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

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 :)

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!

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 #29

Didn't make it to the Zendala Dare on Saturday this weekend.... report card mania has taken over!  Fortunately, I'm actually somewhat on top of things this year, so it hasn't been too bad (and I had a marking date with a friend at Starbucks this morning, so that made for a fun day!).  This is the result - it's a little busy, but there are some new-ish (to me) tangles in there, so it's fun and a bit different!

Coaster, Web, Nipa, Paradox, Ibex, Flux

I'm also including a mandala that I not only filled with tangles, but that I designed.  If you want to see the original, click on "Mandala Designs" here or above.  It's the star one :)

Gneiss, Paradox

 I'm also including my entry to this week's Diva Challenge (really late, though!).  Positive thoughts to Laura, while her little Artoo is recovering in the hospital. 

Coaster, Hibred, Nipa, Onomato

Diva Challenge #91 - Beads of Courage

This week, Laura's Diva Challenge was to incorporate "Beads of Courage" into our tile.  "Beads of Courage" is an organization that helps children who have chronic illnesses to tell their stories of courage.  Happy birthday to Artoo, who turned 2 yesterday!

The idea of being courageous was a theme at our school today, too - many classes participated in "Dignity Day", and one of my students was brave enough to share her story with a thousand people via webcam.  I was really proud of her :)  Click here to see her reflection of the day (and to check out her awesome tangles)!

This is my contribution to the Beads of Courage challenge - I was planning to leave the background blank, so that the beads would stand out, but I felt it was very stark and missing something.  I decided to go with a  lightweight tangle, and I'm really happy that I did, because Florz was perfect for what I envisioned.  Happy tangling!

Florz, Flux, Jetties, Striping, Echoism, Betweed, Tipple, Zedbra, Fricle, Hollibaugh

Diva Challenge #90 - String 01

Short post tonight - have to go to bed!  I've been itching to do the challenge this week, but just haven't gotten around to it - started at around 10:30 (it's now 11:07)..... kind of rushed, but fairly happy with the result. Happy tangling!

Crescent Moon, Flux, Sanibelle, Florz, Hi-C, Dragonair

Diva Challenge #89 & Celtic Challenge #7

Hm.  I started the Diva challenge, and I liked what I was seeing (rain - one of my new faves).... then I realized I'd coloured the whole tangle in sepia!  Of course, then I had to finish it in sepia.... and I have to admit that I don't love it.  That, and I found the tangle this week really tough, so I ended up cutting it off before I mucked up the bottom part of my tile. Erg!  I still ended up with a tile that I like, I just wish it had been in black ink!

Flux, Rain, Sankegg, Printemps, Hollibaugh

And, I did the Celtic Challenge on the weekend, and have been contemplating how to colour it for a few days.... and then I did colour it and remembered why I like Zentangle... black and white is my friend :) It's not that I don't like it with colour, but I just don't have the flair for the colours.... and choosing colours is tough! 

Paradox, Bales

Diva Challenge #88 - IX

Wow - I'm WAY later than usual on this week's Diva challenge!!  I'll explain in a moment.... :)

I made an attempt at IX tonight.  I have to admit, I'm not too fussy on this pattern, however perhaps that's because I haven't had much of a chance to "ix-periment" with it.  Here's what happened:

IX, Flux

This week at school was a little chaotic.  We had Meet-the-Teacher night, many ETFO meetings, a PD Day (lots of developing professionally), and just generally a busy week!  I held my first "Zentangle club" meeting and was thrilled to have about 25 kids sign up.  I've placed my order with Chari-Lynn for materials, and am hoping to receive my Apprentice Kit early next week :) Our club will begin once I have all my supplies, and I absolutely can't wait! 

I hope she's okay with this, but I wanted to share a touching story.  I have a student who is in my Grade 8 class who has taken to Zentangle like no other student I've had.  She has created her own blog so that she can participate in (and submit!) Zendala Dares.  I'm so proud of her - her work is beautiful!  I'm posting her link here, so that you may see some of her outstanding work.... please go on and let her know what you think! (Thanks!!)
http://girinlovespeace.blogspot.ca/

Happy weekend-ing!  I'll likely have another post tomorrow for the Zendala Dare :)

Diva Challenge #87

Haven't done a Diva Challenge in a while!  I was away at camp this week with 115 Grade 7 & 8 students, so when I needed a little downtime, tangling was the answer!  I did a basic pinwheel design, and I'm also posting one of the other tiles that I did while I was there.

Pinwheel with hibred

Some of my favourites - 'Nzeppel, Btljoos, Cadent, Nipa

Diva Challenge #84 - Blind-sighted

Yay!  Laura's back and there's a new Monday challenge!  This week, we had to draw the string blind - yep, no peeking!  I really liked my string, but when I prepared to put pen to tile, I found myself at a loss.... I did the tile, and I think it looks alright, but I think I'll try this again later this week.  Here is my tile, before and after :)

(I used my new tangle "Deelish" - please check it out & let me know what you think.... your opinions mean a lot!)

