"It's a String Thing" #108 Tiles

As participant Jenny Hopkins noted, this was a "geometric challenge".
Three of the tangles were grid based and the string was very geometric.
It was great fun for all and resulted in some spectacularly tangled tiles and ZIA (Zentangle® Inspired Art).
Let's take a look ~

The first tile arrived from Henrike Bratz (Germany) ~

this one was special: much contrast between black and white, straight lines and the spirals of printemps. I enjoyed it!!

Tangled Tidbits - 

*Cubine center - one large one divided into three more
*sparkled and shaded Chemystery
*layers of Printemps

From Sarah at hungrycorgistudio ~

This is what happens when you do Cubine and then let loose with Lanie!!
She just took over in all kinds of combinations. I just went with the flow, and Lanie kept going!

Tangled Tidbits -
*wonderful that Lanie is a 'she' with a mind of her own!
*Cubine and Lanie grids in various directions
*shades of gray

From Meridiana ~

It’s been a while since I submitted, but I couldn’t resist something with Lainey (love that tangle). Unfortunately I totally forgot to incorporate Chemystery, so...
I took another crack at this since I completely forgot to add Chemystery to the first tile. The first tile was colored with Prismacolors. This one is colored with a Rainbow Lead pencil.
(and here on her website)

Tangled Tidbits - 

*Printemps in Lanie's grid
*dotted white spaces
*sparkled Printemps

Tangled Tidbits - 

*Printemps in Lanie's grid
*Chemystery black circles repeat
*grid to darken Cubine

From Joanne Faherty (UK) ~

...I hadn't used chemstery before and I quite like it I had no idea where this one was going I practised chemstery and Laine (because I struggle with it, even though it looks fairly easy) , sat down and just tangled this is what came out there is a big cubine in there I thought there would be more as it's one of my favourite's to . Then after shading most of it I decided it needed some colour and broke out my new inktense pencils for a pop of colour

Tangled Tidbits - 

*one large Cubine

*Chemystery side of Cubine

*lovely Lanie border

From CZT Joan Delony (Florida), creator of our string this week ~

I have attached my tile for this challenge and have even written a blog post about it!
Fun challenge. I can't wait to see the other tiles.

Tangled Tidbits - 

*Chemystery border
*one large and lovely Lanie center
*wrap around corner of Cubine

From Jenny Hopkins (Australia) ~

What a lovely, very geometric challenge! The creative side of my brain had work with the mathematical side in order to produce this week's effort. I have to say, I really enjoyed it. It worked for me. Thank you for encouraging my brain to take up a new challenge.

Tangled Tidbits -
*Chemystery section shaded like Cubine
*great white space
*Cubine black spaces are complimented in the background of Lanie


From Lily Moon (Hungary) ~

Dear Adele, here is my tile for your weekly challenge.
ZenHug:

Tangled Tidbits - 

*Lanie shaded on both ends leaving highlights in the middle
*alternating lined background of Lanie and lighter lines repeated behind Printemps
*opposite shading of Cubine sections give the look of an optical illusion

From Sandra (Germany) ~

that was a wonderful challenge this week because I really liked the string! And I wanted to use all four patterns in my tile :-)
Printemps is one of my favourites but I didn't use the other patterns all to often before...
It was a great fun to tangle this tile :-)
In my blog

Tangled Tidbits - 

*two sizes of Cubine
*shaded and sparkled Printemps
*Chemystery grid extends to the ends of the tile


From Ilse Lukken (The Netherlands) ~

Here's my entry for this week's challenge, which is on my blog as well.

Tangled Tidbits - 

*great depth created with the Cubine border
*Lanie all facing the same direction and the deep black background morphs into Cubine
*super shading

From The Yorkshire Tortoise County Dublin, Ireland) ~

The string this week looked really interesting and I really liked the tangle patterns chosen. My favourite was Lanie which had somehow escaped my notice until now. I am going to try it out in a Monotangle in my sketch book just for fun.

Tangled Tidbits -
*Cubine on a slanted grid
*large Lanie
*peek of Printemps


From Tina Kirchhübel (Germany) ~

Thank you again for a wonderful challenge. Cubine and Printemps are some of my favorite patterns that I tangle very often. Lanie and Chemystery were new for me but I also like them and I think that all four fit very well to the string. So here is my entry for this week´s challenge which you can also see on my blogGreatings from Germany

Tangled Tidbits -
*Cubine on a square and slanted (diamond) grid
*full 'flower' Lanie center
*Chemystery square and slanted grid


From Anita Aspfors Westin (Dalarna, Sweden) -

Hi! Here comes my entry for 108. It was a nice challenge, though I am tired I couldn´t stop….I have packed my bags to go away a few days, but I felt I must do this. Two patterns were among those I learned in the beginning of my zentanglejourney, Cubine and Printemps. The other two are new friends!

Tangled Tidbits -
*Cubine blends from square to diamond grid
*Printmeps background slips behind Cubine
*Lanie peeks from Chemystry ball

From Talia Maynard (London, UK) ~

Here's my tile for this week's challenge. I really enjoyed this one with its mix of rigid and free flowing patterns. It became very much a tile of 2 halves for me. The Lanie and Printemps part is almost a tile in itself.

