New Tangle Pattern - HEART WRAP

Some of you know that I am currently writing a book featuring 500 tangle patterns.

It is hard work and takes forever! The quality of artwork is very important to me.

Many great artists are contributing and without their encouragement I would have given up a long time ago.  ZenHugs to all those wonderful people - you know who you are!

Some of my patterns are just so beautiful, that I cannot wait any longer. I just have to start sharing some of them with the world.
On this blog you will find one new pattern each Friday. I would be extremely happy if you would share a link to your artwork containing this new pattern in the comments below.

The first pattern I am sharing is called Heart Wrap.

I used to draw in my school notebooks all the time. After collecting dust for 30 years in the attic, I finally found them again. What a surprise to see all these lovely patterns! I decided to draw step outs for my personal use. After finishing the first 50, the idea popped into my head that it would be nice to share those patterns with the rest of the Zentangle community. Some of those patterns are true Zentangles and some are just great to add to your Zentangle Inspired Art.

Heart Wrap looks difficult at first. You just have to try it out. It is easier than it looks. For the past 3 months I found myself repeatedly using this pattern on birthday cards and bookmarks. I will remember to take a picture before giving away the next one !

I hope you have fun with Heart Wrap and really want to see your creations! See you next Friday!

ZenLove

Ina

Using a background as a string

I just could not resist to tangle on one of those beautiful alcohol ink backgrounds created by Alice Hendon. The background provided me with a string.

Alice is selling her backgrounds as digital downloads on  Etsy. She also has a blog where I found weekly string challenges.

I started off tracing the drop shapes which are part of the background. Then I added some popsicles and finally the spiral.
To add more interest I used white Polychromos colour pencils for highlights and shaded the centre of the popsicles.

I probably could have filled the entire sheet with patterns, but it would have distracted too much from the colourful background. So I call it "done".

Diva Challenge # 231

Normally I don't find the time to participate in challenges. However, this clean, new office of mine is not exactly inspirational ;-) I just had to sit down and draw something.

Whilst browsing I came across the Diva Challenge and thought: "Why not?" The simple challenge "The Undulating Tangles in C and S minor" was exactly what I needed.

Only after I finished shading with pencil did I feel that a bit of colour would add interest. Bad idea! The yellow and orange Polychromos look dirty. Next time I will erase the shadow first and then colour.

Important is, my office reflects 'creative untidyness' - so much better to work in ;-) The challenge was fun I will make a point to check every Monday to see what new challenge awaits me.

Finally !

Finally - it is done. I am settled in and ready to glue my butt on to this chair forever!

The old and the new PC just have enough space on the desk. Eventually I will only have a second monitor, but first I need to transfer all files over.

Yes, I have a PINK chair - none of the boys will dare to borrow this one ..hehe..

Lot's of space to store my pens in those drawers!

Still a bit messy in the background. The content of the boxes have to go into the cabinets. Yes, I have my own personal fridge/freezer and Nespresso machine. HEAVEN !

Now I can really get going on my book. The view is perfect, the chair comfy, coffee and icecream within reach - what more could I want? HEAVEN - it's mine, ALL MINE!

My new office

Enough is enough. I unpacked 50 boxes and cannot find the screws to assemble the furniture. Before I get seriously angry I took the initiative and ordered new furniture <fullstop> How am I supposed to write books if I can't sit down properly? An artist needs space to create (this is basically the conversation I had with my husband) ;-)

Eventually, when I am all rich, this is my dream office:

For now I got the desk, rollcontainer, Big cupboard in the background plus the cabinet with the shelves on top. At least I can unpack the most important items and sit more comfortable.

Ah, I am so happy that I finally hit the "Buy-It-Now" button :-)

The big move

No time for hobbies. Last weekend we finally moved into our new house. I didn't realise just how much "stuff" I have accumulated!

Now I have my very own craft room. Looking up from my temporary desk, I see the church tower and the road leading to the local primary school. Every morning just before 8am I can hear the happy voices of the kids heading to school.
Right above the window we have 5 birds nest. Swallows have been nesting here for the past 60 years and return every spring.
Leaning over the balcony, I have full view of the little beaks peeking out from the nests, waiting for their parents to bring food. Maybe I can install a webcam next year and share the experience with the rest of the world?

But until I can truly enjoy this, I have to unpack all these boxes!

There are even more in the passage! It will be like Christmas in July .. well, August. Most of these boxes have been in storage for the past 2 years. Exciting times lie ahead :-)

Shading Tangles

Eni Oken just opened a new Facebook group called Shading Zentangle 

It looks very interesting !

 Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/shadingzentangle/