Zentangle Challenge #84 - String Theory XI: Blind-Sighted

It's been weeks since I've taken the time to participate in a Zentangle Challenge. That's what happens in the summer - there is so much going on. (See my photo in the previous entry of me at a craft fair selling my stuffed owls.) At first it was really hard to just let go and I think I actually went through a "Zentangle withdrawal". It's not a bad thing to take a break though, and though I managed to add the new tangles to my workbook, I do feel a bit less compulsive or obsessive about feeling that I HAVE TO do every single Zentangle Challenge and Zentangle Dare. Not that I won't do most of them :) Recently I bought a photo cube from Michael's and have decided that the next six challenges I do will be on 3.5 x 3.5 squares and displayed in the cube. (I prefer working on larger or ZIA pieces so this adds to my challenge.) So, here is my entry for Challenge #84 - Blind Sighted. I used some of the fabulous new tangles that have been introduced in the past little while: LLilly, Dooleedo, Cruffle, D-vine, and Hypnotic.

No Zentangle, but lots of owls, and a cross Canada drive

I've been fighting Zentangle withdrawal, but have been so busy for the past few weeks that I haven't had time to do more than periodically add new published tangles into my workbook. My husband and I did a drive from Toronto to Vancouver - a bit of a whirlwind as we did it in a week. However we were able to see ancestral sites in the prairies, and visit with some friends and relatives along the way. When we got back I had a week to prepare for my first full day craft show at the Peterborough Folk Festival. Everything went really well, the weather was terrific, and I sold 15 owls which I'm quite happy with. I did manage to do this week's Zentangle Challenge after missing the last few, but won't post it until tomorrow a.m. as it's time to go to bed.

Zentangle Challenge #79: Citius, Altius, Fortius

A quicky this week as we have guests from out of town, including an eleven year old who has (and takes) a lot of energy. I'm enjoying having them around, but it doesn't leave much time for my crafts and hobbies (though thankfully the young one wants to try Zentangle, and sewing, and cooking). I had some ideas for this teriffic challenge, but in the middle of one night, my mind decided I had to do snakes for the rings.... so here it is...

Zendala Dare #14

This week's Zendala Dare #14 from Erin at www.thebrightowl.blogspot.ca spoke to me right away... 12 sections - it's a clock! When I'm tangling - time passes so quickly, I lose track, and become somewhat obsessed. This is the second ZIA of my "Tangled Time" series - this one I've called "Time Flies". (my first Tangled Time can be seen on my website www.suesowlings.weebly.com under the Zentangle section.) It took me a lot longer than I originally anticipated because I couldn't decide on just a few tangles so I just flipped through my samples book and the tangle patterns website, and let the pens fly. I learned some new tangles in the process, but over all I think there is way too much detail. Oh well, the housework can be done tomorrow (ha, ha).

Zentangle Challenge #78 - Auraknot

I filled a couple of pages practicing and trying auraknot. I loved seeing it done in the demo video, but somehow it just didn't seem to want to work well for me. I wasn't going to submit this week because I was frustrated, but last night as I was sitting out on the porch I gave it another try with brown cardstock and pearl gel pens, giving it one more go. Don't love it, but there you go. Unfortunately the gel pens take longer to dry (hence the smudges), but at least I was able to make auraknot look somewhat different. Of course, scanning doesn't show the subtle colors (purple, green, silver, gold). When I have more time (and patience), I'd like to do a border for a ZIA in auraknot, but it's going to take a lot more practice. I loved looking at all the other entries (which I normally don't do before entering) - there are so many fine and brilliant pieces! Sorry I didn't have time this week to comment on more than a few.

Zendala Dare #13 - Play with paper

This weeks Zendala Dare from Erin of www.thebrightowl.blogspot.ca, is to use her template on a surface that is something other than what we would usually tangle on. The timing couldn't be better for me because I just bought some blackout drapery material that I wanted to try sewing into a Zentangle chair cover. Well, the material does bleed a bit, doesn't shade with pencil so I had to get creative and try shading with the pen, and I don't think it's going to be very color fast. Oh well, I'm sure I'll find another use for it. The first example is the on the blackout material. Today was record heat temperatures in Toronto so I spent most of the day in the back yard, in a kiddie pool cooling down and enjoying an otherwise beautiful day. Between dips, I did my second tile on some colored texture craft paper. It has a sort of tie-dye stripe in blue and pink so I used blue and pink ink. I'm happy with the first, but the second looks (and was) rushed.

Zendala Challenge #77 - Fiore di Pietro (Peter's Flower)

This is my entry for the week's Zentangle Challenge (www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca) which was to create using the tangle Fiore di Pietro (Peter's Flower). This tangle was designed in memory of Rho Densmore's brother in law. This postcard uses her tangle in memory of my cat Patch who passed away over a year ago and is remembered with a cat statue which sits in my garden, just as she loved to. The photo was printed on my Pogo printer and the postcard is part of a series I'm doing combining Pogo photo's and Zentangle. Rho, you may use my entry for your memorial book, if you wish. You've created a wonderful tangle in memory of Peter!