Zendala Dare #62

It's always a happy day when I get to participate in a Zendala Dare over at The Bright Owl's blog!  Thanks, Erin for always being there with your great templates!

Diva Challenge #124: Calgary

To keep Calgary and the people there in our hearts this week as they deal with the results of flooding, Laura Harms writes:

This week's challenge is an open challenge - i only ask that you keep Calgary in your hearts this week, and any part of the Earth where people are dealing with incredible struggles and tragedy.

It truly is heartbreaking to see people dealing with incredible tragedy everywhere around our wonderful earth.  Here in Colorado, it's yet another summer of terrible wildfires where so many have lost homes and all their belongings. 

It's nice to have a challenge where we can meditate on sending good thoughts and love to everyone dealing with tragedy through our tangling.  Thanks, Laura! 




I started with one Mooka heart in the corner,
and it grew to three.  Then added Opus and another unplanned heart
showed up.  Crescent Moon for the center and
a little Poke Leaf. 

Diva Challenge #123 "Is it a Zentangle?"

This week we had a guest challenger over at the DIVA's blog.  CZT, Maria Vennekens came up with quite the challenge.....

The challenge for this week is: can you do a Zentangle without  using existing patterns or tangeleations* of them? And what are your experiences while doing so?

I read, and re-read the challenge on Monday and then went on packing for a camping trip I was going on with my husband.  At that point, I wasn't even sure if I would do the challenge because I thought, what was the point in doing a zentangle tile without using existing patterns.  Isn't that what I love about the zentangle method of art?  No thinking, planning, or sketching involved... just tangle and let the beauty unfold before you. 

We left Tues morning for our trip and of course I took my zentangle supplies in case I had time to get to the challenge and because I like to always have them with me.  This was just a short trip, 2 nights and 3 days, and back home Thursday afternoon. Well, on Weds afternoon my husband was going to go fishing, and although I enjoy that too, I stayed behind to tangle.  As I pondered what to do with this unique challenge, I did a zendala tile with existing patterns and then decided to take a walk with my camera for inspiration.  Here is what I found....

 

Here is the my tile based on this inspiration.....

 

I did not sketch, but drew these images as if they were tangle patterns.  Not sure if they exist as patterns, but I may to write up the steps and make them patterns (what do you think?). 
It looks like a zentangle tile to me, but I have to agree with Maria that you lose the zen part of zentangle by all the thinking and planning involved. 

I am looking forward to seeing what everyone else has done with this challenge.  Laura, you were right...this was a doozy of a challenge!


Here's a few pictures of our camping trip, just for fun!

 

A moose on our way to the campground

 

We've been camping in this pop-up for almost 20 years now (since the kids were little

Nothing like brauts over the campfire coals

 

 

Lots of hummingbirds to enjoy!

This guy showed up about 20 feet from our campsite.
What a beautiful moose and what a treat!

 





DIVA Challenge #122/Grid Unlocked

Another fun challenge from The Diva this week!  Rick and Maria announced in their latest newsletter a new way to draw a "grid" pattern tangle, and that is to do one block at a time and let the pattern develop.  You can do this by completing one whole block and moving on to the next, or by making the same stroke in each block until all of them are completed.  Maria came up with a chart of possibilities that they call "grid seeds", or of course you can make your own.   On my tile I used D5 in the upper left hand corner (which came out looking like Bales), C3 in the lower left hand corner, my own seed on the bottom, G1 on the right (with a weird little decoration since there are no mistakes in Zentangle), and J1 on the circle arch.  This is a fun new way to work a grid pattern and let the finish surprise you!  Thanks, Rick & Maria for always inspiring us with new techniques!  Thanks, Laura for giving us the opportunity to try new things every week!

Teen Class in Greeley

I was invited to share the Zentangle method of art with a group of teens at the Lincoln Park Library in Greeley as part of their summer reading program yesterday.  We had 9 teens and their wonderful librarian, Stephanie in the class (not all of them wanted to be photographed).  It was a fun class and a great way to escape the 98 degree heat.  So happy to welcome 10 more Zentangle artists into our tangled world!

Thanks, Stephanie & teens!

photos unavailable

Their awesome 1st tile:  Crescent Moon, Hollibaugh, Static & Printemps
(I forgot to photograph their 2nd tile, but they were awesome too!)

Diva Challenge #121 UMT: Birds on a Wire

It always surprises me when another UMT (use my tangle) appears on the DIVA challenge because that means another month has flown by.  I was just talking with a friend yesterday about how the summer is filling up with plans already and that it's sure to go by way too fast, as it always does.  This week we are trying a tangle from CZT, Mary Kissel called Bird on a Wire.  This is a very versatile tangle that can look lovely going both ways in the same line and around in a circle.   Thanks for sharing your tangle, Mary and thanks Laura for this feature of your weekly challenges!  I would miss so many great tangles without it. 

Listen while you tangle

What do you listen to while you tangle? 

I have been a long time fan of books on spiritual teaching's. Two of my favorite authors and teachers are Dr. Wayne Dyer and Eckhart Tolle.    I have read a lot of books by Dr. Wayne Dyer, since the 70's.  In the last couple of years I have discovered the wisdom of Eckhart Tolle in The Power of Now and A New Earth.  Within the past year, my sister and I were once again discussing The Power of Now when she asked me if I had listened to it yet.  She told me I would get so much more out of listening to both of Eckhart Tolle's books versus reading them, but I love to read, to actually hold the book in my hands, and I still have a hard time reading books on my iPad (unless I am traveling and have to pack lightly).  So, I thought I would give it a try, and what better time to listen to a book, then when tangling.  Oh my, was she right!  There is something about hearing the voice of the author who wrote the words come to life in your ears.  It's also great to be able to rewind and play back parts you want to listen to again, and again, and sometimes a third or fourth time.  I have now listened to The Power of Now (3 times) and A New Earth once.  I get something new out of them each time.  In April, my sister attended a writing seminar (she has always wanted to write a book) in Denver where she met Dr. Dyer.  She bought a 2 disc CD there called "The Importance of Being Extraordinary", by Dr. Dyer and Eckhart Tolle.  This is a great CD set in which you feel like you are sitting down to a cup of coffee with two very insightful spiritual teachers of our time.  The more books I read (and listen too) I find the common theme is that Zen is presence,  and if we can learn how to live fully in the present moment we can live an extraordinary life. So, if you are looking for something good to listen to while tangling, I would not hesitate to recommend any of the above.  

If you are still with me, here's is what I tangled while listening to this 2 disc CD....

PHOTO UNAVAILABLE

P.S.  Of course there will still be a lot of days when I listen to music of all kinds, and whatever suits my mood for the day..... and some days I like complete silence.  It is nice to now have the option of listening to a book of my choice too...thanks, sis!