"It's a String Thing" #107 Tiles

This challenge was a dance down the yellow brick road (via TanglePatterns String 111), a nod to the seventy-sixth anniversary of the "The Wizard of Oz".  I know I'm not the only one who has been singing all week! We used two brand new tangles - Zenith by Maria Thomas and Pixioze by Margaret Bremner, CZT - along with Ann, the first tangle published on my blog.  It resulted in some of the prettiest tiles and ZIA.

Let's take a look ~

The first tile arrived from Roslyn Elliott ~

Well, tried new paper and color. I love the color, but the paper left the shading a little too shiny for my taste. Usually I work with watercolor paper. I like the texture and how it shades. I hope you like it. I am pleased with the result and I've learned a lot along the way.

Tangled Tidbits -
*tangled spaces of Ann and a wonderful side view
*large circles of Pixioze
*sparkled Zenith

From Sarah at hungrycorgistudio! ~

I used all three patterns this time, Zenith, Ann, and Pixioze. Great tangles to learn and re-try for the week. This was a lot of detail to fit in a small spot! I think I did ok. I enjoyed using this week's string as well.

Tangled Tidbits -
*lovely aura
*divided black and white 'v''s in Zenith
*multiple layers of Pixioze

From Juul (France) ~

I must admit that I draw "Ann" just freehand,without grid or points as I liked the outcome of my tryouts much nicer and more "natural".
Thank you very much for all your application for our "zentangletickled" community !

Tangled Tidbits -

*radiant detail lines in Ann
*coloring of Zenith makes the tangle look doubled
*whimsical touch added to Pixioze

From Emily Shelton and here on her blog ~

Tangled Tidbits -
*fabulous variation of Zenith - clusters of petals, black background
*half section of Zenith with multiple aura
*aura and varied line thickness for Ann

From Anna (Spain) ~

        I love this week string. Thanks again for your inspired challenges.

Tangled Tidbits -
*beautiful field of Ann
*shading gives a curved look to string section of Pixioze
*lovely touch of yellow

From Joanne Faherty (UK) ~

I loved this challenge pixioze is fast becoming a favourite I've already used it a few times. Zenith is a fun one too though I much prefer the simple variations at the end of the newsletter . This tile came out slightly different to what I'd thought but I like it. Blank spaces are becoming a fave. Of mine too.

Tangled Tidbits - 

*elegant Zenith, simple version with sparkle and shading
*delightful detail on Ann
*white space accents the tangles


From Heidi Sue (Utah) ~

What a fun challenge this week. I love the string and all the patterns. Pixioze is just about the most fun tangle I've played with for a long time. Excellent filler pattern, but it will be cool to break out individual elements and see what I can do. Currently, when I just need some quiet relaxation, I'm filling a page in my big book with pixioze. Good stuff!
[on my] my blog page with the entry

Tangled Tidbits - 

*Zenith rimmed string line
*three variations of Ann
*shading creates wonderful dimension


From Tina Kirchhübel (Germany) ~

Your challenge this week was really challenging for me. The first moment I was not sure if I could work with this patterns in this string!?
But I did my best and that´s the result.
You can find the tile also on my blog 

Tangled Tidbits - 

*a flower for Ann
*Zenith rimmed string line - notice the similarity to Heidi Sue's above, yet both are very different - so fun to see especially because they literally live around the world from each other
*wonderful shadows


From Anita A Westin (Sweden) ~

Here comes my entry. I had to give this time. My first effort, I was trying too hard. I was planning and trying to get it right. No good. No zen. But then I got to it again and this time I didn´t struggle. So even if the result isn´t perfect, I was in it and feel satisfied about it.

Tangled Tidbits -
*the result is always just right when you tangle with zen :)
*Ann filled curves
*super shading


From Beth Gaughan (NC) ~

Here is my tile for this week's challenge. I love your Wizard of Oz nod! I thought that the tile should be brightly colored to reflect the beautiful land of Oz. I also added a few Lollipops, a tangle by Suzanne McNeill, to represent the Lollipop Guild.

