Monday, December 31, 2012

Happy, happy, happy!

    I have so many happy things going on right now - not all huge and earth shattering, just the plain and simple joys of life.  Good things to be grateful for.  My brother and I had a wonderful Christmas.  I got so many exciting things - zentangle books, a cutterbug embosssing system, and a wood burning pen.  Like I said - lots of fun.  I am on the mend from a nasty cold (yeah, for that).  I also have another week of vacation. 
     Another thing I am thankful for - the challenges and dares that have enriched my zentangling experience.  They have caused me to stretch to do the tiles, and connected me to so many wonderful new friends.  Erin at the Bright Owl (see side bar) has a great template this week.  I began without a real plan, just doodling along.  Actually it came out alright - even if has these little squid or alien thingies around the outside.  Either way it was fun.
Dare #38
     Another piece of happy this week was the arrival of the Blog Friendship Cup!  Remember I told you I won the cup!  It was made even sweeter because it arrived the day before my birthday.  So, Diana (Wolf Howlings) may have been distressed she didn't send it in the (hopeful) three weeks time frame - but I think her timing was PERFECT!  The cup is gorgeous!  It now is a beautiful pink (thanks to Diana) and was filled packed inside and out with the most awesome of goodies!  I absolutely squealed when I saw "official, true blue" zentangle tiles!  I have been thinking some day I would try them and now that day is here!  I just want to make sure I choose a really good piece to put on them - the blank canvas is scary.  I have new watercolor pencils, a key keeper, tea, sweets, . . .the list is too long to list.  What a wonderful surprise!  Take a peek inside . . .
see those cool pencils and tiles,  ooooo play time for Cathy!
     Now it is my turn to share the fun!  I need to alter the cup in some way - perhaps I will quill something for it. I don't know yet.  Then I have to make a tag to attach to it.  Then (drumroll, please) I get to fill it inside and out with goodies for . . .wait, who is it for?!  That's where you come in.  I need someone special to send this to.  "How can it be me?" you ask.  I will tell you.  Very simply.  Please become a follower of my blog (if you are not already) and leave me a comment with your email address in it.  I will take the comments and number them and then use my random number generator to provide one lucky person with a box of fun! I will draw the name on Monday, Jan. 7th.  Thanks for joining us on this cool journey!
     One more rather silly happy and then I shall close this wordy blog.  My absolute favorite thing dessert wise is store bought birthday cake.  My grandmother used to ask all the grandkids what kind of cake we wanted her to make especially for our birthdays.  I think I was somewhat of a disappointment when I requested a store bought one and not one of her awesome concoctions.    When I became diabetic (about 8 years ago), one of my first thoughts was that I would never taste that horribly sweet cake again.  I know . . . there were way more important thoughts connected with the discovery, but honestly, I was so distraught that was the easiest one to focus on.  I work very hard to keep my blood sugar in check - having brought it from 502 to a daily 90 - 100.  Big difference.  But there at first it meant the grocery store became an instant "Cathy pity party".  Not any more I am happy to say.  I am afterall creative and why shouldn't that apply to cooking?  However there is yearly the matter of the birthday cake.  Well, not really.  It seems our local Wal-Mart carries a very small, sugar free version of my passion - and I can only find it once a year!  Is that not really cool?  I guess they could be doing it just for little ol' me, but I rather doubt it.  Either way, just another happy in my happy title!
two pieces for me, two for Ray and it's all over til next year!
      Now I am truly finished writing.  Don't forget to enter the Blog Friendship Cup giveaway!  I can't wait to see who I get to surprise!  (Don't get your hopes up, I am NOT sharing the cake). 
       Happy New Year to you all!!

