Thursday, March 29, 2012

Magnetic Personality

Everybody is like a magnet. You attract to yourself reflections of that which you are. If you're friendly then everybody else seems to be friendly too.
  
-David R. Hawkins


Monday, March 26, 2012

Challenge 64 zentangle, quote


If you are not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary.

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-Jim Rohn



The diva's challenge #64 is as follows:


Weekly Challenge #64: String Theory v. VIII "Fortuneteller"
So, as is the case with all the String Theory challenges, the challenge here is for everyone to use a common string in their work.  For this, i simply divided my tile into 4, then divided them again, through the diagonals, creating 8 special-right triangles. (Each triangle has a 90 degree and two 45 degree angles)

I called this challenge the Fortuneteller, because the string reminds me of those paper fortune teller i used to make as a kid. 



The one above is the first one I did -  too busy?  I really like the tangle pattern called "Ixorus" and this is the basic tangle I used on both these tiles.



 This is the 2nd one I did -  too simple?



This is the "string" described by The Diva.

btw, if you've only thought about checking out her site and haven't do so as yet, now's the time!

http://iamthedivaczt.blogspot.com/

Like many others who follow her bog and take on her weekly challenge - I look forward to every Monday so I can take on the challenge.

Friday, March 23, 2012

Springtime thoughts!

The seasons are shifting, The winter shades lifting,
The springtime is filling
Earth's children with mirth.
The daffodil yellow, The south wind so mellow,
The gentle rain falling,
Upon the green earth.
The song sparrow singing, New life quickly springing,
All nature is telling
A tale of rebirth:
The deep wells of being, Beyond each day's seeing,
O'er flowing with new Life,
Restoring the earth.


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-David E. Bumbaugh
Spring, 1998




I'm sitting here with the windows open and listening to the birds singing.  I just had to express my enjoyment of the moment on paper!

It's been an early Spring this year and I'm enjoying every minute of it.  The flowering Redbuds and Dogwood trees thoughtout the city provide  a beautiful landscape.   My tulips and jonquils and flocks are bursting with color.  

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Busy week, 2 knitting projects, new zentangle patterns and a quote

Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.
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-Oprah Winfrey


Zentangles have become a passion with me along with knitting, mixed media and quilting.  This week became more than exciting for me because my newest tangle pattern "Itsy Twisty" was featured
on the TanglePatterns.com site. http://tanglepatterns.com/ 

My excitement grew as compliments came rolling in from other zentangle enthusiasts both on my blog and on the tangle patterns website.  To those who sent a compliment and all who have tried my new pattern, I thank you.

The zentangle tile to the left contains my newest pattern "Itsy Twisty" as well as 3 other of my tangle patterns:  Dazl, Serpentine and EO.  If you'd like to check them out, simply go to the bottom right of this blog to the Labels section and click on the "new patterns tab. 

If you've never been to Linda Farmer's Tangle patterns site, and you would like to learn more patterns click on the above link on on the Tangle Patterns Icon on my web.  Well worth checking out!

As for knitting, last week I finished a pair of socks for my granddaughter and I also finished another shawl/scarf.  I'm working on publishing the pattern as I've had so many requests for it. 



Monday, March 19, 2012

challenge #63 zentangle, quote

"More look up and admire the stars. A champion climbs a mountain and grabs one."

 

-H. Jackson Brown, Jr.



This weeks Diva challenge is to use the new tangle design called "Fengle".

They remind me of starfish or stars in the sky.

Sunday, March 18, 2012

A day with my granddaughter

Somewhere out there is a quote that states "if I'd know grandchildren were so much fun, I would have had them first".   Thursday was not only a beautiful warm, sunny day, it was an afternoon spent with my granddaughter Amy.  We searched through treasures at the Goodwill Store, then had a delightful dinner of pizza. 

Amy was kind enough to use the computer and lay-out business cards for me.  One uses a zentangle design I made and the other a logo I had designed for me by a professional artist:


When I was sharing some of my zentangle designs she fell in love with this one, so of course she now has it in her possession:


Saturday, March 17, 2012

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Itsy Twisty - a new tangle pattern

What separates the winners from the losers is how a person reacts to each new twist of fate.
Donald Trump

These two zentangle drawings both feature the new tangle I just designed called "Itsy Twisty".



Here's how to draw Itsy Twisty:


This design came to me while I was making a greeting card as I was embellishing it with buttons sewn on with ribbon.

 

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Zentangle, quote

"
"Happiness is like a kiss. You must share it to enjoy it."
Bernard Meltzer

My happiness right now is that my husband is doing well after his hip replacement surgery.  And, my friends were so very thoughtful in sending him flowers!



Monday, March 12, 2012

Challlenge 62, quote

"The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change."



The challenge by the Diva this week is to create the tangle pattern "Paradox" within a spiral pattern.  Here's mine:



Saturday, March 10, 2012

My newest knitting creation, quote

"Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun".
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-Mary Lou Cook

This past Tuesday, my hubby had hip-replacement surgery -- he's doing fine and growing stronger each day.
While he was hospitalized and while waiting during his surgery, I was knitting.  Knitting always calms me and helps me through difficult times as well as satisfying me need to be creative.  Here's the neck shawl/scarf I made during this past week:

Over the past few years, I have made several similar to this and have finally perfected this pattern.  I like these scarves for several reasons:  They keep my neck and shoulders warm, especially when I'm in a restaurant or wherever the temperature is cool but not cold enough for a sweater.  It's also easy to remove it when one of those "hot flashes" hit when you least expect it. 

Monday, March 5, 2012

Challenge zentangle, quote

"After all, when you come right down to it, how many people speak the same language even when they speak the same language? "

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-Russell Hoban

This week's challenge #61 was to use the pattern "Gloven" which is the Dutch word for waves.