Tips for Tangling Striping

This week's "It's a String Thing" (click here for all the happy details) is a monotangle using the tangle Striping.

Here are a few tips for tangling the pattern that you might find helpful ~

Enjoy!

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom

If you do what you love,

it is the best way to relax.

~C. Louboutin

Fassett monotangle on a prestrung Zendala tile by Adele Bruno, CZT

"It's a String Thing" #55

It is Tuesday and it is your good news day!

This week "It's a String Thing" # 55 uses the TanglePatterns String by the same number.  String 055 was created by our friend Sue Agnew ~

Copyrighted image used with permission from TanglePatterns.com

The assignment is to create a monotangle using the pattern Striping by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas and the tangle enhancer sparkle in honor of Sue.

I affectionately call Sue the "Queen of Sparkle" - and she wrote a great piece last March on the topic.
Click here to read it.

Striping can be found here on TanglePatterns.

Simply pencil in your string line onto your tile and tangle away!

Here are the (Not so) Official Guidelines: 
* Challenges are posted on Tuesdays.
*Use the string posted for the week and patterns that begin or contain the letter(s) indicated
* Submit a photo of your tile saved as jpg or scan your tile (300 dpi or higher) and save as a jpg
*Email your jpg file as an attachment to - brunoadelem@gmail.com
*Entries are to be submitted by Saturday evenings.
*Photos and 'Best of Show' are posted on Mondays. 

Send in your photos - you will encourage and inspire fellow Zentangle® enthusiasts all over the world.

PLEASE NOTE: I will add a link to your blog or web site with your tile photo, upon request. 
The site specific URL must accompany your request.

I look forward to your emails.
HAVE FUN!!

"It's a String Thing" #54 Tiles

This "String Thing" was an adventure in the straight line.

The string, a collection of triangular spaces, could be filled with any or all of the four straight lined tangles.


Let's take a look ~


Lori Byerly's tile arrived first ~

As she noted, it is more of a ZIA (Zentangle® Inspired Art) piece - and such a colorful one.  Paradox butterfly wings and Bilt succulent plant leaves, how delightful.

And my readers know how much I love when this happens...

The next tile arrived from Cheryl Anne Day-Swallow ~

Yes, another beautiful butterfly - this time with Rosewood wings.

Cheryl wrote:

Butterfly wings were created using Bilt & Rosewood
Flower leaf was created using Paradox
Flower stem was created using Bitten

Title: Zentangle Riddle

The little butterfly enjoying the blue sky
Fly's by the flower and asked himself why
Why does the flower bloom each and every day
It’s Zentangle power that helps keep it that way

This tile arrived from Juul who said it was unusually cold in France for this time of year ~

Here is my contribution.....as you can see,I couldn't stop drawing "paradox" anymore. Its a tangle that I really love to do. Paradox is antistress for me haha!
So sorry for the other tangles....its not because I didn't like them but suddenly there was no more place in the string for them.

That is a delightful description of the 'zen' that Zentagle brings - anti stress and a pleasantly pleasing ending!

Carmela wrote ~

This String and Patterns were much linework, but they all are patterns that I like.
Bitten and Rosewood are both new for me and I have never heard or see them before. I like [to] tangle new patterns.

It is a treat to learn new tangles.  Note how she blended Rosewood and Paradox and the darkened end points of Rosewood are a nice touch.


Kristen Kostelnik Killips said~

This one was hard! (In a good way.) I worked on it over the course of a couple days rather than all at once. I thought the softer tones of a Renaissance tile might be a good balance to the sharp edges of all the tangles. I wasn't sure about it the whole time I was working on it, but now that it's done, I love it! I also picked up a few new tangles in the process.

Kristen chose some different, yet still straight lined tangles for her tile.  The mixture of the brown, black and white is fabulous on the Renaissance tile.

Christine Forrester wrote ~

... I don’t like the linear tangles as much, and had only learned Rick’s Paradox before, but I was amazed as I experimented last night. The attached tangle reminds me of the Hall of the Mountain King and I didn’t fill in the Bitten squares to keep that pattern light and airy.