Tangled Tidbits - 

*aura-ed, sparkled beautiful black Lanie
*rounded dark center of Cubine
*detailed shading


From Sidney Kapinos (Virginia) ~

Got grids?! I hadn’t drawn Cubine in a while so it felt good to get back to basics for a bit. Chemystry was new to me (I had seen the pattern before but hadn’t used yet) and I found it interesting to draw. I love the look of Lanie all together so I placed it inside the smallest square. And lastly I included large and small Printemps to form a frame.
Thank you for another fun challenge! As always I look forward to seeing the results...my blog post

Tangled Tidbits -
*lace-like Printemps border
*double lined Cubine grid
*four square Lanie 'flower'

From Portia (Michigan) ~
Printemps kept reminding me of embossed wallpaper for some reason. Have a lovely holiday weekend and Happy Labor Day.

Tangled Tidbits - 

*lovely Lanie border
*repeated black Cubine circles
*four square Lanie in opposing directions


From Lori Byerly ~

I enjoyed this week's challenge with a grid emphasis.
You may see my tile here as well.

Tangled Tidbits -
*elegant shading
*one Chemystery square
*plump Lanie petals, varying sizes, looped center lines


From Beth Gaughan (NC) ~

Thanks for the fun challenge! I like grid patterns and these were mostly new to me.

Tangled Tidbits -
*tiny heart centers of Lanie
*weighted lines
*curved Cubine grid


From Emily Shelton (Kentucky) ~

Thanks Adele. This was fun.
You can find this on my blog 

Tangled Tidbits -
*four orientations of Cubine
*Lanie springs from Chemystery
*complimentary black circles and squares of Chemystery and Cubine


From Karin (Germany) ~

When I saw this week´s challenge I absolutely wanted to participate because I knew three of the patterns and really like them. At the end I didn´t use “printemps” because I didn´t want to overload the tile. Next time…
I am really happy that I could join in this week!
Kind regards!

Tangled Tidbits -
*Chemystery string lines
*wavy Cubine grid
*dark Lanie contrasts nicely with the surrounding white space


From Michele Wynne ~

Thank you once again for another challenging challenge. Left to my own devices I tend to go off the grids so this was definitely a journey (I wrote a little more about it on the blog).
I liked all of the patterns and loved how Printemps was among the faves because I incorporate it into as many tiles and ATC's as I can.

Tangled Tidbits-
*Lanie border, splendidly shaded
*bits of unraveling Printemps
*red Cubine squares give a nod to Zentangle


From Laura Emler, CZT ~

Thank you for having a challenge each week. I appreciate all the thoughtful work you put into the challenge.
This week's challenge was just that, a challenge. I tried the string three different times. Learned a lot of lessons!
1-Don't use your Micron Graphic instead use your 08 or something more controllable. The "orbs" on "Chemystry" went out-of-control.
2-Try more than one design with the tangles. You might be surprised!
3-Don't be afraid to add something if you think your tile is enhanced.
I'm sending you my third attempt with "Meer" added to "Lanie". The other two attempts are
posted on my blog  .

Tangled Tidbits -
*Meer/Lanie variation
*single Cubine center
*Chemystery background

From Beverly Gotthardt (Texas) ~

I like the discipline of grid patterns. Having not done Chemystery it turns out I really like it. Cubine was one of the first tangles I learned and I love it for the 3D effect. This was the perfect string for these tangles.

Tangled Tidbits - 

*double grid of Chemystery
*curved Cubine grid
*dark background of Printemps and Lanie accentuate the tangles

From Cheryl Stocks (Arizona) ~

I have been doing most of your weekly challenges and certainly reading your posts with interest. This one I've actually scanned and posted on my Flickr feedSome of my favorite tangles, but I'm not sure how well they played together. THANKS so much!
Have a brilliant day!

Tangled Tidbits -
*large and small Chemystery grids
*Cubine corner
*Lanie grid is the same size as one Cubine block


From Jennifer Sparrow ~

I just finished this week's challenge. I love grids, and thought the cube-containing string would work well. It was a tight squeeeeeeeeeze to fit it all into my 3-inch tile but here it is:

Tangled Tidbits -
*shaded and lined Cubine
*alternating light and dark Lanie grids
*mini Lanie and just a few, free floating loops

From Rose O Keeffe (Ireland) ~

Greetings from Ireland yet again :-) Loved the challenge this week. As it happens, Lanie was one of the first tangles I ever learned so it was really nice to return to it again :-)

Tangled Tidbits -
*white on black Printemps centers of Cubine
*delightfully detailed Lanie
*shaded diagonal lines of Cubine and shadows of Chemystery

From Nancy Sass (Virginia) ~

I enjoyed this challenge and used all four chosen tangles. I am
experimenting with colored pens instead of colored pencils, which
I love to use. The pens are much bolder. Thank you!

Tangled Tidbits -
*a tangled party of patterns
*Chemystery morphs into single lines and curls
*beautifully detailed Printemps and Lanie


From Lisa Preston (Marietta, Georgia) ~

Wow, I have to admit that initially I was a little bummed that grid based tangles were the name of the game, but after I started using Lanie and Chemystery, I changed my tune. Loved them both, even though I got Lanie a little backward. :) The 3D aspect of Chemystery is totally cool! It's the first time I've done a grid based one that was organic enough for my taste. (I had to leave out Cubine though, just not a favorite...) I was quite happy in the end with this one. I think the addition of Printemps really pulled everything together for me.

