Zentangle Challenge #347: String Theory - Traced Objects

This week's challenge from Laura at www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca is to trace found objects for our string. I used an oddly shaped coaster, scissors, a fridge magnet and a bottle cap. This was fun!

Zentangle Challenge #334 - Crazy 'NZeppel

This week's challenge from Laura at www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca is to use the tangle Crazy 'NZeppel. I LOVE 'NZeppel as a grid - not so keen on the irregular version, but I did the challenge, merging Hollibaugh, and using Derwent Graphitint pencils for a touch of colour.:

Zentangle Challenge #326 - 'NZeppel monotangle (and pre-teen metaphor)

I LOVE 'NZeppel! So much, I've named my Christmas Elf 'NZeppel! This week's challenge (www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca) is from guest Elisa Murphy, and it's to do a mono tangle of 'NZeppel. I love the blog about not fitting in… many of us can identify, but I must say that the Zentangle community has made me feel more fitted! Here is my tile for this challenge:

Zentangle Challenge #317 - Photo tangles

It's been a while since I did the Diva challenge (www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca), and I really want to get back into it. I've been concentrating on art journals, which often include tangling. This week, one of my journal prompts was similar to the Diva challenge - or at least my interpretation of it was. I used a photocopy of a picture of the muscles involved in doing a wrist stretch and tangled around it. So I'm "cheating" and using it for this challenge too since I just finished it today. I have some mild issues with carpal tunnel from my days working in libraries handling books, and it is aggravated by gardening too, so I'm trying to be more mindful and take time to stretch and take breaks.

Zentangle Challenge UMT - Orbs-la-Dee by Anneke van Dam

Happy New Year! It's so wonderful to look forward to the Diva Challenge every Monday! (www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca) Thank you so much Laura! The first challenge each month is a UMT (Use My Tangle), and this month it's the tangle Orbs-la-Dee by Anneke van Dam. This is a tangle I used a few times when I first saw it, but then forgot about it - one of the reasons I love these challenges. So, my tile is busier than what I've been doing lately and I had intended to put Orbs-la-Dee in the centre but made a "mistake" when starting it - and that's how 'Nzeppel happened. I just love the way Zentangle tiles can end up so very different than what was envisioned… This is one of those tiles that I wish I had taken a before shading picture… I almost tore it up at that point! I don't love this one but it turned out better than I thought it was working toward. And I apologize that I don't comment on every post. I don't post comments on photo's taken on flickr, Instagram, Pinterest, and sometimes when there is a blog post with lots of responses to many challenges. I won't comment if I have to sign up for or or sign into something else - it's partly time management.

Zentangle Challenge #290 - Duo-Tangle: Flux and 'NZeppel

Here is another wonderful challenge from Laura at www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca! This week we are to do a Duo-Tangle, using only Flux and 'NZeppel. I LOVE them both, but find that I rarely use Flux - no reason, but I use 'NZeppel a lot! So it was fun to put them together. I almost wasn't going to shade this at all - I quite liked it plain. In the end, I decided to add a bit of graphite, which was fine too, but I rather wish I hadn't… *(I would like to add here that I love to see everyone's interpretation of the challenges, and I try to comment on those that I can. But I don't have an Instagram, or Flickr account, and Pinterest makes me log in each time I want to comment, so to those who post that way, please note that I am enjoying your photos but you won't be getting likes or comments from me. I often also won't comment when someone has posted several challenges on their blog because I just don't have time….)

Zentangle Challenge #285 - Relax, bro.

When we tangle for ourselves, as opposed to tangling for something we are going to publish somewhere for others to see, probably, our tangling is more Zen, more relaxed… And that is the premise for this week's Diva challenge (www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca) It's true for me sometimes - especially if there is a challenge or focus on a tangle I'm unfamiliar with or don't particularly like. For this tile I took one I had worked on at an outdoor music concert this summer, and really didn't like. The basic tangles I had done were only Betweed, and Molygone. I set the tile aside. (I have a stack of potential tiles to finish…) For this challenge I finished the tile by adding in a few more tangles - the first that came to mind when I looked at a spot, then shaded. I wish I had taken progress photo's: the tile I wasn't happy with, the tile before shading…) I'm happy I kept that tile, and really should go back and touch up my other unfinished, not loved tiles….

Zentangle Challenge #272: What's Black and White and Red All Over?"

Here is my tile for this week's Diva Challenge from Laura at www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca. I had fun with this one!

Zendala Dare #112

This is my tile for Erin's Zendala Dare (www.thebrightowl.blogspot.com). Love the template, but I didn't have much time to play with it. I really like the blue in 'Nzeppel and want to do more with blue… I see some on Renaissance tiles, and I'd love to try that! I'm off to Wyoming, N.Y. tomorrow to attend a CZT get together called Camerida. I'm so excited and nervous!

Zentangle Challenge #235 - String Theory - Stripes

I've coloured a number of tiles with inks, and this one had some nice but irregular "stripes" that I followed as a string. This is my entry for this week's challenge from Laura at www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca I had fun doing it, love the yellow and purple background, and have a love/hate feeling about the Meer which is awkward, but very different.