Monday, December 24, 2012

Dare # 37 and a bit of Christmas

     School is out.  Packages are wrapped (and opened).  Christmas dinner is more or less made - waiting on the dressing.  And I am so relaxed and chillin'.  Unfortunately it is raining and that makes one lab mix very sad.  He can't even get his Christmas presents until the back yard is dry and we can go play.  The weatherman says that isn't going to happen for awhile.  Rain, rain go away.
     I finished the dare the first day it came out from Erin at the Bright Owl.  I just was lazy and didn't get it posted.  So here goes - another really great template from Erin!
     Now I am off to try my new wood burner.  I want to try tangling on pieces of wood with it.  We shall see.  I have never played with one of those so it will be an experience.  I also got some really nice tangle books which I can't wait to dig into.  What fun I am planning for my two week vacation!
    I feel so blessed to have connected with all of you wonderful tanglers and friends.  This has truly been a grand experience to set up this blog and hear your comments each week and go off and check out what is happening on your sites.  I hope all of you have a blessed and safe holiday season.  See you next week and thanks for dropping by.

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Last Week of School!! Yahoo!!

  Only two more days to go before my Christmas break!  And I can't wait.  My class is so excited you can hardly contain them.  (And yes, their teacher is too).  We have had a great week so far.  In some ways it has been hard since the Sandy Hook shooting.  That is so hard to wrap my brain around.  My classroom door is now locked at all times, we look questioningly at visitors, the innocence has gone.  It is so shattering.  I cannot fathom the impact on all those lives - the precious children who will grow up with that fear, and sadly those that will not grow up.
  On to a more pleasant note. . .  my relaxing tangles, needed this week more than ever.  I had a bit of trouble with Erin's zendala dare.  It was coming along nicely and I really was thinking I liked it, when oops!  The outside edge became a disaster.  What to do?  Cover it in black.  Now I am not sure I really like it, but there is too much to do this week to start over.  As for the challenge and Laura's new tangle "Diva Dance", I love it!  This tile nearly became a monotangle.  I got started and couldn't decide when to stop.  What a cool tangle! 
Dare #36
Challenge #100
     I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and most importantly a safe one.  Thank you for dropping by and see you soon!

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Snowflakes!

     What a fun dare Erin at the Bright Owl gave us this week!  It had been ages since I had cut snowflakes - I didn't remember how so thanks for the tutorial.  We had to cut a snowflake and then use the snowflake to create a template for our own zendala.  I loved this!  I plan on cutting lots more - perhaps my own version of a blizzard!!  I saw on pinterest (I think) where someone used a coffee filter to fold and cut, I might try that. 
Snowflake Dare

     Judy at Creative Doodling asked us to come up with 3 shapes, turn them into a celtic knot, then weave some lines through it.  I loved her example and it made me think all sorts of "Christmasy" thoughts.  I knew exactly what I wanted my design to look like.  The problem began when I tried to carry out my awesome plan.  Under, over, under, over, what?!  I felt like going into my closet and staying in seclusion until I had this done!  Please no one talk to me.  Doggy, do nothing cute or that I need to see.  And could we turn off the radio, because when I hum those Christmas carols my "over unders" get all wonky!!  But after much perseverance, I did it.  And I really love it!  Whew!

     The Diva may not have asked us to do snowflakes, but the pictures from around her house look snowy enough!  Oh, I am sooooo envious of that white stuff!  This week-end I played in the backyard in shorts - in December, for heaven's sake!  Margaret Bremner was the guest challenger.  We were asked to used "loops as a string".  This was lots of fun.
Challenge #99

     Lakota does not like getting up at 6 during the week (me either), so he sneaks back to bed until the week-end time of 10.  He looks so cute curled up in his way too small bed.  I think Santa needs to get him a big boy bed.

     Back to tangling some Christmas presents and wrapping some others.  I feel like Santa's elf this afternoon.  See you next week and thank you for leaving a comment!  Have a great week.

Friday, December 7, 2012

Three Ways to Have Fun!

