Hello March!

Good things are heading our way - I can feel it!

It's meteorological spring! Please tell Mother Nature... I think her alarm clock has been set to the wrong time zone.

This will be the last tangle challenge I submit with images taken from my phone (I hope)! YEAH! A new wireless printer/scanner is in the post. I'm really looking forward to having modern tech at my fingertips. The old scanner didn't have a USB connection. I've skipped that all together and committed to wireless, baby!

Enough of me being giddy... 

This week's Diva Challenge (#156) was to tangle grids on a curve. What a blast! Apparently I don't do grid based tangles enough, because now, I am seeking them out and learning new ones to try. I've also started taking notes on what these tangles are actually called. (below: Buttercup, Chillon, Beelight, Yincut (?), Flukes and Krust)

Curvy Gridlock  |  iamthedivaczt.blogspot.com

Happy Tangling Everyone! 

25 Days and counting!

SPRING is almost here!

It's been a long, hard winter in the midwestern United States. I feel like we need to throw a going away party soon because it's way past time to get outside and celebrate the mud and slush!
It's been a very trying week, and I thought last week was rough with having my tooth pulled. Turns out I got an infection between the bone graft and jaw. So another surgery, more vicodin and discomfort. Maybe we should throw a going away party for this tooth problem, too :-)

I managed to get one challenge completed but just couldn't get through the second. I am disappointed but working to get over it. I WILL be back on track next week!

I am the Diva - Weekly Challenge #155

WOW! I loved this challenge. Being a graphic designer I can't tell you how many times I have told clients the importance of having a 'resting' place to emphasis the areas of active viewing. It is a no win with people who are driven to fill every inch of real estate on a piece of paper. So this was a refreshing change!
**Sorry again for the poor quality of image. The scanner and I are not getting along these days**

 

 I hope you all have a fantastic week! And take joy from the fact we are getting closer to a change in the weather!

Happy Tangly Valentine's Day!

It has been a week I don't care to repeat... I had the opportunity to meet a new dentist. I had a tooth with a major cavity and a root canal was out of the question. Even with insurance, its a big investment. And so much more affordable to have the tooth pulled. No problem, right?

No one informed the tooth that it was suppose to be easy. My rear molar had every intention of going to the grave with me. One the good side, the dentist won the battle.  I discovered how hard it is to reach my 'zen zone' while in pain and taking Vicodin. So this truly was a big challenge for me this week.

** Oh and I apologize in advance for the image quality. I used my cell phone because the scanner was far too complicated, That must be the heavy equipment they warned me about on the prescription. **

I Am the Diva - Weekly Challenge #154

Being that Valentine's Day is... well TODAY, what more appropriate challenge could there be? A tribute to the things that remind us of the holiday tribute to 'love'. I used my water color pencils (red, yellow, purple and orange), and a few gelly roll pens for accents. If you spot the 'fishy' design - that's a tribute to my Pisces friends who had birthdays this past week.

Valentangles!  |  Weekly Challenge #154  | iamthedivaczt.blogspot.com

Zendala Dare #91 - The Bright Owl

I'm not sure how I felt about tangling this zendala. I loved the way it looked without any added detail. But it wouldn't be a challenge if I didn't attempt to tangle it. The area of special interest to was the interlaced frames in the center. I did three versions and will only post the one I am most happy with. But, I am not sure I did it justice.

**And again, so sorry for the poor image quality, darn heavy machinery was too much for me to deal with **

The Bright Owl Zendala Dare #91

 

And just a little bit of odd information...

George Orwell cooked, and wrote down recipes. Here is an excerpt from his diaries - http://tinyurl.com/lf7jgcz

Looking Forward

I am looking forward to many things...

First: SPRING!!! I know it will get here. But right now it's still too darn cold...
Second: Valentine's Day
and Third: Tangle Challenges!!! I can't seem to get enough :-)

I Am the Diva's Weekly Challenge #153
UMT "Jailed Johnny" 

'Jailed Johny', a tangle by Sadelle Wiltshire, CZT was quite a challenge. I wasn't sure what to do, so I just created a few "frames" to spotlight the main tangle. I've seen a few comments that tanglers thought of butterflies, me too.

'Jailed Johnny'  |  Weekly Challenge #153  |  iamthedivaczt.blogspot.com

Zendala Dare #90 - Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to Erin at The Bright Owl! This weeks template was very intriguing. I work with lots of circular shape so I filled my zendala with lots of them. I even looked up the names :-) Hope you like it...

Pendrills, Onamota, and Tipple  |  thebrightowl.blogspot.com

I hope that you are all inspired by something, everyday!
Stay Creative!

