Diva Challenge #130

This week's Diva Challenge asked us to work with a tangle that I've seen and really wanted to try - Henna Drum.  I will definitely be experimenting more with this tangle, as I love it, however my tile seems too busy.  I'm thinking an aura around the henna drum pattern might help to break it up a bit.  Next time! 

Henna Drum, Flux

Zendala Dare #68

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde - awesome idea for an additional challenge this week at The Bright Owl! I had a lot of fun with this one - the idea was to incorporate contrast of some sort.  I used a lot of my favourite tangles, however I varied them up so that there is a distinct difference from one side to the other.  I really like how it turned out - one side is delicate and light, the other is heavy and dark.  I only shaded the lighter side because I think the dark side was intense enough. 

Anywho, lots of fun!  Thanks for stopping by :)

Paradox, Opus, Shattuck, Web, Zedbra

Diva Challenge #129

I always find that creating a string is the hardest part of my Zentangle experience - they always seem to look the same.  I love that Linda Farmer at TanglePatterns.com has a section for string ideas... it gives me some direction!  This week's Diva Challenge was to use string 4.  I started with a different set of patterns, but my heart wasn't in the tile and I ended up getting sloppy.  This one is a much "happier" tile! 

Happy Monday!

Fricle, Verdigogh, Msst, Tipple (inside Fricle), Striping

Beads, Beads, and More Beads!

Update:  I'm adding in my Diva Challenge for this week - it's the first Zentangle anything I've completed in months!  It felt great :)

Nipa, Shattuck, Hibred, Tipple

Last night was another fun night of beading with friends that turned into quite the little home project.  Thought I'd post some pics of the necklace charms that I made last night and today - my boyfriend's mom mentioned possibly selling them at her bed & breakfast (Heathcote Haven, if you happen to be in the Collingwood, Ontario area!).  Pretty exciting! I'll write another post once I have pictures of the earrings that I'm working on. Thanks for stopping by :)

Zendala Dare #58

Last week I attended a beading class during which I made necklace charms with wire-wrapped beads.  It was interesting, and since I had all kinds of wire left over, I've made a few since then.  Here are the ones I made at the class... they turned into mother's day gifts for my mom and my boyfriend's mom.

My first attempt

My second attempt

I also recently tried my hand at embellished letters using zentangle and colour.  I think I need to play and experiment with them a bit more - I don't like to make mistakes, and I need to let myself so that I can learn how to play with my artwork.  I like how they turned out (Sakura gel pens are so much fun!).

This week's mandala challenge was a lot of fun for me - I loved the design and the combination of curves and straight lines.  Here's my submission - thank, Erin, for doing this every week!  I don't always get to them, but I always go and check out everyone else's!

Crescent Moon, Flux, and a bunch of other ones!

Zendala Dare #56

Oops!  I forgot to do the added challenge of this week's dare (to do the entire mandala in pencil)... but I'm still going to post the result :)  To see the Bright Owl post, click here.

I'm attending a new bead class this week and can't wait to share the results! 

Paradox, Beetweed, Florz, Shattuck

Diva Challenge #116

I loved this week's Diva Challenge!  The blind string - one of my favourites.  My string ended up being a really closely drawn circle/loop.  I wasn't sure what to do with it, but it ended up kind of creating itself.  I think it has an underwater-type feel.

Striping, Flux, Dragonair, Nipa, Verdigogh, Tipple

Something else that I had wanted to share was my new found love of beading.  I went to a "beginner" workshop last Monday, and began working on a bracelet that required several different bead types, fireline, and A LOT of skill!  I'd never beaded before, and was completely overwhelmed, but when I finished it yesterday, I was so happy with the result, that I'm planning another visit to this little bead store soon (tomorrow or Wednesday, perhaps!). Great - another hobby that prevents me from marking! 

My first-ever beading adventure!  More to come - I've already signed up for another beading workshop!

Zendala Dare #52

Erin (The Bright Owl) posted her latest challenge this morning, and mentioned how she hates circles in her mandalas.  Honestly, I love them :)  I have developed a serious love for Verve, and when I see circles, I now feel compelled to fill them with this pattern!  The idea for today's challenge was to use Hollibaugh across the mandala as a string.  I kind of got it, but got carried away and forgot to put in a second band... and while I was playing, I didn't really like what I had done - I felt it was missing something.  I ended up adding the words into the background of the torn section, and voila!  Complete! 

If you want to see the directions for "That's Torn It", click here - it's a really fun addition to any piece. Glad I stumbled upon it on the Zentangle fan page on Facebook!

verve, fescu, zedbra/striping, that's torn it

Zendala Dare #51

Instead of doing the work that I brought home today, I decided to tangle instead - much more rewarding!  Here's my entry for Erin's Zendala Dare for this week (with a template I loved!), and one from several weeks ago that never got submitted...

Paradox, Zedbra (uncoloured), Bales, Printemps

From Dare #38 - Hibred, Paradox, Verve

Zendala Dare #48

A second entry for today - this is my submission for The Bright Owl's Zendala Dare #48.  I loved this template, but was totally at a loss for what to do in some of the spaces!

Verve, Shattuck, Rain

Diva Challenge #109

I can't remember the last time I participated in a Diva Challenge - thank goodness for March Break!  This week's challenge saw us creating a 3-D effect using parallel lines.  I felt my tile was very busy, because I think I tried to put too much into a small space.  No worries, though - I really liked the end result.  In contrast, I've included a tile that I did on the weekend with a group of ladies who also enjoy tangling!  My weekend tile was quite simple and reminded me a bit of Laura's "Biggify" challenge (which I loved!). 

Feels good to be back in the tangling saddle! I think I'll be busy with it this week :)

Opus, Flux, Tipple, Ahh, Onomato, Shattuck, Hibred, Sanibelle

Web, 'NZeppel, Nightsbridge, Ennies, Opus

Zendala Dare #47

 Wow!  It has been a looooong time since I've posted (or even done a zentangle anything!).  I've been busy busy busy - but decided to finally make time today to tangle :)  The Bright Owl's challenge this week was to NOT use the entire template of the zendala.  I usually print & use - this time, I couldn't do that! 

Thanks for the great challenge, Erin! 

Striping, Nipa, Flux, Meer, Beadlines

The original template

Embarrassed to say!

Oh wow - it's been SO long since I've posted!  I am hoping to get back into the swing of things soon - I haven't tangled in a very long time, and I miss it immensely!  Coming soon!