     The three ways, you ask?  Why it is the Diva's challenge, Bright Owl's dare and the celtic knot from Creative Doodling!  Check out the sidebar and join all the fun yourself!  I love these things to make me step up to the plate and learn!  I do wish sometimes I had lots more time to devote to the process, but am thankful for time I do have.
     Diva wanted us to use the tangle, Keenees.  This one wasn't hard to do at all . . . I just couldn't get inspired.  I wanted it to look like a lot of bubbles bursting out of a bag or machine.  It doesn't do that at all.  I hope to give this one another go this week end.  But in case I don't, here goes.
The Bubble Machine
     I love the template from Erin at the Bright Owl.  It has SO much potential for using again and again.  Right now, with all that is going on at school, one "again" is all I can do!  But just wait until Christmas break and all my free time!  Wheeeee!

     Judy wanted us to try our hand at our own design - a continuous line celtic knot.  This was exactly what I have been wanting the "excuse" to do.  Each afternoon on the way home from school I have been captivated by the lights that our small town has put on the poles along the street.  There is this really cool light shaped like a tree on every other pole.  As we drive along I have been "drawing" it in my mind.  Well, this was perfect to try to do a continuous line!  It took a few tries, but I really loved this one. 
          Have a great week and thanks for dropping by! 

Thursday, November 29, 2012

No Strings and Some Other Things

     I had a chance to play several times with the stencils I won from the Rainbow Elephant give-a-way.  They are the one from Tangle Harmony.  If you haven't gotten them and you like doing zendalas, go get them or at least put them on your Christmas list.  I wanted them, but wouldn't buy them because I was afraid I wouldn't be able to use them - they looked complicated.  Quite the opposite.  They are absolutely serious fun!  I can't wait to have more time to play with them.  I did several, but here is the one that is my favorite. 
   Next I went to work on the template for the zendala by Bright Owl.  Erin gives us such great templates to work on.  I loved this one.  I just wish I had thought of the beautiful Christmas bells I have seen other doing!  Oh and the the daffodils!  The work that you can see over at the Bright Owl site is awesome!  Check the sidebar link to be amazed.
Dare #33
   Monday was challenge time at the Diva's site.  This time we had to draw a tile but NOT use a string.  I love the free flowing things others do, but couldn't get settled on a thought.  So . . .  I drew a triangle in the center and put in paradox.  Then I added another, and another and so on.  Just doodling trying to come up with a better idea.  When I was finished, I decided I didn't need a better idea - this was fine.  I really sort of liked it.
Challenge #97
    I had a few spare minutes waiting on supper to cook, so I worked on this next one.  Not for anything, just playing.  I did use one of Judy West's strings she has over at her site (Creative Doodling). 
    Guess that is all for this week.  See you soon and thanks for dropping by.  Oh, how could I forget?  I won the Friendship Cup and it is headed my way - how cool is that?!  I will write a whole post about that in a bit.  Stay tuned and make sure you check back by for a chance to have it come your way. 

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Creative or Insane, you decide!

So much fun stuff this past week with the challenges and dares!  I love this - even if I did get a bit out of control this time. 
    Let's set the stage for my mental wobbling - I get paid the first of every month.  Our printer is out of ink and won't print.  It isn't the first.  Get the picture?  I am out of school for this week so I have NO access to a printer.  Friday night I began hoping (okay, praying) for an "easy" template from the Bright Owl.  One I could duplicate by drawing.  At least to some degree.  Hide the wobbly lines with tangles . . . Oh Erin, it was not to be!  This template was intense.  Beautiful, if I could have printed it.
   So I began to devise plans.  Creative ones.  My very best - I would bring it up on my tablet, Ray would hold it up to a mirror while I traced with marker on the mirror.  Then I would put tracing paper over it, copy it and transfer it to a "real" piece of paper!  Genius!  (or nuts).  Ray just looked at me - I am sure it was an admiring glance, not matching his words of "have you gone crazy?"  Thinking he might not cooperate fully, I thought about putting a piece of paper on the computer screen to trace it.  This sent him around the bend with words of admiration.  Leading him to suggest we go to the library to print me a copy when it opened on Monday.  Okay, that was plan C.  I would have thought of it.
   After all that I got to pull out the pen and grab some zen for myself!  I love this template - it is so frilly and delicate (if you are not considering ways to copy it).
     Judy - over at Creative Doodling (see side bar) - had a really great template this week.  It was built on interlocking boxes stacked.  Remember the no ink?  Still a problem, but she said we could do our own and I can duplicate boxes without damage to any personal property.  I had some serious fun with this one!  I got all caught up in the scenes and the little stick people.  What a blast!
       After the library visit on Monday, I went off to check out the Diva's challenge.  This week we had to use a new tangle called "Zingers".  Cute little filler type tangle.  I really love the work of fellow tangler, Helen Williams, and had loved what she did with randomizing "bloom" on her video.  So this gave me a chance to try out both tangles.  If you have not checked out her gorgeous style of tangling head over to A Little Lime.  Her work takes my breath away.  Seriously.
     It has been a great vacation so far.  Tomorrow, I plan on pulling out the cricut and working on December birthday cards and Christmas cards . . .
  For now, I need to step outside to my yard and see what that man with the strange white jacket in his hand is saying about "coming with him peacefully".  Odd.
                                  Happy Thanksgiving and have a great week!!