We are Half Way Through It

Winter, that is. I am almost positive that this past winter has been a challenge for many people. My parents live on the west coast, where it has been hot and dry. Setting up idyllic situations for wildfires. And when if the rains come - mudslides.

And here in the Midwest we've had not one, but two 'polar vortex' episodes. I am really hoping the second phase of winter will bring those "fun and fluffy snow days" where one can actually go outside. Maybe we can do some sledding, build a snowman, make an ice sculpture - without the fear of frostbite, hypothermia or some other horrible danger lurking in the tundra.

Weekly Challenge #152: New Official Tangle Aquafleur - I Am the Diva
So, time to think warm happy thoughts with AquaFleur! I was having fun imagining putting my toes in the sand at the lake. Gently waving blooms of aquafleur bobbing just beneath the surface of the sun-kissed water. (Is it working yet? Can you feel spring about to pop?)

I love the organic movement of this tangle. I'm certain I will be using it more and more.

I Am the Diva : Challenge #152

Zendala Dare #89 - The Bright Owl
I have to admit, when I first transferred the zendala into my sketchbook, I wasn't motivated at all. I'm not sure if I was intimidated by the space, or what. But I procrastinated for 2 days... And I finally forced myself to jump in and tangle. BOY, am I glad I did! And it's probably no coincidence that the center looks like a flower :-)

The Bright Owl : Zendala Dare #89

Puxatony Phil and Super Sunday
This marks the time of year when I need motivation. Motivation to do taxes, go grocery shopping, you name it - I would rather snuggle up and watch t.v. Too bad American Horror Story is over. Vikings and Game of Throne hasn't started yet... And I really need to do the taxes.

I am starting to think Puxatony Phil has moved to Alaska where his chance of a decent prediction are better. But Super Sunday has always been a bright spot in the long winter. We go a friends house for loud, commercialized, sports enthused drinking and eating! Woohoo! And it couldn't come at a more needed time. The best cure for cabin fever is going to a party!

Everyone have a safe Super Sunday!

New Challenges

Personal Challenge
Well, I scrapped my website. (Sorry for any complications you may have encountered when viewing my first challenge entry from azzarellostudio.com). The ISP was working great until I started actually started using it for my blog. Then the server was down 90% of the time and I couldn't edit pages or approve comments. So I have switched to a Blogger site - live and learn. BTW, azzarellostudio.com is no longer in service... maybe someday I will face that challenge again. The good news is, I am saving $120 per year on web services! Time to buy more pens and paper :-)

The Diva's Challenge 151: Moebius Syndrome Awareness
Thank you to "I am the Diva" for helping me to learn something new this week. If you are interested in learning more about the neurological disorder known as Moebius Syndrome, please visit the Moebius Syndrome Foundation www.moebiussyndrome.com  and the official Moebius Syndrome Awareness Day is Friday, January 24th - wear purple to show your support. #MSAD14

#MSAD14  :  Challenge 151  :  http://iamthedivaczt.blogspot.com/

 
The Bright Owl: Zendala Dare #88
This zendala immediately made me think nautical thoughts. The funny thing is, once I finished tangling I could only think of flowers. Thanks to Erin @ The Bright Owl for this fantastic template!

I used Sakura Gelly Roll pens for the color. And of course, I am terrible at naming tangles so I have no idea what these are called (if they have a name at all).

Zendala Dare #88  :  thebrightowl.blogspot.com

A Challenge to You
Would you like to try your hand at Zentangle? Visit zentangle.com to find a directory of certified instructors worldwide.

I find inspiration by searching youtube and the internet for #Zentangle, #ZenDoodle, and #ZIA (Zentangle Inspired Art). For a pattern reference library or creative prompt, I reference tanglepatterns.com.

And there is a chance to WIN a fantastic book here: http://www.allfreepapercrafts.com/sweeps/The-Beauty-of-Zentangle



And Randomness...

Be Inspired. Be Free. Be Creative.

And it begins

This past Christmas I received a few books on Zentangle(R).  I am hooked... Every night I grab my pens and sketchbook for an hour long doodle session.

I have always been a crafty person. And a doodler. Thanks to the supportive community on the internet, I have  discovered the combination of both practices. My current goal is to tangle a pair of canvas shoes and create a Valentine canvas.

To date the only "project" I have is our 2014 memory journal. And a few other ATC sized cards. More to come, but this is my first post of randomness.

I hope you find inspiration in my doodles.

WIN a Free Copy of a Fantastic Book!
The Beauty of Zentangle by Suzanne McNeill and Cindy Shepard
Enter to win a copy of this inspirational book at http://www.allfreepapercrafts.com/sweeps/The-Beauty-of-Zentangle