity of what you have created, and to share this gift of Zentangle with my students.

Rick and Maria,

I fully agree with and support your actions with Ina. I always looked at this site as an alternative database for tangles. In fact, many people on this site are Zentanglers. In fact a lot of the video lessons are done by CZTs who talk about the Zentangle process as part of tangling. If she claims her method has nothing to do with Zentangle, then why are these videos included on her website? Why are Zentangle patterns still shown in her database of tangles? What are these research backed studies she refers to? Simple google searches by Ina herself or did she fund her own science backed research (doubtful). Why are some of her tangles so close to Zentangle patterns with just minor changes including name? It is so obvious that she is doing this purely for her own personal gain and I am sickened to see the damage she is causing within the community and also personally attacking your reputation and hard work in making this business what it is today. It doesn’t surprise me that she does not stop based on your letter because she has obviously stuck her neck out and promised people financial gain if they took her course. Her reputation is at stake. That is why it is critical that a legal stop be enforced as soon as possible. I was always curious why her site existed in the first place when I first became familiar with Zentangle a few years ago and I suspect many others who use this site are too! Anything with a reference to Zentangle should come off including tutorials, videos, and terminology. Very disappointed in her business ethics.

I am sorry you have to go through this, Rick and Maria! Wishing you patience and wisdom in dealing with this.

So unfortunate that the selfish and dishonest intentions and actions of a single individual can have such a huge impact on so many. On one hand, I feel bad for the "innocent " (uninformed ) people who are involved in this (the “CPT” folks); however, on the other hand I believe we all have a certain responsibility to inform ourselves and realize that “something smells fishy here,” when looking at what this woman is “selling”. Shame on her! To tout the "creating harmony " of the Zentangle (or as she misrepresents “CPT”) Method and be so blatantly anti-harmonious is, as you say, somewhat laughable, but so very wrong on so many levels. Top that off with her greedy scheme to get paid by everyone per student! “Inconceivable! " (The most relevant quote from my favorite movie, “The Princess Bride.” I believe justice and the earth’s powerful energy will prevail. Wish I could help you more, but I am certainly sending out the vibes!

Thank you for all that you have created and continue to nurture.
Lisa Wyckoff, CZT 23

……ps~ I posted this link in 3 places on FaceBook: my wall, my TangleYourBliss wall, and in my Digital Zentangle group. <3

The whole situation is incredibly difficult and distressing on so many levels and for so many individuals. I appreciate your thoughtful response and transparency, and truly hope that the “sunlight of awareness” does indeed bring a very unfortunate situation to a timely end. That said, if further action on your part does become necessary, please know that you have my support and backing as a CZT as you work to protect your intellectual property.

I love you guys. And I like how you have chosen to approach this situation. “Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants“ is now my favorite quote. It’s clearly ridiculous what Ina thinks she has accomplished. I hope karma hits her where the sun don’t shine!

Dear Rick and Maria,
While I understand and appreciate wanting to take the high road, I would like to ask you to consider this: if you allow Ina to profit from your intellectual property, you are opening the door to anyone else who may want to do the same.
All the best.

Sometimes the nicest people have to deal with an unjust situation, and that is certainly the case here. I’m so very sorry you have to deal with this. I applaud your integrity and reason in approaching Ina. So many innocent individuals could be hurt, and I’m praying that won’t happen. I love you all and so appreciate what you have done and how blessed I am to be a part of Zentangle.

Dear Rick & Maria, thanks so much for sharing this post and filling us in on this incredibly sad situation. I’ve been aware of it and was so shocked and disgusted by what was happening that I didn’t know how to respond without falling into negativity (which is NOT what our wonderful Zentangle process is about!) I’m beyond disgusted at what she has done. I can only believe that Karma WILL come back to her. The Zentangle process and our wonderful family of friends/CZT’s will only be stronger because it is based on love, creativity, and joy. Peace…. breathe…. tangle.