Friday, November 16, 2012

A Bit of Disney

First a little reflection . . .
    Every Sunday night growing up, our family would crowd around the TV for "The Wonderful World of Disney" and all the magic it brought.
    My brother and I would rush around the house every morning to get ready for school so we could see a few minutes of the Mouseketeers club.  Oh Cubby and Bobby were divine! "M - i - c  - see you real soon . . ."
    The moment a Disney movie hit the big screen, the four of us - mom, dad, Ray and I - would head out to see it.  Ray's favorite was "The Jungle Book".  I love Winnie anything!
    When Disney World in Orlando opened, my family packed up our camper and headed to Florida.  It was a trip filled with awesome memories.  Disney opened in October and we went down on the following Christmas.  Everything was wonderful - however the lines were "miles" long.  Then you would stand for what seemed like hours and just as you got to the entrance, some freshly scrubbed guy would say, "sorry we just broke down".  It got to be a joke - okay, a frustrating one. 
    We had an 8mm home projector and Dad cam home one day with a big surprise - he had gotten a copy of the original "Steamboat Willie".   From that moment on, every time the projector came out, we begged to see that cartoon.
     There have been Disney character stuffed animals, games, toys, you name it.  I grew up with Disney and took many an imagination filled "trip" with those friends.

Thank you for such a wonderful guest post over at the Diva's.  It was loads of fun - actually, I spent more time looking around at cartoon characters and quotes and such than I did drawing, but that's okay.  I had a blast.
     Thank you for stopping by ad indulging my ramblings.  Hope your imagination is never limited and your dreams go on forever.  Have a great week-end.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Dare #31 and some cherries

  I love this template from the Bright Owl.  It is full of lots of potential.  I chose to center on straight lines and keep it pretty geometric.  I may try one later and do the opposite!  Who knows?
     Next bit of fun - I cut a template using my cricut out of watercolor paper, then I tangled the cherries.  Last I took my watercolor pencils and paints and played a bit.  I am really happy with how it looks.  I cut some Christmas shapes that I plan on doing next.
     Thanks for dropping by and now it is off to see what I can do for the Diva's challenge.  Have a great day!

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Celtic Knot # 13

    Okay.  Being a teacher, this is hard to confess.  But I clearly didn't read the directions.  Just don't tell my third graders, okay?  Judy West posted a beautiful celtic knot (as always).  I got really excited about what I wanted to do and zipped away to tangle.  Then I went back to look and see if anyone else had posted and I actually read it this time.  We were supposed to use at least one "original" design.  Oops.  Well, the fringy thing around part of the outside, I think is mine - I sort of just made it up and use it frequently as a filler or edging.  Either way, I really had fun and I certainly love this knot. 
        If you haven't checked out Judy's awesome site, head over to Creative Doodling and be prepared to be amazed.  There are some really cool things to see.
     I also had a few minutes to play around with some other things this week.  I found an old pattern book and copied Santa onto watercolor paper.  Then I tangled him.  I used watercolor pencils to finish him up.  I think he is pretty cool.  One day, I will have some fancier watercolor pencils with more color selections, but for now it is not too bad.
Santa
    I hope you are having a great week-end.  I now need to head over to the Bright Owl and see what I need to do there.  (I promise to read the post first and not dash off in excitement).  Thanks for dropping by!

