Rain ...

Four inches in 24 hours, with three of them all on Sunday in some parts of the area ... made for a wet weekend and a lot of tangle time!!

First, Suzy Mosh's two Challenges - Tangle Me 3 focused on the pattern,  Boomrang.

This is my attempt at trying to make a boomerang look like a "Dew Drop" - I used the same techniques on the large, center.  The original pattern is in the lower left; the variation on the right uses Printemps in the top designs; the variation across the top "lines" the background.  I only shaded the "dew drop boomerang" so it would stand out.

That's New To Me Week 29 focused on D and the artist, Sandy Hunter of Tangle Bucket.

The patterns I used on this tile tells the story of the weekend!  (Which gave me an idea for this school year - students taking one of their writing assignments or part of a novel or poem, and "tell" the story through a tangled piece ... hummm.)  The patterns from bottom to top - in the middle is Dust Bunny (because they are always hiding); Drip-Drop - because it was raining - HARD; Eureka by Sandy - it represents the winds that came along with the rain; and at the top DL Sunray - because we were all waiting for the sun to appear.  It loos black, but is actually on very dark blue paper (representing the stormy sky).  Shading with the white charcoal pencil I think I captured the "fuzz" on the Dust Bunny" and the glow of the sun well.  I like the final result ... 

Monday, the rain was still around ... so I turned to Joey's Monotangle - G - Gridy.  Since it was still cloudy and drippy, I chose some bright colors for the day.  I like this pattern as it has a lot of dimension.  I added a "dew drop" but don't think it shows up as well as on other patterns... I do like the color combination and background varieties ...

Tuesday is "Good News Day" when Adele posts the String Thing Challenge #102.  This week is her father's birthday and the concentration is on Frost Flower, Sez, and Graancirkel.  I turned the string sideways and purposely left part of the string empty, but added a Frost Flower in the corner and dropped a few Sezs in the white area.  A different technique that I've seen on other tiles, especially when there is a larger white space, is to shade the outline string to shadow the area of the pattern, so I tried that ~ While I like all the patterns and shading, overall this tile is not my favorite...

Developing A Style

My first piece (a 3D pumpkin - see First Inspiration post ) was done in October 2014... I didn't really tangle anything else until April 2015, when I bought a sketchbook and some pens on a whim as I remembered how much I enjoyed completing the pumpkin...  After playing, I felt like I was missing something and decided I needed a few formal lessons, searched and found a CZT, and began classes the end of May, and was HOOKED!  So I have been tangling consistently about two months...

Reflecting on my learning, I realize I am beginning to develop a "style".  For instance, as long as I've been doing any kind of craft/needle work, I've always had a "signature" - my initials with slightly curved lines and overlapping.  Then several weeks ago I started signing the date a specific way - like a fraction with the month as the numerator and the year as the denominator.  I saw someone else had written the date this way and adopted it.  I don't always "sign" in the lower right corner either...  Now, it is what I call the outline string - the line that borders the tile.  Sometimes I use a line, sometimes not, but lately they have the style of a "scroll" ...

Adding to my "style" are some the various techniques I've recently explored that I'm enjoying incorporating (and hope to perfect as I continue learning).

• Shading and Shadowing - there are many ways to add depth and dimension 
• Repeat Pattern Stacks - Cindy Angiel
• Dew Drops - Lynn Mead
• Zentwining - Lynn Mead

I've had several ask, "How do you do that?!"  I guess the steps one takes to start, and complete, a tile is part of a "style" as well.  

• Some start with a "string" 
• Some start at one spot and work out from there
• Some methodically fill in one section, then next to it, etc., some are more scattered in placing the patterns
• Some go all the way to the edge, some leave about a 1/4" margin
• Some ink the lines of the strings, some don't

I guess I am a little from column A, a little from column B ... it just depends on how I feel at the time - I've used all of the above!  There ARE no rules, but I decided to take some photos in stages of a tile to show how one MIGHT progress...

#1 - beginning of a repeated pattern stack

#2 - filling in around the stack

#3 - adding a pattern (Keeko) to the pattern - noter the "stack" has another block added to the height
#4 - the beginning of next pattern (Gnarly) added
#5 - Gnarly added to base of stack; beginning of 3rd pattern, Xplode
#6 - Xplode complete

Now it is time for the finishing touches - filling in areas to balance the tile (generally about 1/3 of the tile is "dark"); and shading to add depth ...

