Category Archives: Challenges

Diva Challenge #250 – Bringing It Back to the Old School

Diva Challenge #250 Entry
Tile for Diva Challenge #250 (8C, Finery, Paradox, Printemps)

For this week’s challenge the Diva asks participants to get back to the roots of Zentangle. As she notes in her blog post, the goal is a  “return to the ceremony” of tangling. Rather than debating what size tile to use, or to select a color, or any of that, the idea is to pay close attention to the process. After all, Zentangle is a mindful art form which improves focus and helps with relaxation.

Using a standard white 3.5″ square tile, black pen, and pencil, I created the above piece.  My string was simple and divided the area into triangles, squares, and rectangles. I had not drawn 8C before and wanted to try it. In the lower sections I chose to go with official tangles: Finery, Paradox, and Printemps.

As always, thanks to the Diva for another great challenge. Getting back to basics is always a good exercise.

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Diva Challenge #249 – Celebrate with Diva Dance and Auraknot

Diva Challenge #249 Entry
Tile for Diva Challenge #249. with Auraknot and Diva Dance.

The Diva is kicking off 2016 with a Duotangle challenge. We are asked to create a tile using the official Zentangle patterns Auraknot and Diva Dance. Step outs are available here and here.

It is good to be getting back into a tangle routine following the holidays! I hope that you all enjoyed the holiday season with family and friends! Best wishes to everyone for a bright and wonderful new year!

My tile consists of a large Auraknot in the center, surrounded by Diva Dance along the sides. Thanks to Laura for another fun challenge.

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Diva Challenge #247 – African Artist

Diva Challenge #247 Entry
Tile for Diva Challenge #247

This week’s Diva Challenge #247 is another Use My Tangle (UMT) challenge. For this one we are asked to create a tile using African Artist by Tina-Akua Hunziker, CZT. A step out is available here on Tina’s Akua Art blog. The pattern was inspired by a African material pattern.

Initially I found this tangle to be a little difficult. After practicing for a while I gradually found the rhythm to it. I chose to tangle on a Renaissance tile with a sienna micron pen. Thank you Laura and Tina for the opportunity to learn this pretty pattern!

 

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It’s A String Thing #121 – Aquafleur

String Thing Challenge 121 Entry
Tile for It’s A String Thing #121

This week’s string thing challenge #121 is tree themed to mark the occasion of the lighting of the National Christmas tree in Washington,  D.C. The challenge is to create a tile using a triangular tree-shaped string and fill it with the official Zentangle pattern Aquafleur. Adele was inspired by a beautiful Aquafleur tree tangled by CZT Carole Ohl (link).  A step out for Aquafleur (by Maria Thomas) is available here.

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Diva Challenge #246 – Monotangle Trees

Diva Challenge #246 Entry
Twiggy monotangle tree – Diva Challenge 246
Diva Challenge 246 Entry
Wist monotangle tree – Diva Challenge 246

Dilip Patel, CZT09 is the guest blogger for Diva Challenge #246. His challenge is to create monotangle trees as a way of artistically expressing and supporting the global need for afforestation. What a lovely challenge!

I made two tangles. My first tile features Twiggy, a pattern by Sandy Steen Bartholomew. I added the green branches to symbolize new growth.

My second tangle comes from my sketchbook. This monotangle features Wist by Shelly Beauch. The tree shape was modeled off of a Yoshino cherry tree that is in my front yard.

Thank you Dilip for such a meaningful and beautiful challenge this week!

 

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Diva Challenge #245 – Back To Basics

Diva Challenge #245 Entry
Tile for Diva Challenge #245

This week the Diva’s challenge is to get back to basics with Hollibaugh. Laura points out that returning to basics with a foundational pattern such as Hollibaugh can be a helpful exercise. A step out is available here.

While I followed the spirit of the challenge, I took a major liberty by monotangling Btl Joos — but in Hollibaugh-style. Btl Joos is a pattern by Sandy Steen Bartholomew, and you can find a step out here on her blog. The pattern is very reminiscent  of the movie Beetlejuice, isn’t it? My tile was fun to draw. All of the winding around and crossovers were an interesting challenge.

