" Birdie Feet " UMT - Challenge #125

This UMT challenge is designed by OwlLovingApril.  The name of the tangle is Birdie Feet, see the step-out here.  The design looks just like the little footprints that follow the birds around on the beach as they scour the sand for a bite to eat. 

Have you heard Buttercup's story..... the Duck who recently received a prosthetic leg and foot at the Feathered Angels Sanctuary?  Here is a short video - Buttercup trying out his new leg and foot for the first time!  Amazing.

So, staying within the theme of Birdie Feet, here's my Zen interpretation.......

ZIA - 4" square Bristol - Sakura Micron Black #01/.25mm; graphite shading

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Happy tangling...

... and thank you for visiting!

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" Open Challenge" ~ Calgary ~ Challenge #124

Words of the Diva:  "This week's challenge is an open challenge - i only ask that you keep Calgary in your hearts this week, and any part of the Earth where people are dealing with incredible struggles and tragedy."  Please see Laura's complete web-post here.

Whilst the stark truth is that

hardship and difficulties are inevitable and inescapable,

the definitive question may be whether

we yield under their weight

 or

 use them as an opportunity to

better ourselves.  

                                                      Daisaku Ikeda
~
 

I am taking this opportunity to post a few zendalas from Erin Olson's Zendala Dare.  I have not participated in her challenge 'cuz I have been uncomfortable tangling in a zendala format.  Don't know why.  Not enough time?  Maybe.  But I recently bit the bullet and tangled my 1st zendala, using one of Erin's templates...... here. 

And  it was kinda fun!  So, this week, my mission and personal challenge was to work with  my zendalaphobia and try to shorten the depth of my learning curve. 

Mission accomplished.  (Thanks, Erin!)

Zendala Dare 56

Zendala Dare 57

Zendala Dare ?? (Don't know which one this is...)

Zendala Dare 54

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Happy tangling...

... and thank you for visiting.

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Happy Birthday, Uncle Charlie!!! 

 love you lots.....
 

" Grid (un) Locked " Challenge #122

Grids are one of my favorite tangle-strings.  While they may seem ridged and boring, they are really quite versatile and interesting when they succumb to a bit of alteration.  So, in response to this  Zentangle Newsletter, the Diva's challenge is all about grids.



ZIA 4" square -Sakura Micron black #01/0.25mm; graphite shading; stamped background w/gray ink.

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Tangle happy .........
... and thank you for visiting.

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Happy Birthday, Christopher!  Love you lots.
Happy Birthday, Susan!  Love you lots.
xoxoxo
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" Birds on a Wire " - umt - Challenge #121

The tangle that is being highlighted in this week's challenge is called 'Birds on a Wire', created by Mary Kissel, CZT.

I must have been 'on holiday' when this tangle pattern was released because it looks new to me.  And, sure enough, if you check out Mary's blog and follow her step-out, the pattern does resemble birds sitting on a wire.  (Remember the movie by that name (1990) with Goldie Hawn and Mel Gibson?)

I wasn't quite sure how to artistically use Mary's tangle in a design, and this was, indeed, a challenge for me. So, rather than having it be the main entree/center of attention, I'm using it as a side dish.

Have you been following Erin and her weekly Zendala Dare?  I have been too chicken to participate.  Why?  Mandala designs - or Zendalas, for tangling purposes, intimidate me.  Why?  Don't know.  This is my first Zendala attempt.  (template from Erin's  Zendala Dare #55.)

ZIA - Zendala Dare string -  Sakura Micron black #01/0.25mm; Zig pen platinum for light shading.

This was a fun piece to tangle. 

Kudos to Laura, Mary and Erin.

 

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

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" Bales - Tangelations " - Challenge #120

 This week we are exploring Bales and it's many tangelations. I love Bales. It's so forgiving and it multi-tasks beautifully. All that is needed is the basic stroke pattern and a creative imagination. (I'm still working on that creative imagination!)

