Challenge #64 - Fortune Teller

The Diva's challenge this week #64 - Fortune. She based this on the "coodie catcher" we used to use as children in school. The challenge asks us to divide our tile in half and then again, forming 8 sections (triangles) that will be our string.

I tried to respect the string but not hold it sacred. The key for me was to make each part relate to the other. For me this is always a part of my creative process. Acknowledging what the tangle is doing to the right and left, and relating each tangle to the other. I try to follow lines, rhythms, spaces so all things intermingle and relate. I find it really helps me achieve the "Zen" state of the Zentangle process and become totally enmeshed in what I'm doing. Looking at the big picture but not sweating the details, reveling in them!

I used Fengle (of course), Hollibough, Flying Geese, Tipple, Crescent Moon and some swirls beads and fluff. I also used a wonderful new tangle on the bottom right. It was based on a tattoo and I was taken with it when I saw it on one of the challenges. Can anyone tell me the name and creator?

Got it... the missing tangle is Allium by J.J. Labarbera, thanks Susan!

Overlay of original string

Challenge #63 - New Official Zentangle Tangle "Fengle"

The Diva's challenge for this week is #63. Laura asks us to use the new official tangle "Fengle". The official instructions came out in the Zentangle newsletter this weekend and I had a feeling that might be our challenge when I saw this wonderful new tangle. And, as always, Laura never dissappoints. So Fengle it is!

I was at a party this weekend and my friend Jeanne (fellow CZT) was telling me that she has a couple of Zentangle pieces exhibited at our local libray.  She used Fengle. How timely was that little snippet? I can hardly wait to check out the show this weekend.  There was a hint about the emerging tangle that was presented at the last CZT training so it's fun to be able to try it. Rick and Maria named it but had not deconstructed it yet. And now it is official. Yippee.

When Mooka came out Laura presented it as one of our challenges and I was smitteen! I Mookaed my brains out for a couple of weeks. I wonder if Fengle will take the same path... hmmmm.

My first version was influenced by a video link my sister Nancy sent me. She titled the email Zentangles in the Sand. The artist is Andres Amador. He does huge installations on beaches at low tide. He creates fabulous Zentangle looking patterns (tangles) that dissappear with the outgoing tide. It's fascinating, check him out! It makes me feel a little silly when I say I don't have enough time for the weekly challenge!

So, after checking out his web page, I found my Fengle feeling like a sand casting with lot's of decorative stones (pearls) to aura the edges of this fun new tangle. I think it stands up on it's own, so I did a single Fengle. I like it and I need more practice.


Second version, I'm officially hooked on Fengle!
ZIA - 8.5 x 11

Challenge #61 - Use My Tangle - Golven "Wave"

This week's Diva's challenge is the "Use My Tangle" first of the month challenge. The tangle is Mariët's GOLVEN, which is the Dutch word for waves.. you can find instructions for her tangle here. I love her work and have often been inspired by her tangles and style. Fun challenge.

This tile morphed into a Geographic slice of earth.

Challenge #59 - Mardi Gras

This weeks Diva challenge was suggested by OwlLovingApril she suggested using a Mardi Gras theme.  Today was Fat Tuesday, the beginning of Lent and the Mardi Gras celebration.

My sister and brother in law lived in Louisianna many years ago. When I visited them we visited New Orleans. It was beautiful with wonderful old architecture, ornate grill work on balconies throughout the French Quarter, Mardi Gras is a vivacious celebration with beads, baubles, gems, and plumes (my new tangle), that's what I chose to reflect in my tile.

I used MG as my string and let it fly from there!

Weekly Challenge #57: Use My Tangle (UMT) Version 1 - Sanibelle

This week the Diva's challenge is featuring it's First Monday of the Month "Use My Tangle" Challenge and this month the tangle is Tricia Faraone's Sanibelle. This is a lovely tangle that definitely emulates beautiful flowing sea plants or sea shells, at least that's what it brings up for me.

This little tile just screamed for a sea nymph nestled within the flowing bed of Sanibelle. A large sea pearl, Nipa, Tipple, Tagh. I went the more organic, textured route with this tile. The simplicity of the large pearl against the ornate Sanibelle seems to set them off well.

