for Joey's week 47 challenge

string 39 

Luv-A, Hugs and Kisses and Marasu

This is the weirdest tile I've ever created because it started off with a very intentional direction then totally veered out of control...which is why I love it and hate it at the same time. It's definitely got its flaws but I embrace it because upon reflection, I feel like it truly embodies the Zentangle journey. It went something like this:

The parameters were to start with this string...

...oh cool! I'm still obsessed with the spiral pattern "Marasu", so I knew exactly what I was going to do first~ go rogue by not using any of the prescribed patterns...yet. I did the spiral- color, highlight, shadow, then pondered my pattern options;

Luv-A, Loveline, Hugs & Kisses and Kiss

By this point I was familiar with all but one of the patterns-"Hugs & Kisses". Upon investigation I was not keen on it and had no intention of using it. I ixnayed "Loveline" from the get-go because no matter how I've played it over the last several challenges, I can't get it to look good. I was going with "Luv-A" and "Kiss". 

I discovered "Kiss" awhile back while pursuing another string challenge. It's the background pattern behind the feather. I like this pattern a lot and had every intention of using it again.

As the tile moved along, "Kiss" disappeared and "Hugs and Kisses" clumsily worked it's way in, I considered abandoning it more than once but kept at it. I purchased my first white gel pen yesterday and figured it would at least make a good practice ground, so I kept going.
I thought it was finished more than once, but something kept me going with it. When I finally called it finished, I considered not posting it and had a fleeting thought to start a new one, but decided it was noteworthy whether I begin again or not. We shall see.
Anyhoo, thanks to all of you who take the time to read these musings and many thanks to those who take the time to comment. I truly appreciate all of you.

TangleBomb Thursday

Diva Challenge #202

A Duotangle

Patterns: Copada & Chebucto

My schedule is all over the map this week, but it's been a productive one, thus far, tangle-wise. Perhaps not my best efforts artistically, but the journey has been rewarding and that's all good.

First up: I am the Diva's Weekly Challenge #202: use only two tangles, hence, DuoTangle. Copada and Chebucto are two lovely patterns by Margaret Bremner at The Enthusiastic Artist (where there are some great tips on moving patterns around corners). I've noodled around with Copada before but Chebucto is new to me and I had some trouble with it. I'm really bad with precision and lean toward the organic and embracing wonkiness whenever I can get away with it. This one? well...I wasn't super thrilled with the outcome. I ADD'd my way over to "That's New to Me", the weekly challenge set forth by SuzyMosh Creations where we are to use patterns we've never used before. Up this week is the letter "U". The Tangle Patterns list of "U" patterns is pretty small and a couple I've already tangled with (pun intended). This is what I came up with:

That's New to Me Challenge

"U" tangles

Uni, Up & Down and Upholstered

Upholstered was pretty much a hot mess but that's the way I roll somedays. I went back in with the color much later, after I'd gone and done this:

It's a String Thing Challenge #77

String #77

Patterns: Heartrope, Heartstrings, Heartvine and Luv-a

Not to be stopped, I went off on a Valentine's Day inspired tangent and pulled out the red marker. The plan (of the moment) for the next two weeks is to go red, black and white and create a bunch of Valentines that I'll either give out at work or leave around RAZ's (Random Acts of Zentangle). It'll depend on how many I get done. I may also go back and re-work some duds. 

Anyhoo, I went back and did this:

Diva Challenge #202 redux

This brings up a question I hope some of you will answer: What do you do with your tiles? 

I've only been at this a few months and I've got about 150 tiles. I was thinking of laminating some and saving them up for little gifts or making coasters, which I have no idea how to do. 

I just discovered the RAZ facebook page and like that idea as well.

Here's this weeks challenge from Made By Joey:

 

Challenge 45-Try your hand at tangling

patterns used: Chebucto, Copada, Crescent Moon, Wud, Sanibel & Paisel

Thank's for stopping by. Your comments and ideas are most welcome and appreciated.