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Lots of fun this week!

  Pumpkin pie, apple pie, peach pie, chocolate creme pie, and the most divine - pecan pie!  Oh wow, Erin over at the Bright Owl has made my mouth water with this dare.  Dare #30  had us searching our tangle files to find tangles that started with the letters p,i,e.  And then if that wasn't a big enough dare, one (at least) of those tangles had to be one we weren't used to using!  Erin must've taken her "nasty" pill this week!  Seriously, it was a super fun dare and really made me think outside the box.  I used pea-nuckle, paradox, purk (a newbie for me), insydout (another new one), and emingle.  Great dare, Erin!

     I also had a lot of fun this past week-end with Judy, at Creative Doodling's celtic knot challenge.  This was a super template.  I tangled the knot, then found a quote from a scrapbooking book I had to put in the middle.  The really neat thing about this knot is that it's so versatile.  I can see using it to do frames for photos, scrapbook pages . . . lots of uses.

    Finally, the Diva had a challenge for us.  The first of each month she randomly chooses a tangle for us to focus on.  This month the choice was none other than Erin's (the Bright Owl) own tangle - Socc.  I love this tangle!  It is loads of fun and adds so much to a piece.  I grabbed a string from Tangle Patterns and then just played around - nothing special.

     While playing, I became inspired as often is the case when I free my mind to just drawing without a purpose.  A while back, I watched a youtube video of a Suzanne McNeill event.  She featured several tangle artists telling how they used tangles in various ways.  One that absolutely fascinated me was these "continuous line" people.  I fell in immediate love!  You draw the entire person without picking up the pen - yes, it is hard.  I really have to think or I get all jumbled up.  Then you give them personality with tangles.  Socc just had to be a head of unruly hair!  Isn't she adorable?  Get ready for some more of these gals.
Bad Hair Day
  And last but certainly not least . . . I WON!!! What you ask?  A set of Genevieve Crabbe's mandala stencils!  Seriously!  You probably heard me shouting!  I had been wanting them, but was not sure I wanted to spend the money on something, I wasn't sure I could figure out how to use.  Still may not be able to, but they were free.  If any of you have any tips on how to make these gadgets turn out gorgeous stuff - please let me know.  Oh, before I forget, I won them in a random drawing over at the Rainbow Elephant.  If you have not been there (why not?) go check out Cindy Angiel's cool site.
   Hope your week is going great and thanks for stopping by.  As always, I love your comments.

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Motion Sickness!

    I hope all my friends out there are safe and dry during this storm that has bombarded our coast.  My thoughts go out to all who are directly affected by Sandy.  It has made our weather much colder, but other than that not too difficult.
   Challenge #93 had us using the new official tangle, Bunzo.  Wow! This is a fun one. I couldn't figure out what do for a string, so I looked through Tangle Patterns wealth of strings and chose one.  Then I thought I would just put a few of these little "bunzos" down in the corner.  Yeah, right,  I drew a few. Drew a few more.  Drew a few more.  The string was disappearing.  Add a few more here.  Some there.  Well, you get the picture.  My string was gone!  And I had to force myself to quit.  I nearly tangled the whole tile (and maybe off to the tabletop!).  This is a really addicting tangle.  I love it!  You do kind of get motion sickness when you are going, though.  I think I would have named this tile - "potato chip".  Remember the commercial that said you couldn't eat just one?  Well, who can draw just one?  Not me.  I dare you to try!
Motion Sickness
    The Bright Owl dare was a beautiful template this week.  It looks like a stained glass window.  I want to do another one when I have time and color it like stained glass.  My one day folder grows and grows. 
Dare #29
    I hope everyone has a safe and happy week.  Thanks for dropping by and as always thank you for your comments.  Also thanks and hello to my new friends this week! 

