DIVA Challenge #153 UMT: Jailed Johnny

It's the beginning of another month, so we are using a tangle by CZT, Sadelle Wiltshire named Jailed Johnny for the DIVA's challenge this week.  This tangle was new to me, and I found it fun and easy to do.  I hope all of you are having a good week and staying warm.  The high expected for the day here, is in the single digits!  I am glad I can stay in and prepare for my all day class here Saturday with 8 students (who have become friends).  We will be learning to tangle on the tan tiles in the morning, have a pot luck lunch, and create an organic tangle garden in the afternoon...can't wait!

DIVA Challenge #152: Aquafleur (New Official Tangle)

This week's challenge from the DIVA is to try the new official tangle, Aquafleur.   If you missed the newsletter, the steps to drawing Aquafleur can be found HERE.  I love this tangle and have seen some really pretty art done with it.  I am looking forward to viewing this slide show....should be awesome! 

Class at CSU for 22 new tanglers

I was invited to teach a basic zentangle class at CSU (Colorado State University) as part of an all day seminar for some staff training they were doing.  My class was the longest at 90 minutes and I had the honor of having the highest attendance at 22.  Everyone was relatively new to zentangle, and as always it was a lot of fun!  One of the ladies was from Libya, and she shared that this was the first time in her life that she had ever done any kind of art work.  How cool is that!  She had the biggest smile on her face, so I took her picture holding her tile.  She asked that I not share it on my blog, which of course I will honor.  It makes me smile looking at it and knowing I brought something new to her life.  Everyone seemed to really enjoy the experience, and I am so happy to be part of releasing 22 new tanglers out into the world to spread the beauty of the zentangle! 

Thank you, Vivianne for inviting me to share the zentangle method of art with your wonderful group!

We were able to complete 1 tile with 6 tangles.  Check out their beautiful work!  I think they all did amazing for their 1st time tangling (you can't even tell which tile is mine)!

PICTURES UNAVAILABLE

Tangles: Crescent Moon, Tipple, Hollibaugh, Bales, Printemps, Florz
(Click on picture for larger view)

DIVA Challenge #151 Moebius Syndrome Awareness Day

Each year our DIVA, in honor of her son, Artoo has a challenge dedicated to making all of us aware of Moebius Syndrome, which you can read all about on her blog here).  Today, January 24th is Moebius Syndrome Awareness Day. This will be the third year I have made a tile with the Moebius Syndrome logo and looking at the past 2 years I noticed that I have always used the color purple (the color for MSAD), hearts, and Artoo's name. Why change a good thing!

2014 Challenge



Since I was looking at the past years tiles, I thought you might want to see them too!

2013 Challenge...the logo looks blue in pic, but it is purple!

2012 Challenge

DIVA Challenge #150 One Little Word

For this challenge from the DIVA we are supposed to pick a word that we would like to focus on for the year ahead.  As I sat at my desk and thought about it, I saw a quote I had written down recently that I liked, so LOVE is my word.  What can I say about love that hasn't been written and sung about since the beginning of time.  One can always improve the ways we "walk in love" every day with our thoughts, words, and actions.  Life without love would be meaningless, so my wish for all of you is that 2014 is a year filled with love. 

DIVA Challenge #149 Twenty-Fourteen

Yes, I am late for the last week's DIVA's challenge!  Good reason though, we were needed to help get my father-in-law (age 91) from Sierra Vista, AZ back to his home in Idaho Falls, ID due to some health issues, and we were so happy to have been able to do it.  So we made a big loop, driving through 7 states in 12 days (CO, NM, AZ, NV, UT, ID, and WY).....road trip indeed!  We made the best of the time and had him singing to 3 of the CD's I made for him with music from his era. Doug and I also got to start and finish a book on tape.  We were also quite lucky to only encounter bad roads due to weather in Idaho and Wyoming, and nothing we couldn't get through with time and patience.  I am happy to say that he is doing better and so glad to be home, so are we! 

I started my tile with the 2014 down the side and may have tangled a little to close to see it very well, but it's there. 