Zentangle Challenge #225 - Color (Guest Post - Jen Crutchfield)

Wow, I managed 4 tiles for this week's Diva Challenge presented by guest Jen Crutchfield, CZT. We were asked to introduce colour… something I'm not comfortable with, but LOVE! I started with a grey tile and used blue and sepia ink and chalk pencils. I actually drew out this tile last week for the Square One Challenge to use Meer, but didn't like the tile so set it aside. I love it with colour!) My two pinkish tiles were background dyed using watered down Tombow markers and have been sitting around for a while - this was the perfect chance to play with them. I used Tombow markers to colour and shade the two more colourful tiles. What fun I've had using colour, and also trying a few new to me tangles! Great challenge!

Zentangle Challenge #220 - UMT (Use My Tangle): All Boxed Up

This week's challenge from Laura at www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca is to "use my tangle" (UMT), and the tangle chosen is from Alice Hendon called All Boxed Up. I didn't love this tangle at first glance, but once I started playing with it, I had lots of fun - hence the three tiles (smile). My scanner is not great, so I apologize for the quality… really, they all look better in person, I think. I'm looking for good tangles to do on black tiles because I really think I need to start investigating those a bit more, and get more experience with them (and Renaissance too). I think All Boxed Up has potential - and while I like the black tile I did here, I think it could be better if I knew how to bring out the white a bit better. I'd love to take a course just on the black tiles… anyone? (in or near Toronto) Thank you for looking and I know it's very time consuming, but I appreciate it when people take the time to leave comments.

Zendala Dare #94 - Happy

Welcome back! After a break, Erin is back with her weekly Zendala Dare (www.thebrightowl.blogspot.com), and I'm really really HAPPY about this! I've had a bit of a lost mojo for Zentangle in the past few months myself. Not feeling the Zen, not feeling the motivation… And yet, when I talk about or teach Zentangle, I feel just as enthused, just not satisfied with any of my own work. When I first saw this template, I thought it looked too busy, but as soon as I transferred it onto paper, I kept getting ideas. My first attempt is using favourite tangles, simple design, and on a 9x10 sheet. Big and not too complicated, and I'm HAPPY with it. (The scanner brought out some extra smudges that I don't notice on the original, so try to ignore those.) I'd like to do another regular tile size using tangles with the letters in the word HAPPY, so maybe there will be another entry from me. But first I want to do the weekly Zentangle Dare which came out today and hopefully Erin's coming back will also facilitate my returned mojo! Cheers everyone!

Zentangle Challenge #153 - UMT - Jailed Johnny

This week's Zentangle Challenge from Laura at www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.com is to "Use My Tangle" Jailed Johnny. I've done a couple of tiles using this one so far this week and have to say it sure looks different when used in a longer line with more "petals", or with duplicate rows. I had a bit of time this afternoon and decided to try the renaissance tiles again, and include the new Jailed Johnny. I love the renaissance tiles, but would love to take a class in just working with them - they are so different! I have a question - does anyone out there know the best sharpener or way to keep a white charcoal pencil sharpened? I have three different sharpeners, but the chalk lead keeps breaking off ...

Zendala Dare.#90 - Happy Birthday! - favourite ? tangles

This week's Zendala Dare has the added request from Erin that we use our favourite tangles in honour of her birthday. Not an easy thing to do for me since I have many, many favourites, and even my absolute favourites change frequently. Some days I favour grids, some days, something more organic. Some days I force myself to tangle when I'm just not in the mood, and then if I'm not happy with the result, a particular tangle may take on disfavour for a while… So. This one is for Erin - Happy Birthday Erin! The Heartstring is for the love of Zentangle and all that Erin gives, and gives, and gives. 'Nzeppel was really hard for me to understand, but once I got it, I've had hours of fun with it. And Gneiss - well it worked here, and I love how it is so simple but has such huge impact. I wanted to do another Zendala this week, because there are a few more tangles I would like to use on this template, but it's not going to happen. Now I'm off to look at others work. (And Erin, I didn't get a chance to comment on your blog post about the fellow who just wanted the templates and nothing else - so I just want to say, WE LOVE YOU! KEEP DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING, 'CAUSE YOU DO IT SO WELL!)

Zentangle Challenge #145 - Quib - More tiles

I couldn't stop playing with Quib….

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!).

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.

Zentangle Challenge #103 - Moebius String

The Diva Zentangle Challenge this week is to use the Moebius string. I had an idea to make it into a pathway - good idea, right? Hummm, but things got out of hand and two days (and nights) later I was adding more, and more.... It's fussy, but I got to try some tangles I hadn't used before, and the concept of a journey, meditative gardens, and Zentangle just seemed to flow. Don't love it, but it's the thought that counts. My thoughts go out to Laura and Artoo and family, and everyone else else dealing with Moebius Syndrome.

Zentangle Dare #26

Ooops, - when I started looking at others contributions, I realized that I had missed the whole point of the fall or halloween theme... so my contributions aren't theme related (I may need to do another in this case.) Hope you take the time to look at them anyway. I love the template for this week's Zendala Dare from Erin at (www.thebrightowl.blogspot.ca) because it incorporates a grid, triangles, and more flowing lines. This first effort includes a few of my favorite tangles that I'm fairly comfortable with: Inapod, Paradox, Hi-C's, and Cadent. I did it on a white tile, but felt I needed to blacken the outside to balance the dark areas within.

My second tile is the larger size template, and I used a couple of tangles I wasn't as comfortable with, but have come to really enjoy ('Nzeppel and Verve). The other tangles I used are Arcles, Flourish, and Florez. Thank you for taking the time to look - your comments encourage and motivate me!