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Playing Catch Up!

I am some what behind on challenges and dares and all that fun stuff!  Arggh!  I let them stack up and then realize I better post or I will never finish.  I draw every evening after school work - it's my therapy.  This week at school we are doing lots of tests - benchmarks and the State Writing Test.  Pressure!  So I need my evening "therapy"!

I didn't get Judy at Creative Doodling's celtic knot challenge up in time, but I am going to post it anyway.  For celtic knot #9, we were supposed to use at least 3 tangles we had never used before.  That was fun.  I chose to use Gella, Piza, and Paradise Flower.  There are some others to balance it out that I love.  Sparkle is one of my new favorites.  It is so much like verve, I have to love it.
Celtic knot #9
Celtic Knot #10
The Bright Owl had a template up that I loved.  It has so much "fun" potential.  I made several copies and put them into my one day basket.  I had finished the one I wanted to use for the dare when my brother looked at one of the blank ones and said it reminded him of something we saw in a computer game we play.  When he said that, I saw exactly what he was talking about and had to do that one also.  It is sort of a steampunk place in the game and when you add the right tangles it looks almost like the one in the game.
Dare #28
Skyrim
     I really liked the Diva's challenge.  We were supposed to do our tile in stripes.  This gave me a chance to play around with some tangles and see how they might look as a border.  But I wanted it to be different than just stripes - well, of course.  So I put my stripes on circles and decided to do several.  It sort reminds me of planets.  Strange.
Challenge #92
  That brings me to the end of my stack.  Whew!  Thanks for viewing.  I do wish I could post each one and get them up sooner.  It just doesn't seem to be possible.  Even now there is a stack (a less therapeutic one) of papers waiting to be graded.  Glad you dropped by and I love reading your comments.  Have a great rest of the week!

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Unfinished

     The Diva's challenge (#91)  was to do something to honor Beads of Courage.  This is a fantastic program that offers beads to families that are facing medical challenges with their children.  For every obstacle they overcome (shots, hospital visits, tests run, etc) they add a bead to their strand.  I had to go to the website and check it out and then I had to recommend this to several people at school. 
     For my challenge, I thought of several good ideas - my own encounter six years ago with diabetes was a possibility.  But I couldn't remember all the "pokes and prods".  I thought of a life map.  But whew!  I am so busy with other things that may have to wait.  But it is something I want to give a try.  I finally decided on making a string of beads for every year I have taught.  I have been in the school system for nearly 36 years, but only teaching for 35.  So you will see 35 beads on my string.  However the last one - this year - isn't finished so I decided to not complete the bead. 
Unfinished
     I really like this because it is so personal.  It has a lot of memories on that strand.  I think now that it is scanned I will possibly add some color.  I can't decide, what do you think?  Color or black and white?
     Hope you are having a lovely day and thank you for your comments!  I also want to say thank you for the people who decided to follow my blog!  I remember when I started and was afraid no one would bother to read this - I even cajoled my wonderful assistant principal (Amy, that's you!) to follow it so it wouldn't look so empty over there!  Now I have 23!!  Whoopee!

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Dare #27

  What a week!  I am back from fall break and don't think I have had time to catch my breath!  Lots of things happening with me nowadays - some big decisions about my life which I will share when I can.  For now - "Keep Calm and Draw Lines"!!  Right?
     Here is Dare #27.  I really like this template.  I ran several and they are in my later file.  I tried something a bit different for me.  I grabbed a scrapbook brush marker to shade rather than using my normal pencil and blender.  I sort of like the effect.  I may not use it all the time, but for now, it turned out okay.
Have a great week and now I need to get to the challenge and the celtic knot - oh my! 

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Fall Break Fun!!

  It has arrived!  Fall break!  Yahoo!  I am so loving the time to draw, get to my new computer program and be totally LAZY.  I am enjoying this year - for the most part - but I need a rest.  So let's post some challenges and dares!

