Tips for Tangling ADA

It's Tuesday, your good news day!

If you missed last week's prompt, there is still plenty of time to join in our 300th challenge. 
Click here for all of the delightful details.  Entries are due Saturday, August 10.

As the tiles are arriving for our banner IAST #300 celebration, the variations of Ada are simply too fun to wait another week to view.

I have compiled the first ten into a Tips for Tangling page here for your inspiration and enjoyment.

Each variation is recreated from a tile of the artist listed.  Hat's off to and a big THANK YOU to all of you!

Try these out for yourself, perhaps these examples will spark an idea for even more variations.

ENJOY!

Tips for Tangling HEMP - An Alternate Step Out

This week for "It's a String Thing" #287 (click here for all of the delightful details), one of the tangles we get to enjoy is CZT Sandy Bartholomew's Hemp.  

While TanglePatterns lists several step out options and related tangles (Link), it was my friend CZT Tracey Nicholson that made a breakthrough for me.  Tracey's method of beginning with a series of lines, followed by mirrored zigzags, made the tangle quite simple and adaptable.  Thank you, Tracey!

Below, my Tips for Tangling Hemp begin with Tracey's inspiration along with a touch of my own.

The dots really do help.  I found it surprisingly easy to loose track of which triangles still needed the three center lines.

The initial lines can vary in direction, angle, width, etc.  Here are just a few examples ~

Enjoy!

Tips for Tangling Mi2

3G Mi2 - An Alternate Step Out for CZT Mimi Lempart's Popular Mi2

This step out began at zenAgain 2018.  

On the last day of the conference I had the pleasure of sitting next to - and thoroughly enjoying the company of - Nancy Domnauer from California (linedotcalm.com)  We were paying attention (as best we could) to Maria Thomas as she taught a concept she called Vining. It consisted of linked 'C' strokes and organic tangles.

While I enjoyed the exercise, my mind wandered to other tangling possibilities and suddenly to
a EUREKA! moment.

I hurriedly grabbed a piece of paper, fumbled for a Micron, and nudged Nancy to watch what I was drawing.  

"That" she exclaimed in an excited whisper,"was worth the three grand it took me to get here!" and we both doubled over in muffled laughter.

Nancy's exclamation was priceless (pardon the pun) and forever linked to the moment and this discovery.  So in honor of Nancy, I have named my step out 3G ~

While I kept the examples very simple, as Mimi illustrates on TanglePatterns, shading and embellishments make the tangle come alive.

Tangling Mi2 in this manner eliminates the need to begin with a dot grid, angled lines, or even seeds. 

Once you can relax your hand and mind to 'go with the flow', you will just love the freedom it provides.

I do hope you enjoy!

Tips for Tangling Ratoon

As I mentioned in Tuesday's IAST #278 post, Molly Hollibaugh introduced her tangle Ratoon at zenAgain last November.

It is remarkably beautiful as it unfolds and can be embellished simply or extravagantly.

In my efforts to master Ratoon, I discovered a slightly different way to draw the tangle. 
The Tips for Tangling below begin with Molly's basic step out followed by my suggested 3 Step process ~

I've found that these steps help create a more uniform aura around the seeds and as a result make me a much happier tangler.  I hope you find them helpful, too.

For all of the delightful details for IAST #278, click here and come join in the fun.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Bumpadox - St. Patrick's Day Style

 Here is a wee bit o' tangling fun for St. Patrick's Day...

 I combined Carole Ohl's take on Paradox, her very clever Bumpadox, (Click here to read Carole's post and view her step out.) and added shamrock 'bumps'.

A bit o' green and shading to accent the dips and curves and this tangle really comes alive.
I began with a 3z tile since the shape lends itself to a simple Paradox.
Besides, wouldn't St. Patrick smile to see three leafed clovers on a three sided tile.

I snapped photos as I tangled and this is how it unfolded ~

*a simple border

 *the first lines of Paradox

*lightly penciled shamrocks

 *and traced with Micron

*lines follow the point/space rhythm (click here for my Tips for Tangling)

  as aura moves over and around the shamrock 

*and so on...

*aura tucks under (in Hollibaugh fashion) when lines meet

*until all of the space is filled

*a bit o' green

*and shading finish it off!

Update:
Frequent contributor, Jane Rhea, sent a "little thank you ditty" to compliment this St. Patrick's Day Bumpadox ~

A sweet touch of green
As ever I've seen!
A wee bit o' fun
That's fit for a queen!

Thank you, Jane ☘

Tips for Tangling Skelter - Unlocking the Mystery

In response to requests from contributors to IAST #230(click to view), I set out to write up some "Tips for Tangling" Debbie Raaen's heart filled Skelter.

Debbie's step out and tiles show beautifully flowing, spiraling examples of her lovely tangle (click to view).  A few of us, myself included, encountered some challenges when attempting to create the same effect.

After getting to know the tangle better, I believe that I have unlocked the mystery of this beauty.
Read through these "Tips" and see what you think ~

I do hope you found this helpful.   Enjoy!

Tips for Tangling Funsin

Our challenge this week includes the tangle Funsin by Yu Ru Chen. (Click here for all of the delightful details for IAST #230.)

My first attempts with this pattern were a bit wobbly, so I spent time getting to know the tangle, determined to find a way to draw it with ease. 
The result is a slight change to the original step out published on TanglePatterns, but I am confident that this small adjustment will make a big difference. 

By beginning with a lightly penciled mid line, Funsin flows with ease along any string line or border.  This step also eliminates the need to plan or measure -  things that typically chip away at the relaxing nature of tangling.

That thought leads me to the next tip that I developed after my first attempt at creating a border with Funsin.  I looked at Yu Ru Chen's border example and thought, "I can do that!"

Well, as you will see below, I tried to do it.

The lines didn't quite meet up the way I intended and the spacing didn't leave much room for the aura.

This particular "creative opportunity" lead me to develop the mid line approach to the tangle explained above.

Below are my Tips for creating a border like Yu Ru Chen illustrated on her lovely tile ~

I used the penciled mid line on my second attempt ~

Notice that I only added aura to the inside of the tangle.  It was just a personal preference once I added red to the hearts.  The inside aura created a natural space to fill and I added Florz.

The tangle itself is very pretty and I do hope you find these tips helpful as you create beautiful tiles with it.

Enjoy!

Tips for Tangling Caught

Here are a few Tips for Tangling Caught (Christine Reyes), a heart infused grid based pattern. 

The step out is just slightly different that Christine's and my latest class is responsible for the suggestion to add the diamond embellishments before adding the hearts.

This step helps to clarify where the diamonds are placed, which can be a tad confusing after the second grid lines are added.

Enjoy!

Tips for Tangling Zenith

This week's nod to Valentine's - IAST #183 (click here for all of the delightful details) - features Maria Thomas' beautiful Zenith.

Her step out can be found in the 8/23/2015 edition of the Zentangle® newsletter (Link).

Below is a simple tip that I find helpful when drawing this wonderful pattern.

The initial line of arcs can be drawn in either direction.  I find it a bit easier to create the base of the tangle by adding the second line of arcs one half at a time, especially when working around curves or corners.

Enjoy!