Tea n Toast

They say to tangle what you love and love what you tangle. I LOVE toast, tea, toasters, and teapots. I've also used several of my favorite tangles. Gradually, I see I am developing a "look" of my own.  this was fun. I learn something with every tangle.  Maybelle says there is too much detail. But, that's the name of the game.  What would your last meal be?  I've thought about this often after reading Liza Palmer's novel Nowhere But Home. I love Liza's novels and writing style. I'm pretty sure my last meal would be tea and toast. 

Mad as a March Hare

I was feeling a bit whimsical tonight. Maybe even a bit mad. I didn't intend to make the hat purple; but when I switched pen sizes, I didn't double check the color.  Jean likes it this way. I'm not sure I do.  But, overall I like how it turned out.  I worked through a headache (not usual for me to have those anymore). Since my internet bandwidth ran out minutes ago, this will be the last post for a few days.  You can bet I'll be busy tangling and cleaning house to keep me from indulging my addiction.

Moonrise Over Mountains

Got this idea from ETsy. I love using the painted paper but it makes the tooth a little larger so it's difficult to use the .01 micron pens and even more difficult to shade and blend pencil.  I may have to fctor that in and use markers and different tangling technique. 

Rune Project - Algiz

Algiz

protection, higher self, shelter, safety

Algiz is the protection rune.  There may be a hidden danger ahead but if you follow your instincts you will have the ability to defend yourself.  This may be a time to set out on risky adventures; this rune is advising you to do so with caution and conscientiousness.  Pay attention and you will be safe.

Reverse Interpretation - Algiz reversed may appear when you are ignoring your conscience. By failing to heed your inner wisdom, you may be risking your safety. You may be tired or under a great amount of stress, making it difficult ot make good decisions. This reversed rune urges you to retreat to restore your good sense and self-preservation instincts.

Element - Air

Polarity - masculine

Zodiac - Cancer

Co lour - gold

Crystal - amethyst

Plant - sedge grass

Tree - service

Deity - heimdall

"The Elk-sedge usually lives in the fen,

growing in the water.

It wounds severely,

staining with blood any man who makes a grab at it."

I regularly cast runes. A few months ago I asked Edward to send me a rune. I meditated and Algiz was the rune he sent to me.  It is quite appropriate since safety, security, and protection were always provided by Edward and I'm new to learning how to defend myself. It was a great message and has become my favorite rune. I couldn't resist tangling it.

Coloring with Cataracts

I agreed with my daughter that one of the calendar pages for the digital download listing on Etsy should be colored. I chose April. It is my birth month and I love eggs and bunnies and flowers. Aside from the difficulties of choosing colors with cataracts (can't really see the color accurately (Yes, just like Monet) and I can't read the embossed color name on the pencil) and near impossibility of coloring on card stock, I'm pleased with the outcome. It was fun but it took a loooong time.  I had the Olympics Ice Dancing competition in the background. In my heart I will always want to be a figure skater.

I also dug out some old wet-on-wet water color projects saved from homeschooling lessons and cut them into smaller pieces to tangle.  I was inspired by a yellow and green piece to smile. I may put this up on Listia to get a few points for buying pencils or something. Who knows. I don't think it's Etsy worthy though. Maybe the next one.  Or you know, I might just keep it to remind me to SMILE!

My teacher Chunyi Lin is always reminding me to smile!

S.M.I.L.E. = Start My Internal Love Engine! 

The simple act of smiling immediately helps your body to relax.

A smile also sends a message to your brain to produce endorphins, the body's natural feel-good hormone. If you're helping another person, your smile will help her or him to relax, too. 

By smiling you help to open your connection to the unconditional love in your heart. That's what S.M.I.L.E means: Start My Internal Love Engine. A simple smile helps you open your heart
-Chunyi Lin 

"Smile in your Liver" - Eat, Pray, Love

Inner Smile Meditation -  I find this meditation opened up many healing and enlightening gates for me

Blended lines

I was inspired by Tiffany Lovering and tried my own "blended lines." I think I would do a few things differently next time and will make sure I can access my Sharpies which might blend better than the art markers.  Coloring is difficult with cataracts.  I will also make different width lines and not outline the lines. It was fun and I learned a lot.

