" Red Thread " - Weekly Challenge #49

 "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

And so begins the Diva's weekly challenge by guest challenger Cris Letournea, CZT.  Cris says:  "...your challenge this week is to create a traditional black and white tangle tile with a single red "thread" running through it."   The idea for this challenge comes from the work that is done by the humanitarian group called The Red Thread Promise.

As I remembered my 5th grade teacher's mantra:  "Pay attention!!!",  I realized that I was not paying attention to the instructions when I began my tile.  (But that's just the point:  I didn't use a tile!  I used a 4" x 6" bristol paper.  The challenge specifically said "tile".)    *big sigh*

But my heart was in the right place...... even if this ZIA took the wrong path.  My idea was to show how the red thread wraps itself around fragments of an idea, then joins the fragments together in a cohesive composition.  Sorta like trying to tell a story without using words.  (Okay, okay.  I'll keep practicing!!)

ZIA - Bristol; Sakura Micron Black #'s 01, 005 & Red #03; graphite shading.

Thank you for visiting..... Happy Thanksgiving....
... and happy tangling.

PS:  Happy Birthday Frankie!!

" Tri - Shapes " - Weekly Challenge #48

Our guest Challenger this week is 'the lovely and talented' Sue Clark, who says:  "Three basic shapes (circle, square, and triangle) when combined, can be used to create a string.  Just like the infinite possibilities of putting tangle patterns together, using these 3 shapes together and altering their size and placement on the tile would create infinite possibilities for a string idea.  I thought it would be fun to also 'tri' all new tangles (ones you have never tried before)."

Good one, Sue!!  And here is my attempt at this challenge.....

ZIA - Sakura Micron Black #'s 01, 02, 08; graphite shading.

Tangles:  Fish, Flux, Kandysnake, Sea Shell and.... the tangle around the triangle (which I created but have not given it a name yet).

Thank you for visiting....
.....and happy tangling.

" Lest We Forget " - Weekly Challenge #47

This week, I'm submitting my tile to this challenge..... late!  For the challenge, The Diva says:  "When you create your tile or ZIA, the challenge is to remember - what this means to you.  Remember your fallen loved ones, your long lost friend from childhood, remember when your 3 year old was once a tiny bundle in your arms, remember the feel of your aging grandmother's hand... remember laughter and tears, friends and family, fallen heroes or quiet bravery." 

Most of the wonderfully creative ZIA's and Zentangles that have been posted/submitted relate to the poem, 'In Flanders Field', where the poppies grow.  In my work, I have deviated a bit from the symbolic poppy, although the message is the same.

A few weeks ago, feeling drenched with inner spirit, I was overwhelmed by the presence of angels and spirit guides in my life.  Don't know what the heck was going on, but when my Zentangle spirit sat me down, all I could think about was angels.  So, today, on what would have been my Grandmother's 105th birthday, I remember... and submit this tile for the challenge... "Lest We Forget".

*** Traditional Zentangle 3.5" tile; Sakura Micron Black #01; graphite shading

*** Tangle inspiration is from "Totally Tangled" by Sandy Bartholomew.

Thanks for visiting.....

... and happy tangling.

Tangled Leaf

At my CZT Seminar #3 in May, 2010, each student was gifted** with a beautiful green Hawaiian leaf from two of our classmates.  Sounds like an unusual gift, but it was quite a unique idea - as this large, thick leaf from the Hawaiian   Autograph Tree  (Clusia rosea) is used to hold messages, notes and graffiti.  Of course, our Hawaiian friends/CZT's  tangle  on the leaves.... as they taught us to do at Seminar.  In time, the leaves turn a lovely brown color. 

This week, we are in Naples, Florida, enjoying a warm and relaxing vacation on the ocean.  While checking out the lovely flowering plant life, nature, scurrying geckos and shells in the sand, I was reminded of the Autograph Leaf and how lovely it looked after it was tangled.  One of the shrubs lining the perimeter of the pool area had a very familiar presence.  (Hmmm.  I wonder if these leaves are 'tangle-worthy'.)   So I scooped up a few of the leaves that had fallen on the ground... found an ink-less ballpoint pen... and tangled away!  It took a bit of practice to gauge pen pressure and leaf sturdiness, but I love the result.  Fun, too.

