Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Diva Challenge #303, Joey Challenge #152 and Travelling Tangles

Valentangles

This weeks Diva challenge is to create a Zentangle valentine and then give it to someone. This was truly a challenge. I am one of those Valentine's Day curmudgeons. Always have been, whether in or out of a relationship. Just not a Hearts and Flowers kind of gal.
I somewhat dread this time of year when all of the challenges out there revolve around said hearts and flowers. So, shortly after reading the challenge, amidst heavy sighs and procrastination, I was checking out Sandra Strait's Monday links at Art Imitates Doodles and opened the link to "Sweetheart Slide". I was intrigued. It was elegant and simple and made me think of calligraphy (something I'm always working on).
It wasn't as simple as it looked, but after a few clumsy attempts, I pulled out a watercolor ATC and went for it. It made more sense as I kept going, but it's easy to get lost and does require focus. By this morning I'd completed 3 and then gave them away to a few of my cafe peeps. Challenge complete!
So many thanks to the Diva for chipping away at my cold, black heart;-)


Finish my Tile Alphabet series: G
featuring: "Gnarly"
additionally: "Geos"

Another Bijou alphabet header for my pattern binder. This one's my favorite so far;-)

Here's a recent collaboration for The Travelling Tangles Project:

My finish to Susanna Redaelli's fun start


Susanna sent me this

The extra room in a 4" apprentice tile is quite freeing.
I was in an adventurous mood choosing to try some new patterns. I started with "Vo", a new pattern by 6 year old Vincent Roller. How cool is that:-)
This morning, I saw Waybop featured on the Zentangle Newsletter just as I was pondering what to put in the middle. It was risky, going in after practicing it just once. Not too bad;-)

Thanks so much for stopping by. Your thoughtful and generous comments delight and inspire me 😁



27 comments:

  1. Your cold, black heart??? Ha! Hardly, with your incredibly generous spirit! I love your Heart Slide tiles. Reeeeeeeally cool!

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    1. Totally agree!

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    2. Hahaha...thanks ladies. It was just so funny that one minute I was deep in frown mode, then the next I was enthusiastically skipping through the first ATC and immediately on to the next;-)

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  2. I thought of you when all the heart challenges appeared. I remembered your views from last year! But well on on your tiles - they are beautiful. And after all it's just another geometric shape to play with!

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    1. Thanks Jem! Yes, I agree about it being just another shape. Over the years I've attempted to Un-Valentine the heart themed challenges:-P Though, I was delighted by the reactions when I handed over the valentines to my unsuspecting recipients;-) so there's that...

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  3. I agree with you about the Valentine's Day challenges. Your travelling tangle is really cool. Suzanna did a great job with the colour.

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    1. Thank you Miss L! I love how the Travelling Tangles force me out of my comfort zone;-)

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  4. Great traveling tile! I saw Sweetheart slide too, but haven't had the chance to try it out yet. I bet your cafe peeps were thrilled with the tiles, so pretty!

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    1. Thanks Kate! Yes, after my internal curmudgeonly rant, the looks on my friends faces when I handed them off was priceless;-)

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  5. OHHHHH.... Sweetheart slide is lovely! It's wonderful on your watercolor tiles. I'm going to have to remember that tangle to try it one day! I adore your finish to the traveling tangle tile. Waybop is beautifully drawn and shaded.

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    1. Thank you Holly! It was a productive week with the discovery (and enjoyment) of two new patterns;-)

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  6. Waybop is wonderful drawn on your travelingtile with Susanna.
    Love your G, very special, I love that black on that tile and your Valentine's cards look great. I think you can always give such a beautiful card to your beloved ones, it doesn't has to be Valentine!

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    1. Thank you Ria! I did enjoy creating those Valentines after all of my resistance to it;-) Actually, both my sister and my niece have birthdays next week so I'm creating something similar for them.

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  7. All of your art is lovely, I especially love the valentangles!

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    1. Thanks Karen! I love how those turned out too. It was so unexpected;-)

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  8. All are just beautiful, dear Michele! Especially I like your Tile with Way Bob! It´s fantastic!

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    1. Thank you Annette! I've become a bit obsessed with Waybop now;-)

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  9. Like you, I'm not a very flower and/or heart person. Your tile for the challenge is great however!!!

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  10. I usually prefer bright colors, but when I saw your beautiful dark G I knew I had to do a dark tile, too. Thanks for the inspiration. Like you, I am not too much into hearts, but I am into pattern challenges; I have to try sliding hearts.

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    1. Thank you Susie! I always have to remind myself that's why they're called challenges. Many times the ones I find the most difficult to wrap my pen around, end up being pretty cool;-)

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  11. Haha, cold black heart: I don't believe that seeing tose beautiful things you create each week!
    Although I do understand you: that's the reason why I skipped this week's Diva challenge... All those hearty things can be too much ;-)

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    1. Thanks Ilse! Sometimes I just have to giggle at those grumpy moments when faced with holiday themed challenges;-)

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  12. Love your Sweetheart Slide tiles! I think they're perfect! I also love the way you finished Susanna's "splat" tile with Waybop! I remember your views on V. Day from last year Michele....but I think, underneath it all,.... you have a romantic heart! :)

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  13. All of your tiles are just beautiful, but I do love your Sweetheart Slide tile! What a lovely gift for your café peeps. I am looking forward to using this tangle. And...thank you for the links!

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  14. Beautiful tiles, but I so love your Diva challenge. I love the Sweetheart Slide tangle and will try it.

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