 


#7 - just part of Gnarley is "blackened"
#8 - shading is added with graphite - note the shadows on Xplode - another new technique tried with this tile ...

And in less than an hour ~ Diane and Carolein's Weekly Alphabet Challenge #15 - X-G-K

Another piece I'm working on - When is enough, enough?  It's OK to leave some white space:  where and how much? ... Not every tile needs to be completely tangled ... This is a personal choice and a balance.  I think it will depend on the patterns and "needs" of the piece ..... and artist!

Mid-Week ...

Joey's String Thing #101 (the beginning of the next 100) is another one of my favorites.  This week we are using Adele's own LG, and Rixty.  LG is a heart with auras - I added a spot of color.  At first I wasn't thrilled with Rixty, now I love it!!  It just seemed to flow once I got started.  I tried two new techniques on this tile too.  First is "Repeat Pattern Stacks", a technique that was started a few tears ago, and I came across recently while perusing Pinterest.  You can read/view more about it at The Rainbow Elephant web site by Cindy Angiel.  I actually started the tile with it (lower right corner), and it seemed to go well as a base for Rixty...  I also tried "Dew Drops" for the first time, created by Lynn Mead, CZT.  She has posted a tutorial on A Tangler's Mind.  Dew Drops look like (or at least are supposed to!) 3D drops of water on the tile that are magnifying the part underneath it.  I might need to practice those a bit more ...  I wanted to leave an open area, but it was just too "white, so I added a few Bubblez ... My interpretation of LG and Rixty ~

Off Of Paper Tiles ...

This time I left the paper tiles and took the pens to another surface ~ in this case 4" ceramic tiles.  Last weekend I tool a class working with Alcohol Inks.  I applied the inks to five tiles, using different methods to apply the inks on each one.  That itself was fun, but it didn't end there!



The fifth tile is featured in the previous post ...   The Alcohol Ink was applied by dripping the blue, letting the colors "run", and dabbing the brown on with a felt applicator.  I tangled a small organic garden scene in class using Nzeppel, Pondee, Tree-Three (#2 & #3 by Simona Cordara of Kai-Zen Doodles), Flux, Fescue, Zinger, and Mooka.

After the ink dries (about 10 minutes) the next step is to tangle on the tiles.  I wanted to make the background part of the design, so I "lived with" the four tiles for a few days and carefully choose how I wanted each to look.  I've been working on these over the course of a week...

This first one I put a few dots of ink on the tile and just watched the ink spread out in whatever direction it wanted... To keep a  "clean" look, I only used tangles on a few "dots".  The patterns are Estrel and Geerandoka (both by Simona Cordara of Kai-Zen Doodles) and Snirkle.  I used a black Identapen and white paint pen, which interestingly "picks up" color from the ink it is on.

On the next tile, rather than just letting the ink sit after dripping it on, I controlled it a bit more by dropping few drops on the tile and dabbed over them with a felt applicator.  You can see the difference in the background - some colors are blended, some softer and muted.  This looked like an underwater scene to me, so I used Finery and Bubblz to stay with that underwater feel ... I used a blue Identapen and white paint pen for a few highlights.

On the green and brown tile, I first dropped a few drops of color; let it dry slightly; gave the tile a quick spritz with clear alcohol creating the white dots; then dripped one drop of green in the center to get that larger blob.  When it dried, I thought - turtle!  So I did a little searching to see how a shell is sectioned, and every turtle I looked at has patterns that were usually lines ...

   

The result - I decided to just do the shell in the large area.  I drew a light "string" to divide it evenly.  I chose Villers for the top, and Hypnotic for the sides.  On the front and back, side sections I used Jetties.  Around the bottom I drew small rounded squares and then a partial aura on the inside of each, not showing the "bottom" line to try and make the shell look like it is curved down (you wouldn't be able to see the bottom looking down on the shell from the top).  I used only a brown Identapen.

For the last tile, magenta and lime, with a touch of yellow, I put drops of ink directly on the felt applicator, then lightly dabbed on the tile.  I did about half the tile then reapplied the ink to the pad in the same spots and dabbed the rest of the tile without blending.  This produced the small, bright dots.  I couldn't decide what pattern to us in a tangle ... my granddaughters said it looks like flowers, and maybe grapes, hanging from an arbor or trellis ... With a black Identapen, I drew Coil up the right side and across the top, a few Pokeleaves at the bottom of the Coil, and Wist (without the aura line) as the vines hanging down.

