Just a couple of recent tangles

Update

E Gads!  changing up my usual opening where I apologize for not posting for so long.

Been busy!  Having a great Time!  Did you miss me?

What's new:
    I'm attempting to set up 2 meetup groups (see links on the right.)  I want to share my interests without having to be the teacher.  So I'm looking for people who like paper crafts and Zentangle in my area.   I already belong to NE ATC's, Crafts and Conversation, Hikers 40/50+, and NE CZTs, meetup groups.  But was still missing something.

    Mini Book Crafters of Metrowest Mass -  You can see from earlier posts and pictures I like mini books.  I've been on my own for most of these, corresponding and trading over the internet and through the mail.  But since I don't want to become a hermit (Oh wait maybe I do!), I'd like to get together with other's interested in Mini Book crafting.  We will meet once a month or as schedules allow.  The object is to talk, laugh, share what we've been working on and learn some new techniques.

    Terry's Time to Tangle in New England
   (Not to be confused with the blogspot Time to Tangle or any books of that name.)
    Non structured  meetup to talk about and share Zentangle, tiles, patterns, colors, techniques etc, etc..

Always looking for more people to come to the meetings. If you are in New England let's talk. Have car will travel!

New Tile

 

Newest Mini Book STAR BOOK When Pigs Fly

   

Jumbo Tags

The following are pictures of 2 Jumbo tags (5.5 x 10 inches) that I made for a swap.  The two tags look pretty much the same just have different flowers and one has green accents and one has orange.
The Flowers were made by Pat Mickle and the turtles were designed by Tammy Yee.  The rest is all mine.

Each tag has 14 mini tags with creativety quotes on them and blank reverse sides for journaling or pictures.

I'm trying out various card and book formats.   The following projects were created for a mini-book  challange. 

Blue Card:  the song Blue Moon kept going through my head so...

Blue, blue, blue, blue moon...........

This is a Square Around Card or book

And finally - for this post a Triangle Book/Card

Now I'm working on a Correspondence case, Jumbo Tags, and of course collecting all kinds of stuff for my Junque Journal.   And a little bit of Zentangle thrown in.

Play It Forward moment

    Had Friday off and decided to do some shopping and head for the Beach.  I found Rye Harbor State Park in NH wasn't very busy.  Yeah!   As I was walking along the beach I found an old sea snail shell.  It was very thick and weathered - had real character.   A bit further on I gave it to a woman who was picking up shells.  She was very pleased, said she'd grown up on that beach.
   This got me to thinking was I starting a Play it Forward good deed chain or was I continuing a chain.   I'd interacted with only 5 people so far.  I'd stopped for coffee and 2 older Teens had cheerfully held open the door and allowed me to get to the counter ahead of them.  The clerk gave me a great smile and courteous service.  On my way out an older gentleman opened the door for me and wished me a great day.   I then went into a craft store that was holding a 50% off sale in preperation for moving.  The owner waited on me and advised me that an item that I was purchasing might not be what I really wanted.  Saved me $2.00 on that item and $66 overall.   So I think I was continuiing a play it forward smile/good deed chain.  If fact I had more credids to pass forward or store for a rainy day!
   Very simple actions can have momentous affects.
   Remember to Smile!!  Even if it is only to yourself in the mirror.

Random Acts of Art - Zentangle

Well here I go again waiting over a month to post.  I went on a great vacation to New York State wine country with my sister, brother in law and neice.  We did a lot of fun things but also spent some quiet time on a finger lakes beach.  Not telling which one because we left some Random Acts of Art (RAA),  or in this case some Random Acts of Zentangle (RAZ).

If you should find these RAZs let me know will ya?

Mini Tag Book Swap

The pictures below are from the Mini Tag Book I made for a swap.  The finished book is 6 inches by 2 1/4 inches.  Lots of fun!  The mini book entitled "Just Saying" is all about bugs,  starting with the Bee.  It has 6 tags finished front and back and has a beaded binding.

I just figured out how to add pages to the blog so the pictures of the tags are in the Mini Tag Book pages tab at the top of this blog.

See Mini Tag Book Page tab at top for more pictures

Mini Books - Hidden

Hidden album/mini books. 

On the right hand side of this blog you will see a link to "Paper Trail."  The curio Cabinet below is from Laura's pattern.  I just cut the pattern pieces down by 1/2.  The pencil in the picture is a normal pencil.

The min album is hidden in the drawer.

I showed this to a friend who challanged me to do another cabinet but fancier with curves etc.   I wasn't quite ready for that.  Instead I used the same type of construction and made a Grandfather Clock with Mini book, ATC storage and a secret compartment on the top.

Final Dimensions are 10 inches high, 3 1/4 deep and 2  5/8 wide.

