Zendala Dare #83 - Baby, it's cold out there!

I like this Zendala template a lot, but my end result isn't what I anticipated, as usually happens! I was trying to make a wreath, some ornaments, and snow swirling… I should know better than to make it try to look like something in particular. I'm not unhappy with this, and it was the first time using Floo, which I really like. It looks a bit cool in the centre, but maybe has the anticipation of spring in the outer wreath? I used water colour pencils for the colour.

Zentangle Challenge #147 - UMT Boo*Kee

Boo*Kee is an interesting tangle with room for lots of variations. Like it a lot, but not sure I love it. I can't wait to see what others have done. The centre pattern is something I tried to deconstruct from something I saw on a Christmas card (part Flux, part Copada)… but I think I'm going to leave the creating of new tangles to other people - it was not fun.

Zentangle Challenge #146 Duo-tangle using Pea-nuckle and Well

Pea-nuckle is not one of my favorite tangles. At CZT training, Molly walked us through it and it went much better watching her step by step, so I figured it would be fine when I tried it at home…. no…. Although I'm not too unhappy with the way this one went - I kind of like the look of them "ripping" away from each other - I find the tail ends of the "s" get in the way or hang out too much, and I can't get the luscious curve she gets. I'll have to play around with this one more and get over the "imperfections". Well is a beautiful tangle with loads of tangelations or variations. I like it best without the petal step. This is my contribution to this weeks Zentangle Challenge to do a duo-tangle using Pea-nuckle and Well.

Zendala Dare #81

This is my entry for this week's Zendala Dare from Erin at www.thebrightowl.blogspot.ca. I just had my first Zentangle Class today and am sort of flying high from it! It was a major success and I'm really happy! One of my students used the phrase when she thanked me: "nurturing my inner artist" WOW! I love that phrase! So, this evening my husband and I sat listening to some good music in front of the fireplace and did "the Dare". (I hope he posts his.) No planning, no hesitating… it just flowed, and I'm quite happy with it.

Zentangle Challenge #145 - Quib - More tiles

I couldn't stop playing with Quib….

Zentangle Challenge #145 - Quib

This week's Zentangle Challenge from Laura at www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.com is to use the new tangle Quib. Sort of like a ribbony Hollibaugh, except it comes out of and enters a cup or vessel, at least in the step-outs. I'm not sure if it's drawn so the ribbons go off into the unknown like Hollibaugh - does that make it a Hollibaugh variation or a Quib variation? Semantics, maybe… At any rate, quite a neat tangle. I also wanted to try Borbz and the spiral. Like the Borbz, but will have to keep practicing the spiral. It's too small here and though I like the IDEA of Quib coming out of it - I'm not happy with paradox inside the spiral, but I made an error and had to adapt….

Zentangle Challenge #144 - A Bug's Life

Well, here is my entry for this week's Zentangle Challenge from Laura at www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca. I wasn't going to do this week's challenge because I'm really busy sewing owls for the CBC Christmas Charity Craft Show, and getting ready to give my first Zentangle class. However, I was going through some tiles that I started during the CZT12 training, and found an incomplete Zendala on which I had started practicing Tripoli and Peanuckle. Both of these tangles drive me nuts because I know I should be able to "get" them, but I find them really difficult. Molly showed us, and of course it looks so simple when she does it, and is much simpler when she is standing right there going over step by step with you…. But on my own - it's not pretty (or very zen since I get all worked up). So anyway - there was this incomplete tile just begging for more attention so I picked up my pen and filled in the spots. Then added some ants…. Don't love or even really like this, but I have to admit, it looks better than the incomplete tile I started with (and almost threw out).

Zendala Dare #80

Another fun Zendala from Erin at www.thebrightowl.blogspot.ca! This took more time that I thought it would, mainly because it's about 10" x 10", and I was being very careful with Punzel. I love Punzel but it can really be difficult. I admit that I drew it out in pencil first though was surprised at how little I had to "fix". We reviewed this tangle at the CZT12 session and Rick and Maria made it look so easy and graceful. Other than that, the rest just seemed to come together fairly easily. I think it would have been better if I'd put some colour in the background behind the Punzel - the gaps behind the overlapping twists would show better. Maybe next time….

