New tangle, tangleation or a pattern: SYR

I started exploring different things that could do starting with a basic shape. I started this over a year ago when I posted a page from my journal and called it "S-Ploration". I did not name any of the patterns and I did not do step outs on most of these. One that I did do, and that developed out of this exploration is Opsess. The easiest way to view the journal page is to go to My Tangles page on my blog. You will have to scroll down to S-Ploration.  I decided that it was time for me to finally get this done.

I started with the one that is probably the most involved but it is still simple. It uses intersecting S's. You can add what ever embellishments you can to finish it off. There is one on the journal page that I would consider a variation that I did not include in the step out. I call this SYR. To pronounce it just say the letters (ess-why-er). I chose this because it reminds me of iron or wire work. Here is the step out.

Here is a time that I used it when I was doing a demonstration at an event to generate interest in classes.  I am not sure that I have used it in a tile or ZIA.  Here is a section of that newsprint, showing this tangle.

I will be posting the other step outs that I have created for a few of the other tangles on this page. I hope you have fun with this and would be interested in seeing anything that you might do using this tangle.

Thanks for visiting. As always, comments are welcomed, encouraged, and appreciated.

Go Tangle!!

Zendala Dare #88

I do not know that I have ever posted a submission to a dare so late in the week. I had a lot of ideas of this just not the time to get to them. Then I did one that was a little more detailed. Over all I am pleased with the results. I felt a little rushed trying to get it done before the deadline, so I am not sure I gave as much thought to the shading and finishing of the tile. Here is what I ended up with. I hope you enjoy it.

Tangles used: Meer(variation), Florz(variation), Antidots, Quib, S-flowers, Fescu

I hope you have checked out all the submissions at The Bright Owl. I admit, that this week I have not had the time to look at them. I am hoping I get some time this weekend.

Thanks for visiting. As always, comments are welcomed, appreciated, and encouraged.

Go Tangle !!

Diva Challenge # 142: " Comfort/Danger Zone"

When I saw what the Challenge was I had a pretty good idea of what direction I would take. I agree with Shelly Beauch's comment that there may be a lot of black tiles. Interestingly enough, I used a black tile with both challenges this week.  The challenges for me with this, more than the black tile, is using color and I have never used a zendala tile without a template. A couple of months ago I read a post by Alice Hendon about free hand zendalas. Like a number of things, I had plans of trying it but never got around to it. This was the push I needed. If you want information about the process, you can go to Alice's blog, The Creator's Leaf to check it out. There are two posts. The previous link goes to the first post. Here is a link to the second one. I did not follow all her steps but it was helpful in starting. If I have time I would like to do one one the white zendala tile and make it solely organic. I was not at a place where I could take pictures of the process at different steps, but you can probably get a general idea of what the template looks like from looking at the gold outlines. I was surprised by how easy the template came together. It was a little harder deciding what tangles to use in each space. The markers were used primarily for fill although I did use it for the Zander variation section. Well enough rambling. I really did enjoy doing this even though my anxiety about how it would turn out was a little elevated. I was pleased with the process and the result. I hope you enjoy it.

Tangles used: Rosetta, Tipple, Paradox, Mooka, Zander Betweed, S-pattern flower.

I thought I had put this in the original post, but after reading it more closely it must have been a "senior moment". I used Sakura Gelly Roll Metallic pens. The fill was done with Permapaque Opague Pigment Markers, Metallic Plus Set. Sorry I left this out earlier.

I chose this photo because it did show the colors a little better. Since it was taken with flash, it is almost too bright. I liked the way the center rosetta looked and this was the best representation. 

I am anxious to begin looking at what others have done. I have not looked at them, mostly due to time, as I do not think there would be as much influence as with other challenges. 

Thanks for visiting. As always, comments are welcomed, encouraged, and appreciated.

Go Tangle !!

Zendala Dare #77 - Random Acts of Zentangle

This is not going to completely comply with Erin's challenge. I do not have a smart phone and do not typically walk around with my camera. Besides it is not a small version. I also am  not sure when I will be able to drop it off. My plan is leave it a local coffee shop or a book store, but I will not get there until later in the week.  It really depends on which I go to first. It may be too late to post so I am doing it now. Here is a picture of what I did.  I hope the person that finds it enjoys it and I hope you do too.

Tangles used: Beads, Ennies, Shattuck, Flux, S-ploration pattern

Thanks for visiting. As always, comments are welcomed, encouraged, and appreciated. 

Go Tangle !!

Diva Challenge #140! : "Monotangle, Pointillism style!"

