Diva Challenge #211 ~ Flux

Well, this week, the Diva was unable to post her challenge as her youngest son is not doing well and was in the hospital. So we thought that there was no challenge this week.....however, Rick and Maria posted step-outs for Flux, which is one of their original tangles and they realized that they had never taught it with step-outs for us yet. Flux has always been one of my favorite tangles, so imagine my surprise when I found out there are 2 versions of it. I had only known of the version that Rick uses, but apparently the one that Maria did was first and I had never known that. I guess probably because I don't know a CZT yet, so I just watch the internet. Anyway, it is definitely one of my favorites and so I did one today (April 2, 2015) on a blue tile for my son. Today is World Autism Day and the color representing that is blue, so this one is for him. After I took this picture, I added some white highlighting to it, so I will take another picture tomorrow and post it as well.  Hope you like it!

World Autism Day - Apr 2, 2015
Media: 3.5" x 3.5" blue tile, Black Micron, Blue Micron
Blue Derwent Watercolour Pencil
Tangles: Flux (both versions), Uni, Printemps, Pearls,
PinBawl, and Florz

Same tile with white highlights added....better picture too :)

Thank you for stopping by and if you want to see the rest of the submissions, go to the Diva's Challenge Page (click here) to see the beautiful work done.

Diva Challenge #190 ~ Pink for Ardath

First off, thank you again everyone for your remarks last week.  I always read them, but since I never know how long I will be on the computer, I'm afraid that I don't get to respond to you all.  Just know that I appreciate all of you and your comments...they are much appreciated.

For this challenge, the Diva challenged us to use pink in memory of her grandmother who died from complications of breast cancer as well as all those have passed or are cancer survivors.  My mother had several lumps that thankfully weren't malignant, but my aunt wasn't quite so lucky.  She had to have a double mastectomy, but they got it all and she survived the cancer. However, both she and my mother ended up with Alzheimer's, which contributed to both of their deaths. I also have friends that have survived breast cancer, one of whom was a male friend that got it very young and is now a survivor for over 8 years. A girlfriend developed breast cancer, but beat that only to develop bone cancer, which thankfully she beat also. Other cancers have plagued friends and acquaintances over the years, so this is for ALL cancer victims.

Pink Tile 1: Dragonair, Luv-ya, Mooka, Tipple, Bunzo

Pink Tile 2: Pearls (?), Fiore, Juke, Zinger

Was trying out Carol Ohl's connection tutorial on this one.  I like the way it turned out and will have to use some of these techniques in future.

 I'm sorry that this is so late this week, but my son's girlfriend is here from Tennessee, so things have been a bit hectic getting things ready for her visit.  As always, I appreciate feedback and comments.  And be sure to visit the Diva's blog (here) to perhaps join in on the challenges and see all the beautiful work that is submitted.  Who knows? Maybe we will see YOUR work next week.

Diva Challenge #188~Coming Out Day

The Diva's Challenge this week was to create a tile for Coming Out Day ~ Oct 11 for LGBT. This was such a wonderful challenge for me and I intend to do more tiles when time permits using these colors and theme.

 My son and I have many friends that support and belong to the the LGBT community! We have, for a long time, had many friends that were gay or lesbian and to tell you the truth, I never really thought much about it at all. When I was in high school (eons ago), I had a very dear friend (in fact my first boyfriend) that was gay and had a hard time telling anyone. So after high school, he followed his heart and became a nanny to a good doctor and his wife and they introduced him to many people in the LGBT community.  I think it was the first time in his life that he was actually happy.  We remained close throughout his life, which unfortunately ended far too soon. But knowing him to be so happy when he was allowed to be himself prompted me to do my tile in rainbow colors. I had meant to get this posted sooner, but this week I have been a bit sick.  But here it is now

A Joyous Coming Out

I actually like this one and it is much brighter than this picture shows.  The tangles I have used are:

L - Luv-ya

G - Golven

B - Blooming Butter

T - Twenty-One

The only tangle pattern that I had ever actually used before was Luv-ya. In actuality, it was my son that chose these particular tangles.  His reasoning was that all of his LGBT friends are a bit flamboyant and he thought that these would be perfect to describe them.  I agreed with him, thinking particularly of one of his good friends that also worked with him when he was doing makeup for a local Haunted House for a few years. This particular friend and I got to be good friends and like most of the kids over there, he called me "Mom".  His own parents had thrown him out of the house when he told them he was gay and so I always a special spot in my heart for him. So I dedicate this joyous and bright piece to all of my good friends, LGBT or otherwise, and ask that people just embrace the joy of loving each other with no strings attached. 

