Zendala Magic

This week's challenge is a "sit in" for our lovely diva by the ever-fabulous Genevieve Crabbe.  Genevieve was one of the first Canadian CZTs and is well known for her intriguing Zendalas.  As our Diva needs a break this week, Genevieve has graciously filled the void and come up with the 25th challenge of the week - Zendala Magic!  She provided a basic Zendala template (in two sizes, very thoughtful - thanks, Genevieve!) and we may fill it as we wish.  I have been intending to do some Zendalas but time has gotten away from me and I haven't managed to sit with pen and template to date.  Now THIS was a positive encouragement I couldn't resist!  I sat right down tonight and had a go...what do you think?

Happy Monday!

Rebirth

I've been having so much fun seeing other people using the tangles I (or Ruth!) design, that I'm going to keep it up a little longer.  With the Easter themes of rebirth and renewal, I thought this tangle would be an appropriate offering for Easter Monday.  During my CZT training, one assignment was to look about our surroundings and devise a tangle from our observations.  This is one of several I came up with.  It has its origins in the gigantic braided rag rug on the floor of the bedroom I was in.  I've always loved rag rugs - hooked, crocheted, braided - and I've always loved the way fabric that could no longer be used up or made to do would have one final incarnation as a rug.  I always tucked my children into bed so they were "snug as a bug in a rug".  I've even used a woven willow paddle to beat rag rugs on a laundry line for my Dutch AND Scottish grandmothers!  This tangle is also very easy to adjust to suit your artwork by adapting the segments via further inset patterns and visual textures - have fun and play!

Happy Monday!

Classes are up!

Just a very brief update that the Classes page has been updated to include the classes on offer, as well as the currently scheduled offerings.  I'll be teaching with my fellow CZT™, Ruth Howell.  We've currently scheduled two beginning level classes in central Hamilton, Ontario, but we're happy to discuss travelling to other locations.  Lots of exciting plans on other fronts, too, so I'll post as things start coming together.  Post with artwork coming later....*G*

Grow !

Hello, world!  Well, it's been cold, snowy, icy and damp for far too long.  My poor snowdrops are frozen solid on their stems and the robins have tried their best mating moves multiple times without once setting up a nest.  It's definitely time to give good ol' spring a bit of encouragement, especially in light of the fact that the official first day of Spring brought a record snowfall here!  So, here's my "Rah! Rah!" cheer for Spring - go Team Spring!

Happy Wednesday!

A Week of Celebration !

What a great week!  Thanks for hanging in there with me as I had to work out the adrenalin of being a CZT at last!  I know everyone is probably at least mildly weary of the same-old, same-old, but today is the last day of my week long celebration of becoming a CZT.  I had a wonderful time in Whitinsville and this burst of five CZT-based ZIAs seemed the only way to keep myself from going off like a rocket on a holiday weekend!  It certainly made my lunch hours fly by!  For all those who preceeded me as a CZT, those who accompanied me on my particular journey and those yet to come, I offer my fifth CZT:

Happy Friday!

Thursday and Still Rockin' the CZT !

Yes, I've decided to make a full week of CZT Celebration! *G*  What better way to mark the achievement of this milestone?  The time spent in Whitinsville was remarkable for a number of reasons.  People who actually devised this creative intersection of art and meditation were very kind about my work.  Having Rick's remarks on my Zentangle journal means a lot to me, and Maria, as the "wanderer" about the class as we tangled, was very generous with her praise.  As an artist we shouldn't need any external validation; the fact that we have created something should satisfy the urgency within, but as we are also human, we tend to harbour that quiet, sly whisper that goes beyond critic into malice, sowing seeds of uncertainty as it goes.  Everyone I met was so genuinely talented and delightful as artists and people that their response to my artwork had me adding tears of disbelief and joy to my evening prayers.  The following CZT (#4, for those who are into counting), is a bit of a hybrid ZIA.  It draws on a number of artistic traditions, from lettering to ornamentation to dimension to engravers' technique to ancient cartouches.  I hope you enjoy this departure from my usual highly-intricate work.  I was striving for an elegant simplicity.  I may have gone too far and ended up in ascetic emptiness, but it feels peaceful to me.

Happy Thursday!

Still On Cloud CZT

You may be getting a bit tired of my one-track theme by now but gosh!  I just can't get enough!  CZT - that's me!

Happy Wednesday!

Monotangle CZT

Well, the lovely Laura Harms has done it again.  Her challenge this week is to use ONLY ONE TANGLE to create an entire design.  An interesting, not to mention enormously difficult, challenge to be sure.  How do you choose just one tangle?  They are all so lovely and malleable and different... this was HARD!  In the end I used my own, which is similar to Rick's Static.  And, of course, this week I am celebrating the achievement of my ambition to become a Certified Zentangle Teacher - that's right, CZT - that's me! *G*

Happy Tuesday!

CZT - That's Me!

I am now a fully accredited Certified Zentangle Teacher!  Yahoo!  Today's post is short, but in response to our lovely Diva's challenge (late as it is), I am offering the following:

Happy Sunday!

Whitinsville

Well, just finished my first day at CZT training - fun!  I got my lovely Maria Thomas-inscribed field journal and name tag and drew my way through the entire day.  I don't have a lot to share yet as I'm not really at a place where I can easily photo and edit and upload (at least, by my thinking! *G*), but I'm having a lot of fun with my buddy, Ruth, and enjoying the class and people very much.  Homework today was to design a tangle based on something seen here at the conference centre and I had one spring into my head in two minutes flat, but I'm second guessing myself now - it seems far too simple - and am off to have another look around and see if anything more inspirational throws itself in my way...

Happy Wednesday!

Grow Dreams

I am finally home.  The past month at work has been exceptionally difficult trying to keep everything consistently up to date and deal with the constant, urgent priorities that flux and change practically each moment - and all while packing up two offices for the seventh move in seven years...  I am exhausted.  We are being relocated the very day I return from my week away.  As I return home on Saturday I already know I'll be going back into the office to pack up the few remaining items on the Sunday.  *sigh*  Another day of my life lost... but now I slough it off!  I reject delivery of any more stress and upset and worry.

I am off to grow dreams!  I am going on a trip I've waited for, planned for and eagerly anticipated for months now - I'm off to Whitinsville next week for my Zentangle training and I hope that maybe, at the end of it, I'll be awarded the coveted CZT designation!  I'm packing my pens and a journal or two, updating my car club membership (I'm driving) and hunting for twin-size bedding... I'll be clad in optimism and my dear friend Debi's gorgous jacket (my favourite in the world!) that she is lending me.  I love it and can use the spiritual armour.  All this and another great (and brave!) friend, Ruth, is going to keep me company and also attend!  Ruth is not only a muti-faceted and greatly talented artist, but also a highly educated and dedicated homeopathic practitioner; my western medicine makes sure the machine works, but Ruth's therapies make it worth running!  Ruth isn't only going for a 9-hour drive (each way!) with me, but didn't back out even when I told her I'll play new country music all the way... Heheheheee  Actually, I love many forms of music so I doubt it'll be all of ANYTHING on the drive.  A big snow-storm is scheduled for Sunday night and we set out early on Monday morning so hopefully things will have cleared by then.  I may or may not be able to blog while away, so don't give up on me if I'm gone for a few days, alright?  In the meantime, please enjoy my drawing, "Grow Dreams", which features an Artoo tangleation, Ruth's lovely Organza and a plethora of other tangles:

Happy Friday!