Challenge #104/Tangle Patterns String #3

Another fun weekly challenge over at the I Am The Diva blog.  This week, Laura has us trying out a string from the growing collection at Linda Farmer's Tangle Patterns site.  Check it out and join in the fun!

Challenge #103 Moebius Syndrome Awareness

This week's challenge from the DIVA, is to use the Moebius Syndrome Foundation's logo as our string.  If you are new to the DIVA challenges, you can read all about Moebius Syndrome on Laura's blog with the link.  Her adorable little son, Artoo, has this congenital nerve disorder so Laura is raising awareness of this condition.  Sending love & hugs to little Artoo, and the entire Harms family!



Celebrate 250 blog followers GIVEAWAY!

WOW!!! 250 followers on my little blog about Zentangle that I started in 7/2010!  At that time, I had no idea how to create a blog or really anything about the blogging world, but I just jumped in with both feet and learned on my own.   I am so amazed and grateful to all of you that follow my blog and take the time to leave me comments. Thanks to each and every one of you!!!

To celebrate, I am hosting my very 1st giveaway! 

THE RULES:

Giveaway starts:  1/23/2013
                 ends:  1/31/2013 (midnight)

To enter:  Leave a comment in this post with your contact info (ex. email address). 

Only one entry per person.  It is NOT a requirement that you follow this blog to enter the giveaway.  Everyone is welcome, including international entrants.

On 2/1/2013, I will use the random number generator to select 3 winners.  I will announce the winners on my blog, and notify each of you by email to obtain your mailing information. 

THE PRIZES:   (All created by me)   PHOTOS UNAVAILABLE

1)  An originial zendala/zentangle inspired art piece (mat size 8 x 10).

2)  A zentangle inspired glass pendant (light purple with punzel and crescent moon tangles) and matching colored earring, and a black organza necklace strap. 

3)  A zentangle inspired small pink canvas bag (approx 8 1/2 x 10 1/2) and a package of 6 note cards with multi-color envelopes. 

Also, the 250th follower (Jane M with a really cute little white fluffy dog picture) automatically wins a package of 6 note cards w/envelopes.  Please leave me a comment with your contact info so I can mail you your prize!

Thanks once again for following my blog! 

Diva Challenge #102 Auraknot & Bunzo

Another duo tangle challenge from the diva this week.  This time it is to use the tangles Auraknot and Bunzo together.  As I have stated before, I love the duo tangle challenges!  They are often two tangles that you don't think of putting together, so these challenges are always fun to see what everyone comes up with.  Thanks again, Laura for stretching our creativity with another fun challenge!

Challenge #101: PHICOPS

How exciting....the first challenge of the new year, the first Monday of the month for the UMT (use my tangle) feature, and the first tangle from B-rad!  It just so happens to be his birthday too...Happy Birthday, B-rad!  I hope you have a fun filled day!  This is a pretty tangle that is so easy to do.  I look forward to using this one more.  Thanks, B-rad and Laura!

Zenspirations Dangle

If you have been following my blog for awhile, you know that I am a fan of Joanne Fink's Zenspirations book.  I saw on Facebook that she will be releasing another book called Zenspirations Dangle Designs.  Yay, another book I will look forward to buying!  In celebration, I just had to play with another dangle and try out my new colors of Tombow markers that I got for Christmas.  You can check out Joanne's website at zenspirations.com.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 2012

Wishing all of you a joyous & peaceful Merry Christmas and a happy & healthly New Year!

Challenge 100!!! Diva Dance

Congratulations, Laura!  100 weeks of Diva Challenges is something to celebrate!!! I love the Diva challenges and I don't think I missed one out of the 100 (I've told you in the past that I am a Zentangle geek).   In celebration, Rick and Maria announced a new tangle named Diva Dance.  You can read all about the celebration and get the steps to the Diva Dance tangle here, at Laura's blog.  This is another great tangle that has so many possibilities and I can't wait to play with it more.  So, give the new tangle a try and if you haven't join in on the weekly challenges yet, jump on board for the next 100! 

Challenge #99 Looped Border String

This week The Diva, Laura Harms has a guest contibutor, CZT Margaret Bremner.  Margaret discovered yet another fun string idea.  While drawing your border, on all 4 sides put a loop in facing toward the middle of the tile.  I love this string because it will be different each time depending on the size of the loops and if they overlap or not.  Great string idea, Margaret!  Fun challenge, Laura! 

My favorite new tangle this year has been Mi2, so I started with it in different variations all around the outside, then tangled my loops with Hollibaugh, Flux, Striping, Florz, and Isochor. 

