"It's a String Thing" #23 TIles

Another week into the new year and another cache of creative tiles to show for it!

More than a few artists said that they were more challenged this week than usual - either by the given tangles, the string, or the combination of both.  At the same time, they submitted their work for the rest of us to observe, to enjoy, and to learn from - earning great admiration in the process.  A heartfelt thank you to all of you.

Sue Jacobs' tile was the first to arrive -

She said that while she did use the string, she "didn't use a frame, choosing to use the string in an abstract manner."  She shaded with colored pencils - green, orange, and purple - "based on the color triad in color theory."
The result is gorgeous.  Sue added sparkle to Barberpole and with her choice of tangles creates such a pleasing blend of straight and curved lines.  

Joan Delony sent in two tiles, the first one is a Renaissance tile - 

She incorporated all of the tangles for the challenge.  While meaning to pick up her brown Micron, she grabbed the red instead. That resulted in a 'creative opportunity' (not a mistake!) - and she ended up liking it very much. Notice how she added the extra detail lines in Bales giving it a whole new look.

She followed that pretty tile with one she called a "more 'artistic' " one - 

and it is.  She used Bales along her string line with a single section of the pattern and added an aura.  It makes the tangle look almost flower-like.  It's a wonderful idea we can all add to our arsenal.

Jenna Wheatman sent in several tiles as well - 

She said that she had a 'bit of a dilemma' choosing her favorite and that is no surprise looking at them.  In Jenna's signature style, her tangles weave effortlessly.  In the tile above Bales dances through, around, and even morphs into the neighboring tangles.  Her use of Baton as a background for Batch and Bales is very clever as is the reverse of the light and dark space in Bandola - wonderful details!  Jenna wrote, "I kept these tangles simple as they went together very well and combined they made their own variations which in turn has made the end result look very detailed."  Well said!

A very warm welcome to Amy Curtis.  Amy said that she is really new to Zentangle® and she already "enjoys it immensely."  She sent in this colorful tile and posted it here on her blog.

Amy used Bandola in a unique way, adding just one to the curve of her main string lines - a really lovely idea. She adds a 'just right' pop of dark space and color.

Ragged Ray said that "tweaking the tangles is a huge part of the fun" when it comes to these challenges.  She said that "sometimes the tweak comes in the form of combining parts of one within another" and that this week "Bateek begged to be popped within Batch - and they look happy together!" 

And happy they are!  That is a beautiful combination, just beautiful.  The loopy string line that Basketweave seems to hang from is another sweet detail.

Annie Taylor wrote about the challenge this presented to her - 

She said that she looked forward to "seeing the other, more exciting and elegant contributions!"
This is very elegant and exciting AND proof that her persistence paid off.  She wove Barberpole in and out and behind, alternated the dark and lightness of Batch and created great depth with her shading. It is lovely.

Cathy Cusson's tile is light and airy - 

She said she welcomed the chance to use Bandola saying it was "nice to pull it off the shelf and dust it off."   The way she drew and shaded the tangle adds great dimension and Bateek fits in with it very well.

Ingrid said that this was a "tricky one" for her -

She said that she ended up with a lot of Baton...She did, and it is beautiful!  She added the dark space at the points and shaded it just so.  Ingrid also added nicely detailed touches to Bales and, Barberpole, and Bask-it.  

Annemarie sent in a bit of sunshine - 

She added yellow with two shades of colored pencils to brighten up her tile.  Her tangles work well together and her use of negative space is delightful.  Ingrid also posted her tile here on her blog.

Brenda Urbanik said that it was "so nice to practice new patterns on new strings!"

She too used a Renaissance tile with wonderful results.  Her tile is nicely balanced with the white behind Batch complimenting the darker Bandola and Batch.  She used the black and brown Microns in a very pleasing balance as well.  While challenging, she found she "enjoyed herself" - and it shows!
Brenda posted her pretty tile here on her blog as well.