My initial response when I saw this challenge was to take a pass. That did not last long but I have to admit even when I started on it I did not like that I was thinking too much. I thought more about what tangles that I wanted to use or what it would like like than I usually do. Once I got past that it got a little easier. My first tile I decided that I wanted to do something that was either organic or free flowing but was not exactly sure where to start. I had used this technique before to shade tangles but never to create everything on a tile. I was a little apprehensive about starting. I finally did and then just let it flow. The first one was what I would consider a traditional Zentangle® tile. I used tangles but used the pointillism technique. After I got past the initial apprehension it was fun to do. It was more time consuming and at times did not feel as much of the relaxation as I do when I am doing a tile because I was still thinking too much about if I was "doing it right" .
Here is the first one that I did. I hope that you enjoy it.

Tangles used: Phicops, Squid, Antidot, Boing(variation), floral pattern was from the S-ploration activity posted earlier. Used 03 and 05 Microns to do. 

Although I was pleased with the result of the first tile, I still was somewhat inspired by Laura's more free form version. I really wanted to try something. This was harder to get started as I had no idea what to do. When all else fails, return to the basics. What I did was start by doing a frame. I did not do a string but started to work off the the frame and worked a piece/section at a the time. Doing this brought out all my apprehensions and anxieties about doing art. Probably the most difficult section was the spiral. I admire people like LeeAnn and Shelly who do such great jobs in this style. I decided to keep it simple. I did not use tangles, but used basic lines. Once I got started it came together much easier. This is what I came up with. Hope you enjoy it. 

If you have not looked at the other things that have been posted on I am the Diva, would encourage you to do so. I have to admit when I saw that LeeAnn was the first to post, I did look at hers as I figured it would demonstrate her usual fabulous style. I was not disappointed but it also set a high standard. My anxiety cranked up a few notches.

Thanks for visiting. As always comments are welcomed, encouraged and appreciated.

Go Tangle !!

Diva Challenge #139: UMT v XXI "8s Parte Dos" by Jane Eileen

This was quite the challenge. I remember when I first saw this tangle. It looked interesting and had plans to do it but never quite got around to it. Sorry that I did not. I like the tangle but it will take a lot more practice before I can do it and feel the "Zen". This was work to do this tangle. I got lost a couple of times but decided to push ahead. I do not like to throw out a tile and as in Zentangle® fashion, there are no mistakes, only unplanned opportunities. This was actually a fun one to put in variations and shade. If you follow my posts very often you know that I do not say that often. Here is what I came up with. I hope you enjoy it.

Tangles used: Featherfall, Scroll feather, the flower is one from the "S-ploration" exercise I posted about earlier and of course 8s Parte Dos.

Now I plan to spend some time looking at all the great pieces that others have submitted. I only looked at a few before. Will have more time to view slowly and take them in. If you have not all ready, go to I Am the Diva to look at all the pieces submitted.

Thanks for visiting. As always comments are welcomed, encouraged and appreciated.

Go Tangle !! 

Diva Challenge #138: "Fun with Borders"

I must live and work in a really dull place. I know that this weeks challenge was to look at things around you that could deconstruct and be borders. Most of what I looked at was pretty boring. What I chose to do is to do combination. The dots are from my laptop. It is where the speakers are. I have a curtain rod in my office that has horizontal lines and reminds me of Zander. What I chose for the rest were tangles that I like and use a lot as borders or strings. Was not feeling real creative so just decided to put them in descending frames. This is what I came up with. Hope you enjoy it.

Tangles used: Hibred, Demi, Zander, Scrawls, 

If you have not all ready, would encourage you to do to I am the Diva, to look at the creative pieces that others have done. I have not looked at many yet but plan to look at the ones that have been submitted. 

Thanks for visiting. As always comments are welcomed, encouraged, and appreciated.

Go Tangle !!

Zendala Dare #74

I had really hoped to get this zendala done earlier. I really liked the template and had a couple of ideas of what I wanted to do. Unfortunately, my schedule did not cooperate. I do not remember ever completing a dare so late in the week. I did revert to my usual format with this zendala and used a combination of grid based geometric tangles and organic tangles. I was able to use a number of my favorite or go-to tangles on this one. It was even enjoyable shading this one and I do not say that often. Here is what I came up with. I hope you enjoy it.

Tangles used: Paradox, Betweed, Knightsbridge, Flux, Fescu, Chainlea,

Since this is so late, you may have all ready visited The Bright Owl to look at the other zendalas that people have done. If not would strongly encourage you to do so. There are usually some great pieces there. Would encourage you to encourage the artists by commenting on pieces that you like.

Thanks for visiting. As always, comments are welcomed, encouraged, and appreciated.

Go Tangle !!