A wonderful look she gave to Bitten by not darkening in the alternating squares.  Again, Rosewood and Paradox blend together well.


Sal said that there was "no template needed this time!" - making reference to her last few fabulous entries...

She did create a template of sorts as she repeated the string line four times to form the pinwheel like center piece - very creative.

Ilse Lukken wrote ~

This really was a challenge to me, drawing all these straight lines. All patterns were new to me, so all together this was a journey on an unknown path ;-)
I'm not really satisfied with the result, and I'm very curious what other people created!

It was a fruitful journey to be sure.  Ilse alternated dark and light spaces in Rosewood, a very nice detail.

From Anna Houston, CZT ~

She achieved the feeling of great depth with her tangles and the dark Bitten in the middle is yummy.


Deanna Spence wrote ~

My tile of the week is attached. I had planned to use all of the tangles, but once I put Paradox in one space of the string, I had to put it in all of them! I did make a border so that I could use Bitten and Bilt a little bit. Looking at the finished tile, I would never guess that it started out as just a bunch of triangles. It's kind of amazing!

Yes, as so is her tile - "kind of amazing" :)  Using Bitten as a border with Bilt interspersed is an ingenious idea.

From Janice Johnson ~

I am submitting my entry for this week. I have played with Rick's Paradox and Rosewood a lot in the past. I have also used Bilt quite a bit. I am going to need to play some more with Bitten as I am not quite as comfortable with it. I attempted this challenge 3 times and finally committed to my third attempt. For the most part I like it, and now want to play with Paradox some more. I opted to do Rosewood in the only 4 sided space amidst all the triangles. Not a square but I like the wonkiness obtained.

That is a wonderful wonkiness.  Notice, too, Janice's varied details with Paradox - alternate shading, darkened spaces, and fun shapes.

From Joya ~

...here's my tile for "The String Thing #54". I'm still beginner and the straight lines were difficult for me to handle, but I'm glad I tried it out and now I know how to draw them :-)

...yet another example of tangling building confidence!  Notice her cascade of Bilt.  It hugs a curve in a triangular shape for a beautiful effect.


From Ragged Ray~

And here is my attempt at this week's challenge. While I enjoy straight line tangles, they offer up their own problems. When I used a lot of one, like your Paradox Zendala they can look stunning. And of course they can offer great contrast when used with curvy tangles. But I find it a challenge to make them stand out by themselves.
I knew this week I wanted to leave lots of negative space, to have the triangles looking really sharp. I found Rosewood very appealing to draw, and know I'll use it again. But Bilt misbehaved a bit in the triangle shape! Paradox was a joy as ever - a lesson in concentration and turn-turn-turn your tile. A bit of darkening here and there and a bit of Bitten-bunting and there you have it!

So many extraordinary details - curved corners of Rosewood, Bitten unhinged, sparkle on Paradox and Bilt and that lovely, lovely white space.


Kirsten Bish wrote ~

Enclosed please find my newest Tangle, I call it "Hidden Secret".
While Paradox is one of my favorites, I wasn't sure how it was going to look next to some of the others. bitten has turned into one of my new favorites, and Rosewood is just cool and fun to play with...

Her sense of fun tangling can be felt through her words and in her tile.  She cascaded Bilt as well and the alternating light and dark spaces are striking.


Lilly Moon slipped this in~

...with outstanding details.  Note the contrasting dots in Bitten, the complimentary direction of Paradox, the dots and lines of Bilt, just to name a few.

Lucy Banta said ~

I've always loved Rick's Paradox, and I enjoyed learning Bilt, Bitten, and Rosewood. I thought Bilt would be difficult, but it really isn't--this will become one of my favorites!

Here's the link to the post on my website.

What a very pretty piece!  The Bitten border is beautiful as are the rows and rows of Bilt.

From Annemarie ~

She tangled and shaded and added a bright patch of purple - so pretty.  She also posted it here on her blog.


