'SIMPLIFY'

I Am the Diva, CZT

Weekly Challenge #226

Guest Blogger, Katie Crommett, CZT

"Let's Simplify"

   I love simple, but can't always seem to apply it to my life. With time, clutter, household chores, food, everything,...................I always seem to feel that more is better, or at least that's what we have always been told. But the funny thing is, when I tangle, I seem to be able to find white space and fewer tangles, to be somewhat easy for me. Maybe it's that desire of simplicity just screaming to get out and 'Zing' there it is in the Zentangle method. So I tried two tiles for this challenge. 

   One tile that I had pre strung at CZT Seminar and didn't have a chance to do anything with it, and the other just a coaster I had lying around in paper clutter, that I have been wanting to do something with. There we go!

So here is the string, which is very busy!!!! So I challenged myself to simplify it.
I think I did ok. But it was a very busy string to begin with and I really didn't want a lot of lines showing when I was finished.

See how busy this was?

I tried! :0)

This one is real simplified!! But how many of you can stop there with 'Parodox'?  It was hard for me! I wanted to continue right down into the center, cause it always looks so cool! But I restrained myself and left it open!!

   In the last tile I used 'Parodox' and 'Murmylies' by Annette Plaga-Lodde, aka LonettA. I love that little tangle and I think it will go well with so many of the other ball type tangles. Fun!!

   Anyway, here is just a peak of what my week was like

4th of July Birthday

Fireworks

Beach Day!!! See that mermaid tail?

Vacation Bible School all week from 5:30 to 8:30 and I taught the preschoolers. 3 to 5 year olds.

I made all 15 of my students a rock to take home as a keepsake of VBS 2015!!!

These I made for my helpers and the woman that leads the program!!

Last but not least, a train ride to San Clemente beach with Cub Scouts!!

Can you find my daughter somewhere in this pic? :0)

   I wish everyone a lovely week!!! A great big "Thank You", for the lovely sunshine on my blog! I was able to see everyone's work last week,...........and wow! This tangle community really has beautiful Zen!!!!

Now, 

go put

 some 

Zen

into this

TanGleD 

world

!!

;0)

"KEEP 'EM STRAIGHT"

I Am the Diva, CZT

Weekly Challenge #219

"Straight Lines, All the Time"

  

The official sign for our Memorial celebration! (See some Zentangle in there?)

   On Monday, the 25th, we celebrated Memorial Day! For all the soldiers that have lost their lives for our freedom! Also to remember others that have passed from this life. We have an annual get together with my side of the family. We start out at the near by cemetery for a mass and then we visit the gravesides of our loved ones. Afterward, it is time to play at my parent's house. It has been a tradition for fifty some years. My parents have been hosting the party for thirty something years. 

   Unfortunately, this is their last year to host the party. Their home is being bought out by developers, also, just like my sister's house was on the opposing corner from my parents. It was a bitter-sweet on Monday. Among those celebrating the day and the last one, were 105 family members and friends. (mostly all family). My parent's home has always been one with a revolving door!! People coming and going. My mom, always home in the kitchen, feeding whoever happened to stop by. 45 years in one place, it's gonna be a tough move for my parents. My only wish for them is, that they can make a HOME out of the next house they move to.

   Sorry for the lil' blurb of info, it's just I'm still a little sappy from everyone's realization settling in about my parents home.

   On to the Diva's Challenge!!!!

Loved this challenge!! Even though my favorites are organic tangles, I thoroughly got into my Zen with this challenge!
(please click on any image to enlarge)

 

These were just a few of the body paintings that I did on the kiddos on Memorial Day! I won't tell you how many big kids, (past the age of 50,) got a lil' body or face painting done too!

And here is the last of photo sharing! My lil' girl just finished her first year of school! Preschool is over, next it's KINDERGARTEN!!!!! (Hopefully, mom's gonna have more time to tangle, blog, and Oh, my!!!! The things that I can think of!!!)  :0)

Have a blessed day, and thank you to all who visit my blog and leave rays of sunshine!!!

