Challenge #24 Stripes

This week's challenge from the Diva is use only stripes as your string.  I enjoyed not having to think about it a lot and just drew some simple stripes and tangled in them.  I went for big and bold...........

Happy "50th" Anniversary K & P!

My sister-in-law, Karen & brother-in-law, Pete celebrated their "50th" wedding anniversary on May 27th.  They had a very nice BBQ at their home for family and their out-of-town guests on Friday. (picture in their backyard)  Then they  hosted a big wonderful dinner party at the Embassy Suites on Saturday night for friends and family.  The cocktails and the dinner were excellent and the desserts to die for-yummy!  We enjoyed viewing their slide show, which was a walk down memory lane for many.  A very nice way to celebrate this milestone in their lives, and a good time was had by all!  Congratulations, K & P! 

I made this Zentangle inspired piece of art for their special occasion.  The frame I found had patterns on it that looked like tangles, leafs, perfs, etc.  

Challenge #23 String Theory

The Diva's challenge this week is for everyone to use the same string.  I went ahead and just followed her lead and after I drew the string the she provided,  I got out the legend and icosahedron die from my zentangle kit.  When I first got my zentangle kit, I used to do this all the time.  Roll the die to figure out which tangle to use next.  It was fun to bring those back out again and essentially get back to the basics.  I liked that the Diva decided to leave one section blank so I did that too, with a different section.  The tangles I rolled on the die were:  Msst, Shattuck, Nightsbridge, Hollibaugh, Tipple, and Flukes. 



 

Challenge #22 "A Little Help From My Friends"

This weeks Diva challenge was to have someone else draw the string on your tile and then you tangle it.  I asked my daughter, Lindsay to help me out with the string.  She has never taken my Zentangle class so she didn't have any idea about what a "string" was.  I told her to just draw a line of any kind on the tile and I would take it from there.  She didn't think about it, just took the pencil and whipped out a string and said " Like that?"  Exactly like that!  Here's the before and after...........

Challenge #21 - OOF

OOF is the latest "official tangle" from Rick and Maria at Zentangle.  If you missed it, you can see instructions here, on their last newsletter.  Oof is really a fun tangle that has so many variations and possibilities.  Although it did take a little practice to get it down, and you definitely need to follow the instructions until you do.  The diva's challenge this week was to do a tile using the new tangle, OOF.  I started my tile with a large OOF and then filled it in with smaller OOF's (one half-done), and then added different variations inside each.  Another fun tangle & challenge! 

Congratulations U.S. Army Ranger-Justin De'Leon

Our family had quite the celebration here in Colorado last weekend, and what a Mother's Day for my sister, Joanne. Her son, my nephew, Justin De'Leon earned the U.S. Army Ranger tab after successfully completing the Ranger course.  The U. S. Army Ranger School is an extremely intense 61-day combat leadership course.  It has been called the "toughest combat course in the world" and "is the most physically and mentally demanding leadership school the Army has to offer".  Two of my siblings live in Colorado and two of my sisters and one of my brothers came out from Wisconsin to join in the celebration, so 6 out of the 7 of us were together (which doesn't happen often).  Joanne and her husband Tim, Justin's dad, had a really nice BBQ on Mother's Day in Justin's honor with family and their close friends.  I couldn't pass this occasion without making Justin a zentangle inspired art piece. 

But wait, that's not all!!!  The next day, Justin got engaged to his high school sweetheart, Julie.  Congratulations, Justin and Julie! 

 As you head to Germany next week, and then are deployed to Afghanistan, know that you will be in all our thoughts and prayers.  May God bless you and keep you safe.  We are all so proud of you! 



Letter "S" for Sonia

Happy Birthday to one of my soul sista's, Sonia!  I had the pleasure of working with Sonia for years and we became really good friends.  Our birthdays are 5 days apart (same year) and last year we were both fortunate to be able to retire from our long careers with the federal government.  We retired within weeks of each other and had a combined farewell party.  A couple of months ago, Sonia and her husband moved to the Texas coast and bought a home on a canal, so she is living the good life.  I can't think of anyone who deserves it more.  Sonia had diabetes since she was a child and was the recipient of a kidney and pancreas transplant some years back.  She continues to do well!  What a treat  to be able to see her enjoy sweets for the 1st time in her life!  We are looking forward to the day we can go visit them and do some fishing.  Happy birthday, Sonia!  All the best to you! 

Challenge #20 "Royal Wedding"

Our challenge this week was to tangle with whatever inspiration comes to us from the "Royal Wedding".  I didn't get up early enough (2:00 am our time) to watch it live, but I did set the DVR.  Although I saw bits and pieces of the coverage when I did get up, just in time for the balcony kiss (2), I watched the entire event later that day.  I love weddings, and this one being history in the making, how could I not watch it all!  As Laura said, there was so much to get inspiration from that day.  I was really fascinated with the hats. I love all the hats that Catherine Middleton wore before she became the Duchess of Cambridge and then all the hats at the wedding!  I wish we wore fancy hats more for weddings and special occasions.   Some were so beautiful and others were pretty crazy!  Here's a sample in case you missed it......

       

And the craziest hat of all was worn by Princess Beatrice (Fergie's daughter), and the inspiration for my tangle.........

 

I know I didn't put a lot of thought into this one, just drew her hat, outlined it in color pencil, and tangled around it, but it was fun looking at all those hats again! 

It also made me think about the last time I wore a hat...on my wedding day, which was exactly one month after Prince Charles and Lady Di.  Remember, it was 1981, LOL!!!