This was a tough one...a round tangle, an angular one, and a very curvy one combined with a loopy string. A challenging challenge to be sure.
It did bring out an incredible amount of creativity in responses and the best of comments.
Let's take a look ~
The first email came from Juliane Lopes (Florida) ~
...Here is my contribution to It's a String Thing this week, although I didn't strictly follow the rules: no string line and didn't use a standard tile, but I was inspired by your post and choice of tangles (although I only used 2 of the 3)...
Tangled Tidbits -
*delicate petals added to Andante's arua-ed sections
*free floating Cruffle
From Joanne Faherty (Bedfordshire, United Kingdom) ~
Heres my string thing for the week. I just let this happen didn't think about it as I have used the tangles before. Loving the flukes in the loops and a cruffle hidden behind to fill in the loop when fluke wondered off in the wrong direction
Tangled Tidbits -
*weighted lines for Flukes - notice the placement of them influences the look of the tangle
*stripes and sparkles added to Andante curls
From Joan Delony, CZT (Florida) ~
This IAST was a challenge for me. I ended up altering the string to have the design flow in my mind. As I don't typically use these 3 tangles in my work, it was a challenge for me to work them together. Thanks for stretching my limits.
Tangled Tidbits -
*boldly striped single Flukes
*light touch repeats in Cruffle and Andante
From Lily Moon (Hungary) ~
Dear Adele, thank you for chosen my Andante. I can't wait to see the tiles with it!Here is my response for your weekly challenge.
Tangled Tidbits -
*embellishments and shading make Lily's Andante three dimensional
*multiple angles for Flukes
From Gesine (Germany) ~
after missing last week’s challenge – I just didn’t get on with the tangles and never finished a tile – I’m joining in again this week. Much blank space today, but Andante came out so fragile I didn’t want to crush it by overloading the tile. And Flukes just broke out of its grid…
Thanks for this week’s great challenge, it was really fun!
Tangled Tidbits -
*shadowed shading of Andante
*clusters of Cruffle contrast nicely with the cluster of Flukes
From Anita A Westin (Dalarna, Sweden) and
here on her blog ~
Thank´s Adele for a new interesting challenge! I am grateful to participate in this. I learn a lot by doing this.
Here comes my entry for this challenge. Wonderful string!
Tangled Tidbits -
*contrasting light and dark Flukes and light and dark lines of Andante
*Cruffle filled string loops
From Siri (California) and
here on her blog ~
...Attached is my Zentangle tile for this week's IAST. It was so much fun to work with Flukes, Andante and Cruffle. Can I say, am obsessed about Cruffle now. Multiple times during our work meetings, I found myself tangling it my notebook . So simple yet it looks so intricate. :-)
Tangled Tidbits -
*alternating Cruffle and Flukes filled string loops
*aura-ed and embellished Andante and a solid black version
From Audrie Weisenfelder (Tucson, Arizona) and
here on her blog ~
Here's my tile for this week's challenge. It's a little minimal, but it was fun; and I didn't want to overdo it.
Tangled Tidbits -
*Andante curls rise from the edges of Cruffle loops
*light touch of Andante along the string
From Karen, The Creative Miss L (Canberra, Australia) and
here on her blog ~
This challenge was challenging! It took me several tries to settle on a design that I was happy with.
Tangled Tidbits -
*deep blue gem filled string loops and accents in the Cruffle/Andante pieces (love those!)
*stacked rows of Andante
From Julie (North Carolina) ~
I was really challenged on this one.
Thanks!
Tangled Tidbits -
*aura-ed Andandte reflected in the border
*alternating Cruffle and Flukes string loops
From Trudi (Woodview, Ontario) ~
I can hardly wait to see what everyone comes up with for IAST. I tell my husband we are given 3 or so Tangles and a string to follow yet we all create such different pieces, it just amazes me. Thank you Adele.
Tangled Tidbits -
I agree - it never ceases to amaze me either!
*Cruffle accented Flukes background
*Andante lined string
From Jodi Genovese, CZT (New York) ~
Here is my #163 tile. After seeing your tips on flukes this morning I think mine had too much to drink and they are upside down…
Tangled Tidbits -
....just got a great visual with that :)
*detailed Andante filled string line
*Cruffle center and pops of it around the string
From Annie Taylor (Spain) ~
Well, the new term and feeling of autumn has begun here in Spain. After hot and busy summer, I'm trying to get the creative juices flowing again. I made some alcohol ink sprays. ...couldn't wait for a delivery to arrive. I've used one for this week's String Thing. However, I couldn't get the tangles into the string. ..so I went freestyle instead. And it was fun.
