A Challenge at the Beach

This week we are taking a nice vacation at the beach... It is the perfect place to take the time to work on the Diva Challenge #179 : "Be Like Bijou." So I very... slowly... deliberately... worked on this tile while taking the time to enjoy my surroundings (and a cup of coffee). It was an absolutely lovely way to spend a morning!

"The Wave" (Knightsbridge & Flux)

Here are a couple more photos of our lovely view...

... And minty fresh summery nails (perfect for the beach)!

A Double Challenge & Tangley Nails

Okay... So I admit it... I am cheating... I am combining the Diva's Challenge #176 and #177 in this entry. Weekly Challenge #176 : BYOB, was to spill your beverage of choice over your tile, and then tangle. I prepped my tile... and then it sat... and sat... and I ran out of time. Then it was time for Weekly Challenge #177 : "Truffle by Caroline Broady, CZT" which was to include Caroline's tangle in your entry. 

It's funny, I struggled looking at my spilled and splotted coffee, not certain how I wanted to begin (which is why it sat a week!)... and then as soon as I sat down and played around with truffle a little, deconstructing and separating it out, I knew exactly what to do with my tile. It's funny how things happen like that. I loved seeing Caroline's inspiration wallpaper and that guided me in drawing a few tangleations as separate sections... eventually becoming a prehistoric looking plant surviving an afternoon storm. (I couldn't help but think of this one resembling something... so Zentangle® Inspired Art!) 

"Afternoon Storm"

And now... Tangley Nails...

A couple of weeks ago my Mom called me to tell me about this AWESOME nail product that she thought I would love... I could upload my own art (WHHHAAATTT???!!!) and have  custom nail wraps made! I looked into it right away. PERFECT! (...imagining teaching class with super, cute, tangley nails... YESSSS!) I started looking through all the designs available, over 300!! I thought I'd start putting my favorites in the shopping cart... Oh. my. I put A LOT in my cart. I then decided I loved this product so much I was just going to jump right in and become a consultant! I signed up that night. (My sister is a consultant, so it was an even easier decision!) 

The girls and I had so much fun applying our nail wraps when they arrived a few days later! I wish I had taken a photo of them applying them... it was a blast! It was fun to see how we all three ended up with totally different manicures using the same 4 sheets of designs! (Another Zentangle similarity!) I absolutely LOVE that these nail wraps are non-toxic, latex free, last 2 weeks on fingers, 4 weeks on toes, can remove without harsh chemicals, doesn't damage your nails, no dry time, easy to apply, can get 3 or 4 manicures/pedicures from each sheet, etc... but mostly... I love being able to have fun, elegant, trendy, romantic, or whatever mood I'm in nails... I feel like it's another fun way to express my personality. How great is that?! 

I have been having so much fun with my Jamberry Nails. I obviously had to do some Zentangle Inspired Nails! (I think this is official terminology!) ;) 

Zentangle Inspired NAILS!!!

If you like you can check out the amazing designs yourself at my store. Nails wraps are buy three, get one free! (excluding collegiate/sorority/create-your-own.) I haven't designed my own yet... but it won't be long! Thanks again Mom and Harmony for this fun introduction! 

An Illuminating Challenge and a Completed Project

First things first... 

This week's diva challenge #175 : UMT Crux by Henrike Bratz. This was my first opportunity to draw Crux. Wow! I LOVE it! It's such a gorgeous pattern with so many tangleations possible. I started by drawing the basic pattern in my sketchbook... 

Mystery tangle made with first attempt... and then Eureka! 

Oops! I realized I made too many diagonal lines so that practice became some other tangle! I started again and realized where I ventured off on my own. :) There we go... Much better! I then started experimenting with the pattern transitioning from small to large to small again. I also wanted it to start escaping it's grid...

Rough sketch as I played with Crux...

I looked at the rough sketch I made and decided this was the path I wanted to take with my tile this week. I loved how the design resembled some sort of lantern... Probably a fairy lantern... This means it needed a little fairy dust, prismacolor pencils! I haven't used color much in my Zentangle® Inspired Art, it was fun to incorporate a little layer of color here. I was ready to create my tile! Here is my entry...

Diva's Weekly Challenge #175 : UMT Crux : "Illumination"

The process was illuminating! So I named this tile, "Illumination." Perfect in more ways than one... I think the little fairies were happy too! 

Now about my FINALLY completed project...

I feel so lucky... I was asked to create some art for the back of a business card for one of my very favorite yoga instructors. (I am a HUGE Bikram Yoga fan! It changed my life! More on that another time!) Sachie has been an inspiration and encouraging to me throughout the past two years since I first began my practice. I felt like at one point most of my major break-throughs in class were due to her corrections and supportive words. (I do love, and learn tons from ALL the instructors at the studio!! Each one has taught me something very important.) 