Tangled Tidbits -
*pretty grid of Ann and one fluttering away
*detail lines and dark circles of Zenith
*Pixioze center string section


From Jessie Plouffe (Connecticut) ~

Here is my submission for this week's challenge. I love the tangle
Ann, but what a sad inspiration for it :(. I decided to surround a
single large Ann with the Pixioze, with Pixioze-ized. Zenith on the
other side. I left the swirl mostly blank for the shading, but I did
use some swirls that are reminiscent of Ann.

Tangled Tidbits -
*Pixioze-ized Zenith - that is a new term in tangling :) and it is a beautiful meld of the patterns
*double curls for Ann
*depth created with dark spaces of Pixioze

From Linda Hoyt (Arizona) ~

I couldn’t get the line from the song “Follow the Yellow Brick Road” out of my head. It seemed certain that that is where my tile should start. So when I couldn’t find a pattern that seemed like bricks to me, I made up a little tangle I would call Pavers that is sort of like Blips only not slanted and sort of like the rounded corners in ‘Nzeppel only based on a square grid of squares and rectangles to represent the bricks in my road. I hope that is OK and not too literal to be outside the guidelines for Zentangle.
I wish I’d found more space for Ann! I love that cheery little butterfly and can see that she will grace many of my tiles in the future.

Tangled Tidbits -
*Blips - great idea, added depth created with the angles
*regal looking Zenith
*singular dainty Ann


From Susan Theron (South Africa) ~

Here is my contribution, also on my blog

Tangled Tidbits - 

*string line of Zenith, darkened along the original lines
*fabulous field of Pixioze
*delicate Ann

From Jennifer Sparrow (NC) ~

Thanks for another fun challenge, Adele! I love Pixioze! I used it in tribute to the poppies on either side of the yellow brick road. Since my "road" was left white, I added a dot of gold to my flowers.

Tangled Tidbits -
*light and lovely tile

*shaded white string section rises above the field of Pixioze
*touch of gold highlights Pixioze


From Ingrid (The Netherlands) ~

Congratulations on launching your beautiful frames for zentangle tiles.
Enclosed my ST # 107.
Had a lot of zen moments drawing this tile. All tangle patterns were new to me.

Tangled Tidbits -
*beautiful balance of light and dark
*gloriously aura-ed Zenith
*detailed shading


From Lucy Banta, CZT (New Jersey) ~

Congrats on the frames! I ordered one--can't wait!
Attached is my tile this week, 

Tangled Tidbits -
*large and lovely section of Ann
*aura, stipple, and shading of Zenith
*dark spaces in Pixioze add depth


From Portia (Michigan) ~

An odd combination of tangles to Zentangle. Really needed to calm down and be very in the zone.

Tangled Tidbits - 

*mission accomplished by the look of this lovely tile
*five variations of Ann
*spectacular Zenith variations


From Sue Agnew (Arizona) ~

This one was a challenge because I could see each tangle as the "road" but not how the tangles might go together. So my offering is kind of busy, and I'm hoping the shading will help.
Usually I do spent some time planning how to tangle the tile. This time I started with an idea and just went. So it's not "perfect", which I guess is the point anyway. For Zenith, at least at first acquaintance, I prefer using only half. For Pixioze, I realize that I negated one of its characteristics, which is the random placement of the circles and leaf shapes, but that's how it wanted to lie. In my modification of Ann, I used something I first learned about in the tangle Puf, joining concentric squares or square spirals corner-to-corner to create a 3-D effect. I also used an "incomplete grid" in which I extend the lines just short of their terminus, so that leaves the freedom to curve the shapes that you impose on the grid (in this case, where the left and right, and top and bottom, of the "wings" come together -- the interior ones it didn't matter because I colored the junctions black, but the edge ones I like to free from the grid)
It was fun to explore all these new-to-me tangles! Thanks!