Zentangle Challenge #143 - UMT - Cruze

This week's Zentangle Challenge from Laura at www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca is to use the tangle Cruze. I liked this tangle as soon as I saw it, and found it quite easy to follow the instructions…. as long as you are planning to have the tangle at an angle on the page….. I wanted to have it along one edge of my tile and I couldn't (still can't) for the life of me figure out how to manage that. I'm going to have to practice that one a bit more. Then I decided to use unyun - a favourite of mine, but didn't do the oniony parts right… oh well, I like the effect. Well is new to me, and I like it, but again, didn't follow the instructions properly so it's a variation. By now I was feeling a bit frustrated but pushed on, determined "that there are no mistakes". I don't love this finished tile, but I'm determined to use Cruze, Well and Unyun again soon, and prove to myself that I can do better. So, you never know - I may do another tile for this challenge.

Zendala Dare #79

I'm very thankful that Rick and Maria have come up with and continue to share the wonderful of experience of Zentangle. I'm also very thankful for all the wonderful people who support and cheer on others in this community. This is my entry for this week's Zendala Dare (with a few minor changes to the template, because I wanted some hearts!).

Zendala Dare #78

Ok, this is not my favorite template and I almost didn't do this week's Zendala Dare from Erin at www.thebrightowl.blogspot.ca. Then, when I was browsing through my books of tangles I saw Loopy and decided I wanted to try it - and this was, I thought, a great template for it. That's how it started, and it's my favourite part of this Zendala. Slink isn't quite right, but that's ok, I'll know better for next time I try it. What I have found very interesting in my tile and other's that have been posted, is the variety and differences that we have all come up with for such a simple (for lack of a better descriptive word) design! Yeah Zentangle!!!! Thanks Erin.

Zentangle Challenge #142 - Comfort/Danger Zone

This week's Zentangle Challenge from Laura at www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca is to take a look at what our comfort and "danger" zone are - what we tend to gravitate to or avoid. I had to think about this one - there is a lot about Zentangle that takes me out of my comfort zone, but is ultimately so rewarding that it's not really a "danger" area for me. However, it occurred to me as I was sorting through my Zentangle paraphernalia that my real danger area might be those tiles or projects that got started and never finished … for any number of reasons. So I chose one of my unfinished ZIA's and here it is. This was left over from the challenge that asked us to use a stencil. I had traced the holes from my laundry basket on a piece of pumpkin coloured card stock, but once I got started and made my first "mistake", I lost focus and interest. But I kept the barely started piece, so there must have been something about it that caught my attention. Once I went back to it, I couldn't put it down, so it just goes to show that it's worth hanging on to those unfinished projects and trying them again later. (Sort of like books - it might not appeal to you now, but I find that at a different time, not always, you might just be in the right head space to get into it). I'm glad this challenge got me back to the unfinished pile - there is more there to explore! Thanks Laura.

Zentangle Challenge #141 - Duo-tangle: Fengle & Quandry

I'm happy to announce that I'm now a CZT (from CZT12)! My husband and I drove from Toronto, taking a leisurely, picturesque route through Vermont to Providence, then after the course, spent a few days in Cape Cod, then drove back through New York State. We had stunning weather, interesting and beautiful scenery, good conversations, wonderful food and accommodations... But the highlight for me was the CZT course! Rick and Maria and family were amazing teachers/mentors; the course, hotel, food was fabulous beyond my expectations; and other "students" from all over the world were fun, interesting, lovely people! I'm even more enthusiastic about Zentangle than I was before I went. Highly recommended if you haven't done it yet. So, this is my entry for this week's Zentangle Challenge (from Laura at www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca). This challenge is to do a tile using the two tangles Fengle and Quandry. Fengle, I love... Quandry - not so much. Like Tripoli, I think Quandry looks wonderful when others do it, but I keep getting out of the pattern and lost. I know it's a tangle that I need to keep trying - so thanks again for another challenge that takes me out of my comfort zone. It's all good!