 



ZIA - Sakura Micron Black #01/0.25mm; chalk pastels

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On the Diva's blog post are photos of her beautiful family..... and a message written on the sidewalk in chalk:

"Some people

 feel the rain.

Others

  just get wet." 

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 Tangle happy...

... and thank you for visiting.

~ 

 

" Ebony & Ivory" - Challenge #119

For this week's challenge, like Laura, I struggled at the beginning.  Just having that extra little bit of information in my head (ie: ...."try to use equal parts of black and white space/tangles") distracted my thought process... until I de-constructed the instructions!  Duh!!!  Just use a black pen on white tile.  That's all.  End of trauma.

And, as Laura also noted, it's difficult to find a white opaque pen that is truly 'opaque' and user friendly... delivers a smooth line without skipping; covers black/dark paper in one stroke; dries to a crisp white color; etc.  So, no white pen for me.

And because of my Type A procastination, I'm late in posting.  But I'm happy.

ZIA - Sakura Micron Black #01/.25mm.  No graphite shading.

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Tangle happy!

... and thank you for visiting.

~

Happy Birthday, David !
Happy Birthday, Tehya !
love you lots...
xoxoxo

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" Kuke " - Challenge #118

This week is a UMT Challenge... and the pattern, 'Kuke', was created by Katy Abbot, CZT.  It's interesting to see the photo of Katy's cucumber on the light box!  Looks just like her tangle !!!  Cool.




Traditional Zentangle - Sakura Micron Black #01/.25mm; PrismaColor Pencils; Zig Pen Platinum; graphite shading

Great challenge.

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Happy tangling.....

... and thank you for visiting.

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Happy Birthday Ero!  Love you..... 

 

" Schway " - Challenge #117

Last week, Zentangle® Central released a new official tangle called "Schway".  See it here on the Zentangle Newsletter.
 
When I viewed this new tangle pattern in the Newsletter, I was immediately disinterested because the resulting design did not appeal to me.  I had no desire to study the 'step-out' and felt that it would never have a place in my Zentangle practice.  It just didn't taste good.
 
Then came Monday, and the Diva had spoken!!  This week's challenge is to use "Schway" in a Zentangle or ZIA.  Oy vey.
 
So, back to the Zentangle Newsletter to study the Schway step-out.  I practiced it a few times.  Still did not appeal to me.  Not my style.   
 
Now it was time to draw my string on a tile.  I tangled other patterns and played, joyfully, with Mooka and my other tangle-friends.  Oh, yes, I was avoiding the inevitable.
 
Then along came Schway.  After the top area of the design was all Schwayed,  I started adding a few more strokes.... one at a time....here and there.... until:  OMG, it doesn't look like Schway anymore!!!  Cool.
 
All I am saying is  Give "Schway" a chance.*



Traditional Zentangle - Sakura Micron Black #01/.25mm; graphite shading

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* Thank you, John Lennon. 

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Happy tangling....

and thank you for visiting!

~

" Blind Sided " - Challenge #116

We are going "vintage" for this week's challenge.  The Diva says:  "I'm revisiting another past challenge - using a blind string."

This challenge was VERY enjoyable.  It was nice to be reminded of the 'feel good' effects of the Zentangle process.  A relaxing sense of purpose.  Nice.



Traditional Zentangle - Sakura Micron Black .25mm/#01; graphite shading

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Happy tangling....

... and thank you for visiting.

~
 

Happy Birthday, Mary!  ... love you lots  ♥

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" Earth Day " - Challenge # 115

What does "Earth Day" - and Mother Earth - mean to you?  That is the question posed by the Diva for this week's Zentangle challenge.

ZIA - 4"x6" Sakura Micron Black .25mm/#01; Koi watercolors; Prismacolor pencils; Zig platinum pen; graphite shading

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Happy tangling.... 

...and thank you for stopping by.

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