"It's a String Thing" #239 Tiles

Here's hoping your week is off to a great start.

There is big news here as we have added the 35th country to our Tangled Map, isn't that amazing?  Take a guess as to which one, and read on to find out if you are correct.

Too add to the good news, Dorian Eng, CZT, and I have just published our third "Tiny Tangled Houses" book - "Fairy Garden Houses".  You can click on the cover photo (in column to the right) for more information.
At the end of this post, I will randomly choose a name from our participants to win a free download of the eBook - good luck!

Let's take a look at this week's results ~

The first tile arrived from Amy L (Connecticut) ~

I found Tupuk’s lack of regularity challenging, so opted for Flec and Fassett instead, and went pretty simple. This was the first time for both tangles, but I enjoyed them both. I thought there wasn’t enough contrast so colored in the smallest “rocks” in flec. I am loving these challenges and stretching my tangling! Thanks so much!

 Tangled Tidbits -
*touch of black in Flec
*evenly spaced Fasset and light center triangles - a lovely look



From Lily (Hungary) and here on her blog ~

...here is my tile for your weekly challenge.
Zenhug

 Tangled Tidbits -
*brilliant gem in the string loop
*white dots accent each tangle - glorious coloring, shading, and highlights


From Gale Sherman (Tucson, Arizona) ~

Recently, I've been having fun making my studio (and hands) very messy with mono printing, lemon juice, tissue paper dying, various pens, pencils, acrylic paints, etc. I drew this week's string with a Speedball 2mm black Elegant Writer and moved the ink with a wet brush. For tangling I turned the tile on it's side and and went to work with various Microns and Tom Bow pens. I liked all the patterns, but had the most fun with Tupuk tonight. You can see I went a bit wild there... Thank you for another great challenge!

 Tangled Tidbits -
*colorful variations of Tupuk
*color, light, and dark give sense that the tangles are layered



From Hilary (Italy) ~

I’m sure you were delighted with all the great examples of your pattern Mack. I know I really enjoyed seeing them and I know it’s going to be a very popular tangle.
Here’s my tile for this week. I'm not happy with how it turned out since I just couldn’t get the patterns to work well together. Oh well, that’s how it goes sometimes!
Hope all is well with you. We’re still enjoying the bright sunshine here in Salerno.

 Tangled Tidbits -
*Flec string lines and Flec tucked into Tupuk
*touch of purple highlights the Renaissance colors


From Jutta Gladnigg, CZT (NRW, Germany) ~

Some days ago I had distressed a blank tile with brusho colours and yellow ink. This IAST 239-string seemed to be quite fitting for the accidental colour distribution on that specific tile.
By the way - I had intended to use ‘flec’ around the ‘orbs’, but when I had finally finished around midnight suddenly some hours later there came a thought in the middle of the night... Have I used all the suggested patterns? I went through them in my mind only to find that one was missing... so this time the emphasis is on those other two beautiful patterns. So fun again! Thank you all!

 Tangled Tidbits -
*a beautiful explosion of color and tangle
*glowing white highlights and dots


A very warm welcome to Sally Whiteman from New Zealand.   Sally is the first tangler to join IAST from New Zealand.  Hooray!  (Was New Zealand your guess? - if so, let us know in the comment section below.)  Sally wrote:

Good morning
I discovered you website a couple of weeks ago and subscribed to get the string thing emailed.
What a fascinating challenge and the variety of tiles is amazing.
I hope mine is good enough to be displayed as I am self taught because there are very few CZT's in New Zealand.

 Tangled Tidbits -
Each tile is a masterpiece, thank you for sending in yours and many compliments for learning on your own.
*clusters of Tupuk
*touch of color and shading for a pretty Fassett

Welcome to our IAST community, Sally.  Your name, your red pin, and New Zealand are now on our
Tangled Map!

From Shirley Wohlsen (Queensland, Australia) ~

Attached is my Tile for ‘It’s A String Thing # 239’ Challenge.
Many Thanks, Adele.

 Tangled Tidbits -
*Fassett in two fabulous variations
*plump Flec shaded on both sides


From Baafke (The Netherlands) ~

Flec reminds me of our wonderful holiday in Norway.
Greetings from Baafke from a sunny Netherlands!

 Tangled Tidbits -
*dark middle and top layers of Flec - lovely pop of color, too
*wavy lined take off of Fassett


From Ria Matheussen, CZT (Belgium) and Tupuk's creator ~

It was a nice surprise to discover that Tupuk was included in your challenge of this week. I do appreciate that very much.
As always, but now especially, I'm curious to see the entries of the other tanglers. With every challenge, I learn something.
I have chosen to draw on grey paper. I have used a black pen and coloured the tile with purple, pink and blue colourpencils.
This was a special challenge for me and I enjoyed it very much. I wish everyone succes!
Thank you Adele, for this wonderful challenge and for all the work you do, every week again,
Warm regards from Belgium

 Tangled Tidbits -
*beautiful blue glass-like Tupuk
*Fassett glows in shades of purple


From Susie (St. Louis, Missouri) ~

Tangled Tidbits -
*each orb of Tupuk uniquely different
*dotted dark center for Fassett



From Henrike Bratz, CZT (Germany) and here on her blog ~

it’s been far too long since I last sent you a tile. So here is mine for #239. Some more Information is...on my blog
I hope I can make it more often again in the future!!