Zendala Dare #35 Where's My Template

It has been a long time since I've done one of the Zendala Dare's from Erin, at The Bright Owl blog.  I always love seeing the templates she comes up with and I wish I had the time to complete more of them.  This one intrigued me because it was to use a snowflake that you cut out yourself as the template.  I haven't cut out a snowflake for awhile and it sounded like fun.  See the link above for an excellent tutorial from Erin.  Once you cut out your snowflake, you trace in on your paper, add some lines (if you wish), and tangle.  I'm not really excited about how mine turned out....maybe I added too many lines to the original snowflake.  It just seems to busy and dark to me.  Maybe using colors would have been better.  None the less, it was fun and it is amazing how it doesn't look anything like the original snowflake pattern.  I will definitely try this dare again!

Challenge #98 UMT: Keenees

This week it is once again the first Monday of the month and UMT (use my tangle) at I Am The Diva's blog.  The featured tangle is Keenees, by CZT Donna Hornsby.  I have always liked this tangle because it's easy and fits in anywhere.  I was in a round circle mood yesterday when I did my tile and just kept drawing those beautiful orbs (as Maria Thomas would say).    Thank You, Laura & Donna!

Another fun class

I love sharing the art of Zentangle with new students!  I also love the fact that through teaching classes I have met some truly wonderful people.  One of those is Holly, who took my Basic and Beyond the Basics classes and meets with me once a month in our little Tangle Talk group.  I am so lucky to say that we are becoming friends who seem to have a lot in common.  How great is that!  Holly has become a Zentangle fan and wanted to share it with some of the teachers at her pre-school.  She invited me down to Denver last Thursday afternoon to teach a class in her pre-school classroom.  We had a total of 8 lovely ladies learn Zentangle.  Holly also got to share some of her beautiful work with the class.  It was so nice to meet Judy, Cindy, Antoinette, Tami, Cheri, Michelle, and Wanda.  I had a lot of fun and hope all of you did too.  Thanks Holly, for all the work you did getting this class together, and I look forward to seeing you soon!

Wonderful group!

 

Their 1st beautiful tiles!

Their 2nd beautiful tiles!

Challenge #97 No Strings Attached

This week's Diva Challenge is to create a tile without a string. Can you really escape from a string totally?  Once you make your first tangle, in a sense you have part of a string...something to work off of.  How do you keep it looking like a zentangle or does it  become free flowing zentangle inspired art?  I am one who really likes the comfort of a string.  I usually always start with a string, even if I end up ignoring parts of  it and taking my tangles in a different direction, I like to start out with one.  I find that starting without a string makes me think too much... what can I do next, what tangle will flow good here, which direction should I go in, etc.  It starts to feel so planned out and it takes the "zen" part out of tangling, where you just draw your string, pick tangles at random, and let the end result surprise you. 

I started with Fengle in the corner, added Betweed inside, and rounded out the ends with Knightsbridge.  Then I proceeded with Flux and Tipple.  Next was Rain, then some Mysteria.  Ended with some Paradox and Onamato.  So, even if I didn't have a string drawn on my tile, I was still creating one in my mind before I drew the next tangle....interesting!  Good challenge, Laura...but bring back my string!  LOL! 

Hearts & Horses

I have watched my niece (by choice), Lesley deal with the physical and mental ups and downs of living with M.S. for the past 10 years.  She does it all with a grace and determination I really admire.  She is no longer able to work because of her condition, but recently she started volunteering a couple of mornings a week at Hearts & Horses which is a therapeutic riding center.  Their mission is to promote the physical, cognitive, emotional, and social well being of people with special needs through equine assisted therapy.  Lesley volunteers with the feeding and grooming of the horses, and she says the horses have given her so much more then she would have ever imagined.  What a blessing this wonderful organization is to so many people!  Lesley gave me a copy of their logo and asked if I could tangle it for her.  We were both happy with how it turned out.  Love you, Les!

Challenge #96 ZINGER!

Yay, it's official...Zinger has a name!  Yes, being the Zentangle geek that I am, I am really excited that Zinger is now an official tangle and that I had a part in naming it....how cool is that!  After a discussion started in our Facebook CZT group about this lovely little tangle and what it's name was, I sent an email to Rick & Maria at Zentangle Inc. and they officially announced it as Zinger! You can read all about this new (old) tangle on the newsletter here.  In celebration, I went a little Zinger crazy in my 1st tile and made it a Zinger party.  In the 2nd tile I used a pre-strung tile and made Zinger the string, then filled in the other tangles.  I don't normally do 2 tiles for the challenge, but like I said, I was on a little Zinger high!  Thank you, Rick & Maria for using my suggestion for Maria's Zinger, and thank you, Laura for another great challenge.

Bunzo rainbow

Playing with my Tombow markers and blender pen to create this Bunzo rainbow:

Challenge #95 Mickey Challenge

This week at I Am The Diva Blog we have a guest challenger, CZT Courtney from Texas.  Courtney wanted to pay tribute to Walt Disney, Mickey, & Minnie Mouse since their first animated short film was released on 11/18/1928.  I have always been a fan of Minnie Mouse and her polka dotted bows.  Here's my tile for the challenge......

