My first turned bowl

My first turning. The wood is plywood that is used to form concrete. I love the texture and golden glow that the wood shines with. Unless you touch it, it looks like it has ridges but it's smooth! I still have SO much to learn but thanks to my sweet husband, I accomplished this first one. (Yep, there was a time I wanted to skew that bowl with the skew tool. ) Now that I know what a 'catch' it, it's not a good thing:) Hopefully, there are woodturning classes and conventions in my future.

I want to do a plain white-ish wood bowl that I can tangle on. Wish me luck!

Black and White Puzzle

The black and white puzzle as a whole. Trying to decide if I should mount this as one piece or make them as 'coaster' style pieces. 

Joining the 2012 Sketchbook Project

I've joined the 2012 Sketchbook Project using the theme "In 10 minutes" just to see what I can accomplish in that time. Probably loose, cartoon-y but fun. Can't wait for it to get here! 2012 Sketchbook Project

Zentangling with School Counselors

Spent lunch today tangling with high school counselors. Here's the combined 10 person tangle created in 45 minutes. Could have kept on going all afternoon! And I love the fact that even tho' we didn't have much time, therefore a lot of it isn't 'filled', they all still turned out so beautiful!

Great fun on a Friday afternoon!

Tile numero uno of puzzle

Here's tile number 1 of the new puzzle tiles. I don't know which direction this one goes. And...I'm not going to look. it'll be fun to try and put it together.

Last week's work

I really did work last week, but it was my nephew's wedding Illumination I worked on. It's big (15" x 24") on maroon lodka paper. It didn't photograph well, but here it is.

This week I've started on a 9 piece puzzle. I am taking 9 tiles and have done a string on the 'whole' piece. 3 x 3 tiles. Now, I'm starting to tangle each tile. I've done one, but I kept the pieces together with painters tape so the tangles carried over to the next tile. This time, I'm not carrying over the tangles. We'll see how it turns out.

Made it to 5, but not shaded

Funny five, everything I saw this morning, I wanted to tangle, so here it is. Not shaded, but then I'm not really awake! My brain is thinking what I need to move to my other room and what I need to prepare to teach today. (Cause, duh, I'm behind!....already....sigh) Guess I'll be preparing this weekend instead of tangling, I hope I make it to 6-10 next week! have a great weekend.

Forgot to post 4

Four really did get done, just didn't get it posted. After a massage last night, and eating, I didn't have much energy (imagine that!) so here's to the fourth day of school!

There really is a 3 here

Without much sleep, sinuses/allergies rampant and day 3 with a meeting on the horizon, my tangles certainly reflect my state of mind. Hopefully, I can untangle those brain cells before I begin talking about 'how to use a Mac'.

Day Two and already feeling the effects

Every year I know this first week is brutal. I just am not in 'teaching' shape. Light weights, being active all summer, even getting the room ready and 'movin' all that 'stuff' doesn't get me in shape for this! So, here's to day TWO, at least I'm relaxed and untangled!

First day of school! Ready, set, HOT DOG!

If you watch my video on FB, you'll understand (maybe) why the HOT DOG! As Caleb was learning to swim this summer, he'd add 'special' words to the event. Most times, they made no sense. But, it was his enthusiasm about what he was doing, that caught my teacher's ears/eyes. So I dedicate this school year to a HOT DOG year!
This tangle is based on the number 1, for the first day of school. I'm wanting to improve my letter writing (and I have a long way to go) so for a while, I expect numbers/letters to be showing up in my tangles.

Have a wonderful school year!

Sweet Saturday!

Even tho' it's not a school day, I felt the need to tangle today's joy! A little shopping, a little work, a little nap (hopefully) and a little night life at the Denton County Fair (to include tornado taters and a strawberry crepe), and some sweet night music. Hot! Have a great weekend!

Black Friday? No! Bright white to start the weekend!

Looking for a tile this morning and only had black ones close by. Made me think of "Black" Friday, but I don't see this as the last day of summer, last day before school starts (again) or anything remotely 'dark'. I do see this as bright, white, new students, new learning and LOTS of new opportunities. Like learning about a white gelly roll pen on black paper, this new school year will be BRIGHT WHITE. I CAN make it so!!!!

Diva's Challenge

In response to the Diva's Weekly Challenge, here is my submission. Tile in a tile, but I missed the rounded edges part. Seems I really went with a lot of lines on this one. Could you analyze a tile like a dream? What do the pattens chosen on a certain day represent? Bet that's a good question for Rick!

Starting (and continuing) the new trial

I try to do a tangle a day...it keeps the stress away. Usually that happens in the morning. So, I decided my 2011 school year resolution was to do a tangle a day IN THE MORNING!

That's usually from 545-615am. This morning I had an email from a teacher friend with 50 typography examples that were SO GREAT! I decided to use some text in mine (boy do I need to practice!) So, here's yesterday's first back to school tangle and today's "Dream". I wish for this school year is to DREAM BIG!

