String Challenge #166 and some Travelling Tangles

String Challenge #166

Pumpkin string 

patterns: Iza, Knightsbridge, 'Nzeppel and Antidots

Adele prefaced this weeks challenge by calling this a ZIA because the string was representational. Left to my own devices, I prefer the abstract and I maybe I'm a bit of a curmudgeon, but I really don't care for holiday inspired art. I enjoy it when others do it but it's just not how I roll. 

Oddly enough, this was the first tile I completed this week, even before the Diva and Joey tiles. I wanted to see how well I could mask the Halloween theme;-P

I had so much fun with the Travelling Tangles this week. This first group is a collaboration with recently minted CZT Annette Plaga-Lodde, the mastermind behind the blog CreA(R)Tives. I can't remember who reached out to who first, but this collaboration happened outside the Travelling Tangles Project. 

Annette's style and artistry takes Zentangle abstraction to a whole new and wonderful level. I'm always fascinated by her work. She also hosts a Mosaic Project on her blog that is super cool. If you're not familiar with it you need to check this out because it'll blow your mind. I haven't participated yet, but hope to someday soon.

It's raining cats and dogs this morning and I'm feeling very fortunate to have the day off and the opportunity to catch up on a few Travellers and enjoy my coffee.

My finish...

...to Annette's start

That gap in Kollide was really a stumper. I can't tell you how long I stared at this to figure out how to begin. I had no intention of including gems either, yet there they are;-P

Here's what I sent to Annette

Annette's amazing finish. Isn't this cool1?!

...and the other. This makes me so happy

This set of ATC's were sent out to a handful of swappers

Susanna Redaelli of Milan, Italy finished off her two delightfully;-)

Pat Mathes in Colorado finished this one...

...and this one.

Thanks so much for visiting my blog. I would love to hear your comments and questions. I'm always curious how you all find these posts that aren't linked to the Diva or Joey challenge.

Happy Tangling!

Diva Challenge #288, Made by Joey #134 and Travelling Tangles

Diva Challenge #288: "Gourdgeous"

Gourdgeous is an original pattern from Zentangle HQ that came out last year. I attempted it once back then. I have to admit that this is not a fave, but I'm giving it the old college try.  My sketchbook is loaded with clumsy attempts at this, but I  think it actually paid off;-)

Made by Joey Challenge #134

Torn Paper

Joey prompted this weeks challenge with a torn paper "string".  I found an ATC that I'd created using torn pieces of colored art tissue and adapted the string to fit the colored segments.

Here are the Travelling Tangles I finished this week:

This is my finish to one of the tiles sent to me by Anita Westin...

...travelling from Sweden.

I think "Tripoli" and I are finally becoming friends;-)

Anita challenged me with a black tile as well

Anita's start

The black tiles still prove to be problematic but I'm working toward a deeper bond. It's the white pen  that's really the problem, they either go all skippy or the coverage is too thin. I'd found a solution, the Signo Uniball broad tip, but then the store was out of stock last time I went in for them. Anyhoo, this turned out pretty well.

My finish to a super fun start by Beth Bentz

Beth sent me this jewel studded gem from Saskatchewan

Thanks so much for visiting my blog. Your thoughtful and generous comments delight and inspire me.

Diva Challenge #287, Made by Joey #133 & a Few Travelling Tangles

Diva Challenge #287: Use My Tangle
"Dreamcatcher" by Daniel Lamothe

The first Monday of the month is a UMT challenge where the Diva selects a focus pattern submitted by one of her faithful followers. I fell in love with "Dreamcatcher" right from the get-go. It can be elegantly simple or amazingly complex...dealers choice;-) I decided on a tan tile for this one, starting with the simple web, rounded at the corners. I could have just added a little shading and stopped there, but I felt compelled to add a few gems and, well...this is just how I roll;-)

I like the simpler version I did later even better;-)

I dug out my smaller pocket sketchbook I started last year for Inktober. I'm trying to keep up this year now that I have a better cell phone and camera. 31 drawings in 31 days!

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Made by Joey Challenge #133: Finish My Tile Series

Joey's start: "Relly-Telly-One"

Joey's challenge this week, introduced a new-to-me pattern. It's a Cadent based pattern with a little Crazy Huggins (my new fave).  Joey started hers in the bottom right corner of her tile and I adapted it to my ATC and tweaked the angle a little. I used an ATC with tissue paper color transfer.

Here are some Travelling Tangles I sent out into the world (my finishes from last week were posted here), beautifully finished in far away lands...

I sent this to Lin Laidler in Massachusetts

...and she finished it beautifully.

I sent this to Marguerite Samama in the Netherlands

This was colored with re-used colored tissue. The colors become more muted and they blend together the second and even third time. I get a lot of mileage from that pack of tissue;-)

I absolutely loved how she finished this.

This was a bonus ATC I sent to Marguerite using the tissue paper transfer coloring technique

Here's her gorgeous embellishment

I sent this ATC to Christin Wagner in Pennsylvania

...and here's her fantastic finish!

I sent this tile to Christin as well...

She did this super-cool transparent layering effect.

and finally this tile was completed by the lovely Margaret Bremner

If you're not familiar with The Travelling Tangles Project check out the Facebook page and join the fun. It's incredibly fun, a bit addictive and most of all one, of the best ways to improve your art.

Thanks so much for visiting my blog. Your thoughtful and generous comments delight and inspire me.

String Challenge#164 and Some Travelling Tangles

String Challenge #164: "W2" Monotangle

with a little B'tweed & Mooka

A pleasurable turn around after last weeks stumper...which, after all of my frustration and perseverence, I forgot to send in:-P
This is a, thankfully, loose monotangle (the use of only one pattern and it's variations) with some freedom to embellish within the pattern. I love W2 and its woven cousins.

And what post would be complete without my recent round of Travelling Tangles:

This was my finish to...

...this lovely ATC started by Pat Mathes in Colorado

My finish to another fun ATC...

...started by Pat as well;-)

My finish to...

...this fun tile started by Christin Wagner in Pennsylvania

This was my finish to...

...this luscious start from Beth Bentz in Saskatchewan

Thanks so much for visiting my blog. Your thoughtful and generous comments delight and inspire me.

Diva Challenge #286, Made by Joey Challenge #131 and a few Travelling Tangles

 Challenge #286: The Diva & Scooby says "Let's Get Straight to it"

Straight line patterns: Zedbra, Z-trik, Knightsbridge and Ziabolic

The Diva's challenge is to use only patterns with straight lines or adapt a curved pattern to straight lines. I completed the line work on this last night and did the shading this morning at the cafe. Scooby  Doo was sitting at my counter spot. He was willing to share.

Made by Joey Challenge #131: Finish My Tangle Series

Joey's start was a  diagonal strip of "Diva Dance"

Colored ATC using art tissue transfer

I finished this along with my pint of coffee. Scooby approved.

I'm trying to get caught up with a my ever growing stack Travelling Tangles. I've been getting loads of Happy Mail. It was a gorgeous weekend to take my kit out for a walk.

My finish...

...to Sue Clark's lovely starter tile from Colorado

My finish...

...to Sue's gorgeous Bijou start

My finish...

...to Heidi Whitney's elegant start

My finish...

...to Lin Laidler's colorful start

My finish...

...to Lin 's companion piece.

Thank you so much for visiting my blog. Your thoughtful and generous comments delight and inspire me!