Tangled Tidbits -
*such a lovely description - and wonderful result
*spiral of Sue's Pixioze version has a three-dimensional look
*amazing look for Ann


Jane Glotzer (Colorado) ~

First off--congratulations on all of your new commercial undertakings! The frames look fabulous, as was your post about how they came to be, pix and all--:) and I checked out your new site, too. Great stuff...
For this week's challenge I used Pixioze for the "road"--what a fun pattern...when I first learned/practiced it, I had all stripes and auras around the circles/leaf shapes, but when I worked it within the string, I ended up with some darkened areas...I used a touch of a small variation of Zenith around the edges, and the Ann butterfly finished it off. Added the purple just for fun...a little shading, and #107 is sweet and done!

Tangled Tidbits - 

*super shading
*border of Zenith
*lovely layered Pixioze


From Linda Bladen (UK) ~

Attached my tile for this week. Really enjoyed learning three more new tangles. Especially like Zenith although in the end it played a fairly limited role this time. Will definitely be using lots of variations of it in the future.
Congratulations on getting your online shop up and running. Hope that you're able to sell to UK addresses at some point

Tangled Tidbits -
*soft shading along the border, string lines, and in Ann
*Zenith darkened in on the top and bottom arcs
*pretty path of Ann


From Deb Jacobs (Wisconsin) ~

Better late than never. Thanks for posting this challenge. Still trying to get the feel of ann...seems I'm grid pattern challenged! 

Tangled Tidbits -
*beautiful border of Zenith
*variation in sizes of Pixioze circles
*soft shading

A very warm welcome to  Nancy Sass (Virginia) ~

This is my first string challenge, and I love it! I'm so happy
to have found Adele and look forward to this each week.
I used all 3 of the tangles for this week's challenge. It took
life of it's own, and seem to be a happy garden. That is
why I named it "My Garden of Delight". Some of my colors
did not scan well. Enjoy!

Tangled Tidbits -
*large and small Zenith
*various sizes of Pixioze
*delightful details throughout


From Audrie Wiesenfelder (Arizona) ~

Really enjoyed this challenge. I'm a big Wizard of Oz fan. (I even did a knit project that had the Yellow Brick Road as part of it.) As you can see by my tile, I took you quite literally. So here's my "Yellow Brick Road"
Also on my blog Purple Butterfly

Tangled Tidbits -
*gorgeous colors
*Zenith trimmed string lines
*pretty Ann (as Audrie's blog name suggests, she creates beautiful butterflies)


From K. Bish (Northern Michigan) ~

Enclosed please find my newest Tangle "Rediscovering OZ". What a fun challenge, I just loved it. ZENITH is a fun tangle and one I will explore further another time. PIXIOZE is another fun tangle. I love the depth that it creates. And ANN, how lovely, I really enjoy the way you have created tangles and named them after your loved ones. I admittedly got a little carried away with the theme of this challenge, but I had a heck of a great time doing it.

Tangled Tidbits -
*many thanks for sharing the great time - I spy Auntie Em's house!
*sparkle and shading and glitter, oh my!
*nice contrast of the black and white Pixioze with the multi-colored version


From Jenny Hopkins (Australia) ~

Happy birthday to Dorothy and her friends. Thank you for a lovely challenge again this week. It was fun. I have left a lot of white space - unusual for me - but that was what worked.
One of the things I enjoy with many of the tangles, is seeing how such simple strokes create such beautiful patterns. Zenith is one of those tangles. I think I would have stared at it for a very long time before figuring out just how simple it is to draw.