Dare #26

Erin at the Bright Owl loves Halloween and Fall.  So her "dare" this week was to do a Halloween or Fall inspired zendala.  Since I had already done the Halloween thing last week, I decided fall colors would be better.  While my kiddos at school love Halloween, I am not so enthralled by it.  Besides, I used up all my ideas on Dare #25.  I used some goldish colored cardstock to work on and then brown and orange pens.  Fall is one of my favorite times of the year.  I love the colors, the crunch of leaves, the smell of wood smoke . . . . everything about it.  So this was fun!  Thanks, Erin!

 Celtic Knot # 8

      Judy West at Creative Doodling gave us a beautiful template.  Her challenge was to fill it with leaves.  This was fun.  I loved playing in the leaves!  There are a few tiny 'boo-boos" but not enough to change the fact I really like this one.  It is one of my favorites I have done in awhile.  (Considering how many I do, whew!)

 Challenge # 90

The Diva's challenge was to take the first string pattern over at TanglePatterns.com and use it to tangle on.  I had played around with this string when it first came out.  I use my calendar to put those in.  But rather than scanning the earlier tiles, I decided to do one in celebration of Challenge 90.  I love the challenges each week.   Now that doesn't mean I like them.  Sometimes they are hard and I get frustrated, but I always grow and learn something new.  And that I love. 
     In one of her recent posts Laura Harms, the Diva, said she was having trouble with her hands.  I really pray this is easing up for her.  Here recently, I am struggling with using my left hand at times.  I can't tie my shoes some mornings, open things, or pick up small items.  It hurts, but more than the pain, it is frustrating.  I am thankful it is not my right - drawing - hand, but it does make some crafting tough or impossible.  I could not imagine not being able to create at all.  Creativity is such an important element of my life.  So I decided for one of my calendar pages (I am playing catch up again!), I thought I would do a hand.  I traced my hand, tangled around it in black with the intention of leaving the hand white.  Then I decided to fill it, but so it would stand out, I used the brown and sepia pens. 
A Celebration of Hands
  I wish you all a wonderful week!  Thank you for dropping by and for any comments you leave.  Maybe this week I can actually do some more commenting!  Yahoo, again!

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Lots of variety today

     I seem to be in full swing at school.  I am having a really great year - great group!  I do wish I could get settled into more of a routine.  I suppose that will happen.  I decided to wait and post when I had all three challenges and dare done.  I guess I am not too wordy today.

Challenge #88

  This challenge was to use the tangle sankegg.  I took heart when I looked at the other posts about this one.  It seems I am not the only one struggling with this tangle. It was just plain hard for me.  If it weren't for my determination not to miss a challenge, this one almost caused me to abandon hope!    I decided to not get fancy, just put on a few and move on!

Dare #25

   I seem to be challenged all over the place.   Erin's dare was tough.   I think it was because the triangles were uneven.  My first thought when I saw it was "candy corn".  And I don't even like the stuff.  So I went with the candy and added a whole lot of other October things.  Sort of crazy looking, but I like it.
Trick or Treat
    The next one is more traditional.  I do need to get a few new black pens.  My pen is getting a bit pale, so sepia it was.  I even used some scrapbooking paper for a change.
     And now on to -

Celtic Knot #7

   All Judy wanted us to do was use some color on her pattern.  I liked that.  Relaxing to just sit and color. 
    I hope everyone is having a great week.  I am glad to be fast approaching week-end.  A bit of rest will be appreciated.  Also a day or two without papers to grade . . . ahh, sounds sweet.  Thanks for dropping by!  Your comments brighten my day!

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Challenge #88 - IX

     Busy week, so I am surprised to have finished.  Well, I sort of half cheated.  I grabbed an earlier one to post then decided I had time to try another.  This is a pretty tangle, but a bit hard for me to make look as flowing as I would like. 
Fungus
Hope your week is going well, thanks for stopping by and as always thank you for your comments.