Linda Bladen wrote ~

I just couldn’t get my mind working with two tangles let alone three, or even four with this string. I’ve enjoyed using Paradox before because I do like doing tangles with lots of lines, but I’ve never done a monotangle with it so today was the day and I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent doing it.
As usual it is on my blog and here is the link

It is a marvelous monotangle complete with a touch of blue shading.


Shary Penna wrote ~

I really liked your tangle choices this week. Each one compliments the others...I wanted to use them all.
I made one tile...at the halfway point I was pretty happy with it. Every other section was filled with Rosewood triangles that had centers of Paradox. It looked like stained glass. I debated leaving it or using another tangle and went with the latter. While I completed the tile, I kept thinking, Rosewood needs rounded corners...what if the whole tile was just Rosewood filled with Paradox? So last night I did just that. Someday I'll repurpose parts of the first tile...sometimes it's good to listen to the inner voice. Thank you for another inspiring prompt!

What Sharyn came up with is inspiring - rounded edges of Rosewood filled with Paradox. The adjustment to Rosewood is so subtle and yet it yields such a huge difference in the look of the tangle - that is brilliant.

Ingrid Coventon wrote ~

Hereby my tile # 54. It became a monotangle. I love Rick's Paradox and once I start drawing, it takes over and I can't stop. It is such a fascinating tangle. All those curvy lines that appear by drawing only straight lines. I intended to draw the other tangles as well, but I started with Rick's Paradox and it took over like I said before. So I let it happen and I hope you will enjoy my tile.

Ingrid is another tangler, who this week, fell under Paradox's spell.  Her delicious, deliberate lines and and dark shading bring the pattern to life!

From CZT Joan Delony ~

Her tangles are framed with beautiful black Pearlz, highlighted and shaded just so.

Nathalie Marinoff said ~

Here is my submission: I realize that the string and tangles you chose should have "straight lines" and that "straight lines" are used with Paradox which produces the curve (hence the name) but, I add a little curve to the lines to make it swirl a bit more. There is a rhythm to Paradox which I find relaxing and makes it difficult for me to stop. I was determined not to submit a monotangle, so, used Bitten by Carole Ohl, CZT, which was new to me.

Seems Paradox is quite habit forming :)  But see what Nathalie did with hers ~

~ and what a stunning look she achieved.  She added a curve to the line, as she said, to make it swirl and she also gave the ends a bit more weight.  That is just amazing.  Stunning.

Cathy Cusson said, "I remember doing rosewood back when it first "hit". I loved it then it sort of got forgotten with other new tangles being posted. It was nice to go back and visit with this old friend. Fun challenge!"

Along with Rosewood, Cathy tangled Bilt along the middle string lines and it contrasts nicely with her white space.

CZT Sue Jacobs returns with this lovely tile ~

There is so much to see here - layers of tangles, alternating light and dark spaces, and patterns that link lines to neighboring patterns, oh my!

Jane Glotzer wrote ~

Whoa...what a sharp, pointy string this week after last week's round curves! You are always keeping us on our collective toes, Ms. Bruno--:)
It's a String Thing #54 ended up a duo-tangle...there were just so many lines in all the suggested patterns, I didn't think I could make them all harmonize in one piece! So, I stuck with the amazing Paradox in the one top right squarish space, and then also in three of the triangles. I added a bit of Bitten for the last three spaces, but since I kept my grid in the same orientation all the way through them, it looks like a cool background with the Paradox floating on top. (I'm thinking the squares could have been a bit smaller, but I still like the final result.) And shading always adds such a pop!

The squares are just the perfect size for the floating Paradox.  Not only that, but the bold Bitten contrasts so well with the lighter Paradox.  Well done!

CZT Kathryn Crane-Theilen said~

I am running out of white tiles, so I resorted to a Renaissance tile and I am quite pleased with the results. I used the brown and black Micron pens and highlighted with the chalk pencil after shading with the lead pencil.

Kathryn illustrates here the benefits of the Renaissance tiles - shading and highlights, brown and black ink - and the pretty possibilities.

