Diva Challenge #237 and a new distraction

Diva Challenge #237: Stencil & Color

This weeks challenge, put forth by guest blogger Charlotte Carpentier of CharKat's Creative Insanity, was to find a stencil and use inks or dyes or natural color medium to create a string.

It took me a while to figure out the stencil deal because I don't use them. I searched around my kitchen and found this bike gear/refrigerator magnet and what did I use as my coloring agent? Coffee of course...applied by spraying it from a toothbrush.

Shading Zenith

for the Shading Zentangle Facebook Group Challenge

As if I don't have enough to distract me from the world, I joined another Facebook Group last week. This group is hosted by Eni Oken who does some amazing shading books and tutorials. Eni will be loosely following Square One's weekly tangle focus, providing the pattern has dynamic shading potential.

Sorry about the pics. I'm having some technical difficulties between my crappy idiotphone camera and a Netbook close to crapping out on me, I can't seem to get clean photographs.

My submission to Adele Bruno's It's a String Thing Challenge #111 won last week's tile of honors. Very exciting. When I saw it on her post I was a bit embarrassed by the quality of the photo I sent. I was using a computer at work and it was the first time seeing on a large screen. It's in my previous post if you want to take a look. I replaced the pic;-)


Anyhoo, thanks so much for visiting my blog. Your generous and thoughtful comments inspire me

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String Challenge #111 and other doodles...

String Challenge #111~ follow these steps:

1) draw the pattern "Hamail"

2) create your own string

3) add your favorite tangle

Adele's prompt this week was a sequence of One's. One prompt pattern, one string, then one favorite tangle. Hamail is new to me. After a little bit of practice I just went for it. I love the floral motif and couldn't stop so there wasn't much need to create a string as the motifs broke up the space effectively. "Sandswirl" is among my top 5 faves...this week;-D

This morning: Coffee & Practice

I've been very inspired this week, thanks to all you challenge makers and takers. Late last night I continued "Pea-nuckle" practice, fueled by my initial attempt at this weeks Joey challenge. I was at it again this morning. I'm determined to "get" this pattern. I can only make sense of it when I work on a grid. After several attempts, I think I will try to take this out of the box and go all Helen Williams on it;-)...sigh...if only...

I absolutely love Antonine Koval's new tangle "Oybey". What a gorgeous border. Check out Antonine Tangles to see her gorgeous ZIA.

As ever, thanks to all of you for visiting my blog and to those who leave such generous and thoughtful comments~YOU ROCK!

Diva Challenge #236, That's New to Me #38 & Made by Joey #79

Diva Challenge #236~"Tangle Unexpected"

The idea is to tangle on something other than your traditional paper. I shall admit to cheating right off the bat because this wasn't entirely "unexpected".  I'm always picking up interesting postcards and coasters that make me think "ooooh, I could tangle on this sometime" in anticipation of challenges of this ilk, but this is the first time I've ever done it. The glossy surface was both nice to draw on but some of the wetter parts took longer to dry than expected so I had a few smears.

I knew this had tangling potential from the get-go.

That's New to Me Challenge #38

explore a new "Z" pattern

"Zag V" by Helen Williams

I'm on a bit of a Helen Williams kick this week after receiving her eBook " Three Little Rules", so when I started searching "Z" tangles, "Zag V" jumped out at me and I knew I had to get to work. I love this pattern and I shall use it often. The Facebook group Square One: Purely Zentangle is focusing on "Meringue" this week, and though I've yet to create a tile for the group, Helen's tutorial has me flinging "Meringue" everywhere I can.

a work-in-progress piece from Helen's eBook.

Made by Joey Challenge #79

"Pea nuckle"

Oh boy, this challenge really vexed me! I've attempted to practice "Pea nuckle" before because I love the way it looks, but I ALWAYS give up because I can not get it right. This is a hot mess under the shading and my watercolor ATC also masks a multitude of errors. I watched Ellen Wolters You Tube video and though it made much more sense, I still had trouble with it. I'm hoping to get another go at it.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Your generous and thoughtful comments always inspire me.

String Challenge #110 and other artsy stuff

String Challenge #110

String #110 

Patterns: 'Nzeppel, Maisie & Antidots

I had a really hard time with this one and I don't really know why. I love the string and all three patterns. I was probably a bit burnt out from my Twinchie/Inchie marathon. Anyhoo, two duds and a day later, this emerged. The more I look at it the more I like it.

These are a few close ups of the Twinchie's I made for this month's swap for the Facebook group Zentangle Artists Trading Card Swap. The task was to create "Twinchie" ( two inch square) tiles with an accompanying Inchie using only one pattern from the Twinchie.

