First Post in a long while: Cheryl Moote's PAX dove

 I have woefully neglected my blog for quite some time.  I have also not done much tangling lately. this is the first thing I have done in quite some time. I had seen Cheryl Moote's PAX dove before but did not have time to do anything with it. Finally decided I needed to get back to some basic tangling. I ordered her template, which you can also get at mootepoints.com. There are 3 sizes. This is the smallest of the 3. I think it would make an interesting ornament. While it is 3-D, you can easily flatten it so it can be stored. 

I used Faber Castell Metallic Colored Ecopencils for most of the color. I also used Staedtler colored pencils for some of the colors. Did not do any blending. Would be something that I would probably do to finish it. The Tangles are made with an 01 Micron.  Here are a few pictures of what I came up with.

The above is to give you some idea of the size. 

Here is a front view

                                                                                    

Was trying to get both views

 

Here is the back of the wings

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

Go tangle !!

Diva Challenge #347: "String Theory - Traced Objects "

This was a different challenge this week. I have participated in string theory challenges before but not sure if I had done a traced object one before.  Started this early in the week and just did not get to it.  Think there was a little procrastination as I was not sure what to do.  Still was not sure even after I had traced some things.  The challenge was to use things that were around you at the time not necessarily to pick something specific.  Will give more details later.  I used a Renaissance tile.  Here is what I came up with. I hope you enjoy it.

Tangles used: Hollibaugh, Zander, Knightsbridge, Mooka, Tipple, & Flux

Did not say above but decided to take a picture of the tile before I did any highlighting or shading.   Was not sure what I wanted to do. At first was thinking of just using graphite.  I have used graphite on the Renaissance tiles before but not really a big fan of it.  Had done some layering of colored pencils to get more of a sepia shade for shading but did not really want to take, or have, the time to do this.  I finally decided I would use a white charcoal pencil

Here is what it looks like with the white highlights.

Not really sure how I feel about this.  It is okay.  Could not decide what I wanted to do with Hollibaugh so just left it with no  shading or highlighting.  

Almost forgot to mention what I used to create the string.  The bottom is a wooden handle on a crochet hook.  The two orbs are the inside of the finger holes on a pair of small craft scissors.  The last is the battery cover for my mouse.  I have to confess that what it reminded me of was a ferry boat that was on Lake Erie. It was primarily a vehicle transport and was referred to as the "cup and saucer".  Would go out to the Bass Islands off the Ohio coast.

Have not looked at what others have done.  May not even get to it before the next challenge.  Should be some interesting things as there about anything could be used to create your string.  If you have a chance would strongly recommend that you go to I am the Diva and see what others have come up with.

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

Go Tangle !!

Diva Challenge #316: String Theory - Stripes!

The Diva Challenges like this are fun to do and allow me to participate as they come together quicker than some others. I combined 2 different things in this. One is the theme of this challenge, stripes and the other is stacked. Was not sure how the negative space in the corners were going to turn out, but it is okay. Also not sure if the last "stripe"in the middle is really a stripe Can you have a stripe of one?
Here is what I came up with. I hope you enjoy it.

Tangles used: From the outer edge to the middle, Bales, Paradox, Cubine, Puf, and Knightsbridge. I am having a senior moment. I do not remember the tangle between Bales and Paradox.

Did not do much shading. Used an HB pencil for all the shading

Have not looked at any of the entries at I am the Diva. If you have not been there. Would strongly encourage you to go look at all the different pieces of art that have been posted. 

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

Go Tangle !!

Diva Challenge #309: New Official Tangle Noom

Do not usually do this but a pressed for time. I have used this tangle on a number of things. Posting something a little different than the usual tile. I hope you enjoy it.

Tangles used Noom, Tierso, Knightsbridge, Merryweather 

Found out about these from someone else. They can be fun to make but do take time. Drew the tangles with Micron and did the color and highlighting with PrismaColor pencils.

Have not looked at any other things posted. Would encourage yo to go to I am the Diva to see some great art. 

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

Go Tangle !!

More eggs: Two different chalkboard styles

A couple of days ago I posted a plastic egg that I had done after seeing one done by Liz Drake. At the time I indicated that I would post more pictures after I had a chance to work on the two chalkboard style eggs. Was able to complete one of each. Here is what the eggs look like before any tangling.

The yellow and black ones are the chalkboard ones. The black come in packages of 12. The yellow come in a package of mixed colors. There are green, blue, lilac, and yellow. I used a variety of pens on the eggs. Here is the picture of the original one that I did on the white egg.

The tangles were drawn on this with a black 01 Micron. The color was done with PrismaColor pencils. I used a white PrismaColor to blend and tint. 

Here is a picture of the other two after I had finished tangling them. 