A very warm welcome to JJ.  She sent in two tiles~

It is a good study to note the differences in her tiles.  For instance, the dark corners of Bilt in the first tile and the lighter ones in the second.  Even the way she shaded Paradox in each made a difference.  Welcome!

Sue Agnew said ~

...it was fun to have the chance to play with Paradox. Your tutorial was immensely helpful. I usually get mixed up partway through and zig when I should be zagging. I wasn't able to combine it successfully with other tangles, so finally I Paradox-ed every other space and then filled the empty spaces with concentric lines, then joined the corners a la Puf.

Rising Paradox columns - that is very striking!

Peggy Kohrmann wrote ~

Since I like grids and architectural tangles, this was a great week of learning. Not sure which I like best but Bilt, Bitten and Rosewood were great fun to learn.
The Rosewood triangles used the string with Paradox in the center. Used Paradox again with the triangle space and Bilt and Bitten on either side. The shading helps give depth.

A hearty yes to everything Peggy said!  Kudos to her for the variation of Rosewood .  Note that instead of darkening in the entire corner triangles, she filled them partially - very complimentary to Bitten.


From Audrie Weisenfelder ~

Her tile features stark light and dark spaces, and a beautiful Bitten centerpiece.  She also wrote about it here on her pretty purple blog.


Jenna Wheatman said ~

Here is this weeks string challenge. Was very close to not doing this one as the string really did not inspire me but I really liked the tangles. It took me a few attempts to get them to flow together and I used some inspiration from Chelsea Kennedy's blog
 I just love how she manages to really make the tangles flow and its really hard to work out where she started lol!
I have managed to fit all the tangles in.

Jenna is the one who can make tangles flow.  She doubled the lines of the string and framed her tangles and tangleations beautifully.  Her patterns peek out from the corners, large and lovely.

Jackie Becker said Paradox is one of her favorites ~

She added some whimsy to Rosewood and dark lines bordering Bilt and finished it up with some very nice shading.

Annie Taylor wrote ~

It was a difficult string for me, being so very straight-lined and triangular but I enjoyed the process and learning a couple of new tangles. The final result...? Well, it's the process that counts, isn't it!

Annie's lines dance across her tile.  Her details are many - lines in Bitten, cascading Paradox, and a lovely edge on Bilt, to name just a few.

Donna Flynn said that she sent this "along in the spirit of Wabi Sabi" as she was not so sure of the result ~

...yet, it is a very fun piece.  She used all four patterns and worked in colorful shades of blue and green.

A very warm welcome to Jen Morey.  She wrote ~

This is my first-ever String Thing, and I'm tickled (pun intended) to have found another weekly challenge! Thank you (and all the other wonderful CZTs who issue the various challenges) for doing all the hard work so we can sharpen our skills as well as our pencils. I've only been tangling for a year but plan to take the CZT course as soon as possible, because when I retire next year I want to teach Zentangle classes (as you can see from my signature)!
Blessings,
Jen Morey
Future CZT
(Certified Zentangle Teacher)

Her enthusiasm carries from her words to her art work.  A tower of Bilt and supporting tangles make for one pretty piece.  Welcome and keep us updated on your certification!

AND now, the tile for honors this week was sent in by 
LonettA!

She wrote~

...here is my tile for this week...
This time I´m tangling on my grey toned paper ... it´s my favorite paper at the moment!
Have a wonderful day!
Best wishes from Germany

She also posted it here on her blog.   

LonettA created a masterpiece of detail.  She shaded and highlighted along string lines, double some and darkened others.  By highlighting and shading patterns, she gave them beautiful dimension.  Of particular note is her whimsy with Bitten as it breaks away from its grid.

Congratulations, LonettA! I have a little something coming in the mail for you.

Many thanks to all of the talented tanglers who sent in their tiles for all of us to appreciate.

Thank you to the creative minds behind the string and tangles used this week ~

TanglePatterns String 052 created by Barbara Finwall

Bilt   by Lisa Skeen, CZT
Rick's Paradox   by Rick Roberts
Bitten   by Carole Ohl, CZT
Rosewood  by Sandra Strait

Check back Tuesday for "It's a String Thing" #55!

