New hobby

Hi everyone,

I haven't been on here in ages - haven't been doing a lot of tangling, but have recently taken on a new hobby!  One of my new year's resolutions is to learn how to manage both of these fun, yet time consuming activities :)

In the meantime, I would absolutely love for you to check out my Etsy store (even for just a browse!) to let me know what you think about the jewelry that I've been selling (with much success with my colleagues, I might add!).

https://www.etsy.com/shop/CharmingMusings

Thanks for stopping by!

Steph :)

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!

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

Zendala Dare #28

I loved this week's template for the Zendala Dare!  There was a lot to it, and if I wasn't up to my eyeballs in stuff to do, I would totally take another stab at it. That being said, due to my extraordinary procrastinating skills, I will likely find all kinds of new tangle-y things to occupy my time this week!  My to-do list is lengthy.... I often visit Dawn's site "A Tangle in Time", and she always has the most interesting journal pages - I think I would love to create a journal much like the ones she shares, just so that my to-do list could look appealing!
I enjoy Erin's Zendala Dares so much that I decided to try my hand at creating my own mandalas - I've included some of them here, via the "Mandala Designs" page.  Please check it out -  I had a lot of fun making them!
Here's my submission for this week's challenge:

Ixorus, Striping, Hibred, Shattuck

Mandala Designs and Celtic Knot Challenge #10

Today I purchased a good compass.  It's something that I know I should have, but have never treated myself to.  I also grabbed a 360 degree protractor (which just looks cool... I'm such a math nerd).  Using these, I created 6 mandala designs which I hope to fill while procrastinating on my report cards! I've also included my Celtic Knot submission for Judy's 10th challenge.

Shattuck, Dragonair, Paradox, Zedbra

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

Zendala Dare #27

I really liked the Zendala Dare template this week, but I found myself very indecisive about the tangles I picked!  I decided on some favourites, and one that I rarely use - I ended up with a good combination of geometric and organic, I think.  I like how it turned out - the Dragonair added a bit of flair to the paradox.

Betweed, Paradox, Tipple, Cubine, Dragonair

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