As a child, I was always drawn to mermaids. I spent my childhood summers at camp and the lake and swimming was a major part of my experience. I never wanted to cut my hair so when I grew up I could become a Weekee Watchee Mermaid with my long flowing hair and wearing the lovely mermaid tail! Quite lofty goals, no?

I never became a WW Mermaid but I was a syncronized swimmer in high school and still love the water (sans tail and long flowing locks!). Not so fond of the bathing suit part any more!

Trying some new tangles

Trying some new tangles (to me), Pavonia, Cockles n' Mussells, Spaanders, Pendrils, Krli-Q tangelation and some Radiating orbs. I'm going to try and do 3 tangles a week. I always do the Diva's weekly challenge but I'm going to try and challenge myself a little further.

Challenge #56 - Opposite hand challenge (aka Non Dominatrix* v.2)

The Diva's challenge this week brings back the good ol' opposite hand challenge (AKA Non Dominatrix). Boy, does my left hand have a mind of it's own... Never wanting to stop at the line (making Paradox a challenge), circles are a little curvier than usual, my hand going on it's own little journey at times. I kept my lines wobbly (I like wobbly), bit my tongue a bit, held my breath when I tried making circles but tried to go with the flow.

I noticed I had to move the position of my lamp since my left hand was throwing weird shadows on my paper. I also found it easier to do the black fill in when I put my hand in the position I see my left handed friends use when they are writing. Now it all makes sense!

I use my old stand byes: Paradox, Flukes, Roller Coaster, Print Temps, some Tipple and Beads. Whew, filling in the dark and shading were Verrrrry challenging. But it will make my normal tangling process feel like a breeze!

I did it, by jove! It's all about exploration and stretching our boundaries, right?

Challenge #53 - Udine

Catching up on my challenges, this is my tile working on some alphabets with Laura Harm's tangle Udine. A quick study with some little dancing charms.

My second version is  a combination of Udine with Purple I added some Floatfest, Printemps and Sez.




Adding a little color with highlighter,
colored pencil, and white gel pen

Challenge #50 - Biggify





Fun challenge I usually work larger anyway so it was fun to up the ante a bit! Version 1: Tried a little Cootie, a new fun one from Sandi's Yoga for the brain book, Crescent Moon, Printemp, Float Fest and some Pearls and texture. Very fun.

Got hooked and tried a second version using Tripoli, Pressed Wood, Hollibaugh with some Tipple, Pearls, and some Florz variations. Did the original size and then really bigified it.

This challenge is just like popcorn; you can't do just one. I took artisic license with that quote since I'm much more fond of popcorn!

Version 2 Progression:
First with shading and the second au naturel

 ,

Challenge #49 - Red Thread

Version one: Spinners, Popsicles, Tipple, Shard, Hollibaugh,
Cross Stitch, Golven, Pendrils, and a red thread!

Version two: It's all about the red thread,  Pendrils a' growin'!

Cris Letournea, CZT of Tangled Up in Art takes up the Diva's challenge this week.

"An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet regardless of time, place or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle, but it will never break."
- Chinese proverb

To raise awareness for the mission of the Red Thread Promise, she asks us to to create a traditional black and white tangle tile with a single red "thread" running through it.

A wonderful challenge for this time of year when we are asked to give thanks and appreciate what and who we have in our lives. I am blessed with wonderful family and friends and cherish each and every one of them. This is a great proverb and helps me appreciate what I have, rather than what is missing in my life.

Thanks for another wonderful, thought provoking challenge. Time for all us to count our blessings and wish Artoo a speedy recovery. 

Challenge #48 - Sue Clark - String Theory v. VII: "Tri-Shapes"



Version One - Using familiar tangles
Knightbridge, Floatfest, Crescent Moon, Tipple, Munchin,
Paradox, and Lampions (seed pods), Beadlines

Version 2 - New tangles
Unyum, Spinners, Arches, and Antidots, and a little Paradox point 

Sue Clark, CZT from Colorado is the guest host for this week's Diva Challenge for Week #48. Sue asks us to create a string using three basic shapes (circle, square, and triangle). Fun brain teaser as always. These three shapes don't seem to lend themselves to the same string but it was a fun challenge. Thanks Sue!