The watercolor tiles were leftover from an abandoned project I started several months ago as I was experimenting with watercolor wash techniques and color combinations. The idea was to do a really wet wash on a large sheet of watercolor paper using several colors then prop the paper up and let the colors drip and run into each other. Then cut it down into two inch squares and rearrange them into a mosaic-like paper quilt.

I ended up laminating a few of the cooler looking ones that somehow managed to look like little watercolor landscapes. I made refrigerator magnets.

At the time I had no idea what a "Twinchie" was.  I had several left and started a pattern library
with some.

As I pondered what to do for the "Twinchie" swap, I remembered I had these little watercolors tucked away. Concurrently, Square One: Purely Zentangle had just posted this weeks pattern focus~Opus...well, I just started to draw and two days later my 12+ twinchies were complete.

Square One: Purely Zentangle

The focus is on "Opus"

Here I decided to get back to the basics minus the crutch of color.

Thanks for visiting my blog and your comments always make my day.

Diva Challenge #235, Made by Joey #78 & That's New to Me #37

Diva Challenge #235: String Theory~Stripes

This week's challenge is to start with a stripey string. I'm a fan of tangling within stacked strings. I decided to get back to the basics of the white tile for this one. I'm using some of my favorite tangles here: Wud, Prestwood, Golven, Marasu, Opus & Puffle.

That's New to Me #37: a new "T" pattern and Artist Focus on Sandra Strait

"Tada" "Twizted" & "Fohbraid"

I made two new sets of watercolor ATC's last week:

I really like them, though they're a bit dark. It's taking some work with highlight and shadow but the final pieces are pleasingly dramatic. I just wish I had a better camera.

This weeks That's New to Me Challenge introduced me to some new favorite tangles: Tada, Twizted and Fohbraid by Sandra Strait (aka Molussus).

 Made by Joey Challenge #78

Alphabet challenge "O": "Oke"

Joey's challenge this week is to use Michele Beauchamp's "Oke". I have to admit when I came across this pattern awhile ago, I wasn't into it. Now, I love it. I'm also thinking that these darker ATC's might be my gateway into the white on black world I've yet to explore. Looking at this ATC I think I should have used white pencil instead of gel pen on the leaves. Oh well, live and learn.
Lastly here's what else I've been up to for this month's Zentangle Artist Trading Card Swap. The theme is Twinchies and a partnering Inchie.

A great big thanks to all of you for stopping by and to those of you who take the time to leave such thoughtful and generous comments...You Rock!!!!

Diva Challenge #234, That's New to Me #36 & Made by Joey #77

Diva Challenge #234-UMT: CanT

I had so much fun this week with all of the great patterns the challenges had in store. I've been away from my routine for a bit so it's nice to get back into my groove.

First up with The Diva: this took on a life of it's own. It started off as sketchbook practice and it wasn't until I decided to frame it that it felt like it could be a finished piece. I wanted to take it out of the grid and play with the endless variations that this pattern is capable of. What a great pattern-it's definitely going into the repertoire of faves!

That's New to Me #36: "Yang" & "Yah"

This was fun. Who loves "Yah" baby. I did not know when to stop. I'm down to the last couple of watercolor ATC's from this group. I started with an 11 x 14 sheet of bristol board that seemed to generate an endless stack of ATC's.

Made by Joey #77: Alphabet Monotangle~N'zeppel

I loves "Yah", but I loves "N'zeppel" more.

Thanks for visiting my blog. Your comments always make my day.

String Challenge #108

String Challenge #108

String #108 with Lanie, Cubine Chemystery & Printemps

I tend to go off the grids these days, preferring more organic patterns and strings. I made an attempt at getting this out of the box but no good came from it. Back to the drawing board and this came about. 

As these challenges tend to go, I am almost always forced out of my comfort zone and the results generally come about after a few fits and starts. To tell you the truth, I had many doubts about this one along the way and had to step away from it several times. It didn't really gel until I added the shading and I only just added the swirly Printemps within the Chemystery grid.

The more I look at it the more I like it and a great big shout out to Adele for once again coming up with another great challenge.

Thank you for stopping by. Your comments always make my day.

Made by Joey #76 & That's New to Me #35

Made by Joey Challenge #76

"Maryhill" monotangle

That's New to Me Challenge #35

explore a new X tangle-Lila Popcheff's "X"

and artist focus on Judy Murphy-"Starawn"

These were both fun challenges. I've never drawn "Maryhill" before so these are all new to me. I remember seeing a curvy "Maryhill' out there somewhere last week.

"X" and "Starawn" seemed destined to be together.

Thanks for stopping by. Your comments always make my day.