Challenge  String #003

How differently do people view a string?  I for one, was very surprised with the two very different results I end up with from the same string.

Most of you reading this are familiar with zentangle strings but, for those of you who are not, a string is a penciled "guideline" that is put on the paper first (nothing is more daunting then a blank piece of paper) to use as a suggestion of where you might place your tangles.

The string for this week was drawn by Anne Marks and looks like this:

                                                        

You can find more string suggestions at tanglepatterns  which is a beautiful site developed by Linda Farmer.  Once you get there look around.  There is a wealth of information and many links to other creative sites.


Here are my two resulting ZIA's  (Zentangle Inspired Art) for this challenge.  They were both drawn on a 5"x5" piece of Eco White paper (Paper Source) using black and brown micron 01 and 005 pens and graphite pencil for shading.

Here's to seeing things differently!

New Tangle  "Geisel"

I used this tangle back in November in the "no strings attached" challenge.  The holiday season has been a busy one so I apologize for not getting the step-outs up for this sooner.

A little back story.  After 30 years of caring for dogs, my dogs, family dogs, as a veterinary technician many dogs I decided no more dogs!  Well, my husband could not live without a dog in the house so in a moment of weakness I agreed and we now have Frankie.

Although Frankie is "technically" my husbands dog, yes you guessed it, I take care of him.  So we walk a lot as Frankie is a 40 pound muscle that really needs a good daily workout.  On one of our walks along the Charles River Esplanade the posts on a bridge caught my eye.

When I arrived home I started playing with these shapes and found a pleasing tangle that ended up looking Seuss-like.  I looked up Dr Seuss and found his real name to be Theodor Seuss Geisel.  I thought his last name to be unique and so it is that this tangle is named Geisel.

At long last the very simple step outs:

I hope you enjoy!

Weekly Challenge #102 Auraknot/Bunzo

The one thing I like best about Laura's weekly challenges is it sometimes makes you revisit tangles that you have forgotten.  The duo tangle challenges, such as this one, stretch your thinking to put two very unlikely tangles together.  OK, so that was two things I like.  There is really so much to love about the Diva's blog, but I will not go on.

Here is my result for the challenge this week. It actually looks like a Tri Tangle with the resulting Betweed looking Auraknot!  If I find more time this week I would like to try another.  This has been a great way to start my week.  I hope your week has started off well!  Thanks for stopping by.

Diva Challenge #101  "Phicops"

What a lovely tangle this is!  The Diva's husband came up with this interesting new tangle.  I love it when families create together.  The step out directions are on this weeks Diva challenge which you can find here.  I played with this for a while and found so many different shapes that can be made with this tangle and the balance of white, black and grey just seems to happen on its own.

Costa Rica!

I have been away on a lovely trip with my son and husband and his family to Northern Costa Rica.  We had adventures and lots of relaxing time in a beautiful villa that was staffed by a house cleaner, bartender and cook whom were at our service all day.  Yes, it was a beautiful seven days.

It is rainy and cool back in Boston but, it is always nice to be home.  Here are some of the drawings I did while relaxing by the pool.

Pop Cloud that looks more like the jelly fish we encountered on our snorkeling trip.

Mooka in the round.

Love Heals with the Newtown teachers and children in mind.