Zendala Dare #19

Version 1: Lot's of Mookas', some Beadz, Flux and "Perfs"
add a  little shading and eet  eez complete! (French accent )

Okay, I'm jumping on the Zendala Dare bandwagon! Erin Koetz Olson, CZT of Bright Owl hosts a new Zendala Dare/challenge every Friday, and I'm joining the crowd. She does all the hard work for us and develops and supplies the templates in a variety of sizes and shapes. There is some inspirational work from all the participants, Check it out.

I've been putting this off as long as possible but I need to start working on more Zendalas. I'm all for freedom of tangles and forms so I was apprehensive about the confinement of the template, but this was a lot of fun and the template gives me freedom to play! I basically used the template as a string. Kept very close to the original form but my stuff will never look perfect and pristine. It's organic and wonky and wobbly but I still like the results.

I appreciate all those that have perfect lines and forms but mine doesn't go there.

I want to thank Erin for all her hard work and inspiration. I hope to learn a lot as I add this challenge to my weekly tangling assignments! Whoo-hoo! I enjoy the fact that these two pieces are so different.

Version 2: Paradox, Aura Knot Cross, Hollibaugh,
Sez, Auras, Rounding, and some Meer-Like forms.
I'll spare you the French accent again!

Challenge #83 - DuoTangle Assunta and Mooka

I really enjoyed this week's Diva Challenge, #83 a Duotangle using the tangles Assunta and Mooka. Mooka is one of my all time favorite tangles. When Rick and Maria first presented Mooka it was the Diva's weekly challenge. That's all I drew for 2 weeks. And I did a lot of tangling, I was obsessed! Assunta, eh, not so much. Combining the two; not so much...

Well, I took a deep breath and decided had to go forward with the dang challenge! After all I am a Zentangle Zealot and I must go forth and tangle my brains out. Lot's of tries and fails and then...

I decided to concentrate on Mooka, my lovely Mooka, and combine it with one of my favorite forms, the leaf. I kept true to the tenants of Mooka: one continuous line, always going inward when drawing the "feet/leaves" of Mooka. I tried to relax, smile, and breathe! The Mooka's echo the Assunta form.

This upcoming CZT training gives me the perfect opportunity to try and relive the wonders of the Zentangle process that I experience in May of 2011 when I became a CZT in class #6.

I love what came out of this challenge, the leaves have the feel of a bleeding heart with that lovely little bulb on the end. Assunta was also fun and flowed more easily than I expected. I kept Assunta grey (pencil) in the background as a wall paper to present my Mooka Leaves.

This is a full 8.5 X 11 ZIA because I wanted room to breathe and explore! My scan is complete with kitty hair (thanks Miranda!)

I also found out the children's book I've been illustrating for the last 2 years has been printed.  It's a wonderful collection of Fairy Stories written by Diane Light. The name of the book is "Into Fairyland, A Treasure Chest of Fairy Stories." The writing is wonderful and I'm very pleased with my illustrations. This was two years in the making and I love the results! It's a full-color paper back book!

Getting exposed to the Zentangle process really sparked my creativity and enhanced my illustration process. The book is colorful, and full of lot's of wonderful Fairies, Magic, and Love. You'll see the Zentangle process throughout the 64 pages. I'm very proud of this book. Any young girl who fancies these wonderful little creatures will love this magical book.

Check out Starry Whispers Books for more information. Just click on the "Into Fairyland" tab.  I would love to share this wonderful book with my fellow Zentangle enthusiasts and any of your little fairy enthusiasts. We also have FREE Special Things to do: coloring pages, word search puzzles and an EXCITING CONTEST. You could win a free book and an Amazon Gift Card! .
I'm also including a study for Mooka Leaves, starting with a simple outline and then embellishing with Assunta in the background. These challenges are great at making us go beyond our comfort zones. I love coming out the other side feeling like I've stretched my creative muscles. Thanks to Laura, Rick and Maria, of course, and the Zentangle process for giving me this opportunity!

