Growth...

This month I joined the Yahoo Group, Zentangle® Inspired Art... The group offers a variety of monthly swaps that you can participate in if you would like.  I signed up for my very first swap, EVER! This all goes hand in hand with my inspirational word of the year, cultivate. This was a step towards cultivating my art. (More on my word of the year in an upcoming post.) It has been inspirational to look at photos that other members of the group have posted and very nice to be so warmly welcomed...

I decided to sign up for the Beginner Swap as a newbie to Zentangle and this group. It felt like the perfect choice to get my feet wet. The requirement for this swap was to create an artist trading card. I so enjoyed creating the card. It was fun to incorporate a couple of new patterns I've been working on, Chillon and Bales. Here it is, "Mystic Swirls."

So... in reading the details of the swap I saw that it was a nice thought to also send the hostess of the swap some little extra. I decided to draw a second artist trading card as a gift. I wanted to work on my Fengle so I chose that pattern as my base for this card. I titled this one, "Stargazer."

While preparing these cards the group sent out a notification of a Bingo type game you could participate in during the month of February. The game is called, Zengo. Cute, huh?! The entry fee for this was to create an ATC or traditional Zentangle tile using a combination of black, white, pink, and/or red. I decided to complete this tile as well so I could ship everything all together. This is, "Tied Up in Knots."

After completing all three pieces I couldn't just stick them in an envelope without some special packaging. These are my little works of art after all! I wanted them to be showcased! (Plus the fact that I'm ALL about packaging!) 

I can't wait for the recipients to get their art cards... :) It feels great to start the year by taking time to cultivate my art and share it with others.

I DEFINITELY want S'more...

Today has been a little gloomy and cloudy… It's the type of day to bake up a new cookie recipe. I looked through my list of "to try" and knew this would be the one for just this day! It's a Peanut Butter S'more Cookie!!! I don't know if there could be anything better (at least not right now at THIS moment!)! I decided to make them for my family self. Just kidding… I did share! (…not that I wanted too…) Cami definitely wanted S'more too! These cookies are so good they have made the holiday cookie plate rotation for this year… Yummmm…

S'more Cookies

(recipe from Cuisine at home)

Be sure to let the cookies cool a few minutes on the baking sheet, otherwise the weight of the marshmallows may cause them to sink through the wire rack gaps.

Makes 4 dozen cookies

Total time: 25 minutes + baking

1 cup all purpose flour

3/4 cup fine graham cracker crumbs

1/2 teaspoon EACH baking soda and kosher salt

1 stick unsalted butter, softened (8 Tbsp.)

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1/2 cup EACH granulated sugar and packed brown sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

24 large marshmallows, halved horizontally

48 Hershey's chocolate bar pieces (4 bars)

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Whisk together flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.
3. Cream butter, peanut butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, 5 minutes. Beat in egg and vanilla until incorporated. Blend in flour mixture on low speed just until incorporated. 
4. Scoop dough with #60 scoop (about 1 Tbsp.) onto ungreased baking sheets.
5. Bake cookies 4 minutes. Top each with a marshmallow half and bake until golden, 4-5 minutes more. Let cookies rest on baking sheet a few minutes, then transfer to cooling racks. Press chocolate pieces on top of cookies and let cool 5 minutes more. 

Easy print here!

These cookies were super quick and fun to make! We won't even discuss the how delicious part again… You'll start drooling, you'll get the drool on your keyboard or iPad… Not good… Just go make them!

Leave me a note… Let me know if they were a hit in your home or if you plan on giving them a try!

I was in a quandary...

The diva posted the weekly challenge.... Would I participate? I had a very busy week ahead... Would I have time? I was a little less nervous after participating in last week's challenge, but still a little anxious about putting my art "out there." I felt like I was in a little bit of a fengle (I think this sounds good... although it doesn't really have a meaning!). All right... enough of the silliness! I am very happy to have learned the two tangles used in this week's challenge : Weekly Challenge #141: DuoTangle - Quandary & Fengle.

I hope you have a quandary (and fengle) free day, but plenty of time to tangle them!

A whimsical garden...

I have slowly been working my way through the wonderful book by Beckah Krahula, One Zentangle A Day: A 6-Week Course in Creative Drawing for Relaxation, Inspiration, and Fun (One A Day). It is my official introduction to this art form. I was shopping on Amazon for some micron pens one day when I saw the term "Zentangle" on one of the packages... It prompted me to click some of the book examples... WOW! It intrigued me immediately and the title of the book was exactly what I needed at that moment. I never looked back! Now, I have to admit, I have added quite a few books to my little collection since then. All wonderful! I am definitely taking much longer than one day to do each assignment... I am taking my time and enjoying every single moment!

The past few days (okay, maybe a week!) I've been working on Day 6 which focuses on creating tangleations of tangles you have learned thus far in the book. I LOVED this assignment! So fun!

My sketchbook practice page

The next part of the lesson was to create an ATC tile using some of the tangleations you had created. (This is also the first tile I've done where I incorporated color.) I couldn't help but see elements to a garden in a few of the tangles... a very whimsical garden! So here is my Tangleation Garden...