Tangled Spoons

These gorgeous pieces of jewelry were created by the talented Mary Francis, a painter in the Decorative Art field.  They are actually spoons - yes, spoons.

In Mary's words ~

Those spoons were inspired by your teaching Zentangle and seeing all the postings on your blog. The technique of using spoons filled with resin was learned from Diane Bunker, of Tiny Treasures who teaches several different crafts. I learned how to crochet a necklace that I put with them from a lady here in my community.

Spoon pendants by Mary Francis

Mary attended one of my classes last August and returned for another this past Saturday.  She brought her spectacular spoons along and I can tell you that the photo does not do them justice.  

The spoon handles are cut, leaving just a bit to turn under to form a loop.  The resin fills the bowl of the spoon and leaves a very smooth shiny finish.  

She combined her painting passion with tangles and created beautiful jewelry - how fun!

Thank you for sharing you wonderful ZIA, Mary.

Tips for Tangling Paradox

Paradox - by definition is made up of two opposite things that basically make the seemingly impossible, possible.

Take for instance this tangle by the same name.  It uses only straight lines and yet it yields curves.
(Click here to see my 11/1 post.)

At the same time, it seems simple to draw, yet many of my students struggle in their efforts with it.

There are some wonderful resources available online - Maria Thomas' own step outs along with CZT Margaret Bremner's fabulously informative post of the tangle and Linda Farmer's write up that includes all of these resources in one place.

What I offer here is a very basic step out for the pattern.  A little baby step that has proven very helpful to my students, so I pass it along in hopes that it helps you...

Tips for Tangling by Adele Bruno, CZT

The repeating of the words "point" and "space" as you tangle helps build a rhythm, makes concentration easier, and helps to "get your zen on" as someone wrote recently :)

ENJOY!

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom

Bijou tile swap among friends - CZT Joan Delony, CZT Adele Bruno, CZT Sindy P, CZT Carolyn Russell

Friendship is unnecessary, 

like philosophy, 

like art…. 

It has no survival value; 

rather it is one of those things 

which give value to survival. 

– C.S. Lewis

"It's a String Thing" #54

Yes, it is Tuesday - your good news day - once again!

This week's challenge begins with TanglePatterns String 052 created by Barbara Finwall ~

All of those straight lines...hmmmmm...let's use tangles that are formed with straight lines and begin with the consonants in Barbara ~

Bilt   by Lisa Skeen, CZT
Rick's Paradox   by Rick Roberts
Bitten   by Carole Ohl, CZT
Rosewood  by Sandra Strait
     (Note:  Rosewood is illustrated in a square space in Sandra's step out, but it works very well in
                 the triangular spaces of this string line.)


You can find step outs and links to these patterns on TanglePatterns.

Use as few or as many of these tangles as you wish.


Simply pencil the string line onto your tile and tangle away!

Here are the (Not so) Official Guidelines: 
* Challenges are posted on Tuesdays.
*Use the string posted for the week and patterns that begin or contain the letter(s) indicated
* Submit a photo of your tile saved as jpg or scan your tile (300 dpi or higher) and save as a jpg
*Email your jpg file as an attachment to - brunoadelem@gmail.com
*Entries are to be submitted by Saturday evenings.
*Photos and 'Best of Show' are posted on Mondays. 

Use this special occasion to send in your photos -  you will encourage and inspire fellow Zentangle® enthusiasts all over the world.

PLEASE NOTE: I will add a link to your blog or web site with your tile photo, upon request. The site specific URL must accompany your request.

I look forward to your emails.
HAVE FUN!

"It's a String Thing" #53 Tiles

This week's "String Thing" featured a swirl of a string line and some favorite tangles.  It resulted in great fun for us all.  Let's take a look ~



Lori Byerly sent in the first tile ~

It is wonderfully airy and the large Onomato compliment the dainty Pokeleaf.  Lori also posted her tile here on her blog with the clever title, Glimmer of Hope


Carmela said, "I liked this string very much and also the patterns are nice. I worked with very zennnnnnnnnn, and i loved it."