One day, prior to class, I shared my excitement with Sachie about attending the then upcoming Certified Zentangle® Teacher Seminar (my previous post was about this AWESOME experience). She asked what Zentangle was... I described this wonderful meditative art method and showed her a few pictures of the art I had created. She loved it and asked if I would create something for her. I felt honored. I was so happy to finally be in the position to maybe give her back a little for all she has done for me. 

I really wanted her design to be something meaningful and special to her. I asked her to think about any pattern or image that was important to her. Later that day I received a text with some photos. Here is one of the photos...

I used this kimono as inspiration for the birds
and cherry blossoms...

The kimonos were ones that Sachie's mother (she passed many years ago...) had made especially for her for her coming-of-age day. She told me that her family loved those birds. She also said that the OBI (belt) was purchased on a special trip with her grandmother to Kyoto. She asked if I could include some elements of these into the design.

I knew immediately that I would include the bird, which reminded me of a phoenix. I also felt like it was fitting for her additionally as a hot yoga teacher... We are constantly "rising from the ashes." (You definitely feel like you have combusted into a fire ball during some classes!) I also loved the flowers which resembled cherry blossoms and decided to include that element also. 

Here are the initial sketches from my little traveling sketchbook...

Initial sketch of the bird...

Sketch studies of cherry blossoms...

After drawing the birds and cherry blossoms, I froze... I had to figure out how I could add my tangles without overcoming these elements. I had ideas and I could visualize what I wanted it to look like, yet I was anxious about adding them to the piece. As Sachie had told me to "take my time," I procrastinated... and procrastinated... and procrastinated... (you get the idea). I was partially distracted by getting ready for the CZT 15 Seminar. (OKAY... I know this is another excuse!) I had to set myself a deadline. I decided upon returning from seminar, my deadline to show her the finished piece would be the next class that Sachie taught in the morning. That date was July 3rd. So... July 2nd... (funny how that works, right?!) I got right to work and finished it. YAY!!!! (Yes... I was up VERY late!!) Here it is...

Finished art for the back of Sachie's business card...

Thursday morning I showed Sachie... I am thrilled, she absolutely LOVED it! Yippee! I am very happy with how it all came together. I feel like I was able to represent her in a very artful way. (I also acknowledge that I must set deadlines for myself...) :)

I'd love to hear from you... please leave a comment. Thanks so much for stopping by!

A Challenge and a CZT Adventure...

WARNING!!!! This post is exceptionally long, BUT, I had to post my diva challenge piece AND talk about attending the AWESOME CZT Seminar 15 in Providence (plus a few days in Boston)! Hang in there... get a cup of coffee and maybe a cookie, or if it just seems like too much, just take a look at the photos! :)

Let's start with the fabulous diva's weekly challenge: Weekly Challenge #174 : Superimposing Strings (via guest challenge creator Aimee Belair, CZT) As it is the 4th of July this week, I decided to take it in a patriotic direction. I drew a star string and then waving stripes as the superimposed string. So without a lot of additional fanfare here is my entry for this challenge... (I have to hurry to get to the knitty gritty of this post!!)

Diva's Weekly Challenge #174 : Superimposing Strings : "Stars & Stripes"

Okay... now for the adventure! The girls and I flew out on a red eye from Los Angeles to Boston.  We were pretty bleary eyed (sleeping on a plane is not easy) when we arrived at 6:00 am, but extremely excited to explore Boston for a few days. We arrived at our hotel to find out no rooms were available, they were sold out the night before so the likelihood of having an early check in was pretty slim. We were happy that they took our bags, so at least we wouldn't have to drag them around town!  We stayed at the Omni Parker House hotel. It is in a great central location for walking all around the city. One of the employees directed us to a great little place called, The Paramount, for breakfast. Delicious! We then ventured over to the Boston Public Gardens... 

The Boston Public Gardens are gorgeous!

So beautiful... But... we... were... so... tired... Took a few photos and then found benches to take naps on. It was pretty funny. We felt like homeless travelers. We were VERY grateful the weather was beautiful. 

I took this picture of Leila napping on the next bench...

Still so tired at lunch that Cami kept falling asleep while eating...

Just a cool shot I got while walking near Faneuil Hall.

We did so much sight seeing in Boston, and this first day in particular felt like the longest day EVER! We would glance at the time and be surprised by how early in the day it still was. I guess that is what happens when you don't sleep and then embark on a day full of activities! We had such a great time! Here are a few of my favorite photos from the first few days. (I am trying not to overwhelm with details that are exciting to me, but may be boring to anyone else!) The girls and I all enjoyed our time in Boston very much! What a beautiful, vibrant, fun city!

The clouds reflection on this building were spectacular!

I love all the beautiful brownstones...

Selfie!! Girls and I taking the escalator at the Prudential Building.

Leila takes a photo of us with her fancy GoPro.

I LOVED the Boston Public Library!
Took this picture of Cami (and Leila) here... The light was awesome!

I have sooooo many more photos, but don't want to overwhelm... So I will regretfully stop with the Boston photos here. Maybe I'll add more at a later time to Flickr... hmmm...