Laura’s mention that Tuesday was World Prematurity Day has personal significance for me too. My oldest child was eight weeks premature. The reminder brought back memories of her time in the neonatal intensive care unit. It was a good while ago, because my “little peanut” has grown up to be a lovely young woman. She is currently a college student and she’s doing great!

 

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Diva Challenge #244 – Tripoli Triptastic

Diva Challenge #244 Entry
Tangles include Tripoli, Diva Dance, Printemps, and Echoism

This week’s Diva challenge #244 is to create a tile using the official Zentangle pattern Tripoli. A step out for Tripoli is available here. The Diva explains that Tripoli has been somewhat of a challenging tangle for her, and she provides some hints for drawing the pattern. Her primary tip is to keep the spaces between the triangles the same. Consistency is important.

I have to admit that since beginning to tangle a year ago, Tripoli has been a rather elusive tangle for me. I have worked at it over time, and have seen some improvements with Tripoli, but still it never quite seemed to gel. At last the Diva’s tip really seemed to click for me.

With my tile I wanted to experiment with small Tripoli, medium Tripoli, equilateral Tripoli, and oblong Tripoli. While I am not entirely pleased with everything about this tangle, I am happy about how my groupings of Tripoli came out — especially the ones with oblong triangles. They are better than my previous attempts.

Thanks to the Diva for another fun and educational challenge!

 

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Zendala Dare #116

Zendala Dare #116 Tile
Hibred, Tipple, Uncorked

This is the first time that I have participated in Erin Koetz Olson’s weekly Zendala Dare which she hosts on her blog. I love mandalas (and zendalas!) so it was high time that I give the Zendala dare a try.

The template for this week includes six large ovals, so the first tangle that I thought of was Uncorked (by Adele Bruno). It seemed to work well in the rounded spaces. Next I tangled a border of Tipple surrounding the ovals, and then I filled the triangle shapes at the edges with Hibred.

Thank you Erin for the lovely template and Zendala dare this week!

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Diva Challenge #243 – Just A Tiny Taste

For this week’s Diva challenge we are asked to intentionally leave most of the tile blank, and to give “just a tiny taste” of the tangle. Laura points out that there is usually a tendency to fill up every space when tangling, so the idea to not use up all or most of the space is indeed a challenge.

I have two entries. My first tile features a pie-shaped grid using the tangle Heartfully by Helen Williams of A Little Lime. I love this pattern, so it seemed a natural one to draw for this challange. Also, I am intrigued by Helen’s wonky grids, so I thought a pie-shaped grid would fit the bill for “wonky” here.

Diva Challenge #243 Entry
Tile for Diva Challenge #243

And wouldn’t you know it, Helen posted a brand new heart shaped tangle pattern last night. So of course I had to try it out! The “just a tiny taste” theme seemed to call out for Heartswell. Here is my first attempt at drawing this lovely pattern. It is taken from a page out of my stetchbook. (I’m also experimenting with a new signature).

Diva Challenge #243 Entry
Tile for Diva Challenge #243

As always, thanks to the Diva for another fun challenge!

 

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“It’s A String Thing” #117 – Sand

My entry for It's A String Thing Challenge #117
My entry for It’s A String Thing Challenge #117

For the “It’s A String Thing” #117 challenge we are to make a monotangle using Adele’s brand new pattern Sand.  Adele has created a specially designed string for this challenge (included in her post). A step out for the pattern Sand is available here.

Sand is a lovely circle grid pattern. I like how versatile this pattern can be. For this challenge I chose to make a grid that covered the entire tile, but tried to vary the styling for each of the “quadrants” indicated by the string. The portion in red is intended to represent the area covered by the circle in the string.

As always, thank you Adele for the opportunity to stretch my tangling skills! I enjoyed trying out Sand, and am pleased with my resulting tile.

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