Celebrating Strings and Special Things

This is a precious gift -

My friend and fellow CZT Sindy P tangled it for me.  Isn't it exquisite?
I was in awe when I unwrapped it - the time she spent, the thought, the work...

Here is a close up of the details on the roof.  It is just beautiful!

The house is actually a paper-mâché box.  She lifted off the top to reveal a bag of sugary rock candy - on  strings.  STRINGS!

As it turns out, she was on a trip to California with her husband the week before and found the stringed treasures at a specialty candy store.

Her gift tied many things together - our friendship that began with tangling, the origins of the string concept in Zentangle®, my blog challenge "It's a String Thing", and the book about strings that Sindy is currently writing.

Yes, Sindy is writing a book about strings - one of my favorite things.  When it is published, I will showcase it here...it is as creative and wonderful as she is - stay tuned!


Please feel free to leave a comment in the space provided below.
If you would like a reply from me, please use the email box to the right.
Thank you so much!

Wednesday's Word - STRINGS - and a bit o' Zentangle History

There are a multitude of reasons that I am personally drawn (pun intended) to the concept of strings in the practice of the Zentangle® art form.

The Book of Zentangle is available @ www.zentangle.com 

In their fascinating book about the origins of Zentangle - The Book of Zentangle® - co-founders Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas explain strings this way:

A string is a line or lines that divide a marking surface into sections to be filled with tangles.(pg. 102)

Rick tells the story of making rock candy with his grandmother.  In the process they dipped strings into a sugary water mixture and crystals formed and grew on the strings.  He parallels that phenomena with tangles growing out from strings when drawn on a tile.

It's a treasure of a story and a beautiful origin for such a simple yet elegant concept in the practice of Zentangle.

As an early student of the method, I found strings more than a bit daunting.  To draw or choose a string and then face tangling in the defined spaces was intimidating.  All hesitation and self-doubt had to be put aside.  It was a swan dive into the unknown, a delving into the process, a commitment, a definitive move.

For me, it was reminiscent of when I've climbed to the platform of a ten meter board, or stood on the starting line of a long distance race, been admitted to the hospital in labor, or forced that first step down the aisle in times of great joy and of great sorrow...if you will, a giving over of one's self.

But - much like the way I describe to people what it is to have Faith - it is in the letting go, the trusting of the process, the confidence that you have what it takes to see to the other side, the belief that you have the talent and the ability to accomplish great things and have something beautiful to show for it, that we find joy...

A metaphor for life - and all in this little thing we call a string.

Choosing strings as a theme for the weekly challenges was very purposeful.  It is my hope that you feel comparable joy as you tangle and experience both the 'elegance of limitations' and the world of possibilities.

Happy tangling to you!

"It's a String Thing" #22

It's the first Tuesday of the new year - time to tangle!

This week's challenge begins with String 022 created by Margaret Bremner as featured on Linda Farmer's Tangle Patterns.

I am in awe of Margaret's work and her blog - The Enthusiastic Artist. - and very excited to begin the new year with one of her strings.


Since Margaret's name is chock full of 'R's' and the vowels 'A' and 'E', in her honor we will use tangle patterns that begin with the letters 'RA' and 'RE'.    They include:

Ragz by CZT Christina Vandervlist
Rain - an official Zentangle® pattern
Raindotty by CZT Jane Monk
Reticulated by Livia Chua
Retro by Elena Hadzijaneva

Be sure to read about the patterns (found here on Tangle Patterns) - especially the example that Linda Farmer posted about Rain and how it can be used as a filler.  It will expand the possibilities for using the other border-type tangles as well.

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

This exercise is for beginner and seasoned tanglers alike. Use it as an excuse to keep up with your art work, take time for yourself, learn new patterns, share your talent...

Here are the (Not so) Official Guidelines:  
* Challenges are posted on Tuesdays.
*Use the string posted for the week and patterns that begin
      with the letter(s) indicated
*Work must be completed on Zentangle tiles or on your 3.5" x 3.5" paper
* Submit a photo of your tile saved as jpg or
      scan your tile (300 dpi) 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 if you wish.

I look forward to your emails.

"It's a String Thing" #21 Tiles

Happy Monday and Happy New Year!  A what a happy new year these tiles do make :)

Cathy Cusson, on her Christmas break, had time to send in two tiles.

I don't think she would mind if post that she pointed out that the rows in her Sunflower were not alternating.  She was at first frustrated by it, but in the end really liked the look. The addition of the red really makes it stand out beautifully -



This is what she said of her second tile:

Having made the first mistake, I had to proceed to number two.  I like "summer sitter" but over/under things give me a fit. I did finally find a rhythm and actually started having fun with it.  The extra lines aren't a tangle or anything, I just felt that it needed some space to break up the tangles.  Since it needs to begin with an "s", think of them as slines or streaks, if you will.

That is a great term - slines.  Thank you Cathy! 


Mindy said that she really enjoyed drawing this -

And it really shows - in vintage 'Mindy style': clean, crisp, and shaded just so.  Beautiful!


Deanna Spence said that she especially liked Sundoo when she drew her tiles -

She repeated the little touches of Sundoo in her other tangles and the effect is so pretty. Her Sugarcane string line looks very three dimensional and the single large Sunflower in the second tile is such a happy touch!



Cheryl Rotnem said she had fun with this too -



Sunflower made her concentrate and she was pleased with the results - now that sounds like the perfect description of a good tangle pattern!  Thank you for that gem Cheryl.