I did the black on first. This was done with Bistro chalk markers. They can be a little difficult to deal with as have to be careful to let them dry or they will smear or rub off. If you hold them too tightly, the color will also come off. Tried to keep the tangle simple and limited. This has a variation of Mumsy, or Arc flower, Diva Dance, and Knightsbridge.

The Yellow one was done a little differently.  The tangling was done with different colored ultra-fine  point Sharpies. One thing with Sharpies versus the Microns is that the Micron ink does not come off on your hand when you hold them. Kind of unavoidable when you are drawing on them.  When I work on some more I may use the colored Microns or the IdentiPens. I added the color with Tombow Irojiten colored pencils. They are similar to the PrismaColor pencils in that they are a wax base. I just do not have as many of them. I tried adding colord pencils to black ones but they do not show up. Did not try any of my other colored pencils. Think the same thing would occur.  The tangles are Cubine, Rain, Printemps, and a Jewel variation. 

They can be fun to do but they are a little labor intensive.  Will have to see how many of these I can get done before Easter. Will have to work hard.

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

Go Tangle !!

Something for Easter: Tangled egg

This is going to be hopefully a brief post. I have not done things at Easter because I could not find materials to work with that I was comfortable with. One of the nice thing about FB is that in groups you can find out about some very nice techniques and materials. That is where this came from. Was looking at my New Feed and saw a unique decorated egg done by Liz Drake. I really do not remember the page it was on. You can find out some information about her on her FB page Tangled World.

Anyway, these eggs are a plastic that you can use Microns on, as well as Sharpies, Have not tried IdentiPens but would think that these would work also. The color is added with PrismaColor pencils. Used the tinting technique using the white to blend and soften some of  the colors. There are plain white eggs, and two style chalkboard eggs. I have not had time to do anything with the latter yet. Will post more when I get to those.

Here is the first one that I did. I hope you enjoy it.

Tangles used: Tierso,Noom, Merryweather, Knightsbridge

Tangles drawn with Microns and Sharpies, Color done with PrismaColor pencils

Will go into more detail about this later. This has not been sealed with anything yet. Plan on using a spray glossy finish sealer. 

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

Go Tangle!! 

Diva Challenge # 251: "Moebius Syndrome Awareness Day"

This week's Diva Challenge is a special one. Special for the participants and The Diva herself. Those who have participated, or followed her challenge know that this is a syndrome that impacts her family. After many trials, her youngest son was finally diagnosed with Moebius Syndrome. Dealing with this has been quite a journey for the family. It is one that the Diva has allowed us to be a small part of by posting pictures and updates or her son as he is growing up and participating in this challenge which she also links with the Moebius Syndrome support group. You can read more about this her blog, I am the Diva.

Was not sure that I was going to get this done. It is a different tile for me. I chose to use a Zendala® tile instead of the standard square tile. I also used color a lot but it is still monochrome as it is only one color. Not sure I have done this before. I also left a lot of negative space. I have gotten more comfortable with this but it still something I will mull over a lot. Here is what I came up with. I hope you enjoy it.

Tangles used: Knightsbridge, Diva Dance ( in honor of the Diva herself), and Hollibaugh

I used a purple micron for the Moebius Syndrome logo and to outline Hollibaugh. The highlighting/shading is down with multiple Prismacolor pencils; lilac, violet, parma violet. I have used the Prismacolor pencils before but I am not sure that I used them on an official tile before. I used the blending pencil but was not really pleased with the way that it blended. I could smooth it out but not really get gradients that well. Had to use very light pencil  to get that effect. This was, I think the first time I used a Prismacolor pencil for so much highlighting. I am pleased with the result. 

I am hoping to get a chance to look at the other submissions for this challenge. I also have a class tomorrow to finish preparing for also. If you have not all ready done so, I strongly encourage you to visit I am the 

Diva and look at the great art that others have created. If you do, take the time to comment on the sites that you visit. I know that most people appreciate this. Try it yourself, even if you do not submit it for others to see.

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

Go Tangle !!

  

Diva Challenge #201: "Moebius Syndrome Awareness Day 2015:

This week's Diva Challenge is a yearly one for the Diva. For those that are not aware, her youngest son was diagnosed with Moebius Syndrome which is a congenital nerve disorder. It is rare and his latest surgery was to deal with some of the effects of this disorder. You can learn a little more about it at I am the Diva . You can also search the web for information. I was not sure that I was going to get a tile done for this challenge, even though I had participated in the last two. I happen to have some time at work, I had my supplies with me and I did not have the materials with me to work on my taxes so I decided to give it a go. The string is the logo for the Moebius Syndrome Foundation. Purple is their official color.

Here is what I came up with. I hope you enjoy it.

