Challenge ~ UMT Use My Tangle v.III

CZT, JJ LaBarbera's tangle "Huggy Bear" was chosen for this month's UMT or "use my tangle" challenge.  If you would like to read more about how this tangle came about and see the steps to create it, they are here.  This was a busy week for me, so there was not much time to tangle.  Thank goodness for the Diva Challenge which is a reminder to MAKE TIME TO TANGLE! I always feel better when I do.  How about you?

Challenge ~ String Theory v. VIII "Fortuneteller"

Here is my submission for this week's Diva Challenge.  The idea for this week was for everyone to use the same string by making a cross and an "X" on the tile creating 8 triangular sections for tangling.  I confess this was my second attempt.  My first effort just looked dark and gloomy and uninspired so last night when I was quite tired, and completely relaxed, I took up my trusty red Gelly Roll pen that is so fun to work with and created this simple, but pleasing (to me, anyway!) version.  Tangle on!

CHALLENGE ~ Fengle!

OK, so Fengle is tangle recently introduced and the focus of this week's Diva Challenge. It requires PRACTICE to get the swing of it and I need some more practice, for sure.  Fengle really does lend itself to lots of possibilities and its a tangle I want to know better.

This week I've also been busy tangling a chair for a community project where the chairs created by local artists will be featured at a silent auction with proceeds going toward the Chariho Art Scholarship Program.  I am almost done with my chair.  An attempt at a color Zentangle featuring Fengle sits on the chair just for fun. I'll take some better photos and share as I complete it.  Thanks to Zentangle, I can actually participate in this project, something I never dreamed I could do!

CHALLENGE: Spiral Vs. Paradox

I missed the last couple challenges because I took a wonderful trip with my mother to St. Maarten.  We had a great time, and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, taking in a butterfly farm, the beautiful beaches and some fabulous restaurants on the French side and the Dutch side.
On coming back to reality I looked forward to jumping back into the Diva Weekly Challenge.  It is always a chance to stretch and do a Zentangle following the Diva's direction.  This week I wasn't sure I was up for it once I read that we were to use a spiral string and use paradox to tangle within the spiral!  But, thankfully, Margaret Bremner's paradox tutorial boosted my confidence, and I finally sat down and tangled my entry.  It might not win any prizes, but here it is!

Thank you to Certified Zentangle Teacher, Marizaan van Beek, all the way from South Africa for the challenge suggestion.  The submissions are quite amazing.

Challenge~ Mardi Gras!

The theme for this week's Diva Challenge is Mardi Gras or, in other words, time to roll out the fun! For my first tile, I used Sakura gelly roll pens in the Mardi Gras colors and, in Zentangle fashion, just let the tangles unfold without any intention or expectation.  I don't know if I like it or not.  It is very different and I wish I didn't use any black.


While I had the color pens out, I used the purple for the second tile and there is something about this one that I do like. And, for the fun of it, I am also including a couple other tiles I tangled made this week.

Thanks, once again Diva and Zentangle community for the opportunity to enjoy this delicious relaxing art form!

Diamonds Challenge

So this week's Diva challenge to use Four Diamonds as a string  was one that I was happy to take on. Anything with a  grid seems to be a grounding starting point for me when I am stymied as to how to begin a Zentangle tile.  I decided to fill in the background with black, inspired by how Maria described doing so as a meditation in itself.  What with all the various rumblings in my head, some meditation seemed like a great idea!  The diamond string offers so much versatility it will be an idea to use again and again.  So here is my tile.  I am not thrilled with the results, but the process was great!  I used a white Gelly roll for the little border tangle.  I do not have a name for it, but I do seem to be using it here and there in my tiles.  Hint, hint, names welcome:)  And if you haven't already done so, do read the post that tells the story of the Four Diamonds Fund to fight childhood cancer and how it came about. 

Challenge: Sanibelle

I really enjoyed making my tile and using Tricia's beautiful tangle, "Sanibelle" for this week's Diva Challenge.  It is so lacey and delicate and easy once you take your time with it. Patience is  always the virtue needed most, isn't it?  This  tangle reminds me of the sea anemones we used to have in our tropical fish tank.  I loved watching the way they flowed back and forth and filled with water.  Maybe that was on my mind with this tile, because I seemed to be pulled towards the organic "fern" which looks kinda like seaweed and an underwater feeling overall. Even though we are having such a mild winter it is still nice to dream of tropical places!

I am so glad Tricia's tangle was chosen for the challenge.  She is an incredible CZT and creates amazing Zentangles and Zentangle Inspired Art (ZIA).  If you haven't seen it, check out more of Tricia's work at her blog: Tangle with me

And special congratulations are in order this week for Laura, aka Diva as her blog was voted Most Fascinating Blog in the teaching category.  Her sense of humor, creativity, and dedication to the Diva Challenge and the Zentangle community are really special and she so deserves this honor!  Go Diva!