" Non Dominatrix " - Weekly Challenge #56

This week, we are challenged to draw our Zentangle (or ZIA) while holding the pen in our non-dominant hand.  This is truly a lesson in concentration.  First of all, just holding the pen between the fingers of my left (non-dominant) hand was a giggle.  (A child in pre-school would probably conquer that challenge much more gracefully than I did.)  Then, as I tried to stabilize the pen between my fingers, it was funny to watch it glide above the surface of the paper, seemingly mocking each stroke, but no ink appeared on the tile!   OMG, the pen is too short!  It doesn't reach the paper!

The pen finally did manage to reach the surface of the paper and leave its mark.  More giggles.  The black ink is twitching and squirming right before my eyes.  No straight/crisp lines here!! 

Well, this process continued until I was finished with my quirky creation.  And the zen-time passed so quickly.  What an accomplishment!  The muscles in my face kinda hurt 'cuz I must have been smiling during the entire 50 minute process! 

Oh, this was, for sure, a challenging challenge! 

Traditional Zentangle - 3.5" sq. tile; Sakura Micron Black #01, Brown #01; graphite shading.  (Brown ink was used for part of this tangle because I picked-up the wrong pen.  Intended for the whole tangle to be done in black ink.)

Thanks, Ms. Diva, for a fun challenge.

Happy tangling.....

.....and thanks for stopping by.

Tangle-a-Day - Finishing January

This Tangle-a-Day calendar is one of the best Zentangle-related items in my Zentangle toy box!  It's a fabulous journal, and I (used to) hate journaling!  But Zenatangle-journaling is my new passion.  (Would that be called Zent-ournaling?)   More information here . 

January tangles are finished.....

 

.....and tangling on February's pages has begun.

You'll find Carole Ohl's 'Tangle-a-Day' 2012 Calendar here.

Happy tangling....

... and thank you for visiting.

" Moebius Trip " - Weekly Challenge #55

For this challenge, the Diva has once again delved into her 'string theory' bag-o-tricks. 

Her youngest son was born with a disorder called Moebius Syndrome, a congenital nerve disorder affecting cranial nerves VI and VII, which control lateral movement of the face.  Laura says:  "To raise awareness of this disorder, use the Moebius Syndrome Foundation's logo as your string, or create a moebius strip out of paper and tangle that... or some other awesome creative thing that i haven't thought of."

The logo is a very lovely, flowing design that can confuse the heck out of you if you try to "follow" the surface lines and create a 'flowing-in-the-right-direction' tangle!  (You will understand what I mean if you have participated in this challenge......)

 

ZIA - 6" sq. Bristol - Sakura Micron Black #01, #005; graphite for shading; Prismacolor Colored Pencils

Really did like this challenge.  Fun to do.

Happy tangling....

... and thanks for stopping by.

PS:  Happy Birthday, Mia.  Love you!

Open Seed Arts: Calendar Giveaway!

Open Seed Arts: Calendar Giveaway!

" Purple Haze " - Weekly Challenge #54

It's time to open your box of colored pencils or paints.... because this week's challenge involves.... a color!  

And as the Diva says:  "Traditionally, Zentangles are done in Black and White and Grey - sometimes with a splash of Sepia for good measure.  I know that, for myself, one of the reasons i love to Zentangle is because i don't have to think too much.  So the challenge is to use the colour purple in your piece.  You can use purple pens, a purple marker, a splash of purple paint, maybe you want to work on purple paper? So play with violet, mauve, amethyst, lavender, periwinkle, plum or just plain old purple.  Have fun! " 

I loved this challenge.  (I'm free to be me ..... just added some purple!!)

Zentangle - 3.5" sq. tile; Sakura Micron Black #01; graphite shading; Prismacolor pencils

Happy tangling...

...and thank you for stopping by. 