DIVA Challenge #148 Merry Happy

This is the last DIVA challenge for the year.  We are to create a piece or tile that reflects the holidays.  I didn't have a lot of time this week to create a larger piece, so I stuck with a tile.  This is my 2nd tan tile, and I just really love the look you can achieve with them.  I will be excited to teach a class using them in 2014.  If you've followed my blog, you know that I love hearts, but I also love angels.................

DIVA Challenge #147 Boo-Kee

As another month rolls around, the DIVA challenge is another "use my tangle" challenge.  This month the tangle is a new one from none other than the Diva herself, CZT, Laura Harms.  The tangle is called Boo-Kee and is a fun pattern with lots of possibilities for variations.   Click on the link to find the step-out instructions.  Thanks, Laura!

Mindfulness Postcard Swap and eBook

Earlier this year I signed up to do a mindfulness postcard swap for CZT's (certified zentangle teachers).  The swap was held by CZT, Katy Abbott.  Katy asked us to do 4 postcards (4x6) using only tangles that started with the letters in M*I*N*D*F*U*L and mail them to 4 people on the list she provided.  Then sometime along the way, CZT, Jane Dickinson asked everyone in the swap if they would like to participate in a ebook project she was doing.  She asked us to write a paragraph on what mindfulness meant to us and if she could use pictures of our postcards.  The swap was fun and easy to do, since the number of postcards we needed to create was small.  I have the postcards I received posted to my bulletin board of zentangle art from around the world. 

Here is the ebook, Tangling from the Edge, that CZT, Jane Dickinson put together.  I think she did a beautiful job, and I loved seeing all the postcards and thoughts on mindfulness. (I am on page 15)  Thank you, Katy & Jane!
Enjoy!


NOTE:  I had to remove the ebook because it was causing problems with Blogger.  You can find the book by going to Jane Dickinson's site at  http://www.themindfuldrawer.com/.

DIVA Challenge #146 Pea-nuckle & Well

This week the DIVA has us doing a duo tangle challenge (using only two tangles).  The tangles are Pea-nuckle & Well.  While these are both official zentangle tangles, to be quite frank, I am not real fond of either one so putting them together.....yep, a real challenge.  So in true zentangle fashion, I drew my string and just decided to add these two tangle patterns and let it unfold before me. 

My Student's Art

I love it when my student's stay in touch with me after they have taken a class.  I especially love it when they share their artwork with me, and give me permission to share it on my blog.  Here are some beauties I have received recently.  Wonderful work, ladies!

Pat

Pat

Catrina

Catrina

Teresa

Teresa

Teresa

Bill

Teresa

Bill
 

DIVA challenge #145 QUIB

This week's challenge from the DIVA is to use the new official tangle, QUIB.  This is a fun, twisty line tangle, done in Hollibaugh fashion (lines drawn behind).  I just got my supply of the new tan tiles in, so I wanted to give them a try for this challenge....love them! 

DIVA Challenge #144 A Bug's Life

This week's challenge from the DIVA is a fun little change of pace.  CZT Samantha Taylor made this really cute video for Sakura (maker of the micron pens).  Great job, Sam!

 

Our challenge is to use this video as inspiration and in the DIVA's own words:

Use colour to bring a  Zentangle tile to life!
Camouflage a bug somewhere in the tile. (i.e. a drawing of a bug, a bug-shaped tangle pattern, etc.) Create a tile inspired by nature!
Shade your tile using some colour!

I remembered my own tangle pattern BWS (black widow spider) see the step-outs here, so I used that in the middle and then just started hiding some fun little bugs in the other spaces.  I wish I would have taken a photo prior to adding color because it was kind of hard to pick them out in black and white. 

Fun challenge and I am looking forward to seeing what everyone else did with this!

 





DIVA Challenge 143 CRUZE

This week's challenge from the DIVA is to use a new tangle by CZT, Caren Mlot.  The tangle is called Cruze and you find the steps to it here.  This tangle has such a beautiful woven look and I can't wait to play with it more.  While I was practicing it, I tried curving it, but I didn't have much luck with that.  Caren has some beautiful examples on her blog post!  

