joey's weekly tangle challenge :

Today, for the first time, I'm trying another challenge. 

This one is

joey's weekly tangle challenge :

Create a monotangle of your favourite

tangle that generates an "optical illusion".

Paradox is one of my favorite tangles, and one that definitely creates an optical illusion.

 This challenge is relatively new to me; I just discovered it a few weeks ago, and this is the first time I'm accepting the challenge. Probably because it's a total no-brainer. The minute I read the challenge, I knew I would do Paradox.

 

 So, what do you think?

 

Head on over to madebyjoey to check out the other entries, and maybe try one yourself.

The Diva is back!

The Diva is back from Washington, D.C., where she and her family have been attending the 11th annual Moebius Syndrome Conference. For those who don't know, Laura's younger son, Artoo, suffers from Moebius Syndrome. This syndrome is a rare neurological disorder present at birth. Without getting technical, it primarily leaves those affected unable to move their faces; they can't smile, frown, suck, grimace, blink their eyes, or move their eyes laterally. You can read more about this disorder here.

It primarily affects the 6th and 7th cranial nerves, leaving those with the condition unable to move their faces (they can’t smile, frown, suck, grimace or blink their eyes) and unable to move their eyes laterally. - See more at: http://www.moebiussyndrome.com/#sthash.JubvZ0yZ.dpufIt primarily a

What is Moebius Syndrome? Moebius syndrome is a rare neurological disorder that is present at birth. It primarily affects the 6th and 7th cranial nerves, leaving those with the condition unable to move their faces (they can’t smile, frown, suck, grimace or blink their eyes) and unable to move their eyes laterally.

- See more at: http://www.moebiussyndrome.com/#sthash.pJ043ZQ2.dpuf

What is Moebius Syndrome? Moebius syndrome is a rare neurological disorder that is present at birth. It primarily affects the 6th and 7th cranial nerves, leaving those with the condition unable to move their faces (they can’t smile, frown, suck, grimace or blink their eyes) and unable to move their eyes laterally

- See more at: http://www.moebiussyndrome.com/#sthash.cg8LBr6s.dpuf

What is Moebius Syndrome? Moebius syndrome is a rare neurological disorder that is present at birth. It primarily affects the 6th and 7th cranial nerves, leaving those with the condition unable to move their faces (they can’t smile, frown, suck, grimace or blink their eyes) and unable to move their eyes laterally

- See more at: http://www.moebiussyndrome.com/#sthash.cg8LBr6s.dpuf

Moebius syndrome is a rare neurological disorder that is present at birth. It primarily affects the 6th and 7th cranial nerves, leaving those with the condition unable to move their faces (they can’t smile, frown, suck, grimace or blink their eyes) and unable to move their eyes laterally.
- See more at: http://www.moebiussyndrome.com/#sthash.cg8LBr6s.dpuf

Moebius syndrome is a rare neurological disorder that is present at birth. It primarily affects the 6th and 7th cranial nerves, leaving those with the condition unable to move their faces (they can’t smile, frown, suck, grimace or blink their eyes) and unable to move their eyes laterally.
- See more at: http://www.moebiussyndrome.com/#sthash.cg8LBr6s.dpuf

Moebius syndrome is a rare neurological disorder that is present at birth. It primarily affects the 6th and 7th cranial nerves, leaving those with the condition unable to move their faces (they can’t smile, frown, suck, grimace or blink their eyes) and unable to move their eyes laterally.
- See more at: http://www.moebiussyndrome.com/#sthash.cg8LBr6s.dpuf

Welcome back, Laura.

Upon her return, Laura has charged us with this challenge: 

a Duotangle with a bit of a twist. Chose your two tangles based on your name! My name is Audrie Wiesenfelder, therefore my 2 tangles have to begin with A and W. "A" was a no-brainer: Aquafleur is one of my all-time favorites; although there are a lot of other tangles I like beginning with "A". But "W" was another matter; there are a lot of great patterns beginning with "W", but none more favorite than all the others. Once I started working on Aquafleur, however, Wist popped into my head, and seemed right, so I went with it.

 I like this. But I'm not totally satisfied with it. For one thing; the shading's not quite right. So, since it's early in the week for a change, I may try another one. Check back later this week.

Be sure to visit the Diva's site to see the other wonderful entries; it's amazing how different all the responses are. Maybe you'll be inspired to try out one of the Challenges yourself.

 

Diva's Challenge #177, Truffles

This week, the Diva has asked Amy Broady to host the weekly challenge. Amy is the youngest ZCT to have ever done so, and certainly one of, if not the youngest CZT, period. The challenge was to use Carolyn's tangle: Truffle.

After playing around with Truffle, I came up with 2 versions of the same theme, each also including Michele Beauchamp’s new pattern: Sprigs

 Be sure to visit the Diva's site to see the other wonderful entries; it's amazing how different all the responses are. Maybe you'll be inspired to try out one of the Challenges yourself.

It's That String Thing #50

This week's String Thing uses String #049 by Cathy Clifford

 

and the following tangles:

Cack - by Adele Bruno, CZT
Ciceron by Mariët Lustenhouwer
Click Clack by CZT Jane Monk
Cockles & Muscles by Margaret Bremner, CZT
Crescent Moon by Maria Thomas and Rick Roberts

 This is what I did with it:

I've always liked this string; but except for Crescent Moon, which I've used often, I don't think I've used the other tangles much, if at all. It surprised me that I ended up using all 5 tangles. Some parts of this tile lent themselves easily to shading; others, not so much. I hope I did it justice.