Tangled Tidbits -
*great observation about Zenith - and a reflection of the beauty of step outs
  They make the seemingly complicated, simple
*sparkled Pixioze
*shadows for Ann


From Lisa Preston (Georgia) ~

Great challenge this week. Boy, I really struggled with Ann, although in the end I liked my butterfly path very much. I wish I had left my Pixiose a little airier, but overall I was pretty happy with the way this tile came out.
I really enjoyed the tangles you chose for this one. This is one of the ones where I just knew where I was going. Thanks for another good challenge!

Tangled Tidbits -
*string line of delicately tangled Ann
*border of Zenith in contrasting black and white
*sparkle and shading for Pixioze


A very warm welcome to Joy from Pennsylvania ~

This is my first attempt at sending one -- nowhere to go but up!
I really enjoyed the theme and look forward to being a part of this project.

Tangled Tidbits - 

*golden Zenith path
*varying sizes of Ann
*pretty corner of Pixioze

From Midori (Florida) ~

practicing on your suggested patterns/ string for the weekly challenge has brought a newfound structure to my, otherwise. laissez faire approach to zentangle.
this time, i must have had 'way-to-much' coffee before and during tangling this challenge!
trying to control my shaky drawing hand while stroking 'prixioze'...made me go just bit bonkers.
next time, i will stick to herbal tea...

Tangled Tidbits-
*wonderful take on Ann - love those long curls
*graceful curves of Zentih
*dark centers of Pixioze morph with the other tangles - very clever!


From Shelley (California) ~

I did too much thinking on this one. After reading the comment about “the yellow brick road” I couldn’t get out of the box that put me in. I added Florz for the brick road. Hope that’s okay. I’m new at Zentangle, and I think I am not ready for color yet. But I’m having fun. Thanks for the challenges! 

Tangled Tidbits -
*color creates ZIA - Zentangle Inspired Art - and the 'road' is wonderful
*dark space accents Ann
*multiple rows of Zenith


A very warm welcome to Pat F. from Ohio ~

I've been following along and trying the challenges for practice. Finally decided to try sending one. 

Tangled Tidbits -
*Zenith along the string curve with great white space surrounding it
*black circles of Zenith sprinkled about
*pretty field of Pixioze

From Becky Welty (North Carolina) ~

Tangled Tidbits -
*fabulous curl of Zenith
*a single sweetly shaded Ann
*little pop of Pixioze in the corner


From Liza Buckley, CZT (Florida) ~

I just visited your new web page with your beautiful frames! I'm so happy for you, and as always inspired too...I had fun with your tangle challenge this week. It's my first attempt with Zenith, and I really had enjoyed exploring it.

Tangled Tidbits -

*depth created with Pixioze with various sizes, shading
*lovely aura of Zenith - and many variations of the tangle, too
*Zinger touch for Ann


From Talia Maynard (UK) ~

Here's my tile for this week. I have totally fallen in love with Pixioze as a tangle. It's such fun to draw and shade and like Printemps, looks great filling any space.

Tangled Tidbits -
*doubled lines of Ann
*spectacular Zenith - stripes and shading
*wonderfully shaded Pixioze


From Donna Flynn (Maine) ~

Tangled Tidbits -
*dense and detailed Pixioze
*Zenith along the curve - nicely shaded
*purple and red details for Ann




From Jacquelyn Melanson (Maine) ~

My second entry, didn't get the Ann at all. But I tried.

Tangled Tidbits -
*Ann is very well tangled
*Zenith along the string lines with alternating black and shaded diamonds
*pretty Pixioze

From Cathy Cusson ~

I totally love the Wizard of Oz! I have seen it a gazillion times - at least. When I was small, the second the Wicked Witch came on, I would hide my eyes til someone could tell me she had gone away! Many years later I had the privilege of getting her to send me her autograph.