Betweed was drawn on the back side of the leaf... (experimenting)... and result was not quite satisfactory.  All other tangles were drawn on the front side of the leaf, resulting in crisper looking strokes.

First attempt at a monogram.  Drawn on front side of leaf... crisp strokes.

I don't know the name of this leaf/plant.  (The above leaves are about 5" diameter.)  My Google search was not successful... and the "locals" that I asked were not able to identify the leaf/plant. Do you happen to know the name of this leaf/plant?

Thank you for visiting...

... and happy tangling.

PS:  Congratulations to Laura Harms for scoring over 200, 000 hits on her blog I am the Diva!  To celebrate this milestone, she is having a fabulous "give-away" of  prizes..... or I should say, a "give-away" of THREE prizes.  Check out this blog post for details.  Hope you and I win!!!


** The leaves were shipped from Hawaii to the US mainland after being inspected and certified for shipment by Hawaii's Department of Agriculture.

" All Hallows Eve " - Weekly Challenge #46

This is a very special Happy Halloween wish to Mia, Tehya and Kai!!  I sure do wish Grampa and I could come out tonight and "Trick or Treat" with you.  Have fun... 

And Happy Halloween to everyone!  On this scary day, the Diva has posted her weekly challenge, and the theme is................. you guessed it!  Halloween!  Here is the Diva's challenge:  "Create a tile or a Zentangle Inspired piece that is haunting or spooky, maybe with things that go bump in the night - with such an open ended prompt, there's no end to things you can do with it."

I laughed through the entire process of creating this tile.  Thought a lot about my Halloween adventures as a child, and about our grandchildren who will dress-up in their costumes and go out to Trick or Treat tonight (with their parents in tow...).   What fun.

Zentangle - Tile 3.5" square; Sakura Micron Black # 01 and #1; Prismacolor pencils for eyes; graphite shading.

I can't figure out why this cat's face looks familiar.  Is it the eyes?  Is this really an owl dressed as a cat?   And who is that spider??? 

Thank you for visiting...

... and happy tangling.

" New Tangle Punzel " - Weekly Challenge #45

The Weekly Challenge from  I Am the Diva, Laura Harms, is to use the newly published tangle, Punzel, on a tile using the traditional Zentangle method or in a ZIA.  Maria Thomas revealed this new tangle two weeks ago at the CZT Seminar #7 in Providence, RI.

Oh, this is a doozie.  A formidable challenge.  An arduous task.

After I did a few quick 'test tangles', I wanted to decline and forget about this week's challenge.  But when I finally settled in to tangling-mode, I was back to that wonderful place that Zentangle has lead me to so many times in the past.  My Punzel interpretation needs a lot of tweaking, but the process of Zentangle is so familiar and comfortable and enjoyable and relaxing to me... that I am always anxious to visit my virtual tangling habitat.

Traditional Zentangle 3.5" tile; Sakura Micron Black #01 & #005; graphite shading.  (Punzel and Coil)

Subscribe to the Zentangle Newsletter for a wonderful potpourri of Zentangle information and links..... and a plain ol' happy time.

Thank you for visiting....

... and happy tangling.

  

" Tangled on the Inside " - Weekly Challelnge #44

This challenge has a great theme!  The Diva says:  "A while back Jo in NZ sent me an idea for a challenge... the idea is that you use one tangle as the 'string' and then fill in all the spaces with other tangles.  A tangle within a tangle....So, this week's challenge is to create a tile or ZIA using a tangle or tangle section as your string, then to fill in the 'blanks' with other tangles." 

And besides having a great theme, it was really fun!  When the Diva's challenge is posted on her blog each Monday morning, I read it, digest it, think about it, review my 'tangle bible', scribble a few strings on paper..... and, bottom line:  I procrastinate because ideas just don't easily bounce around in front of me and get lodged in my brain!  Ugh!!!! 

Artist block?  Perhaps.  In the words of one artist:  "In art, there are many tools to be used. But all these tools are rendered useless when you are missing the most important one: inspiration."  by *arriku

And when I read the guidelines for this challenge, I was inspired!! 

Thanks Jo and Laura.

                         "Tangled on the Inside" - 3.5" sq tile; Sakura Micron Black #01, Brown #005, graphite shading.                                     (Ennies within Mooka within Flux).

... and one more...