Tangle-a-Day Calendar 2012

I love, love, love this new "Tangle-a-Day" calendar created by Carole Ohl, CZT.  Everything about it just makes me happy:  the ink glides on like butter; no smudging and no shadow; each page has space for three daily tangles;  the overall size of the 'book' is perfect and comfortable to handle; the fine printed lines (strings) are a muted grayish color which allows the strokes made by the Micron pen to stand out nicely.  The calendar is a great 'journal' for tangling.  Wish I had ordered one last year!

 Tangles drawn with Sakura Micron Black #01

Tangles drawn with Sakura Micron Black #01

These are photos taken in pure unadulterated daylight with a Canon Power Shot SX20 IS, without a flash.  Everything has a lovely blue tint in the photo... but that's not how it looks in real life!

Sandra Straight (Life Imitates Doodles) has written a very nice review of the "Tangle-a-Day" calendar.

And if you'd like to have fun tangling in your very own calendar, you can find them here .

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

" Diva Tangle - 'Undine' " - Weekly Challenge #53

For this first challenge of 2012, the Diva says:  "A few weeks before Christmas, i came up with this tangle, and i named it "Undine".  My Undine love for my husband. :)  heart."

 

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

Now that I look at it again, reminds me of some sort of.... creature.  This is one of those tangles that needs a bit of practice before I can do it justice.

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

" Give " - #52 - & Happy New Year!

 This is the holiday season of giving... and, thus, the Diva's Weekly Challenge is "Give".  Our mission is to create a Zentangle tile or a ZIA..... then give it away. 

I met the challenge.  Created a simple little traditional Zentangle tile, tucked it into my purse and drove off to do errands.  As I emptied my shopping cart and placed the food items onto the conveyor belt, I remembered the little 'gift' in my purse.  The cashier handed me the receipt.  I handed her the 'gift' tile and said, "This is for you.  Merry Christmas."

And since I forgot to scan the 'gift' before giving it away, I'm posting a "stand-in" ZIA.

ZIA 4"x6" Bristol; Sakura Micron Black #01 & #005; graphite shading.

And Happy New Year to you! 

ZIA - 4"x6" Bristol; Sakura Micron Black #01 & 005; graphite shading

~ "Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each New Year find you a better person."   Benjamin Franklin

~ "Your Merry Christmas may depend on what others do for you.  But your Happy New Year depends on what you do for others.  Author Unknown

~ "In the New Year, may your right hand always be stretched out in friendship, never in want."  

An Irish Toast

~ "People are so worried about what they eat between Christmas and the New Year, but they really should be worried about what they eat between the New Year and Christmas."   Author Unknown

Thank you for visiting....

...and happy tangling.

" Fife " - Weekly Challenge #51

Recently, Molly Hollibaugh (Zentangle Product Manager) created and published a new tangle - "Fife".  And The Diva has challenged us to use this tangle in a Zentangle or ZIA (Zentangle Inspired Art).  This tangle is very similar to a tangle called Versa which was created by Laura Harms a few months ago.  And as tangles go, there may soon be numerous lovely tangelations created from this inspiration.

ZIA -  5" x 5" Bristol; Sakura Micron Black #'s 01, 005; graphite shading.

Tangles:  Fife and Mssst.

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

" Biggify " - Weekly Challenge #50

Here's a new twist on tangling.  Biggify.  The Diva says:  "This week's challenge is to push your comfort zone and biggify your tangles.  Don't biggify your canvas, try sticking to the size you generally work on to get the full effect.  (Zentangling on a large surface is a whole other ball of wax - fun though) so if you work on tiles, biggify on a tile.  If you work in your journal, biggify in your journal.  You get it.  Have fun!  Try it a few times and see where your comfort zone lies.  Put your toe over that line and test the waters."

Hmmmmmm. Pushing the old comfort zone again.  (Well, isn't that what a 'challenge' is all about?)  I thought I would have difficulty drawing "larger than normal" tangles, but once I drew the string, I was on a roll.  This was a fun challenge.  Thanks, Laura.

Traditional Zentangle on 3.5" sq. tile - Sakura Micron Black #'s 01, 03, 05, 08; graphite shading.

Tangles: Cubine, Hibred, Rain & Snail.

Thank you for visiting.....

...and happy tangling.