Zentangle Challenge #23

This week, the Diva challenged us to all use the same string (which is the line that sets the boundaries for the tangles/patterns). I forgot to take a picture of the original string, so if you want to see it, go to iamthedivaczt.blogspot.com. This one was ornery for me. I almost started over, but there are no mistakes in Zentangle, so I just kept on going. I was trying to do a tangle invented by a friend of mine in the upper right hand corner, and did a tangle I don't think I've seen before. So the lesson is -- keep on going even when you get a little stymied! Zentangle mirrors life once again!

Zentangle Challenge #22

This week's Zentangle challenge from "I am the Diva" was to have someone else draw the string for your Zentangle. The string is the pencil outline that gives loose boundaries for tangle (pattern) placement. I asked my friend Jean to do a couple of strings on two tiles for me. She did one that was with straight lines, and one that has curvy lines. I didn't have time to do two entries this week, so I picked the curvy string to play with.






I really liked the idea of this challenge, since it meant giving up control to someone else and that was a lot of fun. I know some people had children, or even strangers, do a string for them. I am going to keep this in mind for further exploration. Thank you, Diva, for another exciting Zentangle challenge!

141 - 144 Fun Things to Do!

1. Let your artistic side run wild and paint a rock (or two or three) and leave them where someone else can find them as part of the Facebook page -- Sweetheart Street Art. Kids should really enjoy this fun challenge!

2. Even if you don't register to become an "Affiliate Agent", take part in the Facebook page, Secret Agent L, at least once -- even if it just something left in secret for a friend or neighbor whose spirits may need a lift.

3. Take part in "Operation Beautiful" - www.operationbeautiful.com and/or the Facebook page. It's all about posting encouraging Post-it notes in unexpected places, like bathroom mirrors!

Thanks to Christine for these great ideas! (photo by Avia Venefica)

131 - 140 Fun Things to Do!

131. look at cloud shapes in the sky
132. take a photograph of a cloud shape in the sky!
133. buy your favorite childhood book for a child or a grandchild
134. make a bookmark for yourself or someone else
135. wear mismatched earrings
136. put a magnetic backing on your business card
137. try Origami (the art of Japanese paper folding)
138. collect family recipes into a book or folder
139. fill someone's car with balloons
140. bake a special cake with writing on top (not birthday)

130 - Play Nintendo!

My grandson, Nathan, really enjoys playing Nintendo. He is eight years old, and has been playing Nintendo for about three years. He says it is fun because there are so many games, and if you are not allowed to watch TV, you can always play Nintendo! You can also play with someone else at the same time if they have a Nintendo, too.

Nate's brother, Andrew, who is six years old, loves playing Nintendo, too.

129 - Investigate a Terrific Quote!

Every day, I get a quotation from teri@terimartin.com. Teri does an excellent job of finding really terrific quotes. To me, quotations are distillations of great wisdom. If I am reading a really amazing book, I might mark up quite a few pages -- but when I find an amazing quote, it stands alone. There have been times in my life that were really difficult, and even though my family and friends were really supportive, often it was a special quotation that gave me the courage to move forward. When my beloved job at Borders Book and Music was downsized, I was almost inconsolable, but I found a quote that contained the phrase, "manage overwhelm" -- and from that moment on, I knew that I could get through it all. I posted the quote in various places around my house, and in my car, and those two words helped me proceed, and even get another job at another Borders. Here is the quotation from Teri Martin today:

We must each learn to hang out in the green growing edges of our own becoming. -- Hildegard Debringum

Zentangle Challenge #21

The deadline for entries for the "I am the Diva" Zentangle challenge is midnight on Saturday night. I am just getting mine in under the wire! The challenge this week was to incorporate the new official Zentangle tangle called "Oof" into a Zentangle. Maria Thomas, co-founder of Zentangles, created this pattern that is inspired by a stained glass window in the medieval collection at the Cloisters in New York City. It is so interesting to see how a tangle is constructed. Once I learned how to do "Oof" (what a hoot of a name!), then I could think about it during the week and think about the "strings" that would best serve it. It is also a tangle that can have many variations, so thinking about those, and playing around was fun, too. I am convinced that when you have a creative project in the works, the whole rest of your life is enriched and enlivened. My husband Tom and I went to hear a dear friend sing and play guitar tonight, so I took advantage of the magical atmosphere to let my Micron pen join in the merriment and together we played around on the tile. Then when I got home, I finished it up. Hooray!

128 - Walk for a Cause!

Our daughter, Maribeth, walked this morning in a Hope Walk to raise money for Stewart's Caring Place in Akron, Ohio, which provides support, activities, and loving understanding to people who are touched by cancer. She walked in memory of Mary-Ann Blasio, a dear friend who passed fairly recently from cancer. Maribeth has been walking for miles in all kinds of weather to train for this walk. She was determined to walk, rain or shine. The walk was 2.3 miles and included hundreds of people, including babies and dogs, in a touching march

of determination. Maribeth was joined by her friend, Judy on the left. I wanted to surprise Maribeth at the last minute and join her for the walk, so I had been secretly training, but a stress fracture put me on the sidelines. Her Dad and I waved fluorescent signs of encouragement and to honor Mary-Ann. I am so proud of Maribeth, who raised over $500.00, and also of every single participant in today's amazing walk. I am also proud of Stewart's Caring Place, which is an amazing resource for our community.

127 - Name a Fairy Godmother!

Last night I was at a restaurant out of town, and I discovered my Fairy Godmother! As soon as I spotted her, I knew she had been waiting for me to come along. Her name is Anne Marie, and an extra added bonus is that she is a sock monkey. And I love sock monkeys of all kinds and sizes! I am looking forward to an improved quality of life now that Anne Marie is looking out after me! Welcome to my world, Anne Marie!

Royal Wedding Zentangle Challenge!

The "I Am the Diva" challenge for this past week was to do a Zentangle inspired by the Royal Wedding. What a fun idea! I was immediately drawn to the wild hats that were worn by the women attending this very proper wedding. Apparently these hats are called "fascinators", and it is easy to see why! So much of the news is serious, it was amusing during the week to look at pictures of these outlandish hats and the wonderful faces of the women wearing them! They were walking tall and proud! Hooray!

My favorite hat (which many people criticized) was the bizarre and fabulous hat worn by Princess Beatrice! I was also thrilled with the hats worn by Victoria Beckham, Princess Eugenie, and Queen Margrethe II of Denmark. My strange looking Zentangle is a tribute to all of their bold and amazing hats. Let's have a round of applause for the marvelous hat fashions at the Royal Wedding!

126 - Finding Forsythia!

We have had an especially rainy Spring this year, with not very much sunshine, and some very dreary, cold days. One of the bright spots has been the beautiful bright yellow forsythia which pops up here and there to remind us that Winter is really over, and Spring has really arrived! Thank you to all the forsythia for helping me remember that Spring is really here and for being so radiant, even on gloomy days! Hooray!