Some Clarification

Thanks to Dessie Arnold for asking for clarification about some of the terms in the Summer Tangles Challenge. Here is my list of links and definitions, which is in no way complete. I tried to credit originators when possible, but I don't know all of them. Zentangle.com, Tanglepatterns.com, and Pinterest are great places to learn more and see examples.

All illustrated examples below are my own work and not definitive of the technique being described.

Add color*--There are many ways to add color to a Zentangle tile before, during, and after you tangle, from colored pens and pencils to bleeding tissue paper. Project Pack 3 (from Zentangle HQ) contained a video demonstrating the use of watercolor pencils (https://youtu.be/oAb7ZzkuX9Q )

Bijou*--These are little tiles produced by Zentangle headquarters, inspired by a whimsical tale about a snail (https://zentangle.com/pages/bijou)

Celtic Knot*--Many people who tangle like the look of Celtic knotwork. There have been several individual tangles that are inspired by these knots, such as Aura Knot and Feeling Knotty.There's also a great kit on them by CharKat's Creative Insanity and a video on FreeForm Knots by Eni Oken (see https://enioken.com/shop for all Eni Oken videos mentioned here.)

Dewdrop*--These are official Zentangle enhancers, designed to look like translucent water drops on a pattern. See Lynn Mead's great tutorial https://atanglersmind.com/dew-drop-tutorial/

Dingbatz*--Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas, founders of Zentangle, introduced the idea of dingbatz about a year ago in a Kitchen Table Tangle video (most KTT videos are available to Zentangle Mosaic subscribers only), inspired by the calligraphic designs used by publishers to separate sections. There are a variety of examples on Pinterest and a video by Eni Oken.

Embedded Letter*--Maria and Rick did an embedded letter as part of the Kitchen Table Tangles video series, whereby you decorate and hide a letter within a tile.

Frames*--frames are concentric squares often used to outline or decorate words or phrases. Eni Oken has a video on frames.

Macrotangle (work large)*--To macrotangle, increase the size of your patterns. Let's say you usually fit 16 bales on a tile, enlarge them so you only get four. A good way to slow down and see a tangle differently

Microtangle (work small)*--The opposite of macrotangle, this is when you work really small; see video by Eni Oken.

Note:  this is a Bijou tile!

Monotangle*--focusing on only one pattern for the whole tile. Another great way to bring mindfulness to your tangling practice.

Tranzending*--This idea of overlapping tangles was introduced in a Kitchen Table Tangles video http://tanglepatterns.com/…/kitchen-table-tangles-zentangle…

Zen Button*--Comprising tangled concentric circles; see creator Marguerite Samana's tutorial http://tanglepatterns.com/…/a-tutorial-by-czt-marguerite-sa…

Zen Gem*--Zen gems are tiles that include a section colored to look like a real or imaginary gemstone; see
http://tanglepatterns.com/2017/03/tangle-refresher-149.html

Zendala*--these are mandalas often drawn on circular tiles from Zentangle HQ called Zendalas; see Zentangle Mosaic and Pinterest for examples, also a video by Eni Oken.

Zenribbon*--These were the subject of Project Pack 3 from Zentangle HQ. See https://youtu.be/z0t57L_jDrc

My New Tangle: NATHEA

At a friend's lake house for a summer party, I spotted this pattern draped across a chair.

I was inspired and spent the next several days playing with the pattern.

  

Until it became NATHEA!

The template is coprighted by Tangle Patterns.com, where I'll be submitting this soon.

This is an organic tangle that can also be adapted for a grid or even border.  I leave the inside of the tangle empty in the step-out so that you can add your own patterns to the middle; I've tried orbs, petals, lines, and auras.  I hope people will find many possibilities in this tangle.

With more practice, I think a grid of Nathea can become a meta-tangle with hearts--NATHEARTS!

The non-representational name is a combination of the names of my twins, who turn into teenagers next week!

Summer Tangles Challenge: Hamail

Hamail, with punzel, chainging, crescent moon, tipple, and I forget the name of the border tangle with swirls

First Tile

Let the Summer Tangles Challenge 2018 begin!

Okay, I'm a bit early, but I'm excited.  I've been getting loads of CZT support and am looking forward to seeing everyone's tangles.  I hope you'll join me, in whatever capacity inspires you.  I'll be posting here, on FB, and on Instagram under Yankee Tangler and #summertangles2018.

I have noticed (or, more specifically, been alerted to) a few mistakes on my original announcement:  I used the tangles Pach and Z-trik twice and I skipped July 31.  So, those days are choose-your-own-tangle days.  I'll be doing my fellow CT CZT Laura Anthony Marks's new Ringz on July 31. 

Happy tangling!

#SummerTangles2018

I love a good tangle challenge--often a list of tangles to try each day--and have participated in #Valentangles, #Gratitangles, #Giveatangle, and #Inktober.  Challenges let me explore new pattern, get inspiration from others working on the same thing, and encourage me to tangle each day for a set period of time.

Seeing a dearth of tangle challenges in the summer months, I made one.  I've drawn the tangles from TanglePattern's 2018 Tangle Guide so that everyone has access to the step outs; the list of tangle creators is included in this wonderful resource (I highly recommend supporting Linda Farmer's efforts by purchasing the guide.)  Some are old, some new; some "official" from Zentangle HQ, most not.  There are grids, organics, fillers, borders, and more.  For the most part, I chose tangles that I have either rarely or never used so that I can add to my comfort repertoire.  I've also chosen a few techniques, or trends, popular among CZTs (Certified Zentangle Teachers) and other tanglers, such as the enhancer "dewdrop," Zen Gems, and embedded letters.  I'll post my tiles here, on my FB page, and on Instagram ("yankeetangler"), and encourages others to post their own, using #summertangles2018.  UPDATE:  See "Some Clarification" for an explanation of some of the terms, with links and examples.