 

In contrast, Annemarie said that she almost didn't join in with this challenge because the combining the tangles was difficult.  She proves to us that while it may have been difficult, it was not impossible!

She 'dotted' the ends of her Sugarcane with Sunflower - what a nice touch!


Sue Jacobs said that this string really took her back to the basics of "pure Zentangle." 

It is a treat to behold. She added her "own twist with the Struzzle" - see how she incorporated it into the string?! Brilliant! 

Jackie Becker said that she "really messed up the tangle patterns on this." She probably meant to say that she had many "creative opportunities" while trying this challenge :)

For her persistence, she has very pretty results.  The single Sunflower in the middle is a great focal point.

From the Netherlands, Ingrid sent her tile with happy new year wishes to me and "all the tanglers around the world."  She said that the challenge was just what she needed to restart her tangling. 





Notice how she varied the backgrounds as well as light and dark in the Sunflower pattern. We are all happy you are tangling again. Thank you, Ingrid!

Joan Delony said she completed many tiles using a variety of the five tangle patterns. She sent in the one that combined her favorite three -

They really work beautifully together on her tile. Very,very nice!

Sue Agnew said that this one felt "a little like 'parallel play' (the way toddlers play)...it seems to look like independent tangles rather than all of them forming a harmonious whole." It has such an elegance.

Sue also said that she was looking through the earlier challenges and was "struck by having spent all fall playing" with me and "with other tanglers."  Yes, time has flown - and as Sue added, "Here's to a new year of play!"


Vicky Brison said that she dedicated this challenge #21 to her youngest son who turns 21 on the 21st! Now that's a great line up of 21's - and this is a very special tile:

Every new look at it reveals more detail. The way she used the loopy Sundoo, complete with sparkle, is just pure Zentangle magic.

A warm welcome to Lynn from the UK. She sent this along with a link to her artsy blog. (Click here to view) In her tile she worked the tangles in such a balanced way with the light and dark areas. The little details on Summer Sitter are a really nice touch. It's lovely.

Jenna Wheatman enjoyed layering the tangles on her tile -



 

While she said that at first it looked "a bit too much" it was "starting to grow" on her :)

My goodness, it's a masterpiece of tangle layering - pattern within a pattern within a pattern - genious! She said that she really had fun with it and what fun it is to behold.

A N D N O W....the tile of honor for this week!

                                   

CZT Tricia Faraone sent in this lovely tile. She combined the tangles in a pleasing way, varied the sizes, and added pretty details. (Click here to see more beautiful work on her blog.)


Tricia also included the most wonderful description of "It's a String Thing" that I have read to date.  She writes:

Anyway, this is my first try at 'It's a String Thing", and it was quite a relaxing process.  No stressing over creating a string, and no decisions about which tangles to use.  (Feels like Mom layed out my school clothes at night so that, in the morning, I did not have to be concerned about 'what to wear'!!  LOL)

What a very sweet analogy - it warmed my heart to read. It perfectly captures the experience I strive to provide through this challenge every week.

Thank you Tricia. I have a little something coming in the mail for you to commemorate the day.

Many thanks to you all for sending in your treasures.

Special thanks to:

Sue Zanker via Linda Farmer for String #21
and to the creators of the tangle patterns we used this week -
Struzzle by Jo Newsham
Sugarcane by CZT Suzanne McNeill
Summer Sitter by Karry Heun
Sundoo by CZT Jane MacKugler
Sunflower by Anne Marks


Please check back tomorrow for "It's a String Thing" #22!

Feel free to leave a comment in the space provided below. 

If you would like to a response from me, please use the email box located to the right.

Thank you ever so much!

Here Comes the Sun(doo)!

It is a cool but sunny day here in Central Florida.  Temperatures will climb to almost 60 - a tad cooler than the 70 - 80 degree weather we have enjoyed this past week. 

Those of you shivering in the snow storms sweeping through the Midwest and northern part of the country must shudder at the mention of 60 degrees feeling cooler - my apologies.  I pray you all stay warm and comfortable and safe up there.

In an effort to spread a little sunshine I thought to post my notes about Sundoo by CZT Jane MacKugler, one of the tangle patterns in this week's "It's a String Thing" challenge. (Click here to see all the details.)

 

Since it can be a bit intimidating to draw at first, I came up with this method to help tanglers gain some confidence as they practice:

 



The more you practice, the more fluid your stroke and loops will be.  You will find that the dots are not necessary the longer you work with the tangle.

Keep in mind that part of the fun of this tangle - as well as most free form ones - is the inconsistency from one to another - so relax and have fun with it!

For further information, you can find Linda Farmer's write up about the pattern here on Tangle Patterns and/or Click here to see Jane's original blog post where she first introduced Sundoo.

Try your hand at the challenge this week - I look forward to seeing your work!

Time? What time?!

My wonderful son John has become a very thoughtful gift giver.  This Christmas, I unwrapped his present and had the best laugh...

He said that when he saw it in a store window, he immediately thought of me and how I loose sense of time when it comes to all things Zentangle®. 

Even the face, he pointed out, is similar in color, shape, and size to a Zentangle tile.

What a wonderful gift!

I treasure the clock, but also the sentiment - my son understands me and he appreciates what I love.

Now, that is a timeless gift...

 

ZIA and New Year's Cheer

Happy New Year!                  Adele Bruno, CZT