Zendala Dare #77 - Random Acts of Zentangle

Well, I can very happily announce that I am now a CZT, having been a part of the wonderful CZT 12 group. It was a wonderful and fulfilling few days - an experience that I would highly recommend to anyone who can arrange to do it! And now, here is my entry for Zendala Dare #77 using the template from Erin at www.thebrightowl.blogspot.ca. Erin added in the added part of the dare that we leave our tile somewhere... Great idea! At first I was excited... then I found it was hard to realize I had to just leave my tile to some fate... then I got all bogged down on where was the "perfect" place to leave it (sigh)... Needing some air, I went for a walk and took the tile with me looking for inspiration. Very quickly I passed a bus shelter and thought ah-ha! So there it sits, hopefully someone will enjoy this tile. It actually looks a bit creepy to me when I look at it on the computer - very halloweenish!

Zendala Dare #76

Well I sure enjoyed this particular template from Erin at www.thebrightowl.blogspot.ca! I made a few changes to the template, and used a new to me tangle from Sue Jacobs - Zaturn, which I LOVE! I hope I did it justice! Moving Day is another of my favourites though I think it is more effective on a larger scale than broken into the diamonds here. I don't often use colour, but it was crying out for something and "blue" seemed to add just the subtle tone I wanted. I'm quite happy with this one.

Zentangle Challenge #138 - Fun with Borders

I love Zentangle because it gives me the chance to put pre designed patterns together in a creative way, and to sometimes come up with a different tangleation or way of presenting it. I'm not so good at seeing a pattern in everyday things and reinterpreting them, and frankly am not so interested in doing that. I have played with a couple of patterns over the past year that could, I suppose, be a new tangle, but as I said, it's not something I've spent much time or energy on. So this challenge was a real challenge for me. However when I was out for a walk yesterday I concentrated on looking around me and finding potential patterns and borders - much to my surprise, they are everywhere! When I got home, I found a pattern on a towel that caught my attention, and so I tangled on a piece of watercolor paper I've cut into Zentangle bookmarks. The pattern is very similar to the band across the bottom, and then I played with some variations and embellishments. Don't love the bookmark, but it is rather a cool pattern.

Zendala Dare #75

Here is my entry for this week's Zendala Dare from Erin at www.thebrightowl.blogspot.ca. I don't often use paradox because I rush and mess it up... No excuse, I know, so today I challenged myself to play with it a bit. I like it! Riki Tiki is new to me and I like the way it comes together as you follow the steps. Ornamato is one of my favorites, but here it looks a lot like Tipple. This is busier than I would like, but I kind of like the flow.

Zentangle Challenge #137 - Duotangle - Knights over Tipple

This was indeed an interesting challenge from Laura at www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca! In some ways a simple challenge - to use the two tangles Knightsbridge and Tipple. Ha - nothing is ever "simple". I tried to add some "shine" to Knightsbridge and that was not at all successful so ended up smudging it over so I'm hoping someone else has done this so I can see how it's done! I don't often add aura's, but it seems the best way to fill the empty space here. The end result, as usual, looks very different from the string and ideas I started out with, and I'm not unhappy with this though I'm looking forward to seeing what others have done to add more interest.

Zendala Dare #74

I've been ever so busy lately and have missed the last three Zendala Dare's (www.thebrightowl.blogspot.ca)! I don't like missing them, but in a way it's been good for me because I was starting to get almost obsessive about getting every dare and challenge done, and comment on as many of other's works as I could, at the expense of other interests and obligations. It's made me realize that I can step back and prioritize and forgive myself if I can't do everything. I bet there are others out there who feel the same way? Anyway, it is a great template and I had fun with it. Ripples, new to me, caused some problems but a black fill for the background disguises the "mistakes". Also new to me is Quare, and I actually like the original squares better than the circles, but it's a cool tangle. Now I'm off to look at other entries and start on the weekly Zentangle challenge!