 Tangled Tidbits -
Welcome back!!
*stunning Tupuk along the string line, aura-ed and shaded
*light and lovely Fassett for Tupuk to float above



From Susan (United Kingdom) ~

Spring has finally arrived after a very long winter and it’s now hotter than summer! Nice to sit and tangle in the sunshine.

Tangled Tidbits -

Happy Spring!

*Flec stacks along the border and string line

*Fassett's deep centers add contrast

From Ragged Ray (United Kingdom), creator of Flec ~

Thank you for picking my tangle to feature in the challenge this week. It also reminded me of the fact that I rarely use my own tangles. I wonder why that is? I wonder if I'm the only one? I know that somewhere I have a sheet of Flec ideas, but I can't find it - never mind. I draw a stack of repeating Flec, rounded instead of aura-ed this time. It was lovely to work with Ria's Tupuk - a single line, stippled (a technique I remembered earlier this week). And Fassett, which makes me smile - I remember how hard I found it the first times I drew it, the amount of concentration it demanded. And now it seems to flow so easily from my pen. That's what happens with Zentangle - we absorb the knowledge, the technique, the pen control. And before we know it we can do things that still surprise us!
The sun is shining, it's been a few glorious days of unseasonably warm weather. What a change from the last time I emailed you!

 Tangled Tidbits -
...beautifully expressed, thank you!
*weighted lines, shading, and highlights add even more roundness to Flec
*stippled Tupuk and Fassett medallions - fabulous!


From Lin H, CZT (Florida) ~

I really like Tupuk, which was new for me, and while I just followed the string with it this time, I hope to do more with it in the future. I’ve always liked Flec and Fassett and really enjoyed your challenge with them. As always, I’m looking forward to seeing everyone’s results.

 Tangled Tidbits -
*dark line, different shapes but similar light/dark coloring for Tupuk
*thicker lined top orbs of Flec, shaded center ones - pretty variation
Love that frame!


From Mariam G. (Port Hueneme, California) ~

Thank you for introducing me to Tupuk - what a cute little tangle he is! (makes me think of 60's style outer-space drawings, a bit)
Looking forward to the new book, it looks like a lot of fun!
Have a Happy Earth Day

 Tangled Tidbits -
*soft blue, soft shading, shine against lovely white spaces
*each Tupuk orb unique


From Lynn G (Florida) ~

Thank you for another challenge Adele. I must admit I found it very challenging.

 Tangled Tidbits -
*Tupuk springs form Flec string lines - love the white, black contrast
*tangles float above the thin lined Fassett background



From Nor'dzin (Wales, United Kingdom) ~

Thank you for challenge #239. I did not know 'Fassett'. What a great tangle! I think it will become a favourite. We have had a wonderful warm and sunny week in South Wales and my tulips are glorious.

 Tangled Tidbits -
Such good news of Spring!
*fun shapes for Tupuk
*Fassett lines flow with the spaces and dashes form the border


From Tabitha (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) ~

Here's my submission for # 239. As usual, it's went nothing like as planned. lol I had also realized that I hadn't even included any Mack in last week's challenge, so I added it to this one. :) I have actively avoided Fassett for the longest time because I just couldn't get my lines steady enough for it to look right, so it's encouraging to me that I think I finally got it! :)

 Tangled Tidbits -
Yes, you did :)
*Tupuk dangles feature tapering center lines that end in curls
*beautiful shading throughout
Fassett and Mack work well together (I will certainly try that out!)



From Juul (France) ~

Tangled Tidbits -
*black surround of Flec angled by Fassett
*sparkled dark orbs finish Flec beautifully
So happy you are well and back to tangling, Juul.


From VenaC (Whitby, Ontario, Canada) ~

I stuck to the string, but I should have given this more thought. I am not too fond of this one but time has run out to do another. Your fairy houses are very cute, Adele.

 Tangled Tidbits -
Thank you, Vena.  This is a beautiful tile.
*Tupuk comes alive in color, pattern, highlight, and shading
*small clusters of Fassett beautifully shaded


From Susie (Thailand) ~

Attached please find a tile. I tried to cohesively link (can you say that?) the 3 tangles you tickled us with this week, but I ended up having one here, one there and the 3rd creeping along the bottom. But I admit, I like Flec as a flower.
Still, love your challenge and thus show my appreciation by sending you my cohesiveless contribution.

 Tangled Tidbits -
Let's call it a clever collection  - it's wonderful.
*Flec, very pretty as a flower
*Tupuk middle line threads its way through the orbs


From Jane (Dorking, Surrey, United Kingdom) ~

Thanks again for another interesting, fun and absorbing challenge and such a different combination of tangles. I particularly liked discovering Flec. I added some drama by inking in the Tupuk. Fassett I know but haven't used much.

 Tangled Tidbits -
*dark Tupuk, wonderful contrast
*Flec loop sans aura - shaded loop above appears to rise from it


From Laurel Davis, CZT (New York) ~

Thanks for another fun challenge, Adele!