Cheryl Rotnem said that she thought she'd "throw in some red" as it is one of her favorite colors - 

She liked the string and added her personal touches to the tangles.  It is very festive!

Sue Agnew said, "Here's #23...fun as always!"

While she may have fun, it is the rest of us who get to have fun seeing what she does with these challenges!  Many things stand out on her tile:  Bales and Bateek blended, Baton enlarged, the pretty shading.  One really clever touch is the way she used Bandola.  She stacked it on her string line using only one element of the tangle - yet another great idea!

Rhonda Koplin submitted this detailed tile -

She said that her favorite new tangle is Barberpole and "the challenge to perfect the 'shiney' effects"  and it shows in her work.  Her Barberpole is curved, shaded, and shiney.  She added so many lovely details with the other tangles she included as well.


Deanna Spence said that this "was another fun one!"

It is a happy tile, isn't it?  Bales as the main background is especially nice as it shares the same grid as Beteek.  The way Deanna used Basketweave layered over Baton, turning around itself and weaving through is sheer tangled talent!

Jackie Becker said that she completed this tile in bits and pieces...

Not having a block of dedicated time made her less enthusiastic about it.  That is until she began completing her tile.  She writes, "I just started drawing lines and found that I somehow tied one segment of the string into another."  What a happy thing to happen!
Jackie has many details that add to her tile including the single Bandola and the curved Barberpole accented with the lines from Baton.

Audrie Weisenfelder submitted our third Renaissance tile - 

This is a really pretty example of how this color of tile is meant to show both light and dark.  She used aura in the middle of Bales and, by adding the white and brown where she did, created a central focal point that seems to be tipping on axis points as though it could spin.  The other tangles appear to comprise the background adding a pleasing compliment to the Bales grid.  It's wonderful!
Audrie also posted it here on her pretty purple blog.  

Vicky Brison sent in two tiles.  She said that this string line was more of a challenge for her...she couldn't quite find her "groove"... 

...but that does not show in her work - at all.  She said that she got "lost with Bales variations" in the first one.  A lovely musing it is.
She felt that the second tile pictured here was "too heavy".  The Baton actually works well here though to weigh the balance for the other tangles.  She also added some curve to the pattern for a variation.  Very nice.


A N D the artist and tile honored this week is...

Anna Houston!

Anna is the creator of the Bask-it tangle pattern that we used this week.  This is her tile - 

She said that all of the tangles, with the exception of hers and Bales, were new to her.  

Her work was so eye-catching, that I was drawn to it over and over.  Her details are wonderful - the Barberpole spilling into Baton and shaded at the string line by Bateek, the fan of Bales, the curved Basketweave and the dainty Bandola...

In all, a very beautiful piece.  Thank you, Anna.   I have another little some thing coming in the mail for you.

In closing, here is a cozy picture to warm your wintry day sent in by Vicky Brison - her "drawing companions" curled up on her chair - "their favorite place to snooze."

Thank you again to the creative minds behind the string and tangles used in "It's a String Thing" #23 - 

String 023 created by Barbara Finwall and published by Linda Farmer on Tangle Patterns.

Bales an official Zentangle® pattern
Bandola by Sadelle Wiltshire, CZT
Barberpole by Suzanne McNeill, CZT
Bask-it by Anna Houston, CZT (Honoree for "It's a String Thing" #22 & #23 - yay!)
Basketweave by Suzanne McNeill, CZT
Batch by Helen Williams
Bateek by Linda Farmer, CZT
Baton by Carole Ohl, CZT

Check back tomorrow for "It's a String Thing"#24!

Please feel free to leave a comment in the space below.
If you would like a response from me, please use the email box located to the right.

Love This...

ZIA wooden heart magnet by Anna Houston, CZT

CZT Anna Houston tangled this happy heart for her daughter.  She sent the picture and particulars along and  I post it here with her permission to add to our cache of Valentine ZIA.