Examples of My Zentangle

Sincerest Apologies

To any and all who might go Friday or went on Tuesday to attend the Zentangle class....
I cancelled the classes because I have not received any commitments of people attending, via email or Paypal. I am looking for a location where I might host an evening class or a Saturday morning class. Anyone with suggestions, please email me at sthillen448 AT msn.com

I am very sorry for any inconvenience this has caused. It was a last minute request of the CVA to have the classes there, and without any commitments, I didn't expect anyone to just show up. I apologize. Next time I know to come anyway:)

Please don't give up on Zentangle classes. They WILL be in Denton.

Jredzel in a tile

Here's Jredzel in a tile. I played a little with shading and adding black or lines to the insides. I started to get really carried away with fatter or thinner widths in the j's. I think that's going to take a whole tile:) Here's the steps

Time to get back in the tangle again!

Wow! I feel like I've been on a desert island with no sakura pens! I'm ready to get back in the tangle again. One tile a day keeps the stressors away. To start this renewal off, here's this mornings tangle.

I've started an 8" x 8" white on black piece. More experimental than anything but I've really liked the black tiles just wanna go BIG.

Here's to tangling a tile a day. My other tangle-goal is to develop a pattern (something I see/think up) at least one a week. That's not to say that pattern isn't already done and published, but for me to THINK and DECODE a pattern a week. Hold me to it!

Upcoming classes

August 9, 2011 at Center for Visual Arts,
Has been CANCELLED (need at least 6 for a class)

Zentangle #2 - August 12 from 9:30 to 12:30pm
Has been CANCELLED (need at least 6 for a class)

For questions or requests for furture classes please contatct me at sthillen448@msn.com. Send name and contact info, plz.

Color and new tangles from Sue

Trying out the sagura metallic colors on regular zentangle tiles and then a few of Sue's tangles. Started out with La Bel and added a few more. Unfortunately, I made my string to tight and the pretty loops are just too small, especially when I started adding in the black fill.

I don't think I've ever had an artform where I can continue to experiment, finish a piece (in a short amount of time) feel satisfaction and learning and still want to keep going. Zentangle is such a rewarding artform. I hope to share it more soon!

Quick post of some black and metallic pens

 I'm trying to convince my 2 year old grandson to wait a minute before we watch 'garbage trucks' on YouTube.

Lots of tangles, just nothing ready to post

Due to two wonderful, little gremlins running around my house, I'm not posting right now. Every once in a while I get to sit and tangle, but not very often. My awesome grandchildren will be here until the end of July. Sigh....not sure I can wait that long to tangle!

Boston, so much to see

Day six in Boston, going to take the Trolley around town today and see everything we've missed. We walked FOREVER on the Freedom Trail, but I think we still missed some of it. So, we'll try the trolley today. Everything about this town is awesome.

The Bruins won the Stanley Cup the first night we were here (Wed.) and have talked teamwork every day since then. Yesterday we went to the Red Sox game and the Bruins threw out the first pitch. I have to say I think this whole city is about teamwork. It's clean, it's safe, it's fun and it's got a LOT of personality.

If anyone is ever looking for a unique, not hot, vacation, consider Boston! The picture is from inside the State House on the Freedom Trail. Might try this as a new tangle.

Boston sites

Out the window. So many potential tangles

Rain, Rain, please come our way

It's hot, it's steamy, here's some rain, now we just need some of the real stuff. Didn't know so many things could be varied on some lines and zigzags.

Monday's poke root and poke leaf and the nine combined

Finally, one I really like. This is Poke Leaf (the leafy one) and poke root (not sure where the root is, looks like cherries to me)

Pulled out all of them I've done (not including the double practice ones) and laid them out to see what the 'nine' would look like.

Retirement tangle

My gift for one of our district retirees. These are so much fun to do! I hope she enjoys it!

Tuesday trying to work?!

So Red decides she needs a little attention (after being shut in the closet most of yesterday...not on purpose, but because she climbs up and hides on top of something, I don't see her and close the door to get the light off). Now, she's 'helping', right on top of a large 'learning' piece so I'm finishing up a 'betweed' experiment on the side. She hates the camera but hasn't yet figured out the doc camera.

Florz on Sunday

Hummmm, wanted more net. Getting ready for the MAVS to hopefully win against the Heat so I'm thinking NETS. Guess if I was thinking it more, I would have done more basketball-ish. As it is, just another experiment.

Saturday Striping before graduation

 

Hadn't meant to do a bee for striping but here it is. After I did this one, and I'm supposed to be experimenting, I decided to do another striping. Just to play with the twists and turns, shadows and highlights. So a Saturday a Striping I went:)

Friday's Printemps

I thought this one would be easy but it's turned out to be harder than I thought to shade it so it's got some pop to it. It's still just an experiment in variations of printtemps. I tried smaller circles, doing the highlight as I drew the circles, or not, using different pens (used .01, .03, .05 and .08) and filling in with black. I even did a couple of square circles. I think what will be really fun is when I start putting all the tiles together. Now that I've taken the picture, it looks like a finger and thumb and the thumb's exploded:)

Black and White

While waiting for files to upload, I played with an old piece of black bristol paper and white pen. The white pen is the Gelly roll medium. I hope I got more of them. There's no shading on this,. I guess I just really like black and white.