Zentangle Challenge #132 - Non-Domontangle - Bales

When I first saw this challenge I thought - yuck, I'm too busy this week to this one anyway. Of course when I expressed that to my husband, he gently reminded me that part of the challenges is to do them - even the ones we don't like. Well, as usually happens, I learned A LOT by doing this challenge. I'm particularly interested in the therapeutic applications of Zentangle. About 6 months ago I visited my cousin in Vancouver who has lost the use of her dominant hand because of a stroke. Her therapist was trying to get her to practice writing with her left hand but she was resisting. I tried to show her a couple of tangles, Bales being the first, and both of us ended up being frustrated. What I learned from this exercise is that I should have shown her how to do it, using my own non-dominant hand! Yes, the lines are wobbly and uneven. But I learned that pulling the pen toward me was easier than pushing away, and that if I went too slowly and thoughtfully, my lines were more crooked than if I drew firmly but steadily. And, the more I did, the "easier" it got - not that it was ever "easy". And then I did a bit of shading with my non-dominant hand. It's far from perfect, but I actually quite like what I ended up with. It reminds me an awful lot of when I first tried macrame, and macrame with beads! (It also occurred to me that I probably shouldn't have pushed her to try Zentangle - she has never had any interest in doing any form of art, and was only trying it to please me. This was another gentle reminder (in hindsight) that not everyone will be as interested in learning to tangle as I am...)

Zendala Dare # 70

This my entry for this week's Zendala Dare from Erin at www.thebrightowl.blogspot.ca. Another great template and I was able to try the new tangle Ciceron - not all together successfully, but definitely a learning experience. Last week several people mentioned that there had been a tutorial or "how to" on how to do balls or orbs and really make them appear 3D. I think it was supposed to have been something from Margaret Bremner... but search as I might, I can't find it. I would really appreciate it if someone could send me a link or prompt me how to find it.... Thanks for viewing, and your comments are always appreciated!

Zentangle Challenge #131 - Monotangle - DEX-teria

This weeks Zentangle Challenge from Laura at www.iamthediva.blogspot.ca is to use the tangle Dex in a monotangle. That's using this tangle and perhaps variations, and only this tangle, in our tile. I like Dex and have used it several times, but as a mono tangle.... not so much. But these challenges are to make us step out of our comfort zone. Actually, I did discover that I had been doing dex wrong anyway, so another plus from this challenge is that I think I have the steps firmly in my mind now. I couldn't decide what to do so ended up with a window into a futuristic Dex city. Don't love this, but there you are. I look carefully at the other entries because I found this one quite a tough challenge. Thanks Laura!

Zendala Dare #69

Another intriguing template from Erin at www.thebrightowl.blogspot.com. Toronto's Canadian National Exhibition starts this coming weekend, and portends the ending of the summer. Other signs are the slowing of grass and plant growth in the garden, but also a bounty of vegetables, peaches and corn on the cob. And that is the inspiration for my choice of tangles - purk sort of looks like corn, kuke for the lovely cucumbers, and pepper forms the husks for the corn. Ok, so I'm stretching it, but it was fun doing this dare, as usual. Thanks Erin, and thanks to those of you who look, and extra thanks for those who comment - it's always appreciated.

Zentangle Challenge #130 - UMT - Henna Drum

I LOVE Henna Drum, and have since I first saw it. Saying that, I haven't actually used it much because I find it difficult to work into a tile - somehow the background seems a bit bland and I'm too cautious to use it as an overlay. I decided to try a couple of new tangles; Paris and Navaho... wow, that's a tough one! I'll need to practice it more, and work harder at being careful with the lines. I haven't used Wisket in a long time either. I'm ok with this finished piece (8"x 8"), but don't love it. I can't wait to see how others have done this challenge!