DIVA Challenge #142 Comfort/Danger Zone

In our DIVA's own words we are challenged to do the following:

This week's challenge to find your comfort zone, and to move beyond it...into...the DANGER ZONE!  Only you know what it is that makes you feel 'safe' in the zentangle world.  This week, you can either dip a toe into the waters of the Danger Zone, or you can choose to cliff dive, fully clothed into the waters!! A little or a lot, it's up to you!

I thought about this one a lot and was going to do a black tile, because working with white on black is still a little uncomfortable for me.  Then a couple of days ago, I glanced at a book that proudly sits on my coffee table.  You know that one, the best book out there on Zentangle....The Book of Zentangle by Rick and Maria. 

I absolutely love the tile on the cover of this book!  I look at it a lot and marvel at how the lines weave in, out, and around each other all so effortlessly.  I also love the way they wrap around the edges and have so much dimension. 

Well, back to my "Danger Zone"......I have always struggled with the tangle "Umble".  I can't begin to tell you how many tiles I have thrown away when I try to add that tangle.  Not sure what it is, but I just have not been able to make it work.  So, should I "dip a toe" in the waters of the danger zone and just do a monotangle of Umble, or "cliff dive, fully clothed into the Umble Danger Zone.  I decided to cliff dive. 

I drew some different size circles going off the corners of my tile, and then dived into Umble.  After studying Maria's tile awhile for inspiration, I knew I had no idea how to make it weave so beautifully, but I had to start somewhere, so I dived in and just kept adding lines in the "Hollibaugh fashion" (under each other) until at last my tile was filled.  It took me a long time, because I went very slow.  While it doesn't have that beautiful effortless looking weave that Maria attains, I am quite happy with it.  Some of the edges actually look like they are wrapping around...yay!  Maybe, I will try to add Umble to my work more often...maybe? 

Thanks Laura, this was truly a challenge for me!

DIVA Challenge #141 Fengle & Quandary

Yay, another Duo-Tangle this week at the DIVA's blog!  Oh, but wait Fengle (which I love) and Quandary (which isn't one of my favorites).  Well, that's what these challenges are for...to challenge you to try something new or practice a tangle that you might not be one of your favorites.  So, I jumped in with no planning and no string!  I just did a couple of Fengle's and added my Quandary around it (the best I could).  I really get out of sync with all those triangle shapes.  Instead of trying another, I am going with my first attempt.  I was out of town last week and was late with my entry, so this week I will be on time!  I hope all of you have a wonderful week! 

DIVA Challenge #140 Monotangle, Pointillism Style

I am late getting this week's challenge posted, but it was a fun one.  Do a monotangle using Pointillism or Stippling, which is making your picture, or in this case tangle, using nothing but tiny dots.  You can vary the degree or volume of dots to create shading or highlights.  I used the tangle, Fife for this challenge.

I took an online Stippling class a couple of years ago from Geneviève Crabe of Tangle Harmony fame.  It was a fun class and I learned a lot.  You really have to have patience to do this type of art, but you can also really get in the "zen zone" too!  Here is the stippled rose and tulips I did from that class. 

PHOTO UNAVAILABLE

 

Challenge #139 "8s Parte Dos"

It's UMT (use my tangle) time at the DIVA'S this week. The tangle is "8s Parte Dos" by Jane Eileen. 

 I think Laura sums it up best when she says:

This is very reminiscent of W2, Huggins and Mi2 - they're all in a similar tangle 'family' if you will.

This tangle requires a bit more focus, and attention to detail - but it is WELL worth the effort!! I think the trick is to carefully line up your dots.
While I have W2, Huggins, and Mi2 down pat, it's going to take some practice to get 8s Parte Dos down.  Lots of concentration with this tangle, but it will be fun playing with it!  I love these tangles that go in, out, and under!  

Thanks for the great tangle, Jane Eileen! 

DIVA Challenge #138 Fun with Borders

This is a unique and fun challenge that the DIVA has going this week.  It is brought to you by Maria Thomas and Rick Roberts from Zentangle, Inc.  If you follow their blog, you are aware that Maria loves borders,  and if you link to their post from Laura's post, you will see a lot of cool borders she found around their home along with her incredible tangles.  As I looked around my house, I came to realize that I don't have a lot of borders, but a lot of plain lines!  Hmmm, I need to keep my eyes open more for cooler picture frames, etc.  Then, I was walking by my dresser and saw these 3 bracelets...inspiration at last!  Here is my take on the challenge.  I am looking forward to seeing the slide show on this challenge! 



