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 #296 - UMT: Moowa by Anya Ipsen

This week's challenge from Laura (www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca) is a UMT (Use My Tangle): Moowa by Anya Ipsen.

Zendala Dare #97

This is my Zendala for this week's Zendala Dare from Erin at www.thebrightowl.blogspot.com. Another challenging zendala… what to do with all those tear-drop shapes? Take a look at her blog to see the template. I'm really trying hard not to pre-plan to use certain tangles, and trying not to anticipate which tangle "goes with" another tangle. I also trying to get back to leaving white space - I used to be more comfortable with it, but seem to be getting into the habit of trying to fill everything in… In this Zendala I used the first and next tangles that crossed my mind, stopped before I really wanted to, but am glad I did, - and so, here you go!

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 #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.

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.

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 #111 - Mooka Madness - Monotangle - Mania

This week's Zentangle Challenge #111 from Laura at www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca is to do a monotangle of Mooka. I love seeing Mooka, but like many others have been intimidated by it. Thanks Laura for the opportunity to challenge myself with an exercise in practicing and trying different variations. I used a prestrung zendala tile for the circular one, and an 8 X 10 inch sheet for the second. I like the versatility of this tangle, but no matter what I did, they all looked very much the same to me. Before posting this I started looking at other entries, which I don't normally do because it makes me second guess my attempts, but this time it has inspired me. There are parts of each of my entries that I like, and parts that I don't - but that is why I tried to use this exercise as a "study". I'm as hooked now on Mooka as many others, and I'll be spending a bit more time this week experimenting with it. I've been particularly drawn to the more simple and graceful versions with one or two mooka, so that will be my next focus.

Zentangle Challenge #101 - Phicops

This week's Zentangle Challenge (#101), from Laura at www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca, is a UMT (use my tangle). Her husband B-rad has developed the tangle we are to use - Phicops (pronounced f-eye-cops). I had already started a small ZIA using a string made from the beginning of my name "S" (turn the page), and a "U". I still had several sections to fill in, so I put Phicops in two of them - shaded with green but that doesn't show up very well with the scan. I've used 4 "new to me" tangles in this ZIA. I haven't looked at any other entries but I'm guessing there will be lots of very interesting and beautiful variations... I learn so much from looking at all the other entries, and being pushed to try something new and often out of my comfort zone with each challenge (and dare). Thank you Laura for these challenges each week, and thank you everyone who takes the time to comment and/or look.

ZIA - ovals, squares, circles - Zentangle challenge #65

The string for this ZIA was created using three things from the kitchen - a coaster, a martini shaker, and an olive dish - I thought about calling it "wasted martini's", but will save that catchy title for another ZIA. I had barely started when Zentangle Weekly Challenge #65 from "I am the Diva" came out asking us to use the tangle "Huggy Bear". I'd never used it before. I did a traditional tile and submitted that, but though it made me try some variations of Huggy Bear, I wasn't too happy with it. So I added it into this ZIA, and I'm much happier with how it turned out. I didn't try to be too original in variations - I'm working on learning and practicing tangles, rather than stretching creativity. Sometimes when I see how creative others are, I think "why didn't I think of that?". Hopefully that will come after I get better at technique. Love to hear any comments....

Zentangle Weekly Challenge #63 - Fengle

This week's I am the Diva Zentangle is to use the new tangle Fengle. I first saw this tangle about a week ago and fell in love with it. Thank you for adding it to the official zentangles and giving such great instructions and so many examples of how it can be used! In fact, after seeing all the variations that Rick and Maria had done, I wondered if we could come up with any new ideas! My first attempt was originally going to be overlapping Fengles, with variations.... but it just grew into a seascape, then called for color! It's not what I had in mind, but I enjoy playing with watercolor pencils which I've only used a couple of times.

My second try was much more to my liking. Simple, bold, and hopefully a bit different. I do love white spaces....