In tangling over Alcohol Inks I think I like the look of limited tangles so the background isn't over taken by Identapen ... the next step will be to fix a backing on the reverse side.  I am thinking of using very thin (1/4") cork.

Starting the Week ...

Monday:  First day of Physical Therapy on my knee ... better relax - go to check out the Diva's Weekly Challenge #226 with guest blogger, Katie Crommett CZT from Massachusetts, and her theme is "simplicity"... A manageable size ; two to three tangles max; know when you've done enough; and it's ok to leave white space.

Before starting I also took a peek at Joey's Monotangle Challenge # 6 - F - Florez (not to be confused with Florz) 

Now what could be simpler than completing two challenges with one tile??
I chose 3.5 white square and a #2 Micron pen (only one size for this tile); one tangle - Florez - can't get much simpler; and no shading either - know when enough is enough! 

 It only took a short time to complete (one cup of tea worth), but I forgot about my knee and relaxed .... then it happened - phone rang - PT canceled!  Woo Hoo - more time to tangle ...

I hopped over to Suzy Mosh's Weekly Challenges to see what else I should be doing ... 

For Tangle Me 3 - Week 4 - the focus is Ixorus.  I have really wanted to try the technique of Zentwining by Lynn Mead of a tanglersmind.com.  I thought, what better way to try this technique than with one tangle in three different ways ... 

(I am liking the scroll look for the outside edge string - I was inspired by a similar one on someone's tile posted in a group on FB but can't remember which one to give them credit!)  Now I think Zentwining needs a larger space than 3.5" square; and the Ixorus looked a little squished, so I tried again ... this time I used the entire tile surface for the three variations.  The pattern at the top two sections is the original pattern; the two on the right, with the Opus-like "arms" are using wider "arms, and a triangle for the beginning shape and auras; and the other variation - on the left - uses a #8 pen to give wider lines, and three open humps for the pattern and auras.  A little shading where the auras meet adds depth.  I think this one shows the pattern better ...

I will need to try the Zentwining technique on a different project...

That's New To Me is becoming one of my favorite weekly challenges (along with Tangle Me 3).  This week the focus is on W, and the Artist Focus - Erin Olson (who has her own challenge - Zendala Dare - I do not participate in these, yet!).  Erin has created eight interesting patterns - I chose to use her Phystyl (horizontally across top of tile - embellished a bit with little circles, just because), which reminds me of Pokeleaf (one of my favorites).  The W patterns I used are Wub (which gave me the chance to work on shading to create "rounded tubes" as I call them, in the ribbon down the left side); Worts and Wobbles with Wiffles (the bottom ribbon); and Worms (down the right side ribbon).  All of these patterns were ... NEW TO ME.  The background I am calling Window Panes - but it is really Florz with a touch of color.  I also used three different intensities of shading on this piece ... Can you see the difference?

Working in 3D

Digging in a cabinet I recently came across a small, somewhat non-descript vase, that was begging for something to be put on it ... of course, a tangle or two!  Since it is a vase, and I like the organic garden so much, I decided it needed to be done "in the round".  My black Identapen  and imagination was put into use and here is the result ~

It has many patterns displayed plus 2 Bijou snails, a ladybug, and a butterfly.  Due to the curve of the vase it is difficult to show them all... but I really like the result!

All New Week

~ My Challenges Gallery Page has the links to all the challenge sites ~

The first of many challenges this week is Suzy Mosh's New To Me H with the artist focus on Michelle Beauchamp.  For H I used one Hurry, a border of Hibred, and two sprigs of Hurray.  Michelle has great instructions for how to draw a spiral (something I've been wanting to do) and I decorated the spiral with Blooming Butter and Mak-Rah-Mee.  I added a touch of yellow to represent the "Butter".  ALL of these patterns,and spiraling technique, are new to me ... I'd like to use all the patterns again, but especially Mak-Rah-Mee as I don't think I did it justice here.

Suzy Mosh also offers the Tangle Me 3, week 3, with the focus on Strircles.  The original pattern is black and white in the upper right corner.  The two variations:  parallel curved lines filled in with Tipple, and ovals with the pattern Curl; and a slightly wavy line and color added.  I like this pattern - it can be both bold or soft and is very versatile.