She purchased unfinished wooden heart cut-outs at her local dollar store.  After a light sanding, she painted the hearts with white acrylic paint.  Using an ultra fine Sharpie marker she tangled this one just so and then added shading with a cool grey Fabrico marker.

To finish it off, she glued a magnet to the back so her daughter could put it on her refrigerator.

A wonderful ZIA project full of love and for less than a dollar!  It's priceless!

Thank you Anna for the inspiration.

More Valentine ZIA to Love

Now this is love...

Vicky Brison, a regular contributor to the weekly "It's a String Thing" challenge, sent in this charming piece -

by Vicky Brison

She traced her hand and then her precious granddaughter's.  She used just two tangle patterns, CZT Suzanne McNeill's Bubbles and CZT Sandy Bartholomew's Buttercup which gives her ZIA (Zentangle® Inspired Art) a simple and sweet feel.

Now that is love.

Thank you Vicky for sharing your drawing and for the idea.

Try your hand (pun intended) at this with someone you love for Valentine's Day - spread the joy!

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom

Getting ready for Valentine's Day...

A few years ago IKEA carried a line of red wooden heart ornaments that just begged to be tangled.  I scooped up a half dozen packages of them and stashed them away in my pantry.  That was two Christmases ago, mind you...

Well, there is a time for everything as the saying goes and with Valentine's Day approaching today seemed like the best time to unearth them and start tangling.  

At the same time, I was searching for a saying about love to post today and came across this one from Oscar Hammerstein:

A bell is no bell 'til you ring it,
a song is no song 'til you sing it,
and love in your heart wasn't put there to stay -
Love isn't love 'til you give it away.

Inspired by his words, here is my first Valentine ornament - 

ZIA Wooden Heart Ornament             Adele Bruno, CZT

Project Particulars:  3" purchased wooden ornament, Sakura Identi-Pen and white Gelly Roll pen.

Give some love away today and have a wonderful Wednesday!

"It's a String Thing" #23

It's Tuesday and your good news day!

This week we are using String 023 created by Barbara Finwall and published by Linda Farmer on Tangle Patterns.

In honor of Barbara we will use the tangle patterns that begin with the letters 'Ba' found here on Tangle Patterns.

They are:

Bales an official Zentangle® pattern
Bandola by Sadelle Wiltshire, CZT
Barberpole by Suzanne McNeill, CZT
Bask-it by Anna Houston, CZT (Honoree for "It's a String Thing" #22 - yay!)
Basketweave by Suzanne McNeill, CZT
Batch by Helen Williams
Bateek by Linda Farmer, CZT
Baton by Carole Ohl, CZT

It's been awhile since we've had so many patterns to choose from and we are re-visiting several of them.
Use as few or as many of these patterns as you would like.  

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 String Thing" #22 Tiles

Artists from six countries as well as nine of the United States participated in this week's challenge.  It is remarkable to ponder and surely it is a testimony to Zentangle's® universal appeal.

Ingrid C said that she "loved to do this" -

There are many wonderful details in her tile.  She beautifully fashioned Retro around the center loop and it resulted a lace-like look.  I will definitely be trying that myself.

Vicky Brison said that she did not get a chance to complete a tile, but sent a photo of how she learns the tangles for the challenge as well as her "practice piece."  This is the picture of her sketch book:

She writes, "...this is the way I've recently been working up my practice pieces in my new sketch book...and some times the practice piece is the only piece!"

Everyone has their own way of learning and organizing patterns.  I wanted to post this in case Vicky's method appeals to other tanglers.  At the very least, it will give you more ideas!  Thank you, Vicky.

Jackie Becker said of this - "That's a LOT of DOTS!"

Yes, lots and lots of lovely dots!  She ran Reticulated along the curved string line and shaded it just so.

Rhonda Koplin said that during a five hour staff meeting she had plenty of time to practice Ragz -

Look at all of those variations...thank you for sharing the fruits of your long business day!  