You can almost see the relaxation in her tile - all those delicate detail lines on Planteen, especially.  She also posted it here on her blog.


Juul said that in France it is raining almost every day now and they are "not at all in 'summer mood'."  Despite that, she created a festive tile ~

She wrote, "...Two of the tangles made me think of the roof of our barn with wine-leaves all over it,so I tried to show that in my tile...."


Anna Houston, CZT wrote ~

Here is my tile for this week. It was a fun one . I took a bit of artistic license with Hurray, I guess it's tangleation. My original effort with this tangle just didn't feel complete. Also my spacing on Onamato was a bit off but it is what it is. As you can see I poke rooted along part of the string, then more and more pokes wanted to join in on the fun so I let them.

That's a happy thought, isn't it? And a very lovely tangleation of Hurray!, too.


Jocelyne Pigeon-Bernier said that she had a lot of fun doing this despite the fact that some of the patterns were new to her.

It appears that it made it even more fun to draw - look at her whimsical take on Pokeleaf.  Many of us will be using that one.


Linda Bladen

Here is my tile for this week's challenge. I was familiar with three of the tangles and enjoyed learning Onamato. This week I must fall back on the mantra that 'there can never be a mistake' because the old brain couldn't handle colouring in alternate petal shapes on Hurray!!

Oh, Linda!  Many of us can relate and appreciate all the more that "there are no mistakes."
Darkening in all of the petal shapes made the tangle look very organic - great for a tangled garden.



Debby Yabczanka said she liked working with all of these tangles and it was "hard to pick a favorite."

That shows in her work.  Her dark Pokeleaf is very striking.


Cheryl Anne Day-Swallow said that this was "another nice string to be creative with."

The fall leaves were created using Pokeleaf
The road was created using Onamato

It is very creative - Onomato is gorgeous the way she colored and shaded it and the individual Pokeleaf is pretty. She included another sweet poem ~

God made the grass – He also made the leaves
Travel the golden road - If you please
The sun and moon always shine - This way no one is left behind
Make sure you leave some time each day - To Zentangle with friends long the way

From Meridiana ~

She ran a pretty Pokeleaf around the border and string line.  She also posted it here on her blog.

Deanna Spence wrote ~

My tile for the week is attached. I really like the way this one came out... Onamato has now been added to my list of favorites! I kept getting confused with Planateen, but that was probably partly because I was trying to put it behind my Pokeleaf. In the end I colored in the leaves to make them pop out a little more and distract a little from the confused areas. I really like the way Planateen looks though so I will have to practice on that one.

Actually, she did Planteen great justice.  She managed to tangle it along curves and keep the integrity of the pattern.  That is fabulous!

From Lily Moon ~

~ beautifully highlighted black pearls of Onomato, swirls of tanlges and shading, and a bit of color, oh my!


Sal said, "Another zendala – oh what fun!" She included the link for a template as well - click here to view.

Sal created yet another zendala by repeating the string line - masterful, isn't it?  Notice how she fit the tangles into her newly created spaces.  That really is fun!

Christine Forrester said that she "really loved this weeks tangle, even the cat helped (hence the Bronx Cherry)."

Her cat created a wonderful creative opportunity.  The Bronx Cheer works well with her other lovely tangles!


Joya said that she "had a lot of fun tangling around with the patterns."

The stacks of Hurray!, the dark back drop of Pokeleaf, and that touch of black with shading on Onomato are just a few of the delightful details.

Sue Agnew wrote ~

Here's my tile for String Thing #53. How much fun to get reacquainted with Onamoto! It was my very first "favorite" tangle and I did it all the time, making saccharine-pretty "jeweled" tiles until I wore out its charm for me. Pokeleaf was one of the tangles I learned at my first Zentangle class, so I've loved it a long time too (although I have always liked the way it looks when others draw it more than when I draw it ... till this week). I indulged myself by sticking to those two tangles. What a pleasure!

