Daily Tangling

Week two of my 365 Days of Art challenge went well, although I forgot to write about it.  

I'm loving Michele Beauchamp's new pattern, Mak-Rah-Mee.  It combines the feel of Keeko and Mooka into a fun, flowing pattern.  I let the pattern fill half a week in my Tangle-A-Day calendar.

I used one of my daughter's bowls to create a string of circles for the other page.  I love filling in circles and their intersections with different patterns.

This week, I worked on some more ATCs for the swap and practiced many new patterns.  I'll share images of those soon.

I love being creative every day and have enjoyed finding a few minutes to explore my art.  I'm worth the time!

One Little Word

This week's Diva challenge asked us to think about one word for the year. This word can be a motto, inspiration, or focus.

I thought about where I'm at in my life and what I'm looking forward to in the near future.  I have had a lot of changes recently, including leaving my job, and I'm still happily adjusting to my new life.

My word for 2014 will be:

I choose to embrace my life, my new adventure, and everything that comes along with it.

One of the reasons I left my job was to be happier, healthier, and to be able to live each day with the Zentangle mindset.  I am embracing my choice and my efforts toward a more mindful life with less stress.  I truly believe the Zentangle motto that "Anything is possible, one stroke at a time," and I embrace living positively and reducing the negativity in my immediate world.

I embrace my loved ones often, now that I have more time to do so.  I am approaching each new day I have with my daughter with excitement, energy, and the knowledge that each second with her is precious.  Okay, maybe the frustrating ones aren't always as high on that list, but I still treasure even those and our time together.  We are both happier, and I know that my being less stressed is helping my entire family.

I will embrace laughter, fun, and spending time with the people who mean the most to me.  I had been too busy and sometimes forgot to enjoy the little things.

I embrace my art, although sometimes I let the craziness of the world interfere with my passion for creating.  My New Year's resolution is going well; I am embracing a challenge to create art each day.  I love this challenge and the fact that I have given myself an assignment that inspires and motivates me.

For this challenge, I trusted myself to play with my lettering and a single pattern--Mooka.  In the past, Mooka posed a challenge for me; now it's one of my favorite patterns!  I embrace my art for what it is.

I embrace a healthy lifestyle.  In the last year, I have lost thirty pounds by changing my entire diet.  I am calmer due to my regular Zentangle practice, eating differently, and reducing the stress in my life. I will continue to devote my energy to these things that have made me successful and a better person.

I embrace myself and my ability to truly be the person I want and deserve to be.  I am happy, and I embrace the understanding that that is a wonderful thing.

What is your word, motto, or guiding force for 2014?

365 Days of Art: Week 1

Woohoo!  I made it through the first week of my 365 Days of Art challenge!  Ok, I realize that one week of a resolution isn't that impressive, but I know people who have already abandoned their ideas of eating healthier, exercising, or getting organized.  I think the key is finding a resolution to do something you actually enjoy--like creating art!

This week, I've worked in my Tangle-A-Day 2014 calendar for each day of the week.  I've posted the first two pages here for your oohing and aahing enjoyment.  On January 4-6, I was feeling inspired by shapes so each square features patterns with a circular, square, or triangular feel.  It must be my preschooler rubbing off on me!

I've also been working on my ATC (Artist Trading Card swap) and Pay It Forward bookmarks.  Another side project I have is updating my tangle book and practicing a ton of new tangle patterns.  I'll share more information about that project next time!

How are you doing with your resolutions?

Pay It Forward

For the last few years, I've participated in a creative pay it forward game on Facebook.  The idea is to create something handmade--art, food, a letter, etc.--for five people.  Those five people, in turn, create  something for five other people.  The gift is a surprise and can show up at any time of the year.  It's a lovely way to do something nice for others.  Paying it forward encourages us to share kindness and creativity with others.

Here are some bookmarks that are in process for this project.  I started with a blank page then added a yellow lettering background with a stencil and Dylusions ink spray.  Next, I used the Dylusions "Flossy" female figure stencil and Twinkling H2Os to create shadow figures.  I played with coloring some of the skirts in and leaving some as silhouettes.

