Back to Basics

I was fortunate enough to attend Rick, Maria, Molly and Martha's presentation at Kripalu Yoga Center in the Berkshires of Massachusetts this past weekend. It was open to all, so there was a nice mixture of CZT's who just can't get enough and people very new to the practice. It was refreshing to be instructed on the basic tangles that teach you so much about the Zentangle method and also be reminded that you only need a handful of tangles to reap the benefits.

Many of us have moved from the simplicity of the 3.5 inch square tile, pencil, and pen to boat loads of supplies that overtake our desks and need totes upon totes to lug them around. It is very refreshing to get back to the basics and feel the freedom from pencils, pens, and markers.

If you have not yet found the facebook page called Square One: Purely Zentangle, check it out! It is a community that only works with the basics of 3.5" square tile, pencil and black pen. There are tangles suggested weekly to get your juices following and it is a place to share your daily black and white tiles. With almost 1000 members, there is a lot to be learned from others work. The photo section is an amazing resource to learn how individuals have used tangles in so many different ways.

Here are some tiles from the retreat:

Tripoli

Munchin

Marasu, Poke Leaf, 'Nzeppel

Remember where it all began!

Challenge #169 Circles as Strings

This week we were asked to use a circle or circles as our string and then tangle. This seemed like an easy one to accomplish but my end result surprised me. A little science and nature on the same tile. Where did that come from?

Tan Zendala Tile, black and brown micron, white gel pen, white prismacolor pencil

Black Pearlz, Printemps, Bronx cheer, Poke Leaf

Challenge #164 Earth Day

Although it was an overcast, rainy day I still had to walk my dog Blue Sky. As we were returning home through the ever changing and now very beautiful Public Garden in Boston a woman we were approaching had a delighted smile on her face and said "can I say hello?" meaning to Blue of course. This dog gets so much attention it is really incredible. Well, anyway this woman was author Ellen Cooney and she was on her way to her publishers office because she has a book coming out (the eleventh I think?) about a school for dogs. This book deals with abused dogs that are "rescued" and given a second chance.  Ellen was just so nice and wasn't even flustered that Blue Sky had left a muddy foot print on her clean white shirt! You just never know who will cross your path. Her book is due to be released in August 2014 and since she resides in Maine maybe our paths will cross again.

Earth day tile, practicing my organic tangles.

Poke leaf, Cat-Kin, Black Pearlz, Printemps, Enyshou,