Diva challenge #68, quotes

The Diva's challenge this week is to use duo tangles:  Hybrid & Stricircles.  A fun challenge for me as I really like both tangles, so I made two this week:

"Imagination is the true magic carpet".                         _Norman Vincent Peale

We should give meaning to life, not wait for life to give us meaning.      -unknown

Zentangle, quote

"Everything in the universe has a purpose.  Indeed, the invisible intelligence that flows through everything in a purposeful fashion is also flowing through you."    - Wayne Dyer

Flowering bush, zentangle, quote

Art is like a border of flowers along the course of civilization.   -Lincoln Steffens

I don't know what kind of bush this is, but it's beautiful.  It's located in one of our neighbor's yard and she didn't know the name of it either.  If you know what kind of bush this is, please let know.

Fun photo, fun zentangle, fun quote





 "Today was good.  Today was fun.  Tomorrow is another one."   - Dr. Seuss

Last weekend, Bob and I attended our nephew's wedding.  At the reception they had a photo booth, masks, etc.   The bride and groom wanted us all to take fun photos in the booth as a memento of the day .

Bob needed a little persuasion, but finally he put on the mask and I quickly grabbed a mask for me.  As you can see, he's very photogenic even in a mask and my photos are always awful even in a mask!  But it was fun.

2 Challenge zentangles for Earth Day, quotes

This weeks challenge #67 is dedicated to Earth Day:

And the first rude sketch that the world had seen was joy to his mighty heart, til the Devil wispered from behind the leaves "It's pretty, but is it Art?.    - Rudyard Kipling


Here's my second one:

"The earth laughs in flowers." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Challenge 66 by the Diva, quote

"The aura given out by a person or object is as much a part of them as their flesh."
Lucian Freud

This week's challenge by The Diva is to create a tile with auras.   Again the pattern called Isoris is perfect for this challenge.  I've also added variations of two of my tangle patterns; Itsy Twisty with it's ribbons twisting throughout the design and EEO in the background.

Beautiful April Days, zentangle, quote

"There is no glory in a star or blossom til looked upon by a loving eye; there is no fragrance in April breezes til breathed with joy as they wander by."  -William C Bryant

We've had such beautiful weather this Spring.  The flowers and trees have been bursting with color and the April breezes are delightful!

"Everybody is a genius.  But, if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing that it is stupid."  ~Albert Einstein

Dr. Seuss quote, zentangle

"I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, it's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, and that enables you to laugh at life's realities."
Dr. Seuss

Zentangle, quote

"What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but scattered along life's pathway, the good they do is inconceivable."
Joseph Addison

Inspiration from friends!

In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.
Albert Schweitzer

Several friends and I meet on a semi-regular basis and via internet posts; we call ourselves "The Committee".  Each of us have talents in several areas wether it be quilting, beading, drawing, fiber arts, etc.
We share ideas and have "show and tell" over a cup of coffee (diet coke for me).  This is a personal thank you and tribute to my friends for sharing and helping me keep my creative flame "lit".

Challenge 65 Zentangle, quote

The Diva's challenge this week is to use the tangle pattern "huggy bear".

"You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection."
Buddha

Some days one wakes up and needs to be reminded of the above quote.   So, if there are times you need affection, don't forget to hug yourself mentally.

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

Challenge 64 zentangle, quote

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

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.  

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. 

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.

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:

Happy St. Patty's Day zentangle, quote

I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.
-Thomas Jefferson

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.

 

Zentangle, quote

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"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!

Challlenge 62, quote

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

Carl Rogers

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

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. 

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.

Balancing Life!

"Women need real moments of solitude and self-reflection to balance out how much of ourselves we give away."
Barbara de Angelis

The last couple of weeks have been a real balancing act!  Seems like I've been going in circles.    Time for some fun - I'm going to the Indiana Heritage Quilt Show in Bloomington with some of my friends - leaving tomorrow for a couple of days. 

 

Zentangle and quote of the day

"Never, never rest contented with any circle of ideas, but always be certain that a wider one is still possible."
Pearl Bailey

Challenge #60 from The Diva is to create a design using the Cirquital and Munchin patterns.  Here is mine:

 

New tangle pattern

Recently, while browsing through fabric and laces at the fabric store, I saw a piece of delicate lace with small eyelet loops.   This tangle design is very easy, using small letter e's up the sides of the triangles and across the bottom.  Adding o's as the eyelets, and drawing the mesh inside the triangles.  I've named it

E-E-O because of the simplicity of the design.   Also, here's my tangle tile using the new E-E-O tangle:



E-E-O



Mardi Gras challenge zentangle, quote

"The closing years of life are like the end of a masquerade party, when the masks are dropped."
Cesare Pavese

 

 I have observed that the above quote fits a lot of people - maybe that's why some elderly people are labeled eccentric

.People who know me well will probably tell you that I've never been one to wear a mask.  I'm as "natural" and "honest" as one can be.  While I do try to be tactful and kind for the most part my motto in life is not to wear a mask.

 

My flowers think it's Spring already

Nature, like us is sometimes caught without her diadem.

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-Emily Dickins

I'm afraid these will be "nipped in the bud" if and when the weather turns colder.  However, Mother Nature has her own agenda.

Valentine's quote and zentangles

Pure love is a willingness to give without a thought of receiving anything in return.

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-Peace Pilgrim