Tangled Tidbits -
*great story - and tile
*light and airy tangles
*aura for Ann and Zenith


From Rose O Keefe (Ireland) ~

I enjoyed the challenge this week. Three new tangles to play with-what's not to love! I don't usually go for representative patterns but after reading the story of Ann I had to use it...and I'm glad I did. I found it so relaxing to draw :-). I call this tile 'Flight of Ann'.
Thanks for the challenge. Looking forward to next week :-)

Tangled Tidbits - 

*yummy stripes connecting rows of creative Zenith variations
*Ann in the string's curl seems to take flight
*aura and pleasingly contrasting white and black spaces


From a proud teacher, a very warm welcome to Kariti and Tyler Barre (Florida) ~

I was in your Zentangle class on Saturday with my husband. First I want to say that I just loved it and so did he! We discovered the String Thing challenge on your blog and decided to try it out :) I have attached our results!

 Tangled Tidbits -
*awesome aura of Zenith
*dark background of Pixioze
*lovely field of Ann and one on it's own

Tangled Tidbits -
*dimension and depth in the string's curl
*three variations of Zenith
*nice use of aura

From Elisa (France) ~

Here is my tile, sent to you at the last minute again! My first one on an original Zentangle tile. Indeed, a few days ago, by chance I found a pack of 20 tiles in my local stationery store in Paris: I could not believe my eyes and I knew at once that my first try would be for your challenge.
I enjoyed discovering 3 new patterns which easily found their place on the gracious string you chose for us. I also took the opportunity of this tile to try the combination of black and sepia ink.

Tangled Tidbits -
*dotted and shaded path for Ann
*delicate borders of Zenith
*sensational sepia Pixioze


From Sharyn Penna (Massachusetts) ~

This prompt helped me process sending my youngest off to college. Pixiole has a place in my heart! It's very soothing.
Congratulations on the expansions to your blog and shop! I'm so looking forward to the creativity and inspirations.

Tangled Tidbits -
*Pixioze bubbles up from the tile
*Zenith string lines
*wonderful shading


From Felicity Strohfeldt (South Africa) ~

Congratulations on your new, successful developments and initiatives. Well done, just love your frames!
...string 111 by Maria Vennekens reminded me of striving forward and of course encountering many curves and “swerves” in one’s path through life. Ann by yourself made excellent bricks and butterflies have such an interesting lifecycle, that reminds me of the human cycle in a way. Egg (gestation), caterpillar (babyhood) growing to a pupae(adolescence) and then the emergence of a beautiful, free butterfly (adulthood) that shines bright for a while and disappears to become, but a memory. My Ann’s are contained until they had to burst free, there’s a naughty one flying upstream too. I used Pixioze by Margaret Bremmer as the background and pattern in the wings, hope it’s not too confusing and Zenith by Rick Roberts as a delicate frame around the tile. Also on my blog.

Tangled Tidbits -
*Ann flows down, around, under, and away
*Pixioze in Ann compliments the background
*dainty Zenith border


And now...
The tile(s) for honors this week were sent in by

Marla Mendenhall from California ~

Tile #1 I used a stylized version of Ann (butterflies, sadly, are on my list with hearts - toward the bottom). Then I felt bad and used lots of butterflies on tile #2 (they fly along the string). But on tile #3, when I was just trying to figure out where to put the little beasties, Zenith morphed into Zen-Ann, and Pixioze became Pixi-fleur. Doncha just love when that happens?! Fun, fun, fun. Thanks for another great challenge.

*N'zepple look to Ann
*Zenith aura-ed to fit the string curl

*one large Ann in the background filled with Pixioze
*second layer of Ann flows along the string's curl
*beautiful border of Zenith

*flower-like Pixioze
*Ann and Zen morph beautifully


Congratulations, Marla!


A HUGE thank you for the good wishes on the launch of my frames.  I appreciate all of the good wishes and the orders too!

Thank you to all of the talented tanglers for the treats this week.

Many thanks as well to the creative minds behind the string and tangles, along with mine, this week:


TanglePatterns String 111 by CZT Maria Vennekens
Zenith by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas
Pixioze by CZT Margaret Bremner


Check back Tuesday afternoon for "It's a String Thing" #108!