Tangles used: Diva Dance, Shattuck, Knightsbridge(wonky version)

I have to admit that I did not set out with the intent of doing a tricolor tile. When I started I thought I was pulling out my black micron.  I obviously was not paying that close of  attention as it was the brown micron. I intended to use black and purple. Instead of starting over, in true Zentangle® fashion of no mistake, I just decided to go with it. It is a little unusual. Not real thrilled with the way the shading turned out on the Shattuck. Did not have much I could do as I was trying a few new things. Needless to say, I will not try them again. 

I have not had a chance to look at any of the other tiles posted yet. Hopefully in between other things I can get to I am the Diva and  look at least a few. If I am really lucky, I may even have a chance to comment on a few.

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

Go Tangle !! 

Diva Challenge #195: "Turning Old into New"

This week's Diva Challenge is courtesy of Sandy Hunter, whose blog is tanglebucket.blogspot.com. I first became aware of here blog through my sister. Sandy had developed some tangles but she also had a knack for combining two tangles into one pattern. She labeled this as her tangle remix. Was interesting. I cannot say that I tried to do too many, but I think I did try a few. They were fun but my brain does not think that way. This week's Challenge is to take favorite, or go to tangles and do them differently. If you picked a grid based tangle, do it free form and if you picked a free form tangle, use it a grid. I did the best I could with this. Not sure I was totally successful with this with both of the tangles that I chose. One tangle I chose was cadent. I use this a lot and like it. I usually use it in a structured way. It is not really grid based as I would define it, but I usually use it much like a grid. The other tangle I chose was Antidots. Here is what I came up with. I hope you enjoy it. Oh yeah, I used a Renaissance tile as that was the only tile that I had in the kit that I usually carry.

Tangles used: Cadent, Antidots

The shading was done with a white Prismacolor pencil and a Zenstone.

I did not get last week's Challenge, "Embracing the Yuck", done in time to post it. Am including it in this post only as it was some work. This is the second challenge I did using the non-dominant hand. I had started it and felt like I needed to finish. I have to admit that I did not really enjoy doing this. My idea was to start out with Knightsbridge to get a little practice. After I started it, there was such a large time gap before I could continue that it was not of much help. Here it is. I hope that somebody enjoys it.

Tangles used: Knightsbridge, Tripoli, Betweed, Ixorus, Paradox

I have not looked at many entries from either week's challenge. Not sure now much I will be able to look at #194 but definitely want to look at what people have done in this week's Challenge. Encourage you to go to I am the Diva and look at what others have done. Would also encourage you to try it yourself, even if you do not post it. Would encourage you to post it though if at all possible.

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

Go Tangle !! 

Diva Challenge #184: "New Official Tangle: ING by Molly" , 2nd Post

As I indicated in the earlier post for this challenge I wanted to do another tile. Part of the reason for this is that it gave me more time to experiment with this tile. I did not try to change the lines of it that much and focused more on trying different things inside and not just shading it. Here is what I came up with. It has a Hollibaugh effect to it. I hope you enjoy it.

Tangles used: ING, Stripes, Knightsbridge, Fasset, Ahh, Beads, Paradox, and Scrawlz

I was not sure about using Paradox as was not sure how it would turn out. I like the way it whooshes across the page. 

I have only been able to see about half of the things posted so far so hope to see the rest soon. There have been some unique and creative things that people have done. Go visit by clicking on I am the Diva. Try it your self even if you are not up to posting your work on line. That is not necessary to participate.

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

Go Tangle !!

Diva Challenge #174: Superimposing Strings

The Diva is back from Providence, but had another guest direct the challenge this week. Besides needing the time to get back into the swing of things, sounds like she had some other  issues to deal with, somewhat associated with her youngest's disorder. Hopefully things have settled down a little for them. I knew that this week was going to be busy with the holiday and some other things that were going on. Tried to keep it simple but still did not get to this until late. The two strings that I use a lot in my basic class are the "Z" and the triangle. I chose to combine those two for the superimposing strings. I usually decide on the first tangle and then look at what is left to go on to the next. I like Printemps, but I am never quite sure what to do with it as far as shading, etc. Surprisingly, using these two strings, I did not use a lot of the tangles that I usually teach in the Basic class. The only one that I use consistently is Zander. Here is what I came up with. I hope you enjoy it.

Tangles used: Kightsbridge (variation), Printemps, Zander, Betweed

I am sure that most of you have all ready looked at all the other tiles /ZIAs posted on I am the Diva, but if not, would strongly recommend that you do so. I have not looked at too many. Have seen a few that were on blogs that I follow, or things posted on FB. Hope I can get to all of them.  If by chance you have not looked at them, you can do so by clicking here. 