Zendala Dare #67

Another great template from Erin at www.thebrightowl.blogspot.ca! I have the 12 year old daughter of a friend staying with me for the week and we've been all over Toronto seeing the sights and taking in events so it's been a wonderful, busy week. She's also been trying her hand at a few tangles and the first one she chose was Bitten, which I've used a couple of times before. Her fresh, sharp eyes caught that I had been doing it wrong! Now that I see how to really do it - I LOVE this pattern and will definitely use it more often. It also reinforced what a wonderful resource www.tanglepatterns.com is!

Zentangle Challenge #128 - String with duo pencils

Another quick Zentangle entry - summer is such a busy time and we have out of town company for a week. This is my response for the Zentangle Challenge #128 to use two pencils to make the string, and I used several new to me tangles. See the challenge website from Laura at www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.com. Sorry I won't have time to view and comment on all or most of the other entries over the next couple of weeks - but I do appreciate the time it takes to do that, so thank you to anyone who views, and/or comments.

Zendala Dare #66

Oh man, where does time go? This is my entry for this week's Zendala Dare from Erin at www.thebrightowl.blogspot.ca. I LOVE this template which was created by Mariet. I've traced out the three different sizes and would like to do them all, but time is flying by this week so I doubt I'll get to another in time to post. Summer is like that... even more than any other time of year! I try to look at all other entries and comment on lots of them, but I apologize that I'm probably not going to be able to do that much over the rest of the summer. I'll continue to look at others with admiration and for inspiration but it takes a lot of time to comment. We all appreciate and are encouraged by comments so thank you to all of you who take the time to share your thoughts, and even for taking the time to view.

Zentangle Challenge #127 - Duo tangle - Cirquital/Opus

I did the small tile first for this week's zentangle challenge from Laura at www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.com, but wasn't too happy with it - no reason, I just thought - ho, hum..... Later in this very hot week, I had a bit of time before going to bed so picked up my Zentangle stuff and started another - the result is the larger of the two tiles. I haven't had any time this week to browse through the other entries so far, so as soon as I've finished posting this that's what I'll be spending the next hours or so doing. I like both these tangles - but it's hard for me to imagine many variations or tangleations so I'm really interested in seeing what you have come up with.

Zendala Dare #65

Here is my entry for this week's Zendala Dare from Erin at www.thebrightowl.blogspot.ca. As soon as I saw this template, I knew I would like it. Immediately I saw orchids and new I wanted to add color somehow. I started transferring the template off centre and then coloring the sheet by using watercolor pencils and blending them with water. Shortly after I started tangling I decided I better scan it because this is the first time I've approached a project this way and I knew it would look quite different when I finished. I'm glad I thought of it and took the time to do it. I was inspired to color the paper first by several of the entries I've seen lately. I'm really quite happy with the way this turned out, and once it's in a frame I think I'll like it more. By itself, I think it might have looked better centered. Thank you for looking and I appreciate comments, if you have the time or inclination.

Zentangle Challenge #126 - Stencil

This week's challenge from Laura at www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.com is to use a stencil for our string. Well, I know have a couple of cake decorating stencils... somewhere... but I couldn't find them so they are probably packed in a box in the cupboard. So, I resorted to my protractor set and used the triangle, ruler, and thing you make circles with. Then I added a cookie cutter heart. Brax, Orbs-la-Dee and Por Fin are new to me, and I made a mistake with Maelstrom so just went with it. I am loving Por Fin!!!! This was another fun challenge and I might just go to the dollar store tomorrow to see what stencils I can find to try another.

Zendala Dare #64 HEAT

I really like this weeks template from Erin at www.thebrightowl.blogspot.ca, and the added request that we use tangles starting with the letters in the words "heat" or "hot". I chose the pumpkin paper because it was such a warm color, and decided to go with the word "heat", so I used Hekzee, a variation of Efilys, Afterglow, Tracery, and Tearce. It turned out ok, but I don't love it - it doesn't "flow", so if I get a chance this week, I'll do another.

Zendala Dare #63

When I first saw this weeks zendala template from Erin at www.thebrightowl.blogspot.ca, I didn't have a clue what to do with it - no sudden inspirations. So, sitting out on the front porch on a hot sticky afternoon I just let the pen take me where it wanted. Those are the templates that give me the best "Zen". (I tend to over plan and think about which tangles to use...) Whimsical and yet delicate - I'm quite happy with this one.