Tangleation Garden

I think it would be a wonderful, whimsical place to visit. I hope you enjoy visiting it too...

Anything is possible... one dot at a time...

I had to do it! A little play on the Zentangle logo... I am thrilled to be participating in my very first weekly challenge from iamthediva.blogspot.com. This week is Challenge #140, Monotangle and Pointillism. I decided to use a tangelation of poke root for this challenge. I had envisioned a more complicated piece, but as I worked I decided to keep it very simple. I was excited and nervous to participate. I am so glad I did! Dots of fun! (...that made me smile...)

I happened upon the wonderful art form of tangling just a couple of months ago... I am already head over heels in love! In fact, I have already signed up to attend a seminar next year to become a Certified Zentangle Teacher. Yippee!!

It has been a very long time since I've taken the time to add to this blog. It's nice to be back!

Day 190 : 07-08-12

Day 190 : 07-08-12, a photo by ha! designs on Flickr.

My tired puppy...

Day 189 : 07-07-12

Day 189 : 07-07-12, a photo by ha! designs on Flickr.

Cami with Adam Sklute (artistic director of Ballet West)! She took Ballet Technique classes from him this week while attending Joffrey Ballet School! She said it was AWESOME! :)

Day 188 : 07-06-12

Day 188 : 07-06-12, a photo by ha! designs on Flickr.

A gorgeous day to have lunch with one of my girls...

Day 187 : 07-05-12

Day 187 : 07-05-12, a photo by ha! designs on Flickr.

A beautiful summer rose...

Day 186 : 07-04-12

Day 186 : 07-04-12, a photo by ha! designs on Flickr.

Happy 4th of July!!! Walter enjoys the pool with the girls...

Day 185 : 07-03-12

Day 185 : 07-03-12, a photo by ha! designs on Flickr.

A few of the delicious Pakistani dishes we had with friends for dinner tonight...

Day 184 : 07-02-12

Day 184 : 07-02-12, a photo by ha! designs on Flickr.

Cami's bun is gorgeous... Ready for her first day at Joffrey Ballet School summer intensive...

Day 183 : 07-01-12

Day 183 : 07-01-12, a photo by ha! designs on Flickr.

My Walter snuggles me...

Day 182 : 06-30-12

Day 182 : 06-30-12, a photo by ha! designs on Flickr.

A little afternoon relaxation... Time to put my feet up...

Day 181 : 06-29-12

Day 181 : 06-29-12, a photo by ha! designs on Flickr.

My sweet boy...

Day 180 : 06-28-12

Day 180 : 06-28-12, a photo by ha! designs on Flickr.

Cami and her friends enjoy an afternoon together...

Day 179 : 06-27-12

Day 179 : 06-27-12, a photo by ha! designs on Flickr.

A lovely evening to share dinner with friends...

Day 178 : 06-26-12

Day 178 : 06-26-12, a photo by ha! designs on Flickr.

My gorgeous girl and her ringlets...

Day 177 : 06-25-12

Day 177 : 06-25-12, a photo by ha! designs on Flickr.

Clark sits on his grandma's lap...

Day 176 : 06-24-12

Day 176 : 06-24-12, a photo by ha! designs on Flickr.

I'm so lucky! My beautiful mom and sister are visiting me... It's so nice!

Day 175 : 06-23-12

Day 175 : 06-23-12, a photo by ha! designs on Flickr.

An exciting day at Six Flags comes to an end...

Day 174 : 06-22-12

Day 174 : 06-22-12, a photo by ha! designs on Flickr.

Steps... Today my nieces tried Bikram Yoga for the first time! They did great! They were a little nervous about taking the first step, but now they're looking forward to the steps ahead...

Day 173 : 06-21-12

Day 173 : 06-21-12, a photo by ha! designs on Flickr.

Walter is happy that his Aunt Heather (cousins and grandma) came to visit...

Day 172 : 06-20-12

Day 172 : 06-20-12, a photo by ha! designs on Flickr.

My Evoque had a bath today...

Day 171 : 06-19-12

Day 171 : 06-19-12, a photo by ha! designs on Flickr.

Cami joined me at Bikram Yoga today! It was her first time... She was AWESOME!!

Day 170 : 06-18-12

Day 170 : 06-18-12, a photo by ha! designs on Flickr.

Happy Birthday Leila!!! I feel so lucky to have such a thoughtful, smart, beautiful daughter! I am so proud of my girl! (Both of my sweet daughters!)

Day 169 : 06-17-12

Day 169 : 06-17-12, a photo by ha! designs on Flickr.

Happy Father's Day!!

Day 168 : 06-16-12

Day 168 : 06-16-12, a photo by ha! designs on Flickr.

Cami enjoys an ice cream cone after her wonderful performance in her dance school's recital...

Day 167 : 06-15-12

Day 167 : 06-15-12, a photo by ha! designs on Flickr.

Cami & Walter... Walter loves his girl and snuggles up to her as often as he can!

Day 166 : 06-14-12

Day 166 : 06-14-12, a photo by ha! designs on Flickr.

Clark turns two!!! He had a very happy birthday! He waited very patiently to attack his cupcake! Once I gave him the signal to take it, he played with it for hours...