Tangled Tidbits - 

*Printemps center and corners
*diamond Chemystery grid
*zigzag edge created with Chemystery


From Ingrid (The Netherlands) ~

With much pleasure I worked on this tile! Chemistry was new to me. Lanie is always a joy to play with.

Tangled Tidbits -
*lovely Lanie border
*Cubine detail lines
*super shading

From Donna Flynn (Maine) ~

This string reminded me of a quilt block, so I couldn't resist adding stitching lines. This is what Lanie looks like when done with a wavy grid -fun! Nice combination of string and patterns! Thank you, as always.

Tangled Tidbits - 

*wavy grid for Lanie!
*outer edge of Printemps
*wonderful perspective at the intersection of Cubine grids


From Joy (Pennsylvania) ~

Struggled with the combination of the string and the tangles, but in the end saw only turtles!

Tangled Tidbits -

*fun Printemps turtles
*Cubine grids, large and small
*weighted lines of Printemps


From Linda Hoyt (Arizona) ~

Here is my submission for It’s A String Thing #108. 

Tangled Tidbits - 

*background Cubine grid
*dark aura for Lanie
*pretty Printemps to shade Cubine

From Sally Sheldon (Massachusetts) ~

I really liked all of the patterns this week but I don't always do well when I try to draw straight lines. But perfection is not the point. So here is my square with lines and all.

Tangled Tidbits -
*mirrored Lanies side-by-side
*narrow and wide Chemystery
*sprinkle of sparkled Printemps


From Jane (Colorado) ~

Well, this was a fun one...
I had been saving Margaret Bremner's fabulous "Cubine and then some tutorial"
from her blog post back in January, so this was a perfect time to really take a look. I love her "windows with stars" idea so I thought I'd try some of that...Did a large Cubine window in the big square on the left and added your Lanie in the corner box area and used Printemps in the dark space...more Cubine with stars around the bottom...the whole thing reminds me of a spacescape...windows looking out on stars, supernovas and some strange satelllite! Surrounded the whole thing with a single Chemstry strand and it looks like a science project in a box--:)

Tangled Tidbits - 

*wonderful Science references - and Margaret Bremner's post
*wrap around Cubine grid
*single, detailed Chemystery border


From Linda Goncalves (Pennsylvania) ~

This week I thought all were very difficult. I was thinking rooms
within rooms. Chemistry made me think of floor tiles so I used it
twice. 

Tangled Tidbits - 

*3 D look of Chemystery
*Cubine, dotted and lined
*Printemps border with black background


From Sue Agnew (Arizona) ~

Here's #108. What fun to use grid-based tangles, on a string that is just made for them! Cubine has been one of my favorite tangles since I started. I love tangles that create three dimensions.
For this one, I used a "ball grid." I drew an array of balls 5 across and 5 down, except for the places that I didn't want a ball because of Cubine. Then I joined the balls with either petals or lines, depending on what tangle was going to go there. (It only took me a couple of tiles to get it figured out right). I did that kind of grid because I wanted the outside edge to take the shape of the Lanie petals. It was a lot of fun, although I didn't get Printemps worked in.
Thanks for another fun challenge!

Tangled Tidbits - 

*double lined grid of Chemystery morphs into double lined grid of Cubine
*alternating lined and white loops of Lanie
*lines repeat in Cubine

From Lucy Banta, CZT16 (New Jersey) ~

Tangled Tidbits - 

*tangles share the same grid
*sparkled Printemps in Chemystery
*a little pop of Lanie


From Mariam G (Port Hueneme, CA) ~

Well, this one intrigued me, and I must say, I struggled with it (don't know why....). I got stuck in an idea - didn't like the first one so did a second. They are, basically, 'day and night' of one another. For what it's worth, here's the results!
Thanks again for all your encouragement and insight - love the challenges!

Tangled Tidbits -
*fabulous contrast of black and white between the two tiles
*light Lanie border in the lower tile and heavier in the top one
*double lined Cubine grid
*Printemps shines in front of the"starry night" Cubine


From Becky Welty ~

Tangled Tidbits -
*double Cubine border
*center Chemystery
*simple and elegant Printemps and Lanie


From Jessie Plouffe (Connecticut) ~

Here is my tile for this week. I tweaked the string a bit to make it
more Cubine-ish, and then I put Chemystry along the string. I used
Printemps in the border area inside the string, and filled the rest
with Lanie and more Chemystry. I really love all of these tangles, and
I'm very happy with this tile.

Tangled Tidbits -
*layered Printemps
*different orientations of Lanie create intriguing variations
*string lines of Cubine superbly shaded



From Jacqueline Becker (Washington) ~

I've wanted to write to you since your last kind email. I am so excited for you to have a new website and also to have the wonderful frames for sale. They look great and it is nice to see the different sizes. Also, I wanted to say that your video talking about Zentangle is so good. You are brave to sit before a camera. Me, not so much. You do a good job talking about something you love and it shows how caring and compassionate you are. No matter how much I love doing something, I just don't think I could do the camera thing!

