Diva Challenge #102: "DuoTangle v. VI: Auraknot/Bunzo"

The Diva presented another great challenge. It was doing a DuoTangle. The two tangles that she chose are both tangles that I really like but had not really thought much about doing together. I was anticipating getting started but kept delaying because I was not exactly sure what I wanted to do. I even looked at more things other people submitted than I usually do because I was just having a hard time getting started. In true Zentangle® style, I took deep breath and began. I had a vague idea that I wanted the two to intertwine so I did have to think about how I was going to begin ( remember - no erasers). Once I started though it flowed very well. Isn't that the case with a lot of things when we are unsure. We focus on all the things that might go wrong or not work out and don't get started and just deal with what happens, trusting that we have the ability to deal with what happens. We have resources to deal with a less than perfect situation. Hopefully another lesson reinforced to tuck away for later.

My thoughts are a little heavy though as think of this and a family that I know, and their extended family, grieving the death a their 19 year old nephew, cousin, son, and brother. He was killed when his car hydroplaned, flipped over into a ditch filled with 4 to 5 feet of water and could not be freed soon enough to revive him. He was returning to college at Ball State. As I think of this I am mindful of what David wrote in Psalms 28:7, The Lord is my strength and my shield: in Him my heart trusts, and I am helped. We try so hard to arrange/control things in the way that we think is best and take care of people that are dear to us. We need to do what we can, but we still need to trust, because we are not in control. We can only "trust and be helped". I hope that is what his family is experiencing now.

For this Challenge, I chose to return to the basics and did a traditional Zentangle® style tile. It is on a square tile and only in black and white with shading. As hard as it was for me to get started I am pleased with the result. I tried some different things with the shading and for a first effort feel it turned out well. Not sure that it shows up as well in the picture as the real tile. Here it is. I hope you enjoy it.

If you have not all ready, I strongly encourage you to go to I am the Diva to look at the other great pieces that people have done. The variety and talent amazes me every week.

Almost forgot to mention a self-proclaimed benchmark for my blog as I surpassed 5,000 views this week. I appreciate all the Challenge, Dare, and Flickr participants, friends and family, and followers and other visitors for making it possible to reach this number in what I consider to be a short time since I only began this blog in August 2012. A big THANK YOU to you all.

I am glad that you visited. As always comments are encouraged, welcomed, and appreciated.