Diva Challenge #64 - String Theory v. VIII - Fortuneteller

For the String Theory challenges everyone uses the same string. The name fortuneteller is because the string is reminiscent of the paper fortuneteller often made by children. Click here to read more about the challenge and access the links to view the other entries.

The String

When I first looked at the string I had two ideas that resulted in two entries this week. For the first tile rather than drawing the string I used the beginning of the tangle Hurry as the string and then decided to to weave bands through it. I'm also trying to get more comfortable with having white space so resisted the urge to fill in every last open space.

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For the second tile - I drew the actual string, using the lines more as guidelines to hang the tangle on rather than segments to be filled in. Back in the day when I was woodburning on gourds I started many designs with this configuration - long before I knew about strings.

Folks at the gourd shows would often ask where I found or if I sold my patterns and surprised to find out that I started with a basic shape and filled it in letting the overall pattern evolve line by line - practicing Zentangle and didn't know it! Sometimes I worked from the outside into the center, other times from the center out. This tile was worked from the center out.

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Arckles - a new tangle

Arckles (rhymes with sparkles) came about when I needed something to fill in as a transition between 2 other patterns. I find that a lot of my spontaneity when working on a Zentangle is inspired by the look and feel of wire work especially chain maille designs. Without a lot of planning Arckles just sort of appeared in a tile one day. It's been a lot of fun to play with and refine it - Zentangle style.

The name? - now that was a challenge - I'll spare you the details of that journey - the short version is I saw another word in a random word generator that provided enough inspiration to eventually come up with Arckles. When drawing the pattern almost every stroke is a small "arc" - so Arckles it is.

The basic design is very open air which gives it a delicate look and there are 2 ways to start it. The fun part is in the many variations possible by changing the size, adding more arcs, filling in spaces or stacking it. I hope you enjoy it and would love to see what you do with it.

ARCKLES

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Diva Challenge #63 - Fengle

Fengle is a new official tangle. The instructions were posted in the most recent Zentangle Newsletter here. Read more about the challenge at the Diva's site here.

I actually started but never finished this tile a while back when the CZT's were provided with the instructions. One thing I'm still pretty good at - taking a light flowing organic pattern and doing the opposite with it - lol. Oh, and I also don't know when to stop and leave well enough alone. I really like Fengle but will need to work with it a bit more to get the rhythm and flow. Have another tile started - just not ready to be posted.

Fengle

Tangles: Fengle, Cadent/Dragonair combo, Purk, Arckles

For the Cadent/Dragonair combo I used a single row of Cadent and then added Dragonair on each side. Dragonair created by Norma Burnell CZT at Fairy Tangles. Arckles is a new pattern I've been working on - took longer to name it than create it. Instructions and more about it are in a separate post here.

Diva Challenge #62: Spiral Vs. Paradox

This week's challenge comes from CZT Marizaan van Beek from South Africa.  The challenge is to use spiral with paradox.  The basic string is to be the spiral and then tangle paradox within the spiral.

A couple of months ago I started the tile below using just spiral and paradox - still needs a bit more work.

Diva Challenge #61: UMT v.II

This is the second installment of UMT (Use My Tangle).  Anyone is free to submit a tangle pattern, within the guidlines.  On the first Monday of the month Laura randomly chooses one of the home-made tangles.  The challenge is to learn the new tangle and use it in a Zentangle or ZIA.

This week's tangle comes to us from Mariët, called GOLVEN, which is the Dutch word for waves..  you can find instructions for her tangle here.

Golven

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Tangles: Golven, 'Nzeppel, Printemps, Msst and ???

The pattern inside Golven going around 'Nzeppel is one I've been working out for awhile.  I'll post directions once I refine it a bit more and come up with a name.

Diva Challenge 60 DuoTangle v.III

The challenge - use only the two tangle patterns  Cirquital found here and Munchin, found here

Definitely a challenge but a fun one.  I've used Munchin quite a bit but Cirquital not so much.  It's finished for now but I think it still needs something - just not sure what - maybe some white dots on the black or more shading.  Any suggestions?

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Diva Challenge #57 UMT v.1

The first Monday of the month the challenge is UMT - Use My Tangle.  A pattern created by a fellow tangle enthusiast will be featured for the challenge.  This week the tangle is Sanibelle created by Tricia Faraone.  Follow this link to see instructions for creating Sanibelle.

Tangles: Sanibelle, Paradox, Zazzy, Flez

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Completed the challenge from a couple of weeks ago - just never found the time to post it.  Diva Challenge #55 - String Theory v. VIII: Moebius Trip.  The challenge was to use the Moebius logo as the string.

Diva Challenge #54 - Purple Haze

Blackberry Surprise

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If purple is your favorite color how is it possible to not have a purple pen, pencil, or paint in the house?  When I finally got around to this week's challenge that is what I discovered - nothing in the house to add purple to the tile.  Well I did eventually come across an old purple ball point - of course the ink had dried up.  Too late to drive out to my studio to collect a pen or pencil.  Now what do I do?  As you can see I did find a way to add purple to the tangle - found it in a most unlikely place - then again I'm guessing before there was purple ink and pencils this mystery purple may have been a favorite of artists then.  The purple is the juice from a fresh blackberry residing in my refrigerator.  Pretty easy to just stamp and blot away on the tile.  I rather like the effect.

Just to have a bit more fun I took another tile and covered it in purple blackberry juice - waiting for it to dry - will tangle and post that one later.

Zentangle Ornaments

Could not post these before or it might have ruined the surprise of the gift.  Every year I always have such grand plans to make a lot of ornaments for gifts.  The problem is that I should start in July but that never happens so I end up, late in the year, making a few and rotating who receives them each year.  I found a nice selection of blanks that were suitable for woodburning at Woodcrafters.