Tangled Tidbits -
*fabulous depth created with shading
*window-like corner of Cubine with Printemps
*detail lines of Cubine and Lanie


From Marla Mendenhall (California) ~

You are about to enter another dimension, a dimension of sight without sound, of mind without thought, a middle ground between light and shadow. A dimension vast as space and timeless as infinity. It’s a journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that only of imagination. There's the signpost up ahead. Your next stop, the Tangle Zone." 

After days in The Zone with this tile, and despite the inaccurate perspective, I couldn’t stop seeing cubes with this string. I imagined I’d try a different approach only to lift my pen and find I’d created a duplicate, start over and see it repeated again, a déjà vu on rewind. Again. And again …
(Cue theme music.)
So this week there's only one.

Tangled Tidbits -
*another Marla masterpiece - in word and tangles!
*Cubine wrapped cube
*sensational dimension created in cubes of pattern

From Peggy Kohrmann (Colorado) ~

This week I enjoyed learning the three tangles Cubine, Lanie, and Chemystery. Your string seemed to speak to me and my first white tile is very simple with lots of open space. Because the "circles" or beads of Chemystery made me think of the centers of Lanie, the center of the tile became a blend of Lanie and Chemystery. One big Cubine with a front was all that I wanted to add. A little shading and it was finished!
My renaissance tile was perfect for placing Lanie around the outer square because I wanted to attempt the scalloped edges. The lines inside asked to become Chemystery but with odd sort of hook ups. Used a white ink pen for the highlights. A bit of shading and lots of white space again. I'm excited to submit this week but didn't use Printemps, it wasn't needed this time.

Tangled Tidbits -
*Chemystery morphs into Lanie
*grand Lanie border
*sparkled Cubine
welcome back!


From Susan Theron (South Africa) ~

My contribution. Looking forward to seeing wat the others have done. Also on my blog

Tangled Tidbits - 

*similar sized grid for all tangles with one larger center Cubine
*double lined Cubine
*softly shaded tangles

From Cathy Cusson ~

Tangled Tidbits - 

*large and little Cubine with a
*medium grid for Lanie
*clusters of Printemps

From Jacquelyn Melanson ( Maine) ~

Tangled Tidbits - 

*curved and square grids for Cubine
*lovely rows and corners of Lanie
*weighted lines for Chemystery and Cubine

From Elisa Pahlawan (France) ~

Here is my entry for challenge 108. It was too tempting to use the string to create a big Cubine within a border so that's what I tried to achieve... If you look at my tile from really far away, you might see it ! What is certain is that I enjoyed playing with all 4 patterns, using the same initial grid for the patterns that fill the "big Cubine" inside my "Printemps" frame.

Tangled Tidbits - 

*glorious border of Printemps
*Cubine within Cubine
*shared grid for Lanie, Cubine, and Chemystery


From Sharyn Penna (Massachusetts) ~

This week's prompt was a true pleasure! Lanie is always a comfort tangle with a surprise ending ... I love multi-version tangles. Chemystery was a first for me ...another add on to my list of repeatable tangles.
Thanks for a relaxing tangling session ... this was the perfect ending to my week.
Cheers to summertime lasting as long as possible! (snow doubt about it!).

Tangled Tidbits - 

*beautiful Printemps border and they repeat in Lanie circles

*diagonal grid and large black, sparkled Chemystry contrasts with the

*square grid of Lanie

*superb shading


From Kariti Barre (Florida) ~

I am having so much fun with these challenges! As a newbie it is very helpful to me to have some minor guidelines with which to be creative! I love how it introduces me to new tangle patterns :D

Tangled Tidbits - 

*beautiful touches created with aura 

*curved Cubine grid

*Printemps accented Lanie border

And now...the tile for honors this week was sent in by...

midori from Florida!  

This is her note - in all lower case letters as she sent it - 

good evening adele!
when i began my tangling strokes for this challenge, i was clueless as to how each pattern might evolve into each other.
after my final stroke, i can 'almost' conjure up...

...wavy 'cubine' evoking the towering walls of the castillo de san marcos,
...shiny black spheres of 'chemystery' and hypnoic 'printemps' resonating cannon balls,
....and, 'lanie' mirroring saw palmetto leaves.
all these elements, that embody florida's historic past, swaying with the atlantic ocean breeze.
happy 450th birthday, st. augustine!

Tangled Tidbits -
*fabulous visual tribute to our great city of Saint Augustine
*3 D Cubine - large black spaces, doubled lines, wavy grids, superb shading
*sparkled, shaded, darkened Printemps
*side view of Chemystery with loops of Lanie
*wisps and curls and repeated black balls of Chemystry

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


Thank you to all of the talented tanglers for the treats this week.

Many thanks as well to the creative minds behind the string and tangles this week:

TanglePatterns String 108 by CZT Joan Delony 

 Cubine by Maria Thomas

 Lanie one of my patterns 

Chemystery by CZT MaryAnn Scheblein-Dawson. 
and
Primtemps by Maria Thomas. 

Check back Tuesday afternoon for "It's a String Thing" #109!

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, 

the evidence of things not seen.  ~The Book of Hebrews

My ZIA Zendala for "It's a String Thing" #107  by Adele Bruno, CZT
Tangles:  Zenith by Maria Thomas, Pixioze by Margaret Bremner, CZT and Ann by Adele Bruno, CZT

"It's a String Thing" #108

It's Tuesday, your good news day!

