Zendala Dare #116

I did two Zendala's for this week's Dare from Erin at www.thebrightowl.blogspot.com. Though it doesn't show, the first one was done on a regular Zendala tile, and the second on an 8.5 inch circle. I like the second better because it gave me the opportunity to showcase some tangles that work well in circular spaces. I wanted something to balance the detail of the central orbs and I think Zplode works well. I'm happy with both of these!

Zendala Dare #115 + use tangles that start with (all or some) letters: THANKS

I wasn't too fond of this week's Zendala Challenge from Erin at www.thebrightowl.blogspot.com, because I thought there were too many spaces and awkward ones at that…. But I try to do all of the Dares, and I was frankly quite surprised and pleased with my end result with this one. Goes to reinforce that you never know where Zentangle is going to take you! I initially wanted to use tangles for all the letters in the word "THANKS" (which was part of this week's dare), but I decided to stop without using an H or an N, and I'm happy that I left the open space! I'm not sure why it looks like the paper is blue - it's not - it's off-white water-colour paper; but I kind of like it blue!

Zendala Dare #114

Another great template this week from Erin at www.thebrightowl.blogspot.com. Not one of my favourite end products, but I had fun with the colour. And at least it's on time; last weeks entry went in late. I've been busy preparing for a new set of Zentangle classes, and finishing up a few of the many projects from Camerida (a wonderful weekend spent at the studio of Chris Titus in Wyoming, N.Y. with 25 Canadian and American CZT's)! I've been using this blog only for Zentangle challenges and Dares, but I'm thinking that I should be writing about the other wonderful Zentangle adventures I've been on this year: Tropical Tangle Garden with Cherryl Moote in Elora, Ontario, CanTangle in Regina, Saskatchewan, and Camerida in Wyoming, N.Y. Stay tuned ….

Zendala Dare #113

My entry for last week's Zendala Dare from Erin at www.thebrightowl.blogspot.com is late because I've been down with bronchitis, and most of my artistic energy has been used getting ready for a couple of classes, and finishing a couple of the fantastic projects from our weekend in the state of N.Y. at Camerida. Without more chatter, here is my entry:

Zendala Dare #109

This is for this week's Zendala Dare from Erin at www.thebrightowl.blogspot.com. I really like this template, but agree with her that the outside parts seemed a bit awkward, so I added in lines to make leaf-like petals around the edge. I haven't used Ixorus or Braze in a really long time, and I'm glad I re-discovered them! Not liking the way I shaded Braze because it doesn't look like I wanted it to, but then again, it has a very different look and that's one of the great things about Zentangle - NO MISTAKES - and it's ever so forgiving and surprising! This tile is done on white water-colour paper, but looks blue in the photo - I wish it was blue; the photo looks better! I'm off to Glasgow and Belfast for the next week and a bit, so I'm going to miss next week's challenge, and may not have time to view and comment on the entries until I get back. That's the thing about traveling… I love it, but dearly miss the Zentangle time, and of course, my cats….

Zentangle Challenge #230 - Guest Blogger Erin Olson

This week's guest blogger for the challenge (iamthedivaczt.blogspot.com)is Erin Olson of The Bright Owl (www.thebrightowl.blogspot.com). Erin has posted a Zendala, and I LOVE her Zendala's. This one, once I started working on it, morphed into a ZIA! That's one of the many things I love about Zentangle - you are often surprised at where your tangling leads you. I may very well do another and try to keep it as a Zendala… Thanks Erin! (and good to see you here, and back with new Zendala's on your blog!)

Zendala Dare #92

I really like the template from Erin at www.thebrightowl.blogspot.ca this week. But when I started to transfer it into the lovely journal we got at CZT training, I felt the page was calling out for a bit more… this is the result, and I'm quite happy with it. I haven't used Fengle in a long time, nor Blooming-butter.

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!)

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.

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 #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….

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.

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.

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.

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!

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 #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!