Thank you!
Tangled Tidbits -
*fabulous variation of Andante
*rounded Flukes corners and pops of it around Andante - complete with dangling Cruffles
From Jennifer (Switzerland) ~
Your lovely string looked quite celtic to me - so I could not resist putting it centre stage! I have been tangling three strand braids this week so this was a wonderful way to continue.
Tangled Tidbits -
*doubled string line laced Flukes
*Cruffle tipped airy wisps of Andante
From Patricia (Switzerland) ~
I thank you for the new challenge. The tangles were all new to me and I enjoyed them a lot.
Tangled Tidbits -
*shadowed Cruffle
*layered Andante lends contrast to Flukes
From Traci Frogley (Missouri) ~
I wasn't too sure I was liking this one but kept at it. Glad I did. My Cruffle-Andante look like Martian Flowers ... LOL Great challenge, as always. Thanks!!
Tangled Tidbits -
*Andante takes on a ruffled look - aura-ed and shaded - curls repeat along the darkened string lines
*various sizes of Cruffle against dark backgrounds in the string loops
From Renee (Tennessee) ~
Tangled Tidbits -
*Cruffle filled string loops
*Andante accents and a soft field of Flukes
From Lori Byerly (Washington State) and
here on her blog ~
Another lovely challenge. Andante is a new-to-me pattern and one I will likely use again. :)
Tangled Tidbits -
*individual, delicate Andnate curve with the line of the string
*Cruffle shading adds depth
From Karin (Germany) ~
this is my entry to no. 163.
It was really difficult for me to fill the string with those patterns. Next time I should just start tangling rather than thinking too much about it.
Greetings from Germany!
Tangled Tidbits -
...I found the same thing to be true this week and I'm sure we are not alone...
*Cruffle filled string loops
*aura of Andante blends seamlessly into Flukes
From Susan (United Kingdom) ~
Hi, your string was a big curve but for some reason I ended up with a grid pattern. I did a grid of Flukes and linked it to Cruffle in a grid which was one of the suggested variations!
Tangled Tidbits -
*Cruffle reflects the Flukes grid
*middle swatch of Andante allows Flukes to peek through
From Val Steele (Johannesburg, South Africa) ~
My tile for this week. Our electricity was out for quite a while, so I really enjoyed Tangling with total peace and quiet. Flukes, Andante and Cruffle.
Tangled Tidbits -
*Cruffle melts into black perfs and back to Cruffle again
*curved Andante borders
From Ragged Ray (United Kingdom) ~
I'm cutting it fine to the deadline this week - because this tile gave me the run around. First I liked it, then I didn't, then it nearly went on the dead pile, then I tangled a bit more, then I shaded... and suddenly it all fell into place!
I took liberties with the string, and with Andante (just part of it used) and Flukes (I drew individual squares rather than a grid to start) and Cruffle (I made the circle into a square). But sometimes the rules are just springboards to different places!
Tangled Tidbits -
Agreed!
*Cruffle filled Flukes squares with rounded corners and stripes - fabulous.
*striped and sparkled Andante curls fill the strings loops
From Linda (United Kingdom) ~
I enjoyed learning Andante for this week's challenge but had a bit of a struggle trying to think how to get Flukes into this one. In the end went for my old favourite, a different colour
Tangled Tidbits -
*Cruffle dangles on a field of Flukes
*detailed Andante variation
From sra (India) ~
I really had to overcome a lot of reluctance to persevere with this and send it to you. A glorious mess or an unholy mess - it lies in the eyes of the viewer!
Tangled Tidbits -
...definitely glorious!
*Flukes filled string loops
*Tipple filled Cruffle and Andante
From Gaby Garcia (Alberta, Canada) ~
Hi everyone! I had so much fun with this challenge! The moment I saw the string and then read that cruffle was one of the tangles to use I immediately thought it was perfect for a necklace and gem in one of the loops... The challenge was what to do with the other loops? ... it was after I finished the gem that suddenly I thought I could use the loops in a ribbon ;-)I really liked the result and the whole process was so relaxing. Thanks Adele!
Tangled Tidbits -
*striking take on the string and tangles to creat this beautiful ZIA
*Andante rimmed gem
*Cruffle beaded string line
From Kate (United Kingdom) ~
After a shaky start I very much enjoyed this week's challenge.I've been
trying to decide what the collective term for Cruffles might be - a
crowd perhaps or a congregation, but I think what I have here is a crush of Cruffles!