Ahh, Shattuck, Nipa, Hollibaugh, Paradox, Deelish

The original string (edited so you can see it - that's why it's so dark!)

Diva Challenge #83 - Mooka and Assunta

Oh, Laura - challenge indeed!!  I love mooka, but have had real difficulty with assunta.  I'd decided to "skip" this week's challenge, but it's been niggling in the back of my mind all week. Of course, in seeing other people rise to the challenge (quite literally), I realized my reservations about assunta were fairly common.  So, my goal today was to power through it.... after going to buy some new school supplies, checking in at Michaels to get new Sakura pens, visiting a dollar store, enjoying the Teacher Appreciation Day at Staples, making lunch, doing laundry, playing FarmVille.... basically anything to help me avoid it!  I finally sat down and made myself do it.  I must say, I didn't find it as frustrating as I'd expected.  Just like usual, procrastinate, build it up in my mind, only to find out that it's not as bad as I thought :)  Challenge complete!

Mooka and Assunta

Diva Challenge #82 - Brayd

The challenge this week is a UMT (Use My Tangle) and the tangle to use is Brayd, by Michele Beauchamp.  In honour of the "use my tangle" theme, I also included my tangle Flourish in the background.  Kept it pretty simple this week - not feeling tangle-icious today.  Perhaps I'll try another one later on this week :)

Brayd, Flourish

Diva Challenge #81 - Mandala!

First, I would like to thank everyone for helping my blog hit 10,000 views last week!  I never thought that would happen :)

This week's Diva Challenge is issued by Erin Olson.  Every week, Erin issues a Mandala Dare, one which I have yet to find time to do!  After playing with today's design, I think I'll be participating in it more often.  I love mandalas, and they are always so pretty when they're done!  For more of my mandalas, you can visit my post "More Mandala Enjoyment".

For this week's challenge, I've posted the design we started with, and then my contribution.  Thanks, Erin!

The originally issued mandala - provided by Erin Olson

Angelfish, Fescu, Hi-C, and some others!

Diva Challenge #80 - Mi2!

I'm posting a day later this week because I spent a lovely couple of days visiting my family in Collingwood.  Had a great visit, terrific barbecue, and delightful pedi (just with mom)!

This week's Diva challenge is to use Mi2 - this is a tangle I've seen, but have never thought to use.  Some of them are like that - I think they look nice, but for some reason I never get around to trying them.  Once I tried this one, I realized that I really like the outcome!  Makes me think I need to check out a few other tangles, too, and experiment a little!

Nipa, 'NZeppel, Mi2, and Betweed

Diva Challenge #79 - Citius, Altius, Fortius

This weekend I was lucky enough to enjoy a full day of tangling!  My post, Haliburton Treasures, outlines some of the fun we had.

This week's Diva Challenge was issued by a guest challenger, Rho Densmore.  Inspired by the Olympics, the challenge was to use the Olympic Rings to create a tangle.  I feel like I kind of cheated with this one - I used a toonie to draw the circles (cheat #1) and I used an idea that I incorporated into the Moebius challenge from a few months ago by putting Gneiss into the background (cheat #2). I used Staedtler Ergo Soft pencil crayons to colour.

Here it is - I may add another one throughout the week...

Diva Challenge #78 - Auraknot

School is done for the summer!  I'm hoping to get in touch with my tangling again now that there's time to breathe.  I'm always stunned that as school "winds down" for the summer, my schedules just get more packed and crammed.... things keep winding UP until the PD day after the chaos ends!  The fact that I had to pack up my entire classroom to move to a portable next year didn't ease the madness.... man, I have a lot of stuff.  No worries though - I have a mini-retreat in Haliburton this weekend with Chari-Lynn (my local CZT who is amazing!), with a bunch of friends from work - can't wait to spend the day tangling and playing!

Update:  Spent the day tangling at the Haliburton School of the Arts - please click here to see what we did!

This week's Diva Challenge is one that asks us to experiment a little with the new official tangle, "Auraknot".  I have spent the entire day playing with this!  It's a lot of fun, and has endless possibilities.  I think it's a tangle that stands on its own, more than one that I'll use to fill space (mainly because I haven't tried yet).  I'm still playing with the shading, but here are the two (of the many, many I tried!) that I thought I'd share. Happy Monday!  Have a great week :)

Challenge #69 - Use My Tangle

Yay!  I actually got to the Diva challenge on time this week!  We were to use the tangle Groovy this week - a really fun tangle to use.... loved it! I was really happy with the tile that emerged from this week (from the blog post with the instructions, I was also inspired to use Sanibelle again - a bit of a revisit!).

Sadly, I've had to take down my pattern "Starburst" because it's an already published pattern ("Hemp" in Totally Tangled).  Thanks so much to Linda at tanglepatterns for entertaining it and to Karen Lynn for identifying it.  I'll keep working on a new pattern to be submitted soon!