Zendala Dare #4 - Mexico

Erin at the "The Bright Owl" http://thebrightowl.blogspot.ca (for some reason I can't provide the direct link) has provided us with templates of a mandala to tangle as part of her Zendala dare. This week she has also asked us to use a theme of Mexico and/or Ocean. Erin has been on a Mexican cruise and thus the inspiration! Love this "dare" as my husband and I didn't get away on a Mexican vacation this year so I went back to some photo's of our trips to Mexico over the past three years and it brought back so many memories! I love the colors of Mexico, in nature and art and clothes and buildings.... I couldn't get sombrero's out of my mind while I was tangling... so I've added some in as part of the border. Thanks Erin - great dare!

Zentangle Challenge #68 Hybrid and Strircles

This week's Zentangle Challenge is to use the two tangles Hybrid and Strircles. I've never used Hybrid before - like it a lot! Strircles is another fun one, but it's hard for me to use variations for this one. I did this small ZIA in one sitting as I've been vacationing in Scotland for the past week and was "getting behind" in my Zentangling! I missed the deadline for last week's challenge "Earth Day" because there was so much to see, so many people to visit, and little access to internet. So here is my completed ZIA for Earth Day as well. I used a map of the world for my string. All comments are welcomed!

Zendala Dare #2

This is my first zendala, in response to Erin Olsen's Zendale Dare. This is dare #2. I tried to add a link to her blog, but for some reason it isn't working (on my end) so here it is manually: http://thebrightowl.blogspot.ca (I'm pretty sure I'll be able to use the link on my website so I'll have to figure out why it isn't working here?) I've been wanting to do a zendala but felt intimidated. Thank you Erin for posting the "dare" and for providing the templates in various sizes! In this Zendala I used cadent, slink, sanibelle, beadlines, and black pearlz. I ended up using carbon paper to transfer the design onto heavy watercolor paper, which works ok as long as I don't press too hard. The carbon is a bit harder to erase if needed, but it does work. I would be happy to receive any comments or suggestions.

Zentangle Challenge #66 - Laura's Auras

I'm glad to have another challenge to do as I've been working on a ZIA that I'm not too happy with, so wasn't feeling very motivated. This week's zentangle challenge is to use aura's. Not easy for me as I haven't done much of this, and I do love my "white spaces". But I'm quite happy with this one, it has some auras, and still lots of white space. Good challenge - again taking me out of my comfort zone!

New Website!

Well, it's been a techie week for me! I set up my website at www.suesowlings.weebly.com then printed out some business cards. Both need some improving but they are up and running. I have also apparently sold some of the owls at the consignment store and they have ordered more. It's exciting, and motivating. I thought I was running out of motivation to make more owls (I have about 100 in stock), but if sales keep up then so will I.

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 Challenge #65 - Huggy Bear

This week's Zentangle Challenge is a UMT (Use My Tangle) challenge. The tangle that was chosen is one called Huggy Bear. Ok, I've never used it before, and can't say that it is my favorite, although after I tried it a few times, I can see that there might be some very interesting variations. I'm not peeking at the other entries first though - but I sure will once this is posted. Don't particularly like this one, but I didn't like the string I drew in the first place... But, that's why it's called a challenge. I'm also working on a more intricate ZIA (Zentangle Inspired Art) and have filled in one of the sections with Huggy Bear - it looks much smarter there.