Notice how she broke Onomato out of the confines of the linear, in an almost Tipple fashion - that is fabulous.

Janice Johnson featured four large Pokeleaf filled with Planateen ~

~and some wonderful white space.  She also posted it here on her blog.

Annmarie tangled on a piece of her own hand colored paper ~

The white highlights show up very well against the color.  Pokeleaf is very pretty 'hanging' from the center.
She also posted it here on her blog.

After some time away from tangling, Ingrid Coventon is back!

And making up for lost time, I see :)  Her tile is full of marvelous movement.  She used a black curve and pencil to shade Onomato like Joya did and it looks so dimensional.  She also managed Planateen on a curve and she created a fabulous fall of Pokeleaf.

Jenna Wheatman said that Pokeleaf was the only tangle that she had used before ~

~and look what she did with it!  Notice how she spiraled Onomato from the center along with some Planateen.

From Cathy Cusson ~

I began with the idea of using all four tangles . . . but the piece "demanded" I leave it alone and not add the other two. Isn't it annoying when your art work interferes with what you had in mind?! lol! After starting, pokeleaf just seemed to grow wild out of the center - sort of like the kudzu vine that grows every where around here locally.

Actually - she was kidding because that is such a happy thing to have your tangles lead the way - as evidenced by Cathy's tile :)

Donna Flynn wrote, "I enjoyed using Planateen! Thank you providing the opportunity to make art!

It is enjoyable to look at too - so many shaded rows of it.  Onamoto looks like a line of fine jewelry and that pop of red is regal.

Joan Delony wrote ~

This week, I used on two tangles in my drawings: Onomato and Pokeleaf. I drew virtually the same design in both tiles with the tangles reversed. In the second one, where Pokeleaf is on the string line, it reminds me of my previous occupation. Check out my blog to find out more.

Oooh!  This is nice to see side-by-side - and a wonderful idea for an exercise.  Joan just finished two new tangle books that are ready for purchase so do visit her blog and get the scoop.

Sharyn Penna wrote ~

With the start of the new year for your prompts I was so happy to see Onamato--the first tangle I tried. I always get carried away with this pattern, and this prompt was no exception! Thank you for the catch-up posts...let your new year thrive! 

Sharyn inserted a row of Hurray! between rows of Onamoto - and just look what that does to both tangles - gorgeous!

Ken Zotter combined two challenges to create his tile ~

and then added the most pleasant colors.  He writes about it here on his blog.  

Kia Richardson treated us to two tiles and her notes about the process ~

Once again, thank you for the opportunity to tangle with you. After initial difficulties, I finally reached than Zen place where the whole tangle pours out as if it was meant to be. I did one with colour and one without and I can't decide which one I like better...

It pours out as if it was meant to be...Kia's words captured the Zentangle experience.  That is a treat to read and experience.  Choosing between the two tiles would not be possible - so here are both to admire.

Audrie Weisenfelder wrote ~

I really enjoyed this String Thing. I like the string; have used it before and will again, and I really like Pokeleaf and Onomato. As you can see from my tile, and in my blog:, I ended up using only those 2 tangles. I fully intended to try the other 2, but once I got started, I was on a roll and couldn't see any way the other tangles would fit in. So there you have it.

She had a similar experience - how fun!  And so is her tile - Onamoto along the string line and fabulous fields of Pokeleaf.

A warm welcome to Ilse Lukken ~

She features an inviting 'path' of Onamoto topped with a tuft of Pokeleaf.  Ilse also posted her tile here on her blog.

Peggy Kohrmann said~

I loved the simplicity of this string and enjoyed learning three new tangles also. I wasn't sure if I would use Pokeleaf but after drawing Hurray they made up a boundary or edge. Sometime early in my Zentangle experience I had learned Onamato but hadn't made a trading card step out for it so I was pleased to do both. I really like the black shapes and the way they seem to capture the white.
I'll need more practice with Planateen but will enjoy everyone else's and I'm sure learn a better way to finish it.