Thenk I found a couple tangles when I was looking for my mailing labels. They have a way of getting mixed in with the old mail and clutter. The Christmas hearth was one of my first tangles like that back in October. The other one was to play with some newly learned tangles A couple have become my favorites. It was done in January. I can see that my shading is getting better. I still don't feel like I really know what I'm doing when it comes to shading though. 

Be

Finally Haceta Head Lighthouse

After 2 failed attempts, I think I finally have a tangled Haceta Head lighthouse to frame for my friend Janet. Once again, gratitude to Jean for providing me with the outline.  I'm lousy at representational sketching.  I should stick to watercolor ;)

I apologize for the lousy scan. My current scanner has a limited bed and I seem to grapple with halos and cutting things off.

My First Hand Tangle

It's traditional for tangle artists to use their own hand as a string. I was feeling rather uninspired so I decided to stick with tradition - here is my first tangled hand.  Can you tell it's February?

I saw a tangled hand in The Beuaty of Zentangle that was circus themed.  Maybe someday I will have the skills and imagination to do something that nice. Kudos to all those tanglers who make books, ebooks, videos, tutorials, and come up with new tangles you are a constant source of inspiration.

Round & Round All Tangled Up

I really like using circles for my strings. I should plan ahead or maybe it's just my nature. But, these tangles go to the edges of page so aren't really ready to mat.  Guess they are just fun to look at. A lot of fun to do! I probably already need a 12-step program for my Tangle addiction.  These are in the order I tangled them. The first one was around Christmas time. Couldn't resist making the little ninjas. They make me smile. 

Festina Lente - Proceed Slowly

This is my first attempt at coloring the whole piece. I love tortoises and found the picture on the internet. My daughter Jean sketched the outline of the tortoise for me.  This was really fun and quite a learning experience. I haven't quite decided what to do with her yet though. She reminds me to slow down - take time!

Lighthouses

One of my first ideas for Zentangle Inspired Art was lighthouses.  I'm not a lighthouse nut but I love the seaside and wanted to tangle places I've been. Of course Hattaras was my first lighthouse. I like how it turned out (remember I'm just beginning this and I do not see well). It is framed and hangs on my bedroom wall.

Then I decided to tangle my friend Janet's favorite lighthouse Haceta Head in Oregon.  Jean sketched the first string for me but I didn't like what I'd done to it and stopped about 3/4 the way through. She sketched me a new outline and I tangled away even playing with more saturated colors.  But, I think I will try again for something I like better to send to Janet.  I'm just not happy with this one.  I may just try a different viewpoint on the lighthouse.

Hacita Head Lighthouse attempt 2

My next lighthouse is going to be Split Rock on Lake Superior. I remember seeing it as a child. It was my first lighthouse.

Doodling the Winter Away

My tangled sheltie - available on cafepress.com/lazytea

Last summer I received an email contact from one of the Etsy artisans It suggested Zentangle for children. What a great idea! I saw it as a fun way for my daughter to hone her fine motor skills.  I immediately visited Zentangle for Kids and ordered supplies and the book from Sandy. But, I couldn't wait to try it out.  It brought back memories of all the long hours I spent doodling in Algebra class when I was her age.  I recalled all the newspaper and magazine margins filled with doodles on our kitchen table. I think I was born to tangle. I've always had a love affair with pens, pencils, paper, watercolor...but I am NOT a visual artist. But, hey, this isn't really art it's just doodling.

Six months have passed and I spend hours everyday doodling. I managed to get some projects done for Christmas presents and to tangle some pumpkins and ornaments for the holidays which quickly sold on Etsy.
I even made a coloring calendar for Maybelle. She seems to prefer coloring my tangles to making her own.  What I haven't done is actually get my work up on a blog.  Since tangling is so meditative for me, I decided it belongs on this blog.

February coloring calendar page