 Tangled Tidbits -
*Fassett corners - so creative!
*highlights add roundness to Flec and accent lovely Tupuk variations beautifully


From Karen Herstowski (Atlanta, Georgia) ~

Tangled Tidbits -
*thick lined Flec moves through the string loops
*lovely details - lined border spaces, weighted string line, thin mid line of Tupuk

From Gabi (Germany) ~

Whole week I was trying to get it ALL on a tile... and finally did what Rick recommends at Kitchen Table Tangle: I used TranZending. Now the string follows the tangle...
Not a real masterpiece but finally satisfying :))
I‘m very curious to see what the others have done with this!

Tangled Tidbits -
...a masterpiece, indeed.
*Tupuk runs along the center lines of Fassett
*pops of color against bold, black spaces, and tranzending string line - striking!



From Margarete Gilge (Germany) and here on her blog ~

this week I draw three versions of your challenge. I send you the second one. The others one can find on my blog...
I enjoyed drawing this interesting challenge very much because I didn’t combine the patterns yet. Thank you for your inspiration!
Best wishes from Germany!

Tangled Tidbits - 

*curvy, flowing mix of tangles with a Tupuk top

*Fassett springs Mooka-like curls

From Jane (Boulder, Colorado) ~

And my IAST 239 is so cute--:) When I saw the suggested tangles, I immediately thought mine would probably be a Fassett monotangle because I love that pattern and all that it can do--but in the end, this one really led me. I started playing around with the very fun Tupuk on the bottom string line and before I knew it, I had a whole cosmic clothesline collection--:) Tried filling in some of the spaces with Fassett, but liked the emptiness more...almost left it just as it was, but ended up adding the little Fassett portal up top so she could be represented...no space for Flec, today.

 Tangled Tidbits -
A "cosmic clothesline collection" - that is awesome.
*fabulous details for Tupuk
*four strand Tupuk variation drawn only with orbs



From Sharyn Penna, CZT (Massachusetts) ~

Hats off to Ria for a stunning new tangle ... and to you for creating a playful string ... and for choosing to two tangles that compliment Tupuk perfectly.
Cheers!

 Tangled Tidbits -
*sublime shading, smooth and elegant
*Flec stacks fitted into Fassett spaces - wonderful idea
*tangles seem to float over a field of deep black


From Trudi (Woodview, Ontario, Canada) ~

...feeling better this week but I still almost missed the deadline!
Fun Tangles I used shading and just a hint of blue on the Flec. Thank you for the Challenge.

 Tangled Tidbits -
Glad to know you are feeling better!
*Flec covered string line with a hint of blue
*pretty Fassett variation features irregular line spacing


From Shelly (Redwood City, California) ~

I really enjoyed learning these 3 new tangles. Thanks again!

 Tangled Tidbits -
*shaded inner triangles of Fassett
*string loops - one Flec and one striped and sparkled


From Jennifer St. John (San Mateo, California) ~

I had fun integrating this week's tangles with some of my other favorites. Looking forward to next week's challenge.

 Tangled Tidbits -
*dainty lines of fun filled Tupuk
*bold tipped Flec follows the string line


From Cyndee Pelley (Oklahoma) and here on her blog ~

I loved the challenge this week! I always love Lynn Mead's wonderful Fassett, but Ria's Tupuk and Jem Miller's Flec were new to me. I loved them both! I hope the weather in Florida makes more sense than here! We've had both snow and 90's back to back in the last 2 weeks. Now it's just cold and rainy!
I wish you and your readers many blessings! See you next week!

 Tangled Tidbits -
It is rainy but warm here - still trying to will some of this rain over to Felicity in South Africa!
*Flec and Tupuk merge - just beautiful lines and details for Tupuk
*shading and highlights give Flec incredible dimension


From Sharon Fite (California) ~

Thanks for exposure to Tupuk and the repeat on Flec. I love Fassett, one of my go-to tangles. I like making all triangles and drawing the connecting lines all at one time and watching the final imagine appear. I added Tripoli and N'zeppel for good measure. Your Fairy Garden Houses look adorable! Wishing you much success with this latest book!

 Tangled Tidbits -
Thank you!
*layers of fun finishes for Tupuk
*Flec string lines, aura-ed and shaded


This is my tile ~

I began this with a Flec border, then drew Tupuk along the string line. Once I decorated and darkened that, all hope of maintaining the string's original orientation vanished. The grid for Fassett, even though I thought it was large enough, got busy quickly so I left some of the spaces blank and others filled with just a few lines and one holds a bit of Flec.

And now...

the winner of the random drawing...

is...

Karen Herstowski from Atlanta, Georgia!


Congratulations, Karen.
I will email you the information.

Many thanks to everyone for sending in your beautiful tiles, they inspire and motivate the rest of us!

Thank you to the artists whose tangles we used this week ~

Tupuk by Ria Matheussen, CZT

Flec by Jem Miller

Fassett  by Lynn Mead, CZT

Check back Tuesday afternoon for "It's a String Thing" #240!