On Sunday, we rented a car and headed to our much anticipated destination... Providence, Rhode Island. Home for the next five days while we attended the 15th Certified Zentangle® Teacher Seminar. 

What an awesome way to be welcomed!!

Oh my... I don't quite know how to fully express how absolutely wonderful this experience was. I was expecting it to be great... It completely surpassed my expectations. This time that I shared with my girls is one of the greatest gifts I have ever received. (Thank you, honey, for sending us on this trip!) Leila and Cami enjoyed themselves so much that everyday after a full day of class we would return to the room and they would continue to tangle until nearly midnight (and after). I also realized that my seventeen year old was hardly ever on her phone!!! It's a MIRACLE!!! 

The other seminar participants we met were so kind, and all amazing artists. (Special shout out to Connie Souza... We sat with her everyday and she is so sweet and so VERY talented!) 

The girls and I with the amazing and oh-so-kind Connie...

The Zentangle family of Rick, Maria, Molly, Martha, Sue, Jane, etc. (everyone!) are the absolute nicest, most inspirational, generous, and good people you can ever imagine meeting. 

We LOVE selfies! Especially when they include Rick & Maria...

...and Maria... again...

...and Molly!!!

The attention they paid to every tiny detail to make this experience special for all was absolutely incredible. Their presentation skills are awesome. We enjoyed... Every. Single. Second.

It is lunch break, but we keep on tangling!

White on Black Tile : I now LOVE working on the black tiles!

My first Renaissance tile... LOVE IT! Can't wait to do more!

One of the evenings we had a special speaker, someone I had been looking VERY forward to meeting, Laura Harms. The famous lady (diva) behind iamthedivaczt.blogspot.com. 

Well... of course we have a selfie with THE diva!!

She spoke of her Zentangle journey. It was a beautiful speech... touching, funny, inspirational, and even included a little song and dance! She received a standing ovation. It was very well deserved. The girls and I made a point to make sure we took a "selfie" with her. So fun! She was also so kind to write a little note to my dad, who has completed EVERY diva challenge (and he just started tangling in the fall 2013!) It was such a thoughtful thing for her to do... Thank you again, Laura!

Isn't she soooo cute! Posing with the note for my dad!

CUUUUPPPCAAAAKES!!!!

It's official! Newly minted CZTs!!!

I am holding myself back to not go on, and on, and on, into the tiniest detail about all of these experiences...  I'll sum it up as truly one of the best trips, EVER... and I will treasure the memories always... especially the time spent with my super bright, super talented, super beautiful, and all-around-super girls! 

I love you girls!

Adventure ahead...

It's almost time... Two. More. Days... and my daughters and I head off to Boston to explore for a few days and then.... CZT TRAINING IN PROVIDENCE!!!! I am sooooo excited! I can't believe that the time has finally arrived. When I first signed up for the three of us to attend it seemed like it was so far in the future, I blinked my eyes, and now it's here. YAY!

I wish I would have had more time to complete more zentangles and practice, practice, practice. Some how the time escaped me. I hope I am prepared enough...

I absolutely adore Laura Harm's (the diva) site and weekly challenges although I have not completed many of them to date. (Something to work on!) I think I must be an extra slow tangler... well... I finally finished an entry for the Weekly Challenge #169 : String Theory : Circles. (Please don't mention that it was the challenge 3 WEEKS AGO!!!! I know... I know...) I called it "Galaxies," it seems to go hand in hand with exploring and broadening horizons. All just ahead of me...

I have been working (very slowly) through the book, One Zentangle a Day. The Day 14 patterns included Dyon, Keeko, and Chainging. I wanted to include these three patterns in my challenge tile.  As I have been learning new patterns I have taken lots of time to play with variations of the patterns. This has been fun although very time consuming. So now I will just work on the basic tangle patterns to get more "under my belt" before training. In the spirit of this plan here is a page from my little moleskin sketchbook. Besides the Day 14 patterns I have included Yincut, Locar, and Verdigogh all tangles from Day 15. 

My plan when I return from training is to post a LOT more often here with new art! I am so excited to start on a new adventure!

Happy Valentangle's Day!

Yippee! I was hoping this would happen... The diva's challenge this week (#154) is to create a "Valentangle!" I absolutely LOVE that term! So cute! So clever! I was hoping a challenge like this would happen because I drew my version of a Valentangle a couple of weeks ago! It was my first time to mess around with the awesome tangle pattern, mak-rah-mee... I enjoyed it so much and look forward to using this pattern in future art.  So my Valentangle is also a Monotangle... is that a Valentangle that has mono? No... that wouldn't be good... You definitely need all your energy to celebrate a day like Valentine's Day!

I created this tile, "Tied Up in Knots," to use as a Zengo (Bingo style game) Entry Fee for the Yahoo Group, Zentangle Inspired Art. I just joined this group in January and I am enjoying being part of that Zentangle community. (I have a button in my side bar you can click if you want to check it out and join!)

I hope everyone has a wonderful "Valentangle's" Day!

❌⭕️❌⭕️

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!