She added that it was a rainy day in Georgia, so the "rain-themed tangles were appropriate."  She, like many other tanglers this week, was "unexpectedly surprised" by how much she liked trying Reticulated.

At first blush it is such a simple pattern and true to Zentangle® - it becomes so elegant when added to a tile.

Sue Agnew said that when she was playing with Rain it "almost looked like it was twisting, so [she] tried to figure out how to enhance that effect with lines and shading."

She also said that she usually uses a brush-tipped Pitt pen in the cool grey series for shading to avoid the "messiness of pencil shading" but opted for the subtler look that pencil provided here.  

She used small snippets of  Retro and incorporated the stipples form Raindotty.  It's really light and lovely.

This tile  and inspiring note comes from Kris Powell - 

She writes:

Although I have never actually done "Zentangle", I bought the beginners kit and decided to give it a try! I have been faithfully following your 'Blog' and am inspired by your creativity and that of the participants in your weekly challenges. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing, but figured, 'What the Heck", you always say...'There can't be a 'wrong' way to do this. (...or something to that effect)! I was incredibly nervous to put micron pen to paper but soon found myself sipping my coffee and relaxing. I actually found myself getting my "Zen" on! To that end, the exercise was successful, can't say the same for my artistic interpretation of the assignment....but overall, I'm pleased with my first effort! 

Pleased you should be!

I am excited about this for two reasons - one is that I am happy to say that Kris is my very talented cousin :) The other is that without the benefit of having a CZT in her area, she pursued the method, learned on her own, and found it to be as relaxing as promised.  That is a great testament to Kris' tenacity and talent and to the Zentangle art form.

Annemarie included just a touch of blue to her tile - 

She writes on her blog that she added the blue because the tangle appeared a bit dull.  It adds a very nice touch.  Annemarie's blog is written in Dutch with a smattering of English - it's delightful to visit.

Sue Jacobs added much color to her tile - 

She said that she used one of her hand painted tiles.  She shaded with "a couple different colors" of her Prismacolor pencils.  

There are many things to note about her tile: the color variations, the shading, the graceful Retro, the use of Reticulated in rows, the curve she achieved with Ragz...all so very nice!

Audrie Weisenfelder sent in this tile along with a note that captures the Zentangle experience:

She writes:

Here's my entry for String Thing #22. My first look at the required tangles made me wonder how they would fit together. But once I took a good look at the string, and set down the first tangle (Rain), the rest just fell into place. I really enjoyed doing this one, as it just happened, Zentangle style: little or no thinking or planning, just doing. As a result, it may be a little simplistic, but I'm OK with that. All in all, I'm satisfied with the result.

What a wonderful way to describe the method of Zentangle - and the result is just beautiful.  She also posted her tile here on her blog.

Ragged Ray is back with a treat of a tile - 

She wrote a note along with her entry and since so many of us can appreciate her thought process, I include it here:

It's lovely to come back to your challenge after a little break. I loved the selection of tangles this week - each offered so many possible tweaks to take them in new directions. However, when I drew my tile they seemed to literally wander away from one another leaving me with a lot of white space! Thankfully Raindotty came to my rescue and scattered here and there it seemed to bring the whole together a bit more!

The "tweaks" as she calls them are very inspired - the extended lines of Rain, the Diva Dance-like tangle in Ragz, the really lovely light/dark variations on Retro....amazing!

CZT Brenda Urbanik's tile is framed in Ragz- 

and what a pretty frame it makes.  She used heavy and lighter lines and shaded beautifully.  She said that she allowed herself to "simply go" where her "pen and heart took" her and once again her string is "hardly to be found!"  And that's just what strings are supposed to do - suggest a space and disappear in the end :)

Brenda also posted her tile here on her blog and adds some great notes about strings.

