and so it begins...

Diva Challenge #231~C's & S's (or curves and waves)

by guest blogger Sharla Hicks

&

Made by Joey #74~ "Kozy" monotangle

Monday morning challenges commence! I'm enjoying another leisurely morning of coffee and creativity out here in my foggy part of town. 

I started about 3 hours ago when I opened up this weeks Diva Challenge, brought to us by guest blogger Sharla Hicks of Tangled Expressions. We are challenged to explore the undulating patterns that are based on curves and waves, or C's and S's and create a series. Sharla included several gorgeous examples from her series of works and links to many patterns...so after spending a couple of hours noodling around all that lovely inspiration, I opened up Joey's challenge for the week: a montangle featuring the pattern "Kozy".

My first reaction was dread. I was challenged with "Kozy" several It's a String Thing challenges ago and I hated it! Now, as I've learned, these are not called challenges for nothing. Whenever I'm tasked with something I have a hard time with the results are, more often than not, rewarding. 

After a bit of frustrating practice, I pulled out a watercolor ATC from my little box of tricks, that inspired me to take this into an aquatic world and it clicked immediately.

When I decided it was done, I realized this was a great start to the Diva challenge too. I definitely feel a series coming on. Stay tuned;-)

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

It's a String Thing Challenge #80

It's a String Thing Challenge #80

String #80

Patterns used: Inaura & Kozy

I know I'm sounding like a broken record but... Whew! what a challenge! Honestly, I was not having fun with either of these patterns. Perhaps it was just me feeling restless and dissatisfied with many things going on this week.

It seems I've developed a pattern of behavior when it comes to these string challenges. I will look at the string and the selected patterns and think "What the heck am I gonna do with this?"...it's a struggle for me initially to wrap my brain around the parameters that at first seem somewhat limiting. In the handful of challenges I've participated in thus far, usually I'm thinking that there are too many patterns. This time I thought too few.

I really liked the string. It immediately brought to mind a cozy cup of coffee and the waves of warmth radiating from it. I thought that with a really thoughtful approach to this, I could ultimately come up with a great design for a blog banner. I gelled with the idea of Kozy emanating from my cup of coffee. I expected this to be nothing short of brilliant.

Well, as I read somewhere a long time ago, "Expectations are disappointments waiting to happen"

I practiced and practiced Kozy and it was one hot mess after another...and once again ( well...several times) thought about taking a pass this week but I kept coming back to this nagging thought: 

THIS is what this blog is all about.

I started the above piece in my "throwaway" sketchbook, a cheapie from the dollar store with pages so thin, the inkier spots will bleed through 3 pages. The paper surface is very smooth so it's great for just warming up, working things out and then I can tear out the pages and throw them away.

This morning I sat down with my coffee at the cafe and opened up the book and thought, well this isn't as bad as I thought it was the other day. Once I got into some of the heavier line work I just kept going and 2 hours later I'm thinking I probably won't have time to commit this to a real tile so for now, a page from my crappy sketchbook...and another tiny triumph!