In version one, I didn't follow the rules. I used some of my favorites: Crescent Moon, Knightsbridge, Paradox, Tipple, Floatfest (one of my faves), Beadlines, and Lampions/Seed Pods (that's what I call them). Some of my Floatfest has a little striping to mimic a BTL Joos. A busy little organic ZIA but I like the result.

In version 2 I followed Sue's suggestion and used unfamiliar tangles with one faves: Unyum, Spinners, Arches, Antidots, and a little Paradox point (had to throw one fave in). I think the results work!

As I look out and see snowflakes and think of winter, I hope this is my sun catcher for the inevitable upcoming short, grey, winter days! Grasp those little sun rays oh ZIA!

Influencing the weather has always been a dream of mine. As children we lived off the boardwalk in Long Beach, Long Island, NY. We were living in a small apartment house with my father and a hurricane was slapping the Long Island shore.

We were given strict instructions by my father when he left for work that morning to stay off the beach. But his 3 darling daughters had other ideas. It was so exciting to stand on the beach and watch the waves crashing to the shore, how could we resist?

We thought our dad would never know. So we snuck down to the beach and held hands while chanting and swinging our arms up to the heavens... "Oh King Neptune, King of the Sea..." a little ritual we thought would get rid of the big ol' storm. In the midst of our chant several waves crashed on shore soaking the 3 of us to the bone.

We were safe (no thanks to our little stunt) but sopping wet. There was no way we could sneak back before my father got home from work and clean up quickly enough to hide the drowned rat look we receive from King Neptune on our little excursion.

Needless to say, my father, was not a happy camper when he arrived home to find we had totally disregarded his warning. We didn't get out to the beach for quite a while after that, and worst of all, all our efforts hadn't stopped the hurricane!

Challenge #46: - All Hallow's Eve

Catching up on challenges. Finally scanned this one in. A few eyballs, some BTLJoos, Keekos, a few ghosties, some candy corn, and of course, a little spider join the crew, BOO!

Challenge #47 - Lest We Forget

The Diva's challenge #47 asks us simply to remember. Every year vetrans sell lapel Poppies for donation.

The lapel poppies were first made in 1922 by disabled veterans. In time the Royal Canadian Legion took over the operation - and the Poppy Fund continues to support our Country's veterans.

When you create your tile or ZIA, the challenge is to remember - what this means to you. I also think of all the lapels and herring bone suits with the little red poppy decorating their lapels. Remember...

When we were kids I remember seeing the guys with the poppies and thinking how cool they were. I didn't really know what they stood for but my mom told me the men were vetrans and she bought me a poppy to wear on my coat.

My mother died in 1996 and I often think about her. When we were kids we would get an allowance of 10 cents, that tells you how long ago that was! Anyway, my sisters and I would take our big allowance and go down to the local 5 and 10 cent store when it was a special occasion, and buy my mom an "emerald ring". We didn't do this too often, only on special occasions. My mother received quite a few of those Fabulous emerald rings! She would always put the newly purchased ring on and rave about the lovely gift... tin and green glass, what more could a woman ask for? And the green smudge around her finger from the cheap little ring she wore like her badge of courage. She always said "Someday I'll get a real emerald ring!".

Many years later, on her 75th birthday, we, her 4 darling daughters, got her a real emerald ring. The ring had 4 emeralds for her 4 girls and she always wore it always. It was one of the best gifts we ever gave her. I was given that ring when she died, it is a cherished memento, and when I put that ring on, I feel close to her and I wear it as my badge of courage.

Shading and color added, a little emerald green, and it's done!

Challenge #44 - String Theory, Tangled on the Inside

This week's Diva challenge was suggested by Jo in NZ. She suggested using one tangle as the 'string' and then filling in all the spaces with other tangles.  A tangle within a tangle....

I went for Mookalishisshness of Mooka, a little Paradox, Printemps, Hybrid, Keeko, Cadent, Pendrils and lot's of stitching and tying.

I'm going to be up North at my sister's place and while there I'll be teaching a Zentangle class to quilters. I'm very excited and I think the "sewing" aspect shows in this tangle. I'm not a sewer but I do love material and have enjoyed tangling on Cotton Sateen fabric. It's a totally different experience. I'll post pictures from this weekend.