I'm starting to like how these are coming out!

Next up:  tangling!

Happy New Year!

White Zentangle Tile, Glimmer Mist, black and brown Microns

Happy new year!  It's 2014 and time to start anew.  

I hear many of my fellow tanglers say that they love their Zentangle® practice, but they forget to tangle.  I get it.  Life can easily interfere with our creative ambitions.  It can sometimes be hard to take a few minutes for yourself when everything else gets in the way.

For 2014, you get a blank slate for the new year!  Pick up a pen and start.  It doesn't matter what pattern you choose or what the end result is... just tangle.  Once you start, you can get yourself out of a creative rut and enjoy your journey once again.

Did you make a New Year's resolution?  I decided to work on a creative one because I, too, often lapse in my tangling.  As much as I love it, and as much as I benefit from my regular practice, I find myself bogged down on the craziness of life as well.  

Not in 2014!  This year, I'm taking a pledge to create art of some kind every single day.  I am joining the 365 Days of Art Challenge.  For each day of the year, I will strive to create some form of art.  I'm keeping it easy since this is an ambitious adventure, and I will leave the creative expression open for exploration.  

I might create a tangled tile, work on a larger piece, make a greeting card, make a gift, practice lettering, or do whatever inspires me!

I am thrilled to have Carole Ohl's new Tangle-A-Day Calendar for 2014.  It's a lovely way to create art each day.  Carole provides perfect boxes just waiting for tangles along with patterns and beautiful artwork.  I will probably post those pages at the end of each week since multiple days are on the same page.  

As with any resolution, I think it's important to be realistic.  I have to make allowances for the inevitable.  There will be occasions beyond my control that prevent me from creating on some days, and I can live with that.  My goal will be to make up for it the next day so I don't get off track.  Or, maybe I'll tangle a little extra some days to cover those unexpected days.

I hope you all have a happy and creative new year!  If you've made a resolution, try making it flexible enough that you can make it work.  

My tile also fits in with the Diva's 2014 challenge this week.

A Nutty Christmas

Do the holidays feel crazy to you?  If you get together with family, do you feel like someone opened a can of life-sized mixed nuts?

We're nut an exception (groan). Squirrels are an inside joke in my family since my mom claims to dislike them so enthusiastically.  She equates them to rats with bushy tails, and she really doesn't like rats.

Everyone has started to give her squirrel-related cards and gifts, and I'm no exception.  Thanks to Ben Kwok's beautiful squirrel template, I created this tangled squirrel for my mom.  After opening it, she said she might have to start liking squirrels now!

Here is the final colored version using my Irojiten colored pencils.

Here was the original black and white.

The First Item on My To-Do List

Does your to-do list seem like it will never end?  

Do you feel like you're adding ten items before you can even cross off one?

My head was spinning this morning as I thought about all of the things I had to do today.  The holidays tend to pile up extra projects including shopping, wrapping, cleaning, decorating, and visiting.  While I love all of the items on this list, except for cleaning, I find the extra pressure daunting at times.

I started to make a list of what I had to do and immediately felt overwhelmed.  Rather than give in, I picked up a tangling project and my Micron.  It felt wonderful to slow down, relax, and tangle.  My mind stopped whirring and panicking about all of the little things I should be doing.  Instead, I enjoyed a few quiet, creative minutes with myself.  Here is a small, unshaded part of this ZIA:

I put my Micron down and picked up a regular pen and paper.  I then proceeded to make a realistic to-do list for the week.  

Of course I can't do it all in one day!  Who am I, Santa?  

The simple act of tangling for a few minutes allowed me to put everything into perspective so I could focus on what was important.  I figured out the few things I could manage to complete today and prioritized the rest of the tasks.

I'm smiling.  I feel calmer.  I am able to jump on that list rather than tackling it grumpily.  I love this time of year, and I love preparing for it.  Why should I let a little stress interfere with my seasonal festivities?  Bah humbug!

Next time I start a to-do list, I will remember to write "tangle" at the very top.