Zentangle Challenge #124 - Calgary in my heart

This week's Zentangle Challenge from Laura at www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca is very open to interpretation. The news about the flooding in Alberta, particularly Calgary and immediate area is really overwhelming. I was born in Calgary and lived there until I was 13, and have been back to visit a number of times over the years. The two districts I had lived in were both evacuated - Sunnyside and Roxborough - both located near either the Bow or Elbow river. We also spent a lot of time with close friends in Bowness... My father and grandparents are buried in Calgary. I don't keep in touch with anyone in Calgary any more, but my best childhood friend from Sunnyside now lives in Bragg Creek - also evacuated. And my husband's cousin was evacuated from Canmore. The devastation is beyond what I can imagine. So it was hard for me to even start a tile or ZIA that showed what this meant to me. I had traced out the outline for a Zendala (Dare #16) that I had never done and decided I'd work on that while I thought about it. One thing I wanted to try was to use MI2, Huggins, Summer Sitter, and 8's flowing into each other and this template was perfect. Once I got going and while I was working on it, I thought of my time in Calgary and remembered things I hadn't thought of in many many years. When this ZIA was done I could see, perhaps, that each of the four sections might represent those areas I'm most connected to: Sunnyside, Roxborough, Bowness and Bragg Creek, and the Charz could be the mountains and foothills. EEZ could represent the circle of life, and/or the people affected and helping. It's a stretch, I know, but there was a sort of blank spot that was just the perfect place to write in "Calgary" and add a couple of hearts. It is all about the Zen!

Zendala Dare #62

This is my contribution for the Zendala Dare of the week from Erin at www.thebrightowl.blogspot.com. Another good template, thanks Erin! I had fun with this one and it turned out way different than I had envisioned it - mainly because I had trouble with the bottoms of Tracery getting all muddled - hence so much black and the use of white gel pen, but I like it better this way. This sort of reminds me of a passion fruit flower. Thanks for viewing, and have a good week.

Zentangle Challenge #123 - Is it a Zentangle?

This is my response for this week's guest challenge at www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.com. Hummmpfff.... I like "pretty", and that's not what this is. This was a real challenge for me because I haven't set out to create new tangles - I'm much more comfortable with working with what already exists. However, as you all know, once you start working with patterns or tangles, you see them everywhere and it's hard not to try to deconstruct a pattern. Thanks to CZT Maria Vennekens (and Laura), for again nudging me out of my comfort zone and encouraging me to stretch. These are all individual patterns that I've named, though I'm not at all sure they qualify as tangles or if they already exist somewhere. The stacked squares is something I've "doodled" as long as I can remember; the rest are based on patterns I've seen in various textiles. I called the flowery squares (from a wild Caribbean skirt) 'Matis because they remind me of my double clematis, and Jester was from a fabulous coat pattern I saw on the subway one day - very dynamic. Stickles is a tiny band pattern on one of my husbands shirts. Shielded is part of a pattern I saw on a chair in a store window. (I have worked out step-outs for all of these except Stax.)

Zendala Dare #61

Another wonderful Zendala template from Erin at www.thebrightowl.blogspot.ca. I really enjoyed this one, and the tangles just seemed to flow. I started with Archer, then added Snugz. At that point it looked like a starfish, so then I put in Waves. A couple more touches and some shading... and here it is. I'm quite happy with this one.