The Zentangle Method is an easy-to-learn, relaxing, and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns.  It was originated by Maria and Rick Thomas.  For more information or to find a Certified Zentangle Teacher near you, visit Zentangle HQ.

Have fun experimenting and spread the word!

Here's the list:

July 4:  Footlites

July 5:  Hamail

July 6:  Z-trik

July 7:  Dewdrop*

July 8:  Wisket

July 9:  Abundies

July 10:  Ponio

July 11:  Cubic

July 12:  Monotangle*

July 13:  Fiore

July 14:  Trix

July 15: Zonked

July 16: ‘Dillo

July 17:  Zen Gem*

July 18:  XYP

July 19: Chainlea

July 20:  Equerre

July 21: Add color*

July 22:  Bwiya

July 23:  Gingham

July 24:  Tranzending*

July 25:  Groovy

July 26:  Kuzek

July 27: Microtangle (work small)*

July 28:  Pach

July 29:  Scallamp

July 30:  Zen Button*
July 31:  Ringz (date missed on original announcement)

Aug 1:  Knot Rickz

Aug 2: Chaist

Aug 3:  Golven

Aug 4:  Zendala*

Aug 5: All About V

Aug 6:  Dingbatz*

Aug 7:  Prestwood

Aug 8:  Zenplosion Folds

Aug 9:  Vache 1

Aug 10:  Organic

Aug 11:  Clob

Aug 12:  Snugz

Aug 13:  Bijou*

Aug 14:  Pach (oops, a repeat--it's a choose-your-own-tangle day!)

Aug 15:  Rashell

Aug 16:  Biscus

Aug 17:  Floatfest

Aug 18:  Frames*

Aug 19: Warped Egg

Aug 20:  Balo

Aug 21:  Embedded Letter*

Aug 22: Arc Flower

Aug 23:  Zenribbon*

Aug 24:  Lollywimple

Aug 25:  Zenith

Aug 26:  Snail

Aug 27:  Strircles

Aug 28:  Celtic Knot*

Aug 29: Cayke

Aug 30:  DL-Labyrinth

Aug 31:  Macrotangle (work large)*

Sept 1:  Maryhill

Sept 2: Z-trik (and another double, so do what you like!)

Sept 3:  Spoolies

OOOPs, I realized that I repeated two tangles.  Well, embracing the "no mistakes" mentality of the Zentangle Method, I'm leaving them right where they are.  I'll just do them twice!  Plus a Bronx Cheer.

Zentangle Zenith

Last weekend, I had a marvelous getaway at a Zentangle retreat at Copper Beech. The beautiful grounds with the stone labyrinth, the delicious food, the calming meditation and yoga classes, the diverse participants, and the inspiring workshops all combine to make it one of my favorite places.

And, oh, the tangling!  This is the third Zentangle retreat I've attended at Copper Beech (plus a one-day workshop)  and it was my favorite so far.  Taught by Certified Zentangle Teachers (CZTs) Beth Malley and Janet Valencis, the class was well-paced and informative with lots of different projects, new tangles, goodie supply bags, and fun raffles (I won a small photo cube that will hold small Bijou tiles.)  So many great projects, including our double-heart-string puzzle, a piece of which was given to someone else to tangle and returned to us at the end of the weekend.

And the gorgeous bleeding tissue paper that colored our Opus-sized tile for our tangled heart.  I experimented with lots of "frills" or "doodads" outside the heart, also with random white dots to highlight the patterns.  And of course, I don't usually work in color.  This was a great way to use color without worrying about coloring or painting in the tangles.  

We also made gratitude bouquets (the vase is made from acrylic paint applied onto paper with baby wipes!), a little book (acrylic paint scraped on paper with a gift card or hotel key card), and a little Bijou tile book which will contain 26 tangles A to Z.  I made the book but will add the Bijous later.  I was mostly focused on the bigger, higher concentration projects like the heart and the puzzle.  At the end, instead of a class mosaic, we did a mini-exhibition with all of our projects displayed.  

I really liked the group of women (and one man), both CZTs and newbies, who attended, several of whom I'm now in touch with online.  And I'm already saving the date for next year's retreat.  Until then, I'll be playing with doodads and tissue paper.

Ending November Early

With the holidays and other events filling up the last weeks of November, I combined several tangles from the November challenges #Gratitangles and #Giveatangle2017 into the same tile.  Some I like, others not as much.  Even though I practice Zentangle most days, I am more or less mindful and meditative depending on the day.  Today, in combining 15 tangles (and forgetting one) in one tile, I lost concentration, made a mistake in setting down the basis of beeline, and was then frustrated.  I rushed the rest of the tangles and shading, giving up on the idea of a "perfect" tile.  Ah, perfect is the enemy of good.  I forget the "no mistakes" mantra of the Zentangle community.  It's a practice.  One I definitely need.

Day 18-21: pokeleaf, bales, fengle, flourish

Day 18-21: phroz, mooka, huggins, Bronx cheer

Day 22: ta-da and fandango

Day 23-30:   With drupe, amphora, zinger, rixty, laced, cruffle, benumber, cubine, viaduct, 'nzeppel, (incorrectly started) beeline, JJ, golven, purk, and chainlink.