One last  thing. I had an experience that does not happen often and thought I would share it here. There was a student that was in on one of my Basic classes a while ago and she is always complimentary when she sees me and has recommended my class to others. She is an accomplished artist and does some very beautiful things with colored pencils. She uses a layering technique and gets some fabulous results. This weekend at a First Friday she was the Featured Artist at the gallery where I teach my classes. While I was manning a booth/table trying to sell a few things and drum up business for classes she came out and talked with me. Before she left, she told me that when she had taken the class, she was in a really dry place with her creativity and she did not feel like doing any art. She said that the class really helped get out of that place and helped re-energize her creative juices.  It was after this that she joined the gallery and began plying her craft and creating some great art. I do not have any pictures of them, and she does not have a blog where she posts things, but she tangled on some small gourds. I do not know what type they are. They are a light color and about the size of a clementine.  I do not know what she used to tangle on them but I plan of finding out and will ask her if I can take a picture of them. I appreciated her coming up though and telling how the Basic class had helped her.

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

Go Tangle !! 

Zendala Dare #94 - Happy

Was not sure I was going to get any of the challenges done this week. It has been a very hectic week and not sure that things will change anytime in the near future. Was glad to see that Erin had returned to post the Zendala Dare. As is typical for the first dare of the month, she added the extra challenge of Happy. She suggested that people could use tangles that started with the letters in the word happy. I have to admit that after I started, I kind of forgot about the extra challenge. I did get one letter as I used Hollibaugh and I did use tangles that I enjoy, and I am happy that she will be able to post a Zendala Dare for at least a couple of months. I hope that this qualifies as meeting the criteria for the Dare. Here is what I came up with.  I hope that you enjoy it.

Tangles used: Knightsbridge, Flux, Zinger, Ennies, Hollibaugh, 'Nzeppel (variation)
I have a student that does 'Nzeppel freehand. I have never tried this before so decided to try it here. Did not turn out exactly like I pictured it but was pleased with it for a first try.

This is getting posted late enough that I am assuming that most anyone that sees this has all ready looked at the things posted on the Bright Owl. However if not, would suggest that you do so. I hope to look at some of them this evening. I have no idea even how many have participated this week. 

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

Go Tangle !!

Zendala Dare #93: Snowflake Surprise

This week's Zendala Dare was a challenge. The challenge was to use the template to create a representation of your vision of a snowflake. While I did like the template, as  hard as I tried I could not think of anyway to come up with something that represented a snowflake. I looked at the second one that Erin did, which was beautiful, but could not come up with anything. I did not want to duplicate hers. I think it partly is just the way my brain processes the templates. I think I mentioned in an earlier post that when I see a template I usually look at spaces and think of tangles that might fit. Other people have mentioned before that they will look at a template and it reminds them of something so that directs their zendala. That rarely happens to me. There maybe have been a few times that a template reminded me of something, but to me it was an obvious connection. Trying to come up with a representation of a snowflake stumped me so much I just could not get past it. Since I really did like the template I finally decided that I would just proceed with a zendala and hope for the best. Here is what I came up with. I hope you enjoy it, even if it is not a snowflake.

Tangles used: Quib, Knightsbridge, Betweed 

The center is what I would call a starburst.

I have not taken the time to look at what others have posted but hopefully will be able to do so later. I am still hoping to complete the Diva Challenge, but this week has been chaotic. I feel lucky to get this one done. If you have not looked at the posts on The Bright Owl, would strongly encourage you do so.

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

Go Tangle !!

Diva Challenge #155: " A Little White Space"

I think as an indication of how I have progressed/improved in my work, my reaction to this dare was, okay I can do that. It was a little confusing though as the title was a "Little White Space" and in the text of the Dare Laura wrote to try leaving a big open white space. Hmm! Which to do?  A little white space or a big open white space. I almost just used my piece from the Zendala Dare as I have typically tended to use white space a little more regularly, and comfortably, in zendalas. Not sure why, but may be the nature of the templates make it easier for me to just see it. I had enough time to do another one so I put in a big open white space in this one. For those of you who are regular visitors to my blog you are now going to read something that you have not seen here much before. One of the challenges in any Zentangle® or ZIA that I do is the shading. When I got done with this one I was pleased with the shading in general and I was very satisfied with the way the shading of the negative space turned out. Okay, all you folks can either get up off the floor, or close your mouth. You look silly with your mouth hanging open. I cannot say how often I will be making comments like that, but it is nice to see something come together. Well enough rambling. I appreciate those of you who have read all this. Here is what I came up with. I hope you enjoy it.

Tangles used: Keeko, Knightsbridge, Hybrid, Shattuck, Bales, 'Nzeppel, & Beads

For the shading I used a variety of graphite pencils from HB to 6B. The gray on the bales is done with a Fabrico Dual point marker. 

For those of you who do not participate in the Zendala Dare I am also posting this weeks Zendala. This shows a little white space rather than a big space.

If you have not all ready done so, strongly encourage you to visit I Am the Diva and look at all the other great pieces that people have created. You won't be disappointed. If you have not before, you may also want to give it a try yourself.

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

Go Tangle !!