Beautiful Beading

One of my students, CJ Petersen, recently shared a picture of her beautiful bead embroidery!  Can you believe this is only her 2nd attempt at bead embroidery and the first time interpreting a tangle with beads.  The tangle she used is Worms, which you can find on www.tanglepatterns.com.
Thanks CJ, for letting me share your gorgeous work! 



CJ and her daughter, Cara signed up to attend the
 CZT certification seminar in 2014.
I will be so thrilled to have them as fellow CZT's!

DIVA Challenge #137/Knightsbridge & Tipple

A duotangle challenge over at the DIVA'S this week, combining two tangles I really like, Knightsbridge and Tipple.  Fun challenge, thanks Laura!

DIVA Challenge #136/Color Color Everywhere

This week's challenge from the DIVA is to use color with your zentangle.  Any kind of color, a little, or a lot, whatever you choose.  This couldn't have come at a better time!  Watching all the news on the flooding that has devastated so much of the state of Colorado, and a lot of our Larimer County has been heartbreaking to say the least.  We were fortunate to escape any damage in our neighborhood, but other parts of town and the Big Thompson Canyon were not so lucky.  Seeing so much destruction and mud made me want to create something beautiful with lots of vibrant color. It will take years for the canyon to restored again, after mother nature's fury, but it will get there and will one day be a thing of beauty again! 

DIVA Challenge #135/New Official Tangle "Well" & Trip to Montana/Wyoming/Idaho

Once again,  I am late creating and posting my tile for the weekly DIVA challenge. We took a trip to Idaho last week to visit my father-in-law, Kermit (91 and going strong).  Normally, it's a one day drive, but we decided to go a different route and make it a two day trip.  We toured the Little Big Horn National Monument on the 1st day.  On the second we went over the Bear Tooth Hwy (One of America's most beautiful roads) with views of 20 peaks reaching over 12,000 feet in elevation and some of the most rugged landscapes in the country.  If you ever get the chance, this drive is incredible and I would highly recommend it!  Then we entered Yellowstone National Park (one of our favorite places) at the northeast entrance and toured the park for the day before heading to Kermit's in Idaho Falls, where we spent the rest of the week.

We got home on Saturday afternoon to a rain soaked and flooded (in parts) Larimer County, Colorado.  It rained just about the whole week we were gone, and rained again all day yesterday. We are fortunate that we are not close to any of the rivers and our home is okay.  The schools were closed on Friday and again today due to so many roads being closed.  It is so sad watching the local news and seeing how so many areas in the state of Colorado have been affected by this flood.  Please keep our state in your thoughts and prayers as the rescues continue and the clean-up begins this week!

DIVA Challenge #134: BEAMZ

Another 1st of the month is the UMT (use my tangle) time at the DIVA's challenge! This week we are trying out the tangle, BEAMZ by Traci F.  I used Tangle Patterns string #54.  I have never used this tangle before, but found it kind of fun to just start drawing lines and boxes in each section of my tile, turning them every which way and varying the sizes.  Then I filled in some of the boxes and around the boxes with other tangles.  I may have lost Beamz in the process, but that's the fun of zentangle...no planning and just let it unfold before your eyes! 

Fish's Pub

My brother, Steve lives in Wisconsin and has a really cool little bar, pool table, darts, and hang-out area in his basement. He DJ's on the side, and his sound system is great!  Our last name being Fischer, we all had the nickname Fish at one time or another while we were growing up.  The ceiling going down the steps has a slant to it and he asked me if I could make some kind of Zentangle poster.  Instead of a poster, I decided to use wood letters that were already painted white and had what I thought was a neat design to them.  I found them at Hobby Lobby.  I then found a beer mug shape online and my husband, Doug cut it out for me in wood.  I painted and tangled it along with all the letters (I used a Sakura IdentiPen). On our trip there, early in August, we hung it up.  I was really happy with how it turned out, and so was Steve! 

He also has this piece hanging behind the bar that I made him in 2010, shortly after I got out of CZT class.  Love spreading the zentangle joy with my family!