" String Theory-Blind Sighted " - Challenge # 84

Close your eyes - draw a string - now tangle within.  The Diva explains her rationale here. 

I love this kind of challenge.   Used some new tangles from TanglePatterns.com, and a couple of not-so-new tangles.  Thanks for a delightful challenge.

Pencil string drawn with eyes closed!    

ZIA - Bristol 4" x 5"; Sakura Micron Black #01, #005; PrismaColor Premier Pencils; graphite shading
 



Tangle patterns:  Tripoli, Scroll Feather, Angel Fish, Zixts variation.

 

Happy tangling....

..... and thank you for visiting.

 

" Mooka - Assunta Duo" - Weekly Challenge #83

Love these duo-tangle-challenges!  This week, Mooka and Assunta are front and center, dancing around tiles and ZIA's. 

Mooka needs practice (practice, practice) - but once your brain remembers how to swoosh the lines up/around/and back, it's really quite fun.  Assunta, on the other hand, requires a bit of concentration when plotting the grid.... then, connecting the grid-path is mesmerizing.
 

Art Journal page 5"x7" - Sakura Microns: Black #01, Sepia #01; Prismacolor pencils; pastel chalks; graphite shading

Great selection of tangles for this Duo-Tangle Challenge from the Diva.

Happy tangling...
... and thank you for visiting.

" Brayd " - UMT - Weekly Challenge # 82

This week, the star tangle pattern is "Brayd" (instructions here), created by the very talented  Shelly Beauch, CZT.  I have not used this pattern extensively, and now that I've had a chance to study it a bit more by drawing it and viewing the fabulous Zentangles and ZIA's submitted for this challenge, (scroll down to Mr. Linky on the Diva's site), I think I'll be drawing it more.  It's so fun!  With lots of design possibilities........

While I was pumping gas into my car yesterday, I noticed an interesting design on one of the (many) 'CAUTION-HAZARDOUS-FLAMMABLE' warning stickers pasted to the front of the pump.  So, for my string on this ZIA, I penciled my interpretation of that design.

ZIA - Bristol 5" square; Sakura Microns black # 01 & #005; graphite shading.

Thank you Shelly and Laura.

Happy tangling...
..... and thank you for visiting.

ps:  Happy Birthday to my l-o-o-o-n-g time (since kindergarten!) friends, Joyce and Fran.

" Relay for Life Zendala " - Challenge #81

The Diva has recruited guest challenge host Erin Olson, CZT for this week's challenge.

Erin has provided the zendala template - and I just cannot believe the variety of beautifully creative interpretations that have been submitted so far!  I'm a bit embarrassed to post mine after viewing those other works of art. 

I thought a zendala needed to be very precise..... I mean, the tangle patterns needed to be drawn to fit specifically within the lines/string of the template.  This challenge has, perhaps, proven me wrong.  If you have not yet viewed the zendalas in this challenge, I hope you will take a minute to do so..... here  (then scroll down to Mr. Linky's list).

I used a 3.5" template, and perhaps it was too small for my drawing style.  It was frustrating to run out of space within a string segment and not be able to freely draw a tangle.  It was very tight!  My next attempt may be a larger template.  Or, drawing outside the lines is another option.  We'll see.  I'm not completely convinced that I want to attempt another zendala until I understand the ground-rules.  (Darn Type-A personality!!!)

Zendala - Bristol 4"; Sakura Micron Black #01, #005; graphite shading

Thanks, Erin, for a challenging challenge!!

Happy tangling....
... and thank you for visiting.

" Mi2 (Me Too) " - Challenge #80

It's hard to believe that this is the Diva's 80th Weekly Challenge devoted to the art of Zentangle!!

The focus of this challenge is a tangle called "Mi2 (Me Too)",  which was created by Mimi Lempart, CZT.   Instructions for drawing this tangle are found here.

I really like to draw this pattern...although, at first, it was very challenging.  It's one of those patterns that is hard to wrap your head around - but oh, so gratifying when you finally "get it".

Traditional Zentangle - Sakura Micron Black #01; graphite shading.



Check out the Diva's challenge tile.  It's awesome.

Happy tangling...
.....and thank you for stopping by.

ps:  Happy Birthday to my little brother, Chuck!  love you lots.

" Citius, Altius, Fortius " - Challenge #79

As the 2012 Summer Olympic Games are preparing for the July 27 opening ceremony in London, England - this challenge honors the Olympic motto "Citius, Altius, Fortius" ~ Swifter, Higher, Stronger. The iconic symbol for the Games is the five intertwining rings - and at least one of the (ring's) colors appears in every national flag of the participating countries.