                           "Tangled on the Inside" - 3.5" sq tile; Sakura Micron Black #01, & #005, graphite shading.                                       (Msst & Vitruvius within Poke Root)

Thank you for visiting....
.....and happy tangling.

" Sunflower Fun " - Weekly Challenge #43

The idea for this week's challenge theme is from Pennyb.  She writes to the Diva:  "In Republic of South Africa, on 12 October we have 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!   I wondered if you could incorporate the Sunflower Fund logo somehow as a Challenge during the week 12 Oct??"


So, the challenge this week is to create a Zentangle or ZIA inspired by the sunflower.

Traditional Zentangle - 3.5" sq tile; Sakura Micron Black #01; graphite shading

A few Sunflower facts:
~ There are 82 species of sunflowers (genus Helianthus), all native to North America. Of these, 38 are perennials, and 44 are annuals..
~ The sunflower is the state flower of the US state of Kansas, and one of the city flowers of Kitakyūshū, Japan.
~ It is the subject of Van Gogh's most famous still life, Sunflowers.
~ It is the national flower of Peru, Russia, and Ukraine.
~ A Sunflower head consists of 1,000-2,000 individual flowers joined together by a base.
~Sunflowers most commonly grow to heights between 5–12 ft. (1.5-3.5m).
~A common misconception is that sunflowers track the sun.  In fact, mature flowerheads typically face east and do not move.
~A miniature representation of the pattern of  florets in the head of a sunflower was proposed by H. Vogel in 1979.  In the model, he noted a relationship between the angle at which the florets grow to the golden ratio where 55 and 144 are Fibonacci numbers).

Illustration of Vogel's model- Sunflower head/growth pattern of florets

 ~ Seeds of the Sunflower contain kernels... which are harvested and eaten as snacks and used in recipes.  These harvested kernels are sometimes referred to as 'sunflower seeds'. Oil is also extracted from the seeds/kernels for use in cooking.

Sunflower 'seeds'.

Sunflower kernels..... to enjoy for snacking.

Okay..... are you bored yet??  Then let's just enjoy the visuals of a sunflower's beauty.....

Field of Sunflowers blooming in Dakotas, USA

Field of Sunflowers as sunset.

Thank you for visiting.....
... and happy tangling!!

Sunflower information found at  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunflower.

Flames of " Hope " - Weekly Challenge #42

"Hope" is the theme of this week's challenge.  The Diva says:  "This week the challenge is to create a tile or ZIA inspired by hope.... however this applies to your life."  Read Laura's complete text on her website here.

                                                  

As October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, I am inspired to create 'Bottles of Hope' for people who are afflicted with cancer, with special memories of my mother and my grandmother.  The Bottles of Hope program was started by a very special person (and my friend), Diane in 1999.  Read more about BOH here and here. 

                                              
In my world of Zentangle, I see 'hope' as flames.  ( see Flames of Hope: A Celebration of Life.)  

ZIA - Bristol 5" square - Sakura Micron Sepia #01, Brown #005, Black #01; Prismacolor Pencils

I hope the Flames of Hope will help to keep our wonderful cancer researchers and medical personnel feverishly searching to find a cure for breast cancer....... until breast cancer is eradicated from our planet.

Thank you for visiting...

... and happy tangling.

For the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. website, Click Here

" Opus & Jonqal Duo Tangle" - Weekly Challenge #41

Once a week, I post the Weekly Challenge by The Diva... and this week she says:  "So, this week's challenge is to do a tile or Zentangle inspired art piece (ZIA) that uses only these two tangles - Jonqal and Opus.  Both of these patterns are official Zentangle® Tangles....  

"Limiting yourself to only two tangles is such a simple and elegant way of pushing your own envelope!  Exercises like this often leave people saying: 'It's not very good'.  So, before you start this week's challenge i want you all to take a deep breath and repeat after me:  'It's about the PROCESS, not the PRODUCT'."  

Since I seldom use either of these tangle patterns in my Zentangle® art, (no special reason why... just a creature of habit, I guess...)  I was anxious to start drawing.  This week has been super busy for me, and I got a late start, so my submission is just 'under the wire'!  But I did love this challenge.  Using Opus as a string was "working out of the box" for me... but, as suggested,  I enjoyed the process and will add this 'new' technique to my bag of tricks.

ZIA - Opus & Jonqal

Thank you for visiting...
...and  happy tangling!