If you would like to see the rest of the pieces created by many other artists, take a look at the Diva's blog here and perhaps start joining in with us.  Happy tangling and love to all :)

Diva Challenge #183 (X-did) .... Almost didn't *giggle*

This week has been a bit hectic with out anniversary and all and my dad's birthday (and yet again, I ask myself why I wanted to get married on his birthday....oh yeah, it was so I wouldn't forget my anniversary!) But anyway, it's been 32 years for us now as man and wife with lots of ups and downs, but we have stayed the course *grin*  Hubby doesn't get my Zentangle hobby because he is an art purist who also loves classical music and paints miniature figures. But he strives for realism and doesn't get anything abstract. So when I ask him what he thinks about my ZIA, he just says "....interesting....". At least my son is of a more artistic and creative bent, so he gives me some wonderful criticism. Although I majored in graphic design in college, I never did anything with it, so needless to say I was thrilled when I stumbled on Zentangle in June of this year. I'm trying to keep up with the challenges and have been going through the old challenges to try some of them.

This particular tangle (X-did) gave me fits because I could see in my minds eye what I wanted to do with it and for some reason it wouldn't translate to my hands. I am a big fan of Art Deco and Art Nouveau, so that's more or less how I saw it.  Although I was very hesitant to put my first attempts on here, I saw that others were doing that, so (deep breath) here goes!

ZIA Tile #1 is done on some chocolate brown paper I had laying around and I decided to try it with the white pen. Not my favorite and I have absolutely no idea why i decided on putting the purple in *shrug*

ZIA Tile #2 is mostly along the same lines, but the pattern for the X-did got so small it is barely discernable

But with ZIA Tile #3, I think I got the look I was looking for. This is also the first time I have actually used a Zentangle Tile and I actually may have to break down and buy some to work on. The paper is fabulous and I'm afraid that I am a paper junkie.....have been all my life, I'm afraid *grin*

Well, that it for this challenge, but I want you to know that I worked on finally getting this pattern right in my sketchpad almost constantly since the challenge was posted.  Thank you all for your comments on my other submissions....it always helps to have feedback, good or bad, to help one improve.  Thanks again!

Finally . (Diva Challenge #181)

Well, never did get my scanner working, but my son and I managed to sit down and actually take a few pictures. I wasn't sure I was going to get them done before next week because with all the storms going on, I have hardly been able to move. Storms tend to make everything hurt and my knees and back have been driving me nuts.  Age, accidents and fibromyalgia seem to have taken a bit of a toll, but it's all good because I have my computer AND loads of blogs to explore.  Anyway, here it my submission for the Diva's Challenge # 181... Water. Didn't quite turn out the way I envisioned it, but it's not half bad, I don't think for my first submission.  I've done a few of the others, but this is the first one I have actually submitted to the challenge.  Any and all feedback welcomed...good and bad!  I am so new, I need all the help I can get. I just started this in June.  So without further ado, here is my Tangle

Tangles used: Mooka, Flux, Bunzo, Mssst, Phicops, Angel Fish, and I don't know if the others are even tangles or not...*giggle*  So forgive me please. I will definitely learn them as I start to tangle more. :)

Still no pictures! :(

Well, I tried to scan some of my tiles to try to enter one or more of the challenges, but apparently my scanner doesn't like me anymore. So now I have enlisted the help of my son (who is very good at helping me with all things electronic) to see if he can figure it out. Otherwise, we will be trying to take some decent pictures. I am really new at tangling, but am so excited to get some feedback and suggestions that I really need to get the pictures up. Please bear with me.

I am also going to try to get some pictures up of the jewelry that I make. I've been crafty all my life and have so many interests that it is hard for me to keep up with everything I am interested in. But for now, I am mostly interested in tangling because it relaxes me very much. My home life tends to be a bit hectic and I find that if I can even just tangle for a few minutes to take myself "out of my head", I can relax more easily. So here's hoping that I can finally get something posted up here within the next couple of days.

Just starting out in the blog world!

Well, since I needed a blogspace to go ahead to post my artistic endeavors to, here I am!  I'm just starting into Zentangle@ and loving it for relaxation mostly. I have only done a few, but I am busily doing research on all the beautiful tangles that people have introduced. So please bear with me while I get going with this.  Happy Tangling all!