My cat Georgie likes to be involved with every thing!  Giving a final inpsection.

Mini Books - Tile Display

Mini Books - I've always loved books (at least since after the 1st grade).  I also love miniatures, so mini books fit right in.

This starts a series of posts/pictures on mini books that I have made since retiring.  Finally getting around to downloading the pictures.

Mini books to store and or display your Zentangle Tiles.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=035cTkKOkmA

Rather than explain the mini book above I've included a link to the Youtube video that I learned the technique from.   All I did was shorten the pockets and tabs a bit for the Tiles.

Then from Cherryl Moote's book  All Tangled Up come these minis.

 I'm available to teach any of these minis.  Or if you want to work a deal for a ready to go book, just ask.

Diva Challenge #61 GOLVEN

     Themes for the 2012 Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) shared by 48 states are "Dream Big", "Own the Night" and "Between the Covers".  Here in Massachusett the highlighted Author/Illustrator is Brian Lies.  He has a series of books entitled, Bats at the Ballgame,   Bats at the Library, Bats at the Beach, etc.  So in preparation I was looking for some Bat ideas.  The tangle GOLVEN seemed perfect for wings.
    This is rather simple but I though he was cute!
   

Diva Challenge #60  there is no up or down for a tangle.  You should look at it from every direction.  I tangled this in my book and when I was done and had signed it I realized the writting was upside down - according to the book orientation. 

A few recent Zentangles



Zentangle Demo and Cats

I'll be presenting the stress relief benefits of Zentangle at the Hanscom AFB Health Fair on 8 March.  If you have access to the base come on by.

PS  Fire alarm just went off for the building across the street.  My cat Georgie went flying off the back of my chair.  She knows that means the fire trucks will be comming.  She growls at firemen from the safety of the hallway.  I don't think shes ever meet one, cat to person.  I hope she never has to meet on in an emergency.  Such a brave kitty (see white cat below).  Now Gracie, my other cat, goes to the window and supervises the firemen's activities.  I think she likes the lights.  (Gracie has the coloring and disposition of a Maine Coon - but is just a lush)

ZIA - Zentangle Inspired Art

Here's the lightly colored "Blue Dragon" ZIA. 

I'm currently working on puzzle tangles and will post the series this weekend.

I'm also working on my brochure and some marketing items.

Diva's Challenge

OK.  One more post for the day and then it is bed time.   Wanted to get thisone onthe blog in case I don't get back to the computer tomorrow.

Non-Dominatrix v.2 (#56, but my first entry)   This took a long time and lots of concentration.  Everytime I turned the tile I had to figuratively slap my dominant hand away.  It wanted to take over.

And now the same patterns using my dominant hand.  this second one took a lot less time.

I'm on a roll 4 posts in one day.  Once I figure out how to post mulitple pictures in line with the words this will be easier.

So this ZIA I worked on in my head from 2:30 to 4:30 am on 1 Feb 2012.  Couldn't sleep for some reason.  So I planned out the drawing in my head.   I.ve done this before but then not been able to get my vision down on paper.  So it is not a stress free method.  However this time it seems to have worked.  I didn't stress but kept at it to come up with the image above.  Maybe tomorrow I'll post the same picture with bits of color.

I'm calling this picture " Nap time: Do not Disturb".   I'm still debating putting in some smoke puffs.

And a smaller Zentangle Inspired Art Piece (8.5 x 11).  This was done on kids water color paper using Sepia Saukra Micron 01 pen.   The Sepia and the paper does not copy or scan real well on my cheap copier.  You maybe able to see that I used just a touch of green.

Zentangle Inspired Art is a lot to type each time I wonder if anyone has coined ZIA as a name yet?

Zentangle Inspired Art

I'm branching out a bit and doing some Zentangle Inspired Art.  This means I'm going outside the box and pre-planning what I want the final to look like.  The first image is a set of hearts I did for last Friday's Zentangle, Wine and Cheese party.  Notice the use of color!  I wasn't really happy with the purple shading, but liked it overall.

The easel was setup in my Owl corner.  It is only a matter of time before Owl's become part of my tangles. :)

Thank You All - a NZ - Non Zentangle Post

      Just wanted to say Thank You to everyone who came out yesterday for my retirement party.  And a special Thank You to Carolyn and all the others who organized, set up and cleaned up for the event.

       The informal party was they way I wanted to close out my 30 year career.   Having everyone there and sharing stories, affirmed that my time was meaningful.  But I also want to let you know that in as much as I may have touched your lives, you have all touched my life.   I've learned a lot - not always willingly but...

     Not going to get preachy but please watchout for each other try to keep smiles on your faces and try to enjoy.   "Hang on to your________, Its's going to be a bumpy ride!