Here's a study with simple outline and then embellishing,
rounding, and adding Assunta

Weekly Challenge #82 - UMT version VII "Brayd"

This weeks Diva's challenge is a first of the month, Use My Tangle challenge #82 using Shelly Beach's tangle Brayd. This is a great tangle with lot's of possibilities and flow. I use Brayd, Flux, Printemps, Tipple, Hollibaugh, BTL Jooz, some Pearlz and some spirals. It's a fun challenge that lends itself beautifully to shading. I'm working on some other tries.

Challenge #81 - Relay for Life Zendala

The Diva's Challenge #81 - was guest hosted by Erin Olsen, CZT of Bright Owl. She hosts the Zendala weekly challenges and presented a Zendala template based on Relay for Life. A great cause in the fight against cancer. Such a wonderful and worthy cause. I was up North at a friend's place this past week and internet was iffy and no scanner so I didn't get posted in time. When I got back late Saturday night there was a storm and my cable, internet, and phone were off.

Betweed, Beadz, Leaves, Auraknot, spirals, and more...

Because we were up north with no printer or scanner, I had to  free-hand  the template Erin provided. Wonky is my middle name, but I like the final results of my template interpretation. I concentrated on keeping my Zendalla light, open, and organic. The shading and lines were my focus. Erin's template allows wonderful flow and connection. The connection we all have in the fight against this devistating disease!

I felt leaving the open areas felt like the gaps left in our live's by loved ones who are gone. I lost my mother to lung cancer in 1996. I miss her and this week vacationing and sharing stories with old friends brought up a lot of stories and memories of our mothers. There was lot's of laughter and sharing and it was wonderful to share and remember family stories. My mother was a character and an amazing strong woman. She was challenging and could drive me crazy, but she was the person in my life that I knew loved me unconditionally and I dearly miss her.

This challenge also made me realize I need to concentrate on Zendalas much more. I've dipped my toe into the Zendala process but full immersion is necessary. I'd like to start presenting Zendala's classes in the future. Onward and upward in my Zentangle/CZT journey. Thanks for the boost Erin and a wonderful cause!

Challenge #80 - Mi2 Explored

 The Diva's challenge this week asks us to explore MI2 created by created by CZT Mimi Lempart. It is a challenging tangle but lot's of fun. It adds a great sophistication to my arsenal of tangles.

I did 3 variations this week. The first exploring the tendrils and enhancing them and adding a little Florz. The second explores a little more contrast of the black negative space and using my white gel pen for accents. The third incorporates Sanibelle, Flux, and some organic textures and leaves, turned out sort of alien-like bird. Kind of fun, but don't stare at the eyes for too long! A fun exercise and helped me feel more comfortable with this versatile tangle.

Challenge #79 - Citius, Altius, Fortius “Swifter, Higher, Stronger"

This week's Diva's challenge was taken on by Roe Densmore, CZT. She challenges us to use the Olympic ring logo as the basis for this week's challenge. I'm not fond of recreating the logo, circles are so particular and show the wonkiness, so I just embraced it. As the Olympic motto states: “The most important thing is not to win but to take part!" I'm taking part.

My interpretation took on a graphic feel, I tried to let the elements shine: the rings, the year, an olive branch to represent Peace, a little touch of color, and it eeez complete (french accent)! The Knightsbridge woven pattern ties/quilts the five continents/rings together. It was an enjoyable process and I'm happy with the results. A little Photoshop color added to my scan finishes this challenge.

When I first began tangling I tried to make each tile as perfect as possible before presenting it to someone. I would erase any left over string/pencil marks, now I revel in the process. As I'm strolling through the weekly offerings I particularly enjoy being able to share in the process, the path that each of us travels when creating and tangling.


We all come to the Zentangle process using our own perspective and, if we listen to our bodies, and follow the path of least resistance the process becomes even more enjoyably. When we Relax, Smile, and Breathe we get the full Zentangle experience. It's a wonderful gift to ourselves!

I've Been Nominated, Please Vote for Me!

I'm so excited, I've been nominated for a Most Fascinating Blog of 2012 under Zentangle Teacher category. It's such an honor to have my blog recognized.
Voting begins today, July 16, I would appreciate your votes. I'm fourth down. There are 29 total nominations. How kool is that?