Afghan # 6: It is finally done

This is not my usual blog post since so many of them have to do with my work with Zentangle®. For those that have explored a little further on my blog, you may remember that I had indicated that I had made afghans/blankets for each of my grandchildren. I had not yet been able to finish the one for granddaughter #6.  I figured that this would be as good a time as any as I am off work due to the holidays. All I had to do was the border and finish. This is a slight modification of a Leisure Arts pattern entitled Pastel Stripes. I do not have pictures of others but did a few others for some of the other granddaughters from the same publication, "Make One for Baby". I beat the deadline of getting it done before her 16th birthday. She will be     1 year old in a couple of months. Well here are a couple of pictures of the finished product.

Took this with a flash to hopefully help see the colors better.

This one was taken without a flash and a very slow shutter speed since there was not a lot of light except for the tree. Like the way this one looks better than the first one.

Colors of the stripes are pink, blue, yellow, green, peach, lavender and a variegated yarn. The pattern called for aqua but could not find any so had to substitute.

Not sure how many more of these I will need to make.  

Zendala Dare #37

Was not sure that I would get this finished. This is another one of those that I grew to like the further I went. The shading made a lot of difference. Helped break it up a little and did not get as dizzy looking at it.
I had a lot of things that I was thinking about doing, but decided to keep it simple. Overall I am pleased with the result, a statement I do not make often. Hope you enjoy it.

Tangles used: Fearcles, Knightsbridge, Indy-rella, Birds on a Wire, Hybrid (variation)

If you have not visited The Bright Owl to look at the other entries, would encourage you to so by clicking here. 

I am glad that you took the time to visit, particularly during such a busy time of the year. Here's wishing a very Merry and safe Christmas to you and your family. 

CZT Loves Heal Event: Additional Tiles

Got the first tile done for the CZT Love Heals Event for the people in Newtown CT. Really wanted to try to do more but was not sure if I would have time. I was finally able to complete two more. The first one is similar to the first one I did in that the first letter of each tangle spells out a word. This one is HOPE. My wish is that the people impacted by this event be able to regain a sense of hope, particularly the children. Hope for the future. My wish is also that they have a sense and belief that there is hope in the arms of their Savior whose birth, is the focus of our celebration at this time of year. If they do not currently have this, my hope is that this is something they can achieve as the days go by. Such acts have no understandable explanation. Our hope is that our Lord and Savior is faithful and as he promises will never leave us. He is with us always. A fellow tangler and blogger, Barbara Geer posted the poem Footprints along with a beautiful ZIA. Would encourage you to click here to view what she posted. Here is my second tile.

Tangles used (from upper left across) : Huggins, Onomato, Paradox, and Eenies  

The second is different in that I tried to express a sentiment through the tile. I do not think it needs much explanation. 

Tangles used: 'Nzeppel, Diva Dance, Flukes, Triangles, and Shattuck.

My hope is that they know that they remain in our thoughts and prayers as they go through the process of healing. 

Diva's Weekly Challenge #100!: New Tangle and a Diva Dance

This is the 100th Diva Challenge that Laura Harms has posted. I have only been participating in a small number of those, having only begun this year. I hope to participate in many more though. I do appreciate the challenges though because it does make me try new things and new tangles. Hopefully it also makes me more proficient in this art form. In honor of this momentous hallmark, the guest contributors are Maria Thomas and  Rick Roberts, founders of Zentangle®. A new tangle, the Diva Dance was introduced. The Challenge is to use it in this week's tiles.

Here is my attempt at using this new tangle. Hope you like it.

Tangles used: Diva Dance, Bales, Rain, Indy-rella, and Voxter

Through out the week go to I am the Diva and check out the different entries in this Challenge. I am sure they will be great as usual. 

As always, comments are welcomed and appreciated.

Zendala Dare #36

This weeks Zendala Dare from Erin at the Bright Owl used a different style of template than I am use to seeing. Can't say that I have seen a lot since have only been doing them since September. I had some ideas pretty quickly when I saw the template but there was a change. I usually do not make changes to the template. I try to find a way to fit what ever I am doing into the template. This time I modified the template a little. The change is only in the middle section as there was star-shape there that I omitted. Which is okay, as the string or template is only to be a guide. One of the nice things about Zentangle®.

Here is what I ended up with. Hope you enjoy it.

Tangles used: Sank Egg, Zander, Bunzo, Zinger

If you have not all ready been there, go to Erin's blog, The Bright Owl and look at what other people have done. Check back frequently as people make submissions throughout the week. 