Now this next tile is extra-ordinarily special.  It comes by way of String 022 creator, artist, illustrator, tangler extraordinaire - CZT Margaret Bremner - 

 How could she not participate this week, she said.  She added that she was complimented. I will add that we are honored :)
She included the patterns Radio Waves and Raddox in her tile selection and the result is lovely.

Jenna Wheatman said that she made use of a slow time at work to practice her tangles -

She added that she "enjoyed this selection of tangles, they easily break down into lots of fun variations."
There is a lot of FUN going on here!  It is just amazing to study what she's done with these tangles.  It's gorgeous.

The next tile is from Joan Delony -

Joan's use of  Raindotty along the string line is a first in this challenge - and what a nice choice.  It seems to make her tile glow.  Love the idea!

Mindy wrote last week that the challenge was fun.  She said that this week was even more fun - 

She has created a really pleasing balance of lines:  loopy and straight, thin and thick, heavy and light.  Mindy's shading also make the tangles appear layered.  You are right, Mindy, it is FUN!

Annie Taylor said that her tile reminded her of a fairground -

She wrote about it here on her blog.  She added piano keys to Reticulated and notice how she used Mooka in the folds of Retro.  Shading added nice dimension to her tile too.

Lynn O made me smile when she wrote:  "Here is my entry for this weeks string thingy."

Then I opened her attachment and smiled even more when I saw her tile.  What a lovely layering of tangles and details and shading.

Cathy Cusson has had more time to tangle because the severe weather has kept schools closed in her area. Not so good news for the schools, but good for those of us who get to see her work - 

She said that she knew "immediately upon looking at the list of tangles" that she would probably use Raindotty "minimally, if at all."  

Then "like that old potato chip commercial"  she found that she "couldn't do just one."

What a colorful analogy!  It's easy to imagine her getting carried away, lost in the dots as she added more and more Raindotty to her tile.

A N D now.... the tile for honors this week belongs to the relatively new CZT, Anna Houston from British Columbia, Canada.  

Anna said that Rain was the only tangle she had tried before, so she really enjoyed the challenge.

There are many pretty details in her tile that kept drawing me back to it:  the scrolls in Retro, the aura in Ragz, the countless Raindotty and the choice of Reticulated  for a border.

Congratulations Anna!  I have a little something coming in the mail for you.

Many thanks to the talented tanglers who sent in their precious work this week.

Special thanks to the creative minds behind the string and tangle patterns used in "It's a String Thing" #22:

Margaret Bremner via Linda Farmer for String 022

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

Check back tomorrow for "It's a String Thing: #23!


Feel free to leave a comment in the space provided below.
If you would like to hear from me, please use the email box located to the right.
Thank you ever so much!

Rainy Day Tangles

This morning here in central Florida, it is unusually overcast.  Happily though, it 'put me in mind' (as my Grandmother would say) of two tangles we are using in the "It's a String Thing" challenge this week:  Raindotty and Rain.

It will be difficult to wait until Monday to post the beautiful tiles that are coming in.  Most of the tanglers have commented on how fun it is to draw Raindotty by CZT Jane Monk.

Curious, I decided to complete a monotangle with the pattern.  I used a Micron 08 and found it very relaxing to draw.  Each dot is mindful, cannot be hurried, and the feel of the Zentangle® paper is a very noticeable part of the experience.

This is what my tile looked like before shading....

And after shading...

I chose to shade in the spaces between the tangles.  That made the circles appear a bit stark, so I added some shading to the pattern and I liked it a bit more.

Next, I thought to complete a monotangle on a Renaissance tile.  I worked with a white Gelly Roll Pen, and brown and black 01 Microns.  The dots didn't stand out as much as I would have liked - the piece needed some more contrast.  Rain to the rescue!  It springs from Raindotty and adds the needed weight.  I finished it off with a few more dots and here it is:  

If it's a bit rainy in your part of the world - try your hand at these patters.  They will surely make your day brighter.

Check out the rest of this week's tangles as well as the challenge by clicking here.  Have a wonderful weekend and send in your photos :)

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