Notice how she tangled Pokeleaf - a large on top and smaller ones emerging from the lines of Hurray!.  That was a really nice touch.

Kirsten Bish wrote ~

Enclosed please find my Tangle. This was a very fun one in that I really let my brain quiet and fill the space. I loved learning Planteen, and I got a little creative with Onamoto, just having too much fun.

This is doubly inspiring because she has so much fun doing it and she - like so many others this week - let the tangles flow.  She got very creative with Onamoto - notice her Hollibaugh and Paradox inspired versions - very nice!


Jackie Becker also said this was fun~

And she added those black curves along with shading in Onamoto, too, giving them a glass-like appearance.  Notice how her lines for the tangle emerge from the rows of Planateen.  Yummy details!

A very warm welcome to Marita from Holland!  She wrote, "...this is my very first entry (actually it are two entries)! I started doing Zentangle earlier this year. With your weekly challenges I hope to make it a more structural part of my life."

Off to a stunning start, for sure.  Swirls of Onamoto - first filled with tangles, and then left to float in space - both beautiful!

Caroline Moore said ~

 I enjoyed using Planateen and Onomato for the first time - I can see using them many more times. I adore Poke Leaf and Poke Root always, and with this tiny space I tried something new with auras.
I have posted this challenge on my website.

And that is an idea for all of  to try - aura and Pokeleaf mix very well together.  Caroline's variation of Hurray! is very pretty, too.


A very warm welcome to Nathalie Marinoff, CZT ~

There are so many pretty details here - bejeweled string lines of Onamoto, fine lines on Planteen and Pokeleaf.  She also posted it here on her blog.


Jane Glotzer wrote ~

I started with the spiraling Onomato, and gave it some variations...then I thought I might darken the background space, so I penciled a little, just to see what it would look like, and decided I LOVED the grey, so I went with it! (always love that Zentangle magic...) Continued with Pokeleaf, one of my all time favorites, (in the upper right corner first) and then did the "opposite" version in the lower left. Finished off with a little Planateen at the top...what a cool tangle that one is--should probably have used it in a little bit larger space--but I will, next time!

Yes, we all love that Zentangle magic.  The grey is very pretty against the dark circles of Onamoto and that is a clever idea to use the 'opposite version' of a tangle, as she did with Pokeleaf.  

AND now, the the tile selected for honors this week was created by
Ragged Ray from the UK ~

Ragged Ray, once again, treated us to her comments as well as her tile ~

I just used two tangles as they seemed to complement each other and in turn the super string which seems to draw the eye to that central vanishing point. I have a soft spot for Onomato as when I was learning from the book it was the first one where shading really made sense and I was genuinely wowed to see those little orbs suddenly standing out from the tile! And Hurray! is so tactile, like deep quilting!
When I look at the finished tile I think of that phenomenon whereby the water empties down the sink hole in different directions depending on whether you are in the Northern or Southern hemisphere - maybe tanglers should alter the direction of their swirl accordingly?
And as for the two other tangles I didn't use -

I pop them on a second String Thing tile over on my blog - 

It just draws you in, doesn't it? (pun intended!)  She used the point where the string lines meet as a vanishing point for her tangles.  Combined with shading, the effect is pure magic - swirls, distance, depth.
Notice, too, that her double lines for Onamoto flow around the pattern and to the border lines forming the sections she then filled in with Hurray!
 Do stop by her blog to see her second tile - and to read some very thoughtful reflections on tangling.

Congratulations!  I have a little something coming in the mail for you.

Many thanks to all of the talented tanglers who sent in their tiles for all of us to appreciate.

Thank you to the creative minds behind the string and tangles used this week ~

TanglePatterns String 054 by Hope Martin

Hurray! by Agneta Landegren
Onomato by Maria Thomas and Rick Roberts
Planateen by Sandra Strait
and
Pokeleaf by Maria Thomas and Rick Roberts

Stop back Tuesday afternoon for "It's a String Thing" #54!