Tangled Tidbits -
...I like "crush" :)
*Andante striped and sparkled lines repeat along the string
*curved grid for Flukes
From Jane Glotzer (Boulder, Colorado) ~
Here's #163...turned out to be a duotangle...couldn't squeeze in Lily Moon's Andante but I do love those spirals...will have to work on that one!
Started with the small Flukes, progressed to the larger version, and then Cruffled all around what was left--once I started, I couldn't stop the Cruffle express--:)
You know I love leaving those blank "holes" from the string...my #162 last week used very little ink, so I went with some dark, dark black this time around...a little shading...and done! (I've been tangling on coffee stained photo paper, but I don't like the harsh pencil shadow lines. I figured a good way to use it all up, but not the best results...)
Have a great week...thanks for all you do for us out here in Tangle-land!
Tangled Tidbits -
*string highlights featured in white spaces
*varying sizes of the tangles adds depth and interest
From Aloyna Pakhomova (Toronto, Canada) ~
Our contribution to the week's challenge. This time my younger son was tangling with me. And with my tile it's that rare case when I like it myself. And I enjoyed the tangling process very much.
Tangled Tidbits -
*circular Flukes along with two other variations
*tight Andante curls
*detailed Flukes variation fills three string loops
*Cruffle curls give way to Andante
From Lynn Gotham (Palm Coast, Florida) ~
Thanks again for another fun challenge.
Tangled Tidbits -
*Flukes center diamond and three filled loops
*Andante curls form the center outward and Cruffle pops is various sizes
From Jennifer (Alaska) ~
I must have rain on my mind as this tile looks like a storm to me! I love Zenlilly Moon’s new Andante tangle - anything with swirls is destined to be a favorite. This tile was started with this week’s string, believe it or not, but the space filled with Cruffle is what inspired me. I have been concentrating on not being so literal with strings and taking it as a 'suggestion’ as you advise. This worked wonders for me as I completed a tile on Wednesday - a first for me! Thanks for hosting this challenge it is just what I need.
Tangled Tidbits -
*Andante curls and curves around itself
*Flukes center section compliments the curvy tangles to either side
From Vicki Mitchell, CZT 25 (Moscow, Idaho) ~
Here are my tiles for this week's challenge. And, my, what a challenge! Flukes and Cruffle had no problem with the loopy string, but Andante wanted to take over the show and ignore the string. For the first tile, I talked it into following the string and let the other tangles play around it. I was actually pretty pleased with the results. On the second tile, I couldn't resist the obvious, so I filled the loops with Cruffles. When I finished the first pair of Andantes above the Cruffles, it looked like a Northwest Coast Tribes border, so I mirrored the Andantes below the Cruffles. Flukes got what was left on the tile, but it balances the other tangles.
Tangled Tidbits -
*large Andante along the string
*Cruffle free floats over a field of Flukes
*shadowed Andante
*Cruffle filled string loops
From Becky Welty (North Carolina) ~
Tangled Tidbits -
*thicker diagonal lines for Flukes grid
*Cruffle lined string in alternating sizes - all beautifully shaded
From Amy Barnickel (Florida) ~
Tangled Tidbits -
*Tippled grid lines of Flukes
*alternating Andante and Cruffle filled string loops
From Marla Mendenhall (California) ~
WHOA! I can't WAIT to see what everyone else made of this challenge, especially Adele. What an IAST mind-blower. Can't say I'm totally satisfied with any of my submissions (much less those discarded) but once I got my brain unscrambled I had fun. "Beading"Cruffle seemed too obvious, but ... And playing with variations of Flukes is always a treat. I'm not sure I did justice to Lily Moon's lovely pattern, but I'll sure be adding Andante to projects in the future.
Does waiting until Monday to see the post seem like an eternity, or is it just me?
Tangled Tidbits -
You asked, Marla - and my tile is posted below :)
*Hibred inspired Flukes
*stunning Andante border - notice how it is shaded on the left side and slightly on the top and bottom
*Flukes filled corners with pops of Cruffle
*Andante filled string loops
*Andante lined string - how did she do that?!
*curved and straight lined Flukes all
This is my tile ~
I began with a single Flukes in the center and then filled the string loops with variations on the theme of Andante. Wanting to add more of Lily's lovely tangle, I added two more sections of it along the string curves and then a simpler one on the border line. Cruffle filled in where it wished to go.
For me, this combination of tangles took more concentrated effort and less zen than usual...
From Jutta Gladnigg (Germany) ~
Thank you again so much for this wonderful challenge! Greetings from Germany!