CZT Love Heals - Response to the events in Connecticut

Denyse Jones, a CZT from Connecticut, put out a request for people to do Zentangle tiles, ZIAs, and Zendalas that would be sent to the school in Newtown, Connecticut. Her only requirement is that with each stroke your thoughts, prayers, and well wishes go into making your art. She is planning on delivering them in the next 2-3 weeks. If you are interested in participating, leave a comment and also a way to message you the address that they should be sent to. Do not want to publish it here to minimize the possibility of spammers getting a hold of it or it being used incorrectly somehow.

Here is my tile. Was not sure what to do. Decided to use tangles which the first letter of their name spelled PEACE. It is my hope that all the people impacted by this event will have the supports, treatment, and people around them that will lead them to a sense of peace. My heart aches for the children, teachers, first-responders, and families as they are grieving and trying to come to terms with what occurred.

Tangles used: Poke Root, Poke Leaf, Eyelet and Ribbon, Antidots, Cat-kin, Cruffle, and Eye-Wa.

Diva's Weekly Challenge #99: Guest Post- String Challenge v. XI "Looped Border String Challenge"

This was a fun challenge to do but just in case it was not enough of a challenge I decided to add a few of my own. I decided that I would use mostly new tangles or only tangles I had used infrequently. Most were new tangles. I also wanted to try to transition to each section in some way. Did pretty well with the latter until the last tangle I did, which was the middle tangle. As always, shading was the most difficult part of this challenge. Generally pleased except for Vitruvius. That was a challenge all its own. Here is the finished tile. Hope you like it.

If you have not all ready been there, go to I am the Diva and check out all the other submissions. Thanks to Laura and Margaret Bremner for the another great challenge.  Can check out some other examples of looped strings on Enthusiastic Artist .

Zendala Dare #35 - Where's My Template

This was an interesting Dare. I definitely like my templates. This has given me an even greater appreciation for the things that Erin does to sustain the Zendala Dare. I definitely was out of my comfort zone trying to make my own template.


                                                  Here is what my snowflake looked like

Here is the template that I created from the snowflake. As you can see I did not use all the different parts and I forgot to take a picture before I started tangles. Fortunately I only had completed one.

Here is the finished product. Did not turn out too bad, but I still like my templates!

Tangles used: Auraknot. Finery, Crescent Moon(variation), Scena, and Shing.

If you have not all ready been there, go to The Bright Owl and look at the other submissions. Should be quite a variety since there is not common template.

Diva Weekly Challenge #98: "UMT v. XI: Keenees"

As simple as this tangle is, I really struggled with a way to use it.  I have looked at it numerous times before and then decided not to use it. I went an entirely different way with this tile and thought of a way to show it. I also decided to have a little fun with it. Cannot say that is one of my favorite tiles but maybe it will grow on me. Hope you enjoy it.

Tangles used: Hybrid, Keenees, Partay

If you have not all ready gone to the Diva's blog, please go look at the other examples of using Keenees.

Zendala Dare #34

Have not been able to participate in the Zendala Dare for a couple of weeks because of other obligations. This is my first week back. Enjoyed the template that Erin used but took a while to get things finished. This was one of those that I grew to like more as it progressed. Did not really do a lot of planning on the tangles used. Used a lot of tangles that I like. Hope you like it.

Tangles used: Spiteria, Shattuck, Knightsbridge, Crescent Moon, Ennies, & 'Nzeppel

If you have not all ready done so, go to The Bright Owl and look at the other submissions.

Let The Show Begin!!

Maybe life will begin to get back to normal. Today was the first day of the Art & Gift show. Finally no more items to finish. Some folks asked me to post pictures of what I had so here they are. Did not take pictures of everything as I had about 60 ornaments. Most were ceramic shapes. But also had 4 6x6" tile trivets, 12 4x4"  stone coasters, and 12 wood burned cork coasters. That is the major items. There may have been a couple of other things. Were more lookers today than buyers. The Gift shop is open multiple days over the next 2 weeks so hopefully sales will pick up.

This is the general display. Was not enough room to get all the ornaments & tile coasters out.

Here are a fewer closer pictures of some of the ornaments.

Here are a few closer shot of the stone coasters and trivets.

Was interest in the classes but no one was committed enough to sign up for the classes. Since it is over the school break the lady from the Art Association is going to contact the art teachers at the schools and let them know about it. Thought it was a good suggestion. 

Looking forward to getting back to doing the Diva Challenge and the Zendala Dare.