Nifty tools for tangling

   I have two fantastic tools I happened to "stumble" across one day on the computer.  They are very valuable to me.  The first one I happened to find was the Tangle-A-Day calendar by Carole Ohl.  I use it to tangle in (of course), write quotes that I find interesting, and jot notes about what happens in my life around that day.  Inside the calendar are some beautiful tangles by Carole and the paper is great quality.  I tried a bit of water color and it buckled some.  However with pens it is perfect.  It a great place to "play".    I took pictures of the covers of both books, but my brother said I probably shouldn't use them due to copyright law.  I think it would be alright, but hate for someone to get upset.  So go to Open Seed Arts.  On the side bar you will see the calendar advertisement.

     The second great find was the Tangle Organizer by Genevieve Crabe.  Oh I love this tool!  It comes in four sizes (referring to the boxes on the page).  There are books that hold one, two, six, and twelve tangles per page.  The one that holds one has spaces for you to draw out the tangle steps.  I chose the the twelve tangle book (shown below).  I wanted to not have to purchase or store so many books.  This one holds 1200 tangles!  I won't get that many, because sometimes I draw out steps in more than one box.  Either way, it is fantastic.  Whenever a dare or challenge comes around, I pull out the organizer and search for ideas.  I also roam the internet blogs ( of all you talented folks!) and put down tangle ideas.  It has 100 pages and I am on page 43.  Lots of ideas "under one roof".  Go to this link to see the items by Genevieve Crabe. 

   I hope you enjoy these two items as much as I have.  If you have any great storage ideas or know of any good tangle "products", please share them in your comments!

Challenge #78 - Auraknot

     I love this new official zentangle - Auraknot.  The major problem is: it is addicting!  I find myself wanting to try new tangleations and playing with it connecting to other tangles.  What fun!  I found out about the tangle over the weekend and after viewing the video how-to, grabbed my calendar to practice.  I marked off Monday on the calendar so I would still have room to do the Diva's Monday challenge.  So I just drew lots of shapes and tried auraknot on a variety of spaces - no thought or planning.  It is fortunately very forgiving as I have lots of mistakes, but hey, it was my first go at it.  What a surprise when on Monday the challenge was - you guessed it - use auraknot!  I played in the calendar some more and then did a few tiles to "count" as official.  But rest assured, this tangle is going to be one of my go-to favorites!

This was the first tile I did to share.  I really wanted it just to take center stage.

Lost

     I looked through my notebook and found the tangle "exinside" by Sandra Strait.  I thought it might work with auraknot.  Add a little allium and here you have it.  I called it "Lost" because as you might guess, I kept getting lost with my lines!  Fun, but definitely an exercise in concentration.

   

Last, here is my calendar page for the fourth of July.  That was a lot of fun to play with!  Have a great week and thank  you for stopping by and any comments you might leave.

Zendala Dare #13 - Playing with paper

    This is SO made for me!  I love paper.  I scrapbook, make cards, design handmade books, you name it!  If it involves paper, I probably have at least tried it.  So I have drawer full of a variety of paper.  Sometimes I will buy a sheet in the craft store simply because I like it, not because I have any uses for it.  Ah well, cheap obsession, I guess.
     I pulled out several pieces and ran the template on all of them, so I could decide.  I have never had the experience of using "real" zentangle paper.  I hope to get some tiles one of these days.  Right now I cut my own tiles from white cardstock - fairly heavy type used for card making.  It is not "official", but I like the feel of it and it is cheap, since I use a LOT of it.
    I decided to "break the rules" with my first attempt.  I didn't tangle on another type of paper, but I involved other types of paper.  Maybe it is more of "bending" the rules rather than breaking them!  I cut parts of the design out of scrapbook scraps and glued them on top of the template.  I tangled with colored microns and some colored pencils.  Then I took chalks to the outside edges of the tile.  Overall I like this one, except for the pink paper in the center.  I kept thinking I should tangle over top the pink, but I couldn't decide.  Since I like paper piecing, this was fun.

      Attempt number two.  I pulled out one of the templates I had printed on vellum.  I enjoyed the feel of the Micron on this paper - smooth and easy to move.  After I finished it, I turned it over and colored the back of the design.  This leaves a softer color showing through.

     The last one is printed on colored cardstock - scrapbooking paper.  I like it best.  I decided not to shade it because I didn't want to lose the pretty yellow color or the white streaks in it.

     This has been a lot of fun.  I still have several templates on a variety of paper, so I may get around to playing with this some more.  If you want to see some more really creative and gorgeous uses of paper, go to The Bright Owl.  There are lots of great entries - and ideas to try! 