This week we begin with TanglePatterns String 108 by CZT Joan Delony ~

Copyrighted image used with permission by TanglePatterns.com

I am happy to be able to say that Joan is a friend of mine.  She is an accomplished artist, not only in tangle related things, but also in stained glass.  This beautiful cross, a gift from Joan, hangs over my desk:

Cross by Joan Delony, CZT

Joan also lives in one of my favorite areas of Florida, St. Augustine, a town celebrating it's 450th anniversary this week. It is the oldest city in the United States.

I called Joan today and asked her to name her top three grid based patterns.  Without hesitation she listed these:

 Cubine by Maria Thomas
 Lanie one of my patterns (and that made me smile!)
 and
Chemystery by CZT MaryAnn Scheblein-Dawson.

She said that most all of her work contains these patterns along with
Primtemps by Maria Thomas.

"They add dimension and just seem to flow", she added.

In honor of Joan, we will use these four tangles with her string.

Step outs for the patterns can be found by clicking their names above and/or TanglePatterns.

Use as many or as few as you'd like.

Simply pencil the string line onto your tile and tangle away!  Keep in mind that string lines are suggestions and let the patterns lead the way.

Here are the (Not so) Official Guidelines: 
* Challenges are posted on Tuesdays.
*Use the string posted for the week and patterns that begin or contain the letter(s) indicated
* Submit a photo of your tile saved as jpg or scan your tile (300 dpi or higher) 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. WHEN YOU SIGN YOUR NAME, FEEL FREE TO  INCLUDE YOUR STATE/COUNTRY. 
FOR EXAMPLE:   ADELE BRUNO (FLORIDA)

PLEASE NOTE: It is not necessary for you to have a blog or website to participate.

If you do have a blog or website, I will add a link upon request.  
Please include the site specific URL. 

I look forward to your emails.
HAVE FUN!

"It's a String Thing" #107 Tiles

This challenge was a dance down the yellow brick road (via TanglePatterns String 111), a nod to the seventy-sixth anniversary of the "The Wizard of Oz".  I know I'm not the only one who has been singing all week! We used two brand new tangles - Zenith by Maria Thomas and Pixioze by Margaret Bremner, CZT - along with Ann, the first tangle published on my blog.  It resulted in some of the prettiest tiles and ZIA.

Let's take a look ~

The first tile arrived from Roslyn Elliott ~

Well, tried new paper and color. I love the color, but the paper left the shading a little too shiny for my taste. Usually I work with watercolor paper. I like the texture and how it shades. I hope you like it. I am pleased with the result and I've learned a lot along the way.

Tangled Tidbits -
*tangled spaces of Ann and a wonderful side view
*large circles of Pixioze
*sparkled Zenith

From Sarah at hungrycorgistudio! ~

I used all three patterns this time, Zenith, Ann, and Pixioze. Great tangles to learn and re-try for the week. This was a lot of detail to fit in a small spot! I think I did ok. I enjoyed using this week's string as well.

Tangled Tidbits -
*lovely aura
*divided black and white 'v''s in Zenith
*multiple layers of Pixioze

From Juul (France) ~

I must admit that I draw "Ann" just freehand,without grid or points as I liked the outcome of my tryouts much nicer and more "natural".
Thank you very much for all your application for our "zentangletickled" community !

Tangled Tidbits -

*radiant detail lines in Ann
*coloring of Zenith makes the tangle look doubled
*whimsical touch added to Pixioze

From Emily Shelton and here on her blog ~

Tangled Tidbits -
*fabulous variation of Zenith - clusters of petals, black background
*half section of Zenith with multiple aura
*aura and varied line thickness for Ann

From Anna (Spain) ~

        I love this week string. Thanks again for your inspired challenges.

Tangled Tidbits -
*beautiful field of Ann
*shading gives a curved look to string section of Pixioze
*lovely touch of yellow

From Joanne Faherty (UK) ~

I loved this challenge pixioze is fast becoming a favourite I've already used it a few times. Zenith is a fun one too though I much prefer the simple variations at the end of the newsletter . This tile came out slightly different to what I'd thought but I like it. Blank spaces are becoming a fave. Of mine too.

Tangled Tidbits - 

*elegant Zenith, simple version with sparkle and shading
*delightful detail on Ann
*white space accents the tangles


From Heidi Sue (Utah) ~

What a fun challenge this week. I love the string and all the patterns. Pixioze is just about the most fun tangle I've played with for a long time. Excellent filler pattern, but it will be cool to break out individual elements and see what I can do. Currently, when I just need some quiet relaxation, I'm filling a page in my big book with pixioze. Good stuff!
[on my] my blog page with the entry

Tangled Tidbits - 

*Zenith rimmed string line
*three variations of Ann
*shading creates wonderful dimension


From Tina Kirchhübel (Germany) ~

Your challenge this week was really challenging for me. The first moment I was not sure if I could work with this patterns in this string!?
But I did my best and that´s the result.
You can find the tile also on my blog 

Tangled Tidbits - 

*a flower for Ann
*Zenith rimmed string line - notice the similarity to Heidi Sue's above, yet both are very different - so fun to see especially because they literally live around the world from each other
*wonderful shadows


From Anita A Westin (Sweden) ~

Here comes my entry. I had to give this time. My first effort, I was trying too hard. I was planning and trying to get it right. No good. No zen. But then I got to it again and this time I didn´t struggle. So even if the result isn´t perfect, I was in it and feel satisfied about it.