While the Diva is in Philadelphia at a medical conference for Moebius Syndrome with her family this week, the guest-challenge-leader is Rho Densmore, CZT. Rho's olympic challenge post can be found here.

To me, the Olympics symbolizes years of work and sacrifice - as the athletes practice to perfect their chosen sport. First the practice, then the celebration! The Olympic celebration!!

"The most important thing is not to win but to take part!" Pierre de Coubertin

ZIA - 5" square Bristol - Sakura Micron Black #01, pastel chalks, PrismaColor pencils, graphite for shading

To all those fabulous Olympians who will strive harder than they have ever done before - good luck and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Happy tangling...
.....and thank you for stopping by.

ps:  Happy Anniversary Chuckie & Ero...... love you!!

" Auraknot " - Weekly Challenge #78

Back at Camp Zentangle, Rick and Maria have been busy creating this fabulous new tangle, and they are demonstrating the tangle in a great new YouTube video.   They challenged us to: (1) name the new tangle, and (2) deconstruct it and write the step-out instructions.  The Diva has more information about Auraknot on her award-winning website.

This is definitely a fun tangle with lots of possibilities and variations.  But it does require a good amount of focus and consistency..... with regards to direction when rotating the tile.  But, somehow, the result is an intricate, complicated-looking design that sorta resembles a Celtic knot. 


Traditional Zentangle - Sakura Micron Black #01



Traditional Zentangle - Sakura Micron Black #01 and graphite shading.

Thank you Rick and Maria... and Molly and Sue & Nancy.

Happy tangling.....
... and thanks for visiting.

ps: this entry is a dedicated to and a celebration of two birthdays that need to be acknowledged, as they happened since my last post... Happy Birthday, Susan ~ Happy Birthday, Christopher... love you very much.

" Bridgen " - a UMT - Weekly Challenge #73

This week we are using the tangle 'Bridgen', created by Daved Ohl.  It's an interesting story about how this tangle pattern was created in Daved's mind.  The challenge is to use Bridgen in a Zentangle or ZIA.

This challenge was "work" for me.  The design idea/string did not happen easily.  Blocked.  But I'll do another one and try to loosen-up.  Using a familiar spiral string gave me a good start. 

Traditional Zentangle - Sakura Microns,  Black #01 and Green #05; graphite shading

Thank you, Daved, for creating and sharing this tangle pattern.

Happy tangling.....
.... and thank you for visiting.

~ Special thanks for taking time to write your thoughts in the comment section. ~ 

" Crescent Moon " - Challenge #72

Crescent Moon is the first official Zentangle tangle that I learned in an Introductory Zentangle Class given by Maria & Rick in Whittinsville, MA.  (Awesome experience.)  This has always been the first tangle that I taught in my introductory classes, too.  It sort of indicated a "right of passage" for me.... from student to teacher.  A bit spiritual.  I felt like I had to start my classes with Crescent Moon in order to allow the zen-like aura to take hold and permiate the room.

But I'm a big girl now.  And during my big-girl-growth-spurt, I recognized my ability to communicate with my students by teaching them as I was taught.  Breathe, relax, enjoy.  Dots, lines, string.  One.  Stroke.  At.  A.  Time.

Here is my contribution to this week's Crescent Moon Challenge.  Grids, crescents, spheres, loops.

My faux pas this week is that I mis-read the Diva's instructions.  M-o-n-o-tangle.  Oops.

ZIA - 5" x 7" bristol; Sakura Micron Black #'s 005, 01, 08; graphite shading

 ~ Remembering our men and women in uniform, with love and prayers. ~

Happy tangling.....
... and thank you for visiting.

" Pea-Nuckle " - Challenge #71

This week's Zentangle challenge from the Diva is to use Molly Hollibaugh's new tangle, Pea-Nuckle, in a ZIA or Zentangle tile.

At first, as is my experience with many new tangle patterns, it was difficult to understand the flow of this tangle.  So I avoided it.  But my right brain finally conceded to the fact that ANY pattern is more easily accomplished as the strokes are repeated.  Repetition.  Repetition.  Repetition.

And I got so tangled-up in this concept of repetition, that some of my stroke directions went north instead of south!  I almost threw the tile into the circular file, but decided to just accept what was appearing before me and finish it ! 

Feeling of accomplishment.  Grateful for inviting patience.  Persistant.  Zentangle.

Traditional Zentangle - Sakura Micron Black #01 & Sepia #01; graphite shading

Thanks for the challenge, Laura. 

Happy tangling...
...and thanks for visiting.

PS:  Happy Birthday David and Tehya!!  Love you lots and lots.....