Holiday Workshop 2012

I had 8 lovely ladies join me at my house for a Zentangle Holiday Workshop on Saturday.  I gave them lots of examples and instructions on how to make 3D stars, ceramic ornaments, and greeting cards.  They picked out their own tangle patterns and got to work making some really pretty items.  They took home several sheets of card stock and 90lb watercolor paper for the stars, blank greeting cards and envelopes (along with card stock in a couple of colors), 5 ceramic ornaments & ribbons,  and Sakura Identi Pens (red & green)  Microns (black, red & green), and Pitt pens (silver & gold).  They should have enough to keep busy for awhile! 

It was a cold snowy day, and just perfect for being inside working on Zentangle crafts.  We stayed warm with coffee, hot cider, and snacks.  I enjoyed hosting the workshop and hope all of you had a good time! 

Thank You for MaryAnn

I love creating and giving zentangle inspired art pieces to family and friends.  I made this  piece for my sister, MaryAnn.  When she was out here in Colorado this summer helping me with my first art fair, I asked her if there was anything special she would like and she said a cross would be nice.  I have really been inspired by the work of Helen William at A Little Lime and since I have been playing with color, I thought I would try her Morning Glories along with the Mooka.  If you haven't seen Helen's work yet, be sure to check out the link.  I think her work is so delicate, organic, and lovely! She is also posting some good how-to video's that I find really useful.  I was happy with how this turned out, and MaryAnn loved it. 

Challenge #94 UMT: Socc

When the first Monday of the month rolls around, so does the UMT (Use My Tangle) feature at I Am The Diva's Blog.  This month, CZT Erin Olson's tangle Socc was selected.  This is one of those tangles that I copied the instructions to when it came out, but never got around to trying it.  I seem to do that a lot these days, since tangles now come out at a fast and furious pace.  This is a great little tangle that I found very easy to do and creates a dramatic effect.  Thanks for the tangle, Erin!  Thanks, Laura for having this feature on your challenges! 

Challenge #93 New Tangle Bunzo

Rick & Maria at Zentangle, Inc. have released another new official tangle: Bunzo.  So, it's no surprise that exploring it is the weekly challenge at Laura Harms, I Am The Diva CZT blog.  The steps are posted at the challenge link and also on the lasted newsletter from Zentangle.  This is really a fun little tangle made from doing one shape (like a comma) over and over again, while it grows into a different form each time.  I started my tile with the border and string, then began Bunzo in the largest section of my tile and took it out to the very corners of the string.  After that it was just picking out the rest of my tangles and watching it unfold before me (the beauty of Zentangle).  When I turned it every which way at arm's length, all I could see is a large spider with all the webs it had spun.  Was that the first thing you saw too?  I hope you have fun with Bunzo too!

P.S.  My Purk turned into a Bunzo too...hmmm a tangleation maybe?

Tombow Markers & Pre-strung Tiles

I was playing with my tombow markers this weekend and decided to try them on two pre-strung tiles.  I put the color in all the areas of the pre-strung tiles.  In the first one I tangled on top of the color in each section and was ready to do the same in the second, but then decided to tangle around the outside of the color.  I just couldn't stop there for some reason, and added the Poke Leaf on the color.  I love playing with the color, and now that I am half way through my pre-strung tile pack, I can tell you that I really love the pre-strung tiles even more than I thought I would!  I think they help in getting you out of a string rut, where all of yours own strings start to feel the same.  I just might need to get another pack for myself.  :)

Another fun zentangle class

I really enjoyed sharing the art of zentangle with 5 lovely ladies and a lovely 14 year old girl!  It was so nice to meet all of you:  Judy R., Diane, Karen, Sandy, Judy W., and Alicia (Mom-Kim too).  I hope all of you enjoyed the class.  Your work was wonderful!

Challenge #92: Stripes

This week's challenge from the diva is to use stripes as your string.  A nice easy challenge that I enjoyed once again.  Thanks Laura! 

Creating Patterns with Bugs

I went to a great exhibit this week (at the Lincoln Center in Ft Collins)  that was so beautiful that I had to share this with you.  Jennifer Angus is an artist who works with the unique medium of bugs.  She is a professor in the Design Studies department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  She has exhibited her work internationally and has been the recipient of numerous awards.  The brochure states: The use of a material that is often regarded as repugnant, arranged in familiar, repetitive and compelling patterns create a tension that is fascinating to experience. The bugs are all real, though dead and dried they remain in their natural color.  While she does not collect insect species that are endangered, she notes that the habitats of most of these bugs, particularly in Thailand and Malaysia where she collects her bugs, are under assault from the human demands of agriculture and urbanization. In alignment with her message of conservation, Angus notes that she collects the insects in a responsible and sustainable manner, through farmed resources when possible, repairing and reusing her bugs as long as she is able and then giving them to youth for study when they can no longer be used for exhibition.  Enjoy!