Tangled Tidbits -
*the result is always just right when you tangle with zen :)
*Ann filled curves
*super shading


From Beth Gaughan (NC) ~

Here is my tile for this week's challenge. I love your Wizard of Oz nod! I thought that the tile should be brightly colored to reflect the beautiful land of Oz. I also added a few Lollipops, a tangle by Suzanne McNeill, to represent the Lollipop Guild.

Tangled Tidbits -
*pretty grid of Ann and one fluttering away
*detail lines and dark circles of Zenith
*Pixioze center string section


From Jessie Plouffe (Connecticut) ~

Here is my submission for this week's challenge. I love the tangle
Ann, but what a sad inspiration for it :(. I decided to surround a
single large Ann with the Pixioze, with Pixioze-ized. Zenith on the
other side. I left the swirl mostly blank for the shading, but I did
use some swirls that are reminiscent of Ann.

Tangled Tidbits -
*Pixioze-ized Zenith - that is a new term in tangling :) and it is a beautiful meld of the patterns
*double curls for Ann
*depth created with dark spaces of Pixioze

From Linda Hoyt (Arizona) ~

I couldn’t get the line from the song “Follow the Yellow Brick Road” out of my head. It seemed certain that that is where my tile should start. So when I couldn’t find a pattern that seemed like bricks to me, I made up a little tangle I would call Pavers that is sort of like Blips only not slanted and sort of like the rounded corners in ‘Nzeppel only based on a square grid of squares and rectangles to represent the bricks in my road. I hope that is OK and not too literal to be outside the guidelines for Zentangle.
I wish I’d found more space for Ann! I love that cheery little butterfly and can see that she will grace many of my tiles in the future.

Tangled Tidbits -
*Blips - great idea, added depth created with the angles
*regal looking Zenith
*singular dainty Ann


From Susan Theron (South Africa) ~

Here is my contribution, also on my blog

Tangled Tidbits - 

*string line of Zenith, darkened along the original lines
*fabulous field of Pixioze
*delicate Ann

From Jennifer Sparrow (NC) ~

Thanks for another fun challenge, Adele! I love Pixioze! I used it in tribute to the poppies on either side of the yellow brick road. Since my "road" was left white, I added a dot of gold to my flowers.

Tangled Tidbits -
*light and lovely tile

*shaded white string section rises above the field of Pixioze
*touch of gold highlights Pixioze


From Ingrid (The Netherlands) ~

Congratulations on launching your beautiful frames for zentangle tiles.
Enclosed my ST # 107.
Had a lot of zen moments drawing this tile. All tangle patterns were new to me.

Tangled Tidbits -
*beautiful balance of light and dark
*gloriously aura-ed Zenith
*detailed shading


From Lucy Banta, CZT (New Jersey) ~

Congrats on the frames! I ordered one--can't wait!
Attached is my tile this week, 

Tangled Tidbits -
*large and lovely section of Ann
*aura, stipple, and shading of Zenith
*dark spaces in Pixioze add depth


From Portia (Michigan) ~

An odd combination of tangles to Zentangle. Really needed to calm down and be very in the zone.

Tangled Tidbits - 

*mission accomplished by the look of this lovely tile
*five variations of Ann
*spectacular Zenith variations


From Sue Agnew (Arizona) ~

This one was a challenge because I could see each tangle as the "road" but not how the tangles might go together. So my offering is kind of busy, and I'm hoping the shading will help.
Usually I do spent some time planning how to tangle the tile. This time I started with an idea and just went. So it's not "perfect", which I guess is the point anyway. For Zenith, at least at first acquaintance, I prefer using only half. For Pixioze, I realize that I negated one of its characteristics, which is the random placement of the circles and leaf shapes, but that's how it wanted to lie. In my modification of Ann, I used something I first learned about in the tangle Puf, joining concentric squares or square spirals corner-to-corner to create a 3-D effect. I also used an "incomplete grid" in which I extend the lines just short of their terminus, so that leaves the freedom to curve the shapes that you impose on the grid (in this case, where the left and right, and top and bottom, of the "wings" come together -- the interior ones it didn't matter because I colored the junctions black, but the edge ones I like to free from the grid)
It was fun to explore all these new-to-me tangles! Thanks!

Tangled Tidbits -
*such a lovely description - and wonderful result
*spiral of Sue's Pixioze version has a three-dimensional look
*amazing look for Ann


Jane Glotzer (Colorado) ~

First off--congratulations on all of your new commercial undertakings! The frames look fabulous, as was your post about how they came to be, pix and all--:) and I checked out your new site, too. Great stuff...
For this week's challenge I used Pixioze for the "road"--what a fun pattern...when I first learned/practiced it, I had all stripes and auras around the circles/leaf shapes, but when I worked it within the string, I ended up with some darkened areas...I used a touch of a small variation of Zenith around the edges, and the Ann butterfly finished it off. Added the purple just for fun...a little shading, and #107 is sweet and done!