The Diva's Weekly Challenge #225 for July 6, comes to us from a guest blogger and CZT, Jen Crutchfield.  She asked for color - 2-3 that we maybe have not thought of using together before.  Now it happens that just the day before this challenge, I was playing with Alcohol Inks.  Alcohol Inks are vibrant splashes of color that you don't really have full control over what the final outcome will be.  There are several ways to apply the color and they are a lot of fun to work with!  (But that is another post...)  Once dry, you tangle on top, incorporating the color design into the patterns.  This tile (4" ceramic) shouted "organic garden" to me... I used 'Nzeppel for the stone wall, Pondee & Tree-Three (by Simona Arian Cordara if Kai-Zen Doodles), Flux, Zinger, Fescue, and Mooka, with a tiny Printemps Bijou.  the tangles were done with a black Identapen, yellow Sharpie, and white paint pen.

A new addition to my weekly challenges is from The FB Group, Stacked and Tangled, Idea #11 which suggested a circle tile stacked with patterns by Simona Arian Cordara of Kai-Zen Doodles.  For this Zendala I used her Estrel, Drakon, Railwayz and Geerandoka.  If you haven't checked out Simona's patterns you should - they are interesting and fun!

Joey's Alphabet Monotangle this week is E - Entwine.  Boy, this was a challenge!  Entwine is considered an advanced pattern - I can tell why!  It required a LOT of concentration.  When I started out I had no idea where it would go as Entwine is typically used for a border, and looks like it should be one.  I didn't just want to "border" the tile ... I also decided I needed "something" in the background to break up the white, but wanted it simple.  I've seen this type of background used by others (sadly I can't remember where or I would give credit, and will if I see it again...)  While I know there are a few mistakes (I skipped one entire step!), and I'm not totally thrilled with the shading, it doesn't look too bad.  This is my first attempt with Entwine, not sure there will be another ...

Not finished yet ... It's A String Thing has reached it's 100th (Zentennial) Challenge!!  Time to break out the metallic pens - first time I've used them - and black tiles... I was going for an elegant look!  (Although the skipping silver interfered with that!)  I wanted to do something that would represent all 100 challenges, and trying to fit 100 "strings" on a 4.5 square wasn't going to work (I would need a 45" square) ... I started with her commemorative "100 string" ~

I had to do a little research and reading Adele's blog, Tickled To Tangle, I discovered she had created just enough patterns (14) to fit my needs.  Here is the result ~ not sure which angle I like it in best... 

For this occasion, Adele created a new pattern that looks like the number - 100 - with the idea to fill in the 0s with a small embellishment.  I used it at the top (or upper left depending on the angle you are looking at the tile), and to outline the "string itself.  The large 0s are filled with Cruffle.  I then filled in the large 0 "string with one motif of each of Adele's patterns.  They are in order from the butterfly, Ann (that has a touching story behind it - and it is in gold to match the yellow ones talked about - see her blog); on to Cack, Bud, Budlite, Iza, Fancy Nancy, LG, Lanie, Lucky, Pauline's Pigtail (another cute story behind it), Teenos, XAV (out of order to make it fit), and Uncorked.  I enjoyed adding all of these to my sketchbook (where I practice patterns) and will use them again!  Now, I need to go buy a better metallic silver pen ...

I've added another FB Group - Friends of Tangle San Diego, a local group.  They periodically have an "Inspiration Boost" to participate in.  Number 1, was to share your favorite tile - I shared my basic class tiles, which started it all (formally).  Boost #2, All About Cadent - on any size white tile, with at least two variants (which I missed until I went back and read again to add here!!)  Oh well, I'm blaming it on the pain in my knee this week (that's my story and I'm sticking to it!)  No rules, no mistakes, right?  Actually there are two - the outer "string" is one large Cadent, and then the "plants", that look a little Dragonaire-ish (my favorite).  Someone on FB commented that these have an under water feeling ... I think I agree!

To end this week of challenges - The Alphabet in Threes (as I call it) - Diane and Carolien's Challenge posted on Wednesdays - L-Q-D.  I decided to "stack" the patterns. Stacking is a little more planned then the freer, more "organic" and abstract, style.  the patterns I used, from the lower left corner, are Limpitz, Quare, Doo-Lee-Do, Lazy 8s, Quib, and my personal favorite Dragonaire.  I like the colors and way this one turned out.