Be sure to check out all the entries @ Tickled to Tangle, on Monday, when Adele Bruno posts them. The vast differences that can be achieved using the same tangles on the same string are truly incredible. And, if you've a mind to try a String Thing yourself, check back on Tuesday, when she offers the new ones.

A Happy Zentangle Anniversary

This week marks the 10th Anniversary of the day that Rick and Maria introduced Zentangle to the world, at the first public class in Providence, Rhode Island. Since then thousands of us have become addicted to this wonderful art form.

In honor of this special occasion, Adele Bruno, the Mastermind of "That String Thing", has created this string for this week's String Thing Challenge:

 

It's the perfect string for this occasion, 

 And this is my interpretation:

 I actually did shade this slightly, 

but somehow most of it got lost in the scanning.

Tangles used: 

Meer, Paushalov, Quib, and Ahh. 

Purple Fine Sharpie and White Sakura Gelly Roll pens, Violet Prismacolor pencil for the almost non-existent shading; on dusty orange Canson Mi-Teintes Pastel paper.

Be sure to check out all the entries @ Tickled to Tangle, on Monday, when Adele Bruno posts them. The vast differences that can be achieved using the same tangles on the same string are truly incredible. And, if you've a mind to try a String Thing yourself, check back on Tuesday, when she offers the new ones.

It's a String Thing #48

This week's String Thing uses string #46, created by Pat Furguson

and the following patterns:

Purk and Printemps - Official Zentangle® patterns
Pippin by Juliet Herring
Pressed Wood by CZT Margaret Bremner

Adele commented 

"Don't those lovely loops look eager for Purk?" I would have used Purk  even without that suggestion; I imagine that many, if not most, of the other participants thought the same.

It's true that there's nothing like the spontaneity that comes when you just go with the flow when starting a tile or ZIA. It can never really be reproduced. When I started working on this challenge, everything just fell into place, except that I had a few really messy areas that I couldn't claim were "design elements", or clean up satisfactorily. So I started over, and after 3 or 4 attempts, what I came up with is OK, but nowhere near as good as the original.

I used a black fine Sharpie pen for the tangles; Copenhagen Blue Prismacolor pencil for shading; and White Charcoal pencil for highlights (and for Printemps in the background) on Canson Mi-Teintes Blue Pastel Paper.

If you haven't already visited Tickled to Tangle, I strongly urge you to check out all the entries there on Monday, when Adele Bruno posts them. The vast differences that can be achieved using the same tangles on the same string are truly incredible. And, if you've a mind to try a String Thing yourself, check back on Tuesday, when she offers the new ones.
 

Superimposing Strings; Addendum

I couldn't resist. I had so much fun with the first one, I had to do another. With the first, I only used my first initial: 2 different versions of A. So I had to do one with both initials:

And this is the result:

 Still very similar to the first one:

But I had to try anyway.


Be sure to visit the Diva's site to see the other wonderful entries; it's amazing how different all the responses are. Maybe you'll be inspired to try out one of the Challenges yourself.

Thanks for visiting; please leave a comment, favorable or not. I'd love to hear your thoughts. That's how we learn and grow; and how we know someone out there is paying attention.

Have a wonderful day; see you all next time.

Happy 4th of July String Thing #47

Since this week is the 4th of July, Adele Bruno has created a patriotic looking string for us to use:

along with the following patterns:
Joy  by Jaoyce Block, CZT
Unyun  by Carole Ohl, CZT
Lightning Bolt by Suzanne McNeill, CZT
Yincut  an official Zentangle® pattern

I've always liked Unyun and Yincut, and use them fairly often, and Joy is a simple little add-on for occasions like this. But I don't think I've ever actually used Lightning Bolt in a challenge tile. I've probably tried it out in one of my sketchbooks, but that's the extent of my use of it. But it did seem to be appropriate for this challenge, so for a change I've used all 4 patterns. And here we are:

 Be sure to check out all the entries @ Tickled to Tangle, on Monday, when Adele Bruno posts them. The vast differences that can be achieved using the same tangles on the same string are truly incredible. And, if you've a mind to try a String Thing yourself, check back on Tuesday, when she offers the new ones.

Thanks for visiting; please leave a comment, favorable or not. I'd love to hear your thoughts. That's how we learn and grow; and how we know someone out there is paying attention.

Have a wonderful day; see you all next time.

Diva's Challenge #174 Superimposing Strings

Laura, the Diva, is recouperating from the CZT Seminar and Chewie's 6th birthday (can you believe it? Chewie's 6th birthday!) Happy belated Birthday Chewie. And Artoo's a bit under the weather,  so CZT Aimee Belair is filling in this week.

Your mission this time is to place a string on top of another string for your Zentangle tile.

I used 2 different versions of my initial

 superimposed one on top of the other upside down.

 This was the result:

 I'm quite happy with it, but I decided to try another one in color, and since my color is Purple, here it is:

 I used a purple Sakura Micron 01 for the outline, white Sakura Gelly Roll for accent, and Prismacolor pencils in Lilac and Parma Violet for shading; on purple card stock.

Be sure to visit the Diva's site to see the other wonderful entries; it's amazing how different all the responses are. Maybe you'll be inspired to try out one of the Challenges yourself.

Thanks for visiting; please leave a comment, favorable or not. I'd love to hear your thoughts. That's how we learn and grow; and how we know someone out there is paying attention.

Have a wonderful day; see you all next time.