Tangled Tidbits - 

*super shading
*border of Zenith
*lovely layered Pixioze


From Linda Bladen (UK) ~

Attached my tile for this week. Really enjoyed learning three more new tangles. Especially like Zenith although in the end it played a fairly limited role this time. Will definitely be using lots of variations of it in the future.
Congratulations on getting your online shop up and running. Hope that you're able to sell to UK addresses at some point

Tangled Tidbits -
*soft shading along the border, string lines, and in Ann
*Zenith darkened in on the top and bottom arcs
*pretty path of Ann


From Deb Jacobs (Wisconsin) ~

Better late than never. Thanks for posting this challenge. Still trying to get the feel of ann...seems I'm grid pattern challenged! 

Tangled Tidbits -
*beautiful border of Zenith
*variation in sizes of Pixioze circles
*soft shading

A very warm welcome to  Nancy Sass (Virginia) ~

This is my first string challenge, and I love it! I'm so happy
to have found Adele and look forward to this each week.
I used all 3 of the tangles for this week's challenge. It took
life of it's own, and seem to be a happy garden. That is
why I named it "My Garden of Delight". Some of my colors
did not scan well. Enjoy!

Tangled Tidbits -
*large and small Zenith
*various sizes of Pixioze
*delightful details throughout


From Audrie Wiesenfelder (Arizona) ~

Really enjoyed this challenge. I'm a big Wizard of Oz fan. (I even did a knit project that had the Yellow Brick Road as part of it.) As you can see by my tile, I took you quite literally. So here's my "Yellow Brick Road"
Also on my blog Purple Butterfly

Tangled Tidbits -
*gorgeous colors
*Zenith trimmed string lines
*pretty Ann (as Audrie's blog name suggests, she creates beautiful butterflies)


From K. Bish (Northern Michigan) ~

Enclosed please find my newest Tangle "Rediscovering OZ". What a fun challenge, I just loved it. ZENITH is a fun tangle and one I will explore further another time. PIXIOZE is another fun tangle. I love the depth that it creates. And ANN, how lovely, I really enjoy the way you have created tangles and named them after your loved ones. I admittedly got a little carried away with the theme of this challenge, but I had a heck of a great time doing it.

Tangled Tidbits -
*many thanks for sharing the great time - I spy Auntie Em's house!
*sparkle and shading and glitter, oh my!
*nice contrast of the black and white Pixioze with the multi-colored version


From Jenny Hopkins (Australia) ~

Happy birthday to Dorothy and her friends. Thank you for a lovely challenge again this week. It was fun. I have left a lot of white space - unusual for me - but that was what worked.
One of the things I enjoy with many of the tangles, is seeing how such simple strokes create such beautiful patterns. Zenith is one of those tangles. I think I would have stared at it for a very long time before figuring out just how simple it is to draw.

Tangled Tidbits -
*great observation about Zenith - and a reflection of the beauty of step outs
  They make the seemingly complicated, simple
*sparkled Pixioze
*shadows for Ann


From Lisa Preston (Georgia) ~

Great challenge this week. Boy, I really struggled with Ann, although in the end I liked my butterfly path very much. I wish I had left my Pixiose a little airier, but overall I was pretty happy with the way this tile came out.
I really enjoyed the tangles you chose for this one. This is one of the ones where I just knew where I was going. Thanks for another good challenge!

Tangled Tidbits -
*string line of delicately tangled Ann
*border of Zenith in contrasting black and white
*sparkle and shading for Pixioze


A very warm welcome to Joy from Pennsylvania ~

This is my first attempt at sending one -- nowhere to go but up!
I really enjoyed the theme and look forward to being a part of this project.

Tangled Tidbits - 

*golden Zenith path
*varying sizes of Ann
*pretty corner of Pixioze

From Midori (Florida) ~

practicing on your suggested patterns/ string for the weekly challenge has brought a newfound structure to my, otherwise. laissez faire approach to zentangle.
this time, i must have had 'way-to-much' coffee before and during tangling this challenge!
trying to control my shaky drawing hand while stroking 'prixioze'...made me go just bit bonkers.
next time, i will stick to herbal tea...

Tangled Tidbits-
*wonderful take on Ann - love those long curls
*graceful curves of Zentih
*dark centers of Pixioze morph with the other tangles - very clever!


From Shelley (California) ~

I did too much thinking on this one. After reading the comment about “the yellow brick road” I couldn’t get out of the box that put me in. I added Florz for the brick road. Hope that’s okay. I’m new at Zentangle, and I think I am not ready for color yet. But I’m having fun. Thanks for the challenges! 

Tangled Tidbits -
*color creates ZIA - Zentangle Inspired Art - and the 'road' is wonderful
*dark space accents Ann
*multiple rows of Zenith


A very warm welcome to Pat F. from Ohio ~

I've been following along and trying the challenges for practice. Finally decided to try sending one. 

Tangled Tidbits -
*Zenith along the string curve with great white space surrounding it
*black circles of Zenith sprinkled about
*pretty field of Pixioze

From Becky Welty (North Carolina) ~

Tangled Tidbits -
*fabulous curl of Zenith
*a single sweetly shaded Ann
*little pop of Pixioze in the corner


From Liza Buckley, CZT (Florida) ~

I just visited your new web page with your beautiful frames! I'm so happy for you, and as always inspired too...I had fun with your tangle challenge this week. It's my first attempt with Zenith, and I really had enjoyed exploring it.

