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.

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.

Zendala Dare #24 - 2nd try

This is my second try using Erin's fabulous template for this week's Zentangle Dare (www.thebrightowl.blogspot.ca). What I really wanted to do was have the tangles "morph" into another tangle where the corners overlapped, but it didn't work out quite the way I wanted to. I didn't intend to use color either, but it was too hard to see the overlapping corners in just black/white. I put way too much thought and planning into this one, and got to the point that I was putting too much pressure on myself and wasn't enjoying the process. I'm not unhappy with it, but it isn't what I had envisioned.

This weeks Diva challenge is "Mardi Gras". Interesting, because just last week I was mentioning to my husband that someday I would love to visit New Orleans. I couldn't get inspired with this challenge though - I felt that I had to actually draw something that looked like something (a mask, a face, ???). I don't generally like to look at other submissions before I do my challenge, but I did this week peek at a few which were all spectacular and made it even harder for me to start. But I am determined to do each challenge - it is after all a "challenge". I'm not pleased with this one, especially after seeing so many other fabulous Mardi Gras zentangles! If I have time this weekend, I might try again - and try to do something with just pattern - no objects. I think I would be happier with that. In the future, I'm not going to look at anyone else's before I do my own. What is so neat about these challenges, and Zentangle in general, is that everyone has their own style, their own personality put into each piece. Even though we are all following a common theme, each zentangle is so completely different! It's awesome. (There is a lot of purple and green in "featherfall", and the whole mask, but unfortunately it didn't scan too well.)