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Diva Challenge #52 - Give

This challenge, #52 marks one year for the Diva Challenges.  The challenge appropriately enough, for this time of year, is Give. We are to make a Zentangle or ZIA piece to give away.  Perfect timing for me as I had just started working on a ZIA that will be going to a friend in Virginia.

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Give

The photo above is the lid of a scallop box before it's folded - completed ZIA box is below.

The template for the scallop box is available for download from  Mirkwood Designs 

Zentangle Display Options

How do you display your  Zentangles?   So many creative things you can do - mount on mats, frame them with or without mats,  mount on folded cardstock for a tent display - the possibilities are endless.

For a quick no muss option I recently came across two items marketed for different purposes but work great for displaying Zentangles.  They also make a nice way to gift a Zentangle.  Relevant links for the products are at the end of this post.  Disclaimer - not associated with either product just a happy customer.   You can find the most interesting things - ignoring sleep and chasing shiny things around the internet!

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First one up - doesn't look like much from a full on front view - a 4" black square

 

The surprise is revealed when you look at the backside.  It's a small easel with a hinged support stand for tabletop display or use the small ring for hanging on a wall. 

 

Mounting the 3.5" Zentangle tile on the 4" easel 

provides a slim black border to frame your work.

The second find - marketed in the photography world - Snapshot Dot.  It's a small 2" flexible silicone disk.  Comes in 5 colors.  While the blue, green and translucent ones worked well for photos and other things, I preferred the black and white ones for displaying Zentangles.

I like the black disk best for Zentangles

The white one comes in a close second -  especially

 for the dense and darker Zentangles I so often make.

Before my order arrived I thought I would like the translucent best - it works well for photos and other things but I found with a Zentangle the way it absorbed and then reflected the light was a bit distracting - it caught my eye first.  Whereas with the black and white I barely noticed they were there.

The Snapshot Dot is simple to use just bend and insert the tile.  The design of the open zig zag channel provides a very gentle support and does not pinch or bend the tile.  I really like these little gizmos - they appeal to the gadget geek in me. I'm already finding  many other uses for them.

Easel Purchase Info

The easels I found at a sublimation printing company called BestBlanks . The item name Spanish Leather Frame Back for 4.5" tile.  The company sells a variety of blanks for sublimation printing.  The easel (Frame Back) is sold as an accessory to mount ceramic tiles for display.  It's a fun site to explore as they sell a variety of blanks that are suitable for Zentangle Inspired Art.  The first two photos in my Gallery 2  are items I used from BestBlanks - a jewelry box with a ceramic tile top and a small desk clock.

Two ways to purchase Snapshot Dots

The Snapshot Dot are the creation of  anklopf designs out of Brooklyn NY -  the photos of the 5 dots and instructions used courtesy of anklopf designs.  I've had the pleasure to exchange several emails with the developer - appreciate his creativity and responsiveness

PhotoJoJo Store - a great site to explore if you are or know a photo enthusiast.  Snapshot Dots are sold in 5 packs for $12 or 2 packs for $20.  Photojojo  only offers the multi-color packs.  If you want to order single color packs you will need to purchase directly from the developer.

anklopf designs  - you may order the 5 packs in single colors - or you may contact the developer for bulk order quantity and pricing.  He also offers the option to go green and place orders for just the Snapshot Dots without the packaging.

 

Diva Challenge #50 - Biggify

"This week's challenge is to push your comfort zone and biggify your tangles. Don't biggify your canvas, try sticking to the size you generally work on to get the full effect - so if you work on tiles, biggify on a tile. If you work in your journal, biggify in your journal. Put your toe over that line and test the waters." said the Diva

Definitely and interesting challenge as I usually create zentangles on the standard tiles. About the only time I draw large is when I'm teaching a class - drawing on large pad on an easel. Not quite the same.

Onamato and Gneiss appeared on the tile first but it took several attempts and false starts to finally settle on Meer as the final pattern. Shading was an added challenge. Have a couple of other Biggified tiles almost completed - feeling a little stumped on the shading.

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Biggify

DIVA Challenge #47 - Lest We Forget

The inspiration for this challenge is Nov. 11th - Remembrance Day in Canada and Veteran's Day in the United States.  Laura referenced the symbol of the Poppy to honor those who served and the poem "In Flanders Field", written by Canadian Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae.  The challenge "is simply to remember".  You may read her write-up and view the other entries here.

I usually stay pretty true to Zentangle's non-representational outcome so I'm not entirely sure how this creation came about.  Then again it's not a true to form drawing of a poppy either!  My intent was to meld the idea of remembering those who have served and sacrificed (red poppy) but also to remember that peace (white poppy) is the ultimate goal.

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Diva Challenge #46 - All Hallow's Eve

The challenge posted on Monday - Halloween - was to create a Zentangle tile or Zentangle Inspired piece that is haunting or spooky or goes bump in the night.  Tough time creating the tile not sure it's spooky or haunting but these particular tangles just kept popping in no matter how many tiles I started and rejected.  Eventually it's just easier to give up the resistance and go with the flow.

The second photo - a ZIA -  now this one is spooky. Found some small skull key chains in a local Halloween shop - bought a few to tangle for friends with this one to spare.

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Diva Challenge #45 - Punzel

Punzel is the newest tangle pattern.  It's a little zing that has been added to the tangle Chainging.  It was announced at the recent CZT Seminar in Providence and published in the latest Zentangle Newsletter.  It took some time to get the rhythm of the stroke.  Still need to work on the spacing but for a first effort I'm okay with what appeared.

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