Challenge #77

        For this week's challenge by The Diva, we had to use the tangle "Fiore di Pietro" or Peter's flower.  This is going to be used to put in a book for a memorial to Rho Densmore's brother-in-law.  Rho, your family has my prayers and I would be honored for you to use my tiles in your book.  What a lovely and thoughtful thing to do for your family.
      I love this tangle.  At first it was a bit difficult, but once I got to playing with it the more comfortable I became.   I tried to "say" something with the first tile.  I chose facets for the only other tangle because there are many facets to a person and their relationship to others.  Those facets are how and why we connect with others.  Even though the tangle is named Peter's flower, it reminds me of stars.  So I wanted this tile to be representative of the stars and heavens.  Ah well, I know what I wanted to say even if I am not doing a very good job of making it clear to others.
     The next tile is simply a flower garden.  Sort of a garden walkway to contain Peter's flowers.  At first I didn't like how I let them slip off the tile, but now I feel differently.  There isn't an end to the garden, it keeps on going even if we can't see where it goes.  More philosophy, I guess.

Peter's Garden

    Thank you for stopping by and also thank you for your comments. 

Dare #12 and 106 degrees!

     When it is 106 degrees outside (in the shade), what can you do?  Why, tangle of course!  I really don't mind the heat - as long as the air conditioner keeps working, but Lakota really doesn't understand why we won't let him have but very brief play sessions and why we keep hitting him with the water hose when he's out.  This weather conspires against a black, very active pooch!
     The Bright Owl's dare was super this week and since I was (blissfully) inside, I have several offerings.  I played with color on one small tile.  I also tried to keep the tangles sort of related.  There are a lot to choose from on the same theme.

     For the next couple, I kept the traditional black and white.  The first one reminded me of eyes when I finished it, so I named it "Eyes".    I think of all of them it is my personal favorite.  It is so bold and that appeals to me.

Eyes

    For the last one, back to the color.  You can guess where my inspiration came from!  I had been playing with sun faces in my Tangle-A-Day calendar and decided to do a zendala with one.   I also got to use DL Sunray, which is a tangle I haven't used before.

106 Degrees

     Hope you are having a great week!  I guess I can get back to working on my tangle organizer.  Anything that can be done inside!!

Challenge #76 - Home

     Oh Diva, you have outdone yourself!! I love this challenge.  I am having a blast going over to the other entries and seeing the places people come from.  It is so much FUN!  The tiles are absolutely stunning (as usual) and so interesting!  The only problem - I can't do a "quick" look on these!  I have to sit and stare and admire forever!  Oh well, I have the time, I guess.
    I live in Tennessee.  It is a beautiful state - mountains and wildlife abound.  Each morning during the school year, I travel a few miles to Georgia to the school I teach in.  The view as I travel is of Lookout Mountain and the surrounding hills.  Awesome way to start the morning.
    When I told my brother about the challenge, we started brainstorming about things I could add to the Tennessee tile.  Our discussion turned to North Carolina, the place where we were born and grew up.  Tennessee is my "now" home, but North Carolina is my home of memories.  It is vacations with family, playing in the backyard, all those wonderful childhood things.  So I changed my mind and decided to do NC. 
     On my ZIA you should be able to find lots of NC things - Grandfather's Mtn. in the Smokies, the influence of the Cherokee and Scottish people in the hills, famous lighthouses, the NC Tarheels, fields of wildflowers, the pines, the rivers,  the state flower - the dogwood, and the Outerbanks.  Can you see them?  This was a lot of fun to do!  I plan on doing the Tennessee tile, but wanted to get this one posted now, in case I don't finish the other one.

North Carolina, 5x7

Hope you are having a great day and thanks for dropping by! 

Zendala Dare #11

    I have often heard it said if you want something done ask a busy person.  Erin, over at The Bright Owl, proves this to be true.  She has a very busy schedule so it seems, and yet provides an awesome template each week and even does a fantastic sample or two.  Thank you, Erin, for taking the time to make such a wonderful dare for all of us!
    I am NOT busy.  It is summer and I am relaxing and just doing "Cathy-things".  I could feel guilty but I know how quickly that will change come September.
    I printed off all three template sizes, as usual.  I started on the largest with drawing a grid for the tangle "ving".  Then my into my brain popped the idea of ice cream cones.  Seriously, it doesn't take much to make me think of ice cream in 95 degree weather!  I didn't feel like taking the large template into this idea, so I grabbed the smaller square one.  After the ice cream cones, there were circus poles with "girdy" and I had to have elephants . . . well, you get the picture, I went a bit off course.  I really like it, it just wasn't at all where I thought I was headed.

Under The Big Top

      Ahh, now that that is out of my system, on to more "normal" zendalas.  I grabbed my tangle notebook and got down to some serious playing!  I love the repetition of zendalas and also the fact that I don't have to develop a string.  It is just pure relaxation! 

     This week while I was roaming around on my computer, I decided to search for a building that I had designed some years ago while in high school.  I worked doing house plans and such with my father.  I love architecture.  I designed several homes around the Greensboro NC area.  I really didn't think I would find a photo of the building since it had been so long ago, but was thrilled to find it still exists - even if changed.  Check out The Flower Pot to see this unique building.
    Guess that is all for now.  I am going to go back to work on my ABC tiles.  I have through E completed.  It has been fun to focus on certain letters and search for tangles that begin with that letter. 
    Have a great week and as always, thank you for taking the time to leave a comment!  You make my day!!