Challenge #43 - Sunflower Fun

The Sunflower Fund - version 2

For the Diva's challenge this week Pennyb. writes about the Sunflower Fund in the Republic of South Africa, on 12 October. It is a Bandana Day, which is run by the Sunflower Fund. This is an organization founded in 1999 in support of the SA Bone Marrow Registry for people suffering from leukemia. Every year our local retailer (Pick n Pay) sells Sunflower bandanas and the proceeds go towards the Sunflower Fund...everyone wears a Bandana, somehow somewhere on this day!

Here is my take on the Sunflower...
Some Mooka, Printtemps, and Betweed on version 1. Paradox, Bumps, Knightbridge and stuff on version 2.

Challenge #42 - Hope

Breast Cancer Awareness, Hope.

Weekly Challenge #39: "Love is all you Need"

The Divas challenge this week asks us to think about Love. With the 9/11 ten year anniversary this was very appropriate. It brings to mind the fact that none of us know how long we have so it's important to touch base with those you love and tell them you love them now. Who knows what tomorrow might bring.

Spent the weekend up north with my sister and brother in-law. It was a mini family reunion with my niece, her husband, and my brother in-law from Florida. My brother in-law doesn't get up to Michigan often so it was nice to visit, reminisce, and spend time with family.

Laughing together is a wonderful way to express love and this was a weekend filled with laughter and sharing in the lovely peaceful setting of the Au Sable River. Sitting on the deck, looking out at the river, while birds and lot's of furry little creatures did their thing!

Love with a little Printemps, Shattuck, Bulb Lantern, and Gingham. Simple, let the words do the talking.

Challenge #38 - Better Than a Pair of Ducks

Version 1 - Outline and shading

Version 2 - It's all about the lines, and..
going outside of the lines and adding some
 swirls and baubles

Version 3 - A little added texture

The Divas' challenge this week asks us to work on a Monotangle with Paradox, or "A Pair of Ducks" as the Diva says.

This was a request by Maria, this is a challenging tangle, one I only use only sparingly it does take much more concentration but once you get into the motion and start turning your tile it is very relaxing. I really enjoy using leaf shapes and squares for this pattern. It makes it more organic and lyrical? (love that word!)

Shading is a wonderful enhancement for this tangle. There's a lot of serendipity involved with this tangle, get into the motion and it's... oh that's what is formed? Kool!


Challenge #37 - Kiss My Grid



Version 1 - Lot's o' texture

Version 2 - Enjoying the grid



This week's Diva's challenge asks us to use all grid-based tangles in your our tile I did a string within a grid. I did two versions, one very organic, the other keeping within the grid. They aren't all grid based tangles but I did implement the grid and followed it closely.

This was surprisingly enjoyable. I'm not a grid gal, I like the free flowing curvy stuff but I was able to combine enough of my curve appeal into the grid format.

Challenge #36 - Assunta, Happy Birthday Maria

This weeks Diva challenges features the new tangle from Zentangle "Assunta". It's a tangle that originated from the influence of some woodwork that Rick and Maria saw and photographed at the Cloister's in New York. I really enjoyed seeing  the original napkin sketch they had done after seeing the Cloisters. And I was very taken with the photograph Rick posted. It definitely echoed back to Oak Hurst and our CZT seminar this past May. So I concentrated more on the photograph and that wonderful woodwork.

I really enjoy Rick's descriptions as he shares this new tangle, he references taking off and landing and comes from the numbers point of view. That's one of the things that fascinates me about the Zentangle process. We all come from totally different places to get to our creative process. I find his descriptions very helpful but not always a familiar way for me to look at tangling. It's very fun and I appreciate being able to meet and share the experience of both Rick and Maria teaching this spring and getting to experience their beautiful creations in person.

So Happy Birthday Maria, this tangle is orbiting it's way to you, sending you good thoughts and tangles on your B-Day. Better late than never, no?

I went a little more organic, loosey goosey with this tangle. It's a very fun tangle especially when the pattern begins to build.




Version 2 - A little Tipple, Printemp and Pais,

plus some stiches to tie it all together

 



Version 3 - Lot's of auras