Zentangle Challenge #122 - Grid (Un) Locked

I went through a lot of conflict with this week's Zentangle Challenge from Laura at www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca. And I'm still not so sure I "get" it. The challenge was based on the newsletter from Rick and Maria where they used grid "seeds" to create grid patterns. Maybe it's the way I think, but I thought that's in essence what we were doing all along? The other conflict I've been mulling over is: when does a tangelation become a new tangle? Sigh.... maybe you can answer, or maybe I'll find out more when I go to the CZT seminars in the fall... What I did in the end was just let the pen go to paper and see where it went (which often works out in surprising ways). I started by using a scrap of watercolor paper that I've been saving for bookmarks. I used I1 from the grid Rick and Maria posted and when I had drawn the main stream, didn't like it at all! I had also tried their neat "trick" of doing a line of grids on the outer edge 1/2 width to emphasize curves... so I started to fill in alternate lines, shaded it, and wow, what a change! Then I added a stream of Hi-C's (because I love what this tangle does when it's flipped). The bookmark was too empty, so I added another stream of the original I1 pattern, but alternated thicker and thinner lines in each grid and filled in the triangles (diamonds) instead. Totally different look. I loved this exercise which really showed me how grid patterns can change with fills, direction etc. I'm quite happy with it. My second tile was done with a lot less worry and planning - I divided it up into 4 sections and chose 4 tangles. Crescent Moon and Ving look really neat when they are flipped from grid to grid. I've loved Moving Day since I first saw it and though I tried on scrap to flip it around, it wasn't nearly so effective, so I just did it as it's "supposed" to be. Verve wasn't quite the effect I expected either, but... So, here they are, and now I can go look at what others have done, and maybe I'll find I wasn't the only one having a bit of difficulty with this one. (But in the end, when I push myself, I always learn and am astounded by the results, so thank you Laura! and Rick and Maria!)

Zentangle Challenge #121 UMT - Birds on a Wire

Man, where does time go? Full of good intentions to get caught up with new tangles, Dares and Challenges, I only managed to update my tangle workbook and get one quick Challenge done (using all new to me tangles). My apologies that I haven't been able to view others works and make comments this week; next week should be less hectic :)

Zendala Dare. #59

This was a very quick tile done for this week's Zendala Dare by Erin at www.thebrightowl.blogspot.com. I LOVE this template and have immediately seen at least three things I want to do with it, so there will be at least one more posting from me for this Dare! I kept this tile simple with only two tangles but it is heavily reliant on shading. I saw croon in a recent entry and so wanted to try it, but I changed the fill to dots because I thought more lines would be too much. I can't wait to try my other ideas and follow those impulses, but it will have to wait until tomorrow or even Monday. (Sigh) Because it's Saturday, that means it's a busy social day for me. It's the time when my husband and I get together with family and friends. This weekend we have older relatives visiting from out of town, and we don't often get to spend time with them. Also today is first communion for our friends daughter - and that means a big party later in the day. Added to this, my husband and I are doing our first craft summer craft show on Monday at a local Farmers Market and a second show on Friday... so we have lots to do to prepare for this. I sell my stuffed owl pillows, and Don sells his leaded stained glass windows.

Zentangle Challenge #119 - Ebony and Ivory

This week's Zentangle Challenge from Laura at www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca is to use black and white, evenly distributed throughout the tile. I actually missed the part about "evenly distributed", though I think I ended up fairly balanced with white/black. I was at the local art store and found on sale some black card stock and a pretty ivory smaller card - probably meant for name tags, and had one of those "Ah hah" moments when I knew exactly how I was going to start this challenge. I taped the small ivory card off centre on the black card stock (which pre-folds in 1/2 to make a card...), then used kitchen glasses for the circles. I then wove a couple of bands through the circles and that was my "string". The white gel pen is definitely not my favourite - I'd like something with a finer line, and something that doesn't smudge if you don't let it dry a bit. However, I found that I really did like the result of using a white tile on a black tile and doing a sort of negative drawing of the tangles. I've decided to do a set of cards like these for those occasions when I can't find the right card at the store.... The other thought I had was to make the white piece elevated a bit from the black with a spring or sponge tape; maybe the next card! Thanks for looking, and I appreciate any comments.

Zendala Dare #58

For this week's Zendala Dare template go to www.thebrightowl.blogspot.ca. Thanks Erin for another great template. The center screamed out "Mumsy" to me. I haven't used this tangle in a long time, so it was great to be reminded of it because it's a cool tangle. I didn't like my overall look on this one at all until I started shading and adding a bit of colour, and now, though I don't love it, I'm surprised at how much better it looks. I should have taken a before and after scan. Thanks for taking the time to look, and if you feel so inclined, to comment. Have a good week!