Tangled Tidbits -
*swirls and Tipple filled Andante against a crisp lined Flukes
*layers of beautifully shaded Cruffle
From Susan Theron (Veldriff, South Africa) and
here on her blog ~
This was a tough one and I did not know what to do with Andante so that the beauty of it can be justified. I am looking forward to see what Lily did with her tangle and this string. I thought that using Queries of Neil Burley would have been a better tangle with my indecision. I started tangling and tangled the first tile. Some tanglers already had their tiles on their blog together with other challenges and I've stolen from them the way they did Andante and therefore my second tile. Two really different approaches. The first one started to grow on me, because if you meet somebody very ugly and after seeing the person for a week, that person is not ugly anymore.
Tangled Tidbits -
*curved Flukes grid is lighter behind the string lines and loops
*elongated curves of Andante
*single Flukes with Andante curls
*alternating Andante curls along the string line
From Jenny Hopkins (Australia) ~
OUCH! Half way through this tile, I realise that my Flukes are actually not Flukes at all, but Cubine. I resisted the temptation to throw the tile away and start again, telling myself that if Cubine felt like it should be there, then it was allowed to be there. I managed to add a small salute to Flukes down the side but I wasn't terribly happy with the result. Aah well, I enjoyed Andante, a term which means "slowly" or "at a walking pace" in music, a great reminder of how Zentangle is surely meant to be.
Thank you again for another stimulating challenge.
Tangled Tidbits -
...thank you for walking us through your process and for the musical meaning of Lily's tangle...
*loops hover independent of the string
*tall curves of Andante pass through the thickened center string line
A very warm welcome to Stacey Patterson (California) ~
I'm pretty new to all of this and really love your weekly challenge. I have been so inspired to see everyone's creativity. Thank you!
Tangled Tidbits -
*dense clusters of Cruffle fill the string loops
*upper light version of Flukes compliments the darker accented Andante
From midori, CZT (Florida) ~
thank you for offering this venue to be introduced/ to challenge myself to new tangles. 'though i haven't been able to participate regularly, i do enjoy admiring unique creations from around the world. happy tangling...
Tangled Tidbits -
*Flukes center diamond swings upward and downward into a curved Flukes grid - so much energy and movement!
*black, highlighted stripes and spaces repeat in all three tangles
From Jonesy (Missouri) ~
Tangled Tidbits -
*plump, sparkled, and Cruffle accented Andante
*four large Cruffle in beautiful browns
From Brenda Urbanik (South Africa) and
here on her blog ~
...I tried to find that clam spot when you tangle, but it wasn't to be, and it shows in my tile. It just seems to be a mish mash if that's even a term!But, we are planning in heading to the beach today and I have packed all my tangling goodies and I hope that I can relax enough to be carried away into my tangling world that I so enjoy!
Tangled Tidbits -
...I'll go with you!
*aura of the string blends into Flukes (notice the variation with a black frame) and Andante
*Andante aura adds depth
From Karin (Germany) ~
this is my entry to no. 163.
It was really difficult for me to fill the string with those patterns. Next time I should just start tangling rather than thinking too much about it.Greetings from Germany!
Tangled Tidbits -
*Andante variations flow along the string curves
*two angles for Flukes
From Sharyn Penna (Massachusetts) ~
I am so late sending my tile. This prompt gave me a go! I love the string, I think I got caught up in tangle placement rather than letting go and letting my pen lead in the dance.
Andante is a gem of a tangle!
Looking forward to seeing the many versions of the prompt!Cheers to a great week and to Lily Moon for another gem of a tangle!
Tangled Tidbits -
*dark filled, sparkled sections of Andante
*elegant weighted lines and soft shading
And now...
the tile for honors this week...
in addition to Lily's masterpiece...
was sent in by...
Ingrid from The Netherlands ~
She wrote:
Here is my IAST # 163 tile for this week. At first I had no idea what to do with this challenge. So I started procrastinating till the last possible moment. Well, and this is the result that came out of my pen. I am so amazed and I love to draw Andante!
Tangled Tidbits -
*simple and elegant tangles, composition, and use of the string
*large and lovely Andante along the string lines
*large, softly shaded Cruffle
*tangles float above a deep black background
Congratulations, Ingrid!
I have a little something coming in the mail for you.
A huge thank you to all of the contributors to this week's challenge.
Please know that I appreciate and treasure your kindnesses and encouragements.
Many thanks to the creative minds behind the tangles we used along with my string:
Flukes by Maria Thomas, Zentangle® co-founder
Cruffle by Sandy Hunter, CZT
and especially
our friend, Lily Moon, for her lovely Andante
Check back Tuesday afternoon for "It's a String Thing" #164!