Knightsbridge, not my favorite knight

Here is Knightsbridge. Even tho' it's not my favorite, I am learning about shading and about lines and heavy black lines. I think the part I dislike the most is the flat square pieces. They're just flat. So, lesson learned.

Florz was next

Florz was next on my list of tangles to try and add variations to. I started with a ribbon type string, that part wasn't intentional, just seemed to be the squiggle of the day. I've always loved to draw/color/shade, but have severely gotten out of the habit/knowledge/and practice. I'm enjoying this so maybe this will get in back in practice. Don't think I could do an apple but am loving the tangles.

I've also just gotten a new document camera. It's an IPEVO 2 View and it's awesome. It has an auto adjust as well as set focus, can go full screen or not, take the little camera job off and wave it around of leave it on the arm and move it up, down and all around. It's SO much better than the Logitech that I have at school. It's also small and not in the way, but the picture quality is awesome. Just a heads up on a doc camera if anyone needs one.

Msst and fescu results

Here are the first two tiles with Msst and Fescu. They didn't turn out anything like I expected, maybe because I didn't expect anything. They are for practice. What happens when you do a tile solely with one pattern and just use different pens and variations. I like them and can't wait for tomorrow to do another one.

Too much stress and not enuf practice/fun

I decided to practice more, have more fun, and stress less.. To do that, I'm going to do a tile. Day with one tangle and see where that leads me. There are some basis tangles ive never done and want to 'get to know them' better. I also want to get to know the pens better so as I experiment with the same tangle, I'm experimenting with different pen tips. Tomorrow I'll post mast and fescu results.

First Class of Zentangle

 Last night, I conducted a guinea pig class with my neighbors learning Zentangle. Started out well for the first 15 minutes, but then the tornado sirens went off, Jim (my husband) went on storm watcher duty, and all 7 ladies headed to my closet. (Yea, it was barely clean). Storm went past, we went back to tangling and ended up with a great 9 piece tangle. I'll post pictures of that from home when I get Internet back but this is mine and Jim's tangle from last night. I'm very proud of him for storm watching and keeping up with the tangles. His has his own special touch, which is very near and dear to me. Thanks Jimmy, for participating, and trying and being a little in the world I love. Thanks to all my tolerant neighbors who put up with tornado sightings, my wacked out dogs and not all the exact vocabulary I should be using. It was quite a night!

Trying for another art show

Here's my latest large illumination, not finished. There's an Art Show I'm going to enter it in if I can get it finished this weekend. It's time to start another one after being at CZT last weekend. I have more tangles to do than time.

I'm going to do a "P" for my neighbor. I found a book "Paint Your Own Illuminated Letters" to sort of use but won't be using gouche like the book. The last one I used colored pencil and like that one the lodka. I don't think water color would work and I'm leary of acrylic. Any suggestions?

The ride home from Boston

We discovered that Dick Blick was a real store in Boston, we just had to make that stop. Since there wasn't black paper at CZT, I was dying to try out my white pen on black paper, so I bought some. With my freebie green jelly roll pen and the white one, this was my experiment.

CZT was such an awesome experience. I can only recommend that if you get hooked on Zentangle, that you try to attend CZT training. Not necessarily to teach but just for the experience. It's SO much fun getting to know other tangleists (is that a word?).

My favorite part of the sessions was when other participants taught their new tangle. Being a teacher, observing how others teach, how they present their material, keep their audience captivated and provide encouragement.

This second piece is Anita's Funn-guy, which I really like with shading. I'm going back to those tiles that were started with the new tangle created by a CZT and finishing them.  I'll add more as I get them done.

Making friends with an 01

I had lasik several years ago and now wear glasses for reading, computer, etc. Now when I tangle, I just don't feel like I 'see' good. I could take my contacts out, squint up close and feel like I could 'see'. Which has driven me to think I need to use an 05 or an 08 for most of my tangling so I can 'see' the line. I also shake and can't draw a straight line so using that fine fine tip only intensifies my inability to 'draw'. BUT after going to CZT training and hearing the story and seeing all the super delicate work that is being done with a 01, I'm bound and determined to 'friend' it. So, I completed the tile I started when Julie did her awesome "HulaBerry" tangle. HulaBerry is with an 05 pen, the rest (except fill) is with the 01. What'cha think?

What do you do when the power's off?

Tues night the power went off at 830pm.  Call TXU, power's supposed to be back on at 11pm. no problem. Go to be early. Wake up at 5 am, still no power. What do you do? Tangle by candlelight! Here it is:

Do you see the light that isn't on?
And the candle flame?
and the water bottle that was on the counter?
Well, the water bottle morphed into about 10 water bottles, but there's potential for a new pattern there.
Definitely not my best tangle but it passed the time.

My 1st attempt at mandala

Here's my first attempt at a mandala. My brain and hands do NOT like to match so even tho' it is somewhat symmetrical, it's not really. There are just some things in life I guess I have to accept. Like drawing a straight line, or being consistent on a pattern. Aw well, that's why I like zentangle, there's so much intricate design that the exactness doesn't really matter.