Tangled Tidbits -

*depth created with Pixioze with various sizes, shading
*lovely aura of Zenith - and many variations of the tangle, too
*Zinger touch for Ann


From Talia Maynard (UK) ~

Here's my tile for this week. I have totally fallen in love with Pixioze as a tangle. It's such fun to draw and shade and like Printemps, looks great filling any space.

Tangled Tidbits -
*doubled lines of Ann
*spectacular Zenith - stripes and shading
*wonderfully shaded Pixioze


From Donna Flynn (Maine) ~

Tangled Tidbits -
*dense and detailed Pixioze
*Zenith along the curve - nicely shaded
*purple and red details for Ann




From Jacquelyn Melanson (Maine) ~

My second entry, didn't get the Ann at all. But I tried.

Tangled Tidbits -
*Ann is very well tangled
*Zenith along the string lines with alternating black and shaded diamonds
*pretty Pixioze

From Cathy Cusson ~

I totally love the Wizard of Oz! I have seen it a gazillion times - at least. When I was small, the second the Wicked Witch came on, I would hide my eyes til someone could tell me she had gone away! Many years later I had the privilege of getting her to send me her autograph.

Tangled Tidbits -
*great story - and tile
*light and airy tangles
*aura for Ann and Zenith


From Rose O Keefe (Ireland) ~

I enjoyed the challenge this week. Three new tangles to play with-what's not to love! I don't usually go for representative patterns but after reading the story of Ann I had to use it...and I'm glad I did. I found it so relaxing to draw :-). I call this tile 'Flight of Ann'.
Thanks for the challenge. Looking forward to next week :-)

Tangled Tidbits - 

*yummy stripes connecting rows of creative Zenith variations
*Ann in the string's curl seems to take flight
*aura and pleasingly contrasting white and black spaces


From a proud teacher, a very warm welcome to Kariti and Tyler Barre (Florida) ~

I was in your Zentangle class on Saturday with my husband. First I want to say that I just loved it and so did he! We discovered the String Thing challenge on your blog and decided to try it out :) I have attached our results!

 Tangled Tidbits -
*awesome aura of Zenith
*dark background of Pixioze
*lovely field of Ann and one on it's own

Tangled Tidbits -
*dimension and depth in the string's curl
*three variations of Zenith
*nice use of aura

From Elisa (France) ~

Here is my tile, sent to you at the last minute again! My first one on an original Zentangle tile. Indeed, a few days ago, by chance I found a pack of 20 tiles in my local stationery store in Paris: I could not believe my eyes and I knew at once that my first try would be for your challenge.
I enjoyed discovering 3 new patterns which easily found their place on the gracious string you chose for us. I also took the opportunity of this tile to try the combination of black and sepia ink.

Tangled Tidbits -
*dotted and shaded path for Ann
*delicate borders of Zenith
*sensational sepia Pixioze


From Sharyn Penna (Massachusetts) ~

This prompt helped me process sending my youngest off to college. Pixiole has a place in my heart! It's very soothing.
Congratulations on the expansions to your blog and shop! I'm so looking forward to the creativity and inspirations.

Tangled Tidbits -
*Pixioze bubbles up from the tile
*Zenith string lines
*wonderful shading


From Felicity Strohfeldt (South Africa) ~

Congratulations on your new, successful developments and initiatives. Well done, just love your frames!
...string 111 by Maria Vennekens reminded me of striving forward and of course encountering many curves and “swerves” in one’s path through life. Ann by yourself made excellent bricks and butterflies have such an interesting lifecycle, that reminds me of the human cycle in a way. Egg (gestation), caterpillar (babyhood) growing to a pupae(adolescence) and then the emergence of a beautiful, free butterfly (adulthood) that shines bright for a while and disappears to become, but a memory. My Ann’s are contained until they had to burst free, there’s a naughty one flying upstream too. I used Pixioze by Margaret Bremmer as the background and pattern in the wings, hope it’s not too confusing and Zenith by Rick Roberts as a delicate frame around the tile. Also on my blog.

Tangled Tidbits -
*Ann flows down, around, under, and away
*Pixioze in Ann compliments the background
*dainty Zenith border


And now...
The tile(s) for honors this week were sent in by

Marla Mendenhall from California ~

Tile #1 I used a stylized version of Ann (butterflies, sadly, are on my list with hearts - toward the bottom). Then I felt bad and used lots of butterflies on tile #2 (they fly along the string). But on tile #3, when I was just trying to figure out where to put the little beasties, Zenith morphed into Zen-Ann, and Pixioze became Pixi-fleur. Doncha just love when that happens?! Fun, fun, fun. Thanks for another great challenge.

*N'zepple look to Ann
*Zenith aura-ed to fit the string curl

*one large Ann in the background filled with Pixioze
*second layer of Ann flows along the string's curl
*beautiful border of Zenith

*flower-like Pixioze
*Ann and Zen morph beautifully


Congratulations, Marla!


A HUGE thank you for the good wishes on the launch of my frames.  I appreciate all of the good wishes and the orders too!

Thank you to all of the talented tanglers for the treats this week.

Many thanks as well to the creative minds behind the string and tangles, along with mine, this week:


TanglePatterns String 111 by CZT Maria Vennekens
Zenith by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas
Pixioze by CZT Margaret Bremner


Check back Tuesday afternoon for "It's a String Thing" #108!