Zentangle Challenge #118 - UMT - Kuke

The Zentangle Challenge this week from Laura at www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca is an "UMT" (Use My Tangle), and the tangle is Kuke. Such a pretty tangle! I can't wait to see how others have used it, which I'll do after I've submitted mine. I used one of the pre-printed Zendala tiles. Twile was a challenge to me - getting it to fit into the triangular curves, but I'm ok with the way it turned out. ...and I rather wish I'd used the sepia for Kuke and black for Archer and Hybrid so that Kuke would be more of the focus. Another great challenge Laura, thanks!

Zendala Dare #57 - Tangled Time #3 - It's five o'clock somewhere (second entry)

This is my second entry to this week's Zendala Dare. I'm sure I'm not the only one who finds that once I start to tangle, time takes on a new dimension and usually flies by. I also find that other things that needed doing seem suddenly less important. So, I am working on a series of "Tangled Time" clock Zendala's that indicate that time becomes confused and or elastic once I put pen to paper. This is my third, and there is an added twist to this one. The three tangles at the 5, 6, and 7 o'clock placement are in honour of cocktail hour (it's five o'clock somewhere, as Jimmy Buffet sings). The tangles I've used in these positions are wine inspired tangles created by Linda Farmer: Chard, Rose, and Gewurtz. (I'm still waiting for Merlot to be created...). This was fun and maybe will inspire those of you out there who are good at coming up with new tangles to design tangles for some cocktails like martini's, gimlets, mojito's... ha, ha!

Zendala Dare #57

Oh, I love this week's Dare from guest Genevieve Crabe via Erin at www.thebrightowl.blogspot.ca! This entry went fairly quickly for me - two tangles (cadent and facets) were obvious choices for me, though I have to admit that it took two tries to trace out the template in such a way that the outer lines were "guidelines". Unfortunately, my tile got a bit dirty from the kitchen table - not the best place to tangle, but I had to watch something on the stove while I did it. It looks a lot worse on the scan than it actually is - maybe I should clean the scanner too. I like the flow of this one, but feel like it's missing something. However, I'm not going to spend any more time on it BECAUSE, as I was doing it, I realized it has 12 points.... That means I'm going to do a larger one as part of my series of "Tangled Time" which is sort of mixed up clocks that represent how time becomes quite elastic when I start to tangle - if you know what I mean ;). So hopefully I'll have another entry before next Sat. Thanks for viewing, and have a good week.

Zentangle Challenge #117 - New Official Tangle: Schway

It took me a long time to do this week's Zentangle Challenge from Laura at www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca! Partly, it was my birthday this week so I've been pretty busy socially, but mostly because it's 6"x6", and I took my time choosing the other tangles, and putting it all together. I did map out Schway in pencil first but was actually surprised at how little adjusting I had to do - it's a fabulous tangle! I'm really pleased with the way this ZIA turned out and am going to put it in a plain black frame. It's supposed to be cooler, and rainy off and on for the next couple of days, so I'll have a chance to view the other entries (instead of puttering in the garden). I can't wait to see what others have done! Have a good weekend.

Zendala Dare #56 - in pencil

I had time this beautiful weekend to do two entries for Erin's Zendala Dare which has the added challenge of doing the zendala in pencil. (Go to www.thebrightowl.blogspot.ca to see the Zendala Dares, and her wonderful blog.) Not sure I like working in just pencil - mainly because I found that I smudged it a lot. However, it was new to me, and I learned a lot. I started by using a 3B pencil, but ended up going back and relining with a B, and adding a bit more with a 4B. Thanks yet again Erin for taking me further out of my comfort zone and pushing me to do something I would never have considered. And thanks to everyone who takes the time to look (and comment) - I learn almost as much from looking at what others have done and said as I do from trying new things myself. And now to look at what the rest of you have submitted....