Check this out

MyOats is a new web site that raises the art of doodling to an entirely new level. MyOats is a community where people create designs using an online drawing application. These designs can be rated, downloaded, and archived. Check out my first design:

What do you think? This is primitive...just wait until you see some of the amazing art that others on the site have created. Enjoy!

Profound

I just ran across this quote over at Gypsy's Girls Guide: “How” is not the Question. How is just logistics… it’s really a matter of getting ready to say “Yes!” to the Universe. Isn't that awesome? I'm going to have to sit with this one a while. My nature has always been to take a leap of faith and plunge into new opportunities as they open to me. As I get older I am finding that I am not leaping nearly as often or as far. This quote is reminding me not to question the opportunity and that I do not need to figure out all of the logistics.

Pixie Dust Paperie

Don't miss your chance to win the October giveaway at Pixie Dust Paperie.

Way cool!

I ran across this AWESOME art journal page that seems to incorporate Zentangling in a way that I have never seen. It is quite beautiful as are most of the art journal pages found at http://artjournaling.tumblr.com This particular one is by Ingrid Dijkers.. I've now added Ingrid's blog to the list of places where I find creative inspiration. Enjoy!

Check-in

Why do I have such a struggle with routine? I was adding a few new resources to the list on the right when I realized how long it had been since I actually posted anything to this blog. Believe it or not, I do stop by very often--almost daily--and use the links to visit other blogs for inspiration. I'm still doing Zentangles. mostly in my art journal. My latest kick is mixed-media. There just are not enough hours in the day to do everything I want to do--doodle, journal, collages, paint, blog, read other blogs, experiment with ideas I learn from others....oh yea, and work to earn a living that funds all of these projects that I get myself into. Life is good!

It's WILD!

I found a new toy today. Crayola has a new product called "Wild Notes" it is basically a spiral notebook that comes with a special pen. When you write/doodle on the paper with the pen the lines are multi-colored (green, red, blue, purple, pink, orange). The colors are really intense when you shade in sections of your doodle.

The pen does not work on regular paper and using a regular pen or pencil in the notebook does not produce color--you have to use the Wild Notes pen and paper together to get the effect.

Here is a link to product information on the Crayola site:
http://www.crayola.com/products/splash/wild-notes/

WOW! I wish this had been available when I was in school--but then again, I probably would have doodle in class even more than I did.

Recent ZIA

Here are a couple of my recent tangled pieces.

Simple tangles

Here are three simple tangle patterns. In fact, they are so simple that I imagine someone else has likely used/named them already. If so, let me know and I will give proper credit where it is due. I used them as filler in a ZIA with a lot of flower and leaf patterns.

There really aren't any steps for these simple patterns. For Rayne draw a series of dotted or tiny dashes and end with the drop. The rainfall can come in from any direction. Splash is just the droplets sort of bouncing back up as they hit the ground and Puddle is a series of concentric curved lines that progressively get longer as you work out from the center. These tangles work nicely with the floral and leafy tangles.

Doodle Camp--Day 1

Doodle Camp officially begins today. There isn't anything to do yet...just unpack, get settled in our cabins and begin to get to know our fellow campers. I have that same excited/nervous feeling that I get whenever I begin something new. I know this will be a lot of fun and I will learn a lot from our camp counselor, Dawn DeVries Sokol as well as from the other campers. As usual, I am just anxious to get started and DO something. I want to prep a few of my sketchbook journal pages by painting them. I think I can at least do that tonight.

More later!

I'm off to camp

I'm not sure why I do it...I have a history of diving into a project full-force then abandoning it when I get, distracted, overwhelmed. bored, busy...???...I'm not exactly sure why. With Zentangle and this blog I want to change that behavior. I haven't stopped Zen-doodling, I've just stopped posting my work.

I've just signed on to two new projects that will dovetail nicely with Zentangle and hopefully get me back on track here.

The first, I plan to attend Doodle Camp hosted by Dawn DeVries Sokol. This summer camp for doodlers, beginning July 2, will be three weeks of doodle tips and techniques, chances to win cool prizes (you know I love contests), and lots of fun.

The second is the 2012 Sketchbook Project. I really debated with myself about this one, but decided to take the plunge because the sketchbook isn't due until January. Besides, I can begin to fill it with my summer camp doodles.

For now, I am going to kickback, relax and tangle.

It is what it is.

I may already be a winner....

So far this month I've won 3 (count em, 1, 2, 3!) different contests (See comments with previous post). I am so excited! By nature I tend to be a joyful person. Recently some typical life circumstances were beginning to weigh me down. Over the past few weeks I've been more purposeful in trying to project positivity. Now it looks like that positive energy is attracting positive results in my life...at least as far as these blog contests are concerned. [GRIN].

For some reason the phrase on those thick Publishers Clearing House envelopes just popped in my head. You know, the one that had your name blazoned across the front of the envelope. I entered another blog give away earlier today, who knows...I may already be a winner!

I won!

YIPPEE! I won the Express your Inner Pen-tivity Pentel Contest & Giveaway sponsored by Shoplet. Thank you Sandra for announcing the contest on your blog.

String Theory: Version II

This is my response to Weekly Challenge #24. It has been too long since I have participated in the challenge. I've checked in each week, and even sketched out a few tangles, but this one is the first one I have posted in a while. It is nice to have a leisurely day off to tangle.

The challenge is to only use stripes as the string. Now that I am writing about this, I'm wondering if I have accurately followed the directions. In the example, Laura's string is diagonal stripes. I have used horizontal stripes. Hmmmmm, it will be interesting to see if others diverge from the example.

You'll see I've left a good deal of white space. I'm wondering if you think it makes the piece look incomplete. I tend to fill every nook and cranny of the tile and thought I would leave some air in this one. We'll see if I am actually able to leave it alone or if I end up adding more patterns. Oh well, it is what it is!

7:00 PM Here is my second ZIA for this challenge. This time I decided to fill more of the space.

Speaking of stripes....look at the second optical illusion on this page. I would love to see someone replicate the effect in a Zentangle tile.

End of May

It has been too long since I've posted an update. May was a busy month for me. I have managed to find time to Zentangle, thankfully! May, June and July are the most hectic time of the year for me as far as work goes. Finding time to tangle is so helpful in keeping stress at bay. I haven't kept up with the weekly challenges, but I have doodled in my sketch book. Here are a couple of pieces that have helped me find my personal moments of Zen.

In honor of Mom

This is the photo that I posted to my Facebook profile to honor my Mom for Mother's Day. It was taken the day I was born. Wow, that little baby had no idea what a blessed life she had ahead of her! :-)

Why is it the we don't fully appreciate our parents until later in life? I am so very grateful for the loving, adult relationship I had with Mom in the years before she died. I loved her deeply my entire life, but did not show it as much as I should have while in my early twenties. The wonderful thing about Mom's is that they understand and continue to love us through our 'stupid years' when we are desperate to be independent 'adults'.

I love you Mom!