Go put

some

Zen

into this

TAnGlEd

world

!

:0)

TRACED OBJECT STRINGS

I Am the Diva, CZT

Weekly Challenge #213

'Traced Object Strings'

These were my uses of strings.

   Long-time-no-see everybody!!!! It has been a while, and unfortunately I did not do any catch-up challenges. I'm hoping to catch you up only on, on goings in my life though, in future posts. Some good things some bad, but I will focus on the good! (wink wink).

   I hope all is well with every one of you!!! 

Keeping this post short, because I am already late in getting in the challenge!

   Have a blessed Sunday!!!

I love, love, love the new tangle 'Intwine', by Helena Hadzijaneva! And another one of my faves lately is 'Lolo' by Hsin-Ya Hsu. Oh, yes, and 'Tumbleweed', by Helen Williams. Please go to Tangle Patterns, by Linda Farmer, to see all of these tangles and more!

   So there you have it!!! What a fun challenge Laura!!! Thank you for always keeping us guessing!

Go put some

Zen,

into this 

TanGLeD

world
!

:0)

UMT: ATHITZI and INCHIE, 'KITCHEN'

I Am the Diva, CZT

Weekly Challenge

UMT: 'Athitzi' by Seven

   Well, I couldn't help but add a little welcome to our friend for today, in the US. The ground hog! Poor lil' guy! He's in one of those positions, where he's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't! Well, it looks like we are in for 6 more weeks of winter!!!( In California, we're saying hooray!!) I know in other parts of the country, many people are wishing for a little sunshine, and not to happy with his prediction! 

The little saying I found on Pinterest. His shadow looks a little lame, kinda like the outline when someone dies......! Yeeks!

   So, I had my fun this morning!

I do have to say, when I woke up and saw the UMT for today, I was quite excited!!! For some reason, lately, I have been having such Zen moments when drawing lines!! Woohoo!! And that's exactly what 'Athitzi' is all about!!! "Seven, I just love 'Athitzi'!!! Any tangle that can fill space with style is a favorite of mine!! It is going to be so much fun!! Thank you for sharing it with us!" And thank you Laura for choosing it as a new introduction to the tangle community!

Here's my real go at Athitzi! I was in such the, 'Zentangle space'!! It all just flowed! 

  While watching the Super Bowl with my hubby, I tried a Zendala, for the VERY FIRST TIME!!!

 I think I did it right. I have been so fearful of them. Don't ask me why, cause I don't know!! I think intimidation is probably the answer. So many beautiful Zendalas out there!!!!! 

Tangles used: 'SitZen' and Cruffle. I still feel like I need to do something else on the page. As you can see, I did not use a template. My circle is a little wonky!!!

   I want to thank everyone for stopping by and leaving a bit of warmth on my blog! You're awesome! (I think I caught Laura's family cold,  ;0( so I was on the lay low this week end. Hope to get to pass on the warmth this week.)

(((HUGS))) to ya' all!!

Go put a little

Zen

into this

TAngLed

world

!

:0)

Every Inchie Monday

Weekly Challenge Word

"Kitchen"

   So this tangling all my Inchies for the year, is gonna be challenging!!! Anyway, here's what I came up with.

Remember, click on any image to enlarge.

   And then my son inspired me to finally glue down all of my Inchies from 2014 and part of 2013, and frame it. Got that done today, too!! (Of course, I still have a room full of all my Christmas decor, waiting to be put away! Yeeks!) But, still feeling a bit under the weather, I felt like my project with my Inchies, was more important! ;0)

I had started doing Inchies, (thanks to my friend Zoe, who introduced me to this fun art), in Sept, of 2013.

   What a fun ride it has been! So I can't wait to put all of my black and whites together for next year! (I hope it will look as cool as I envision it will be.)

See you all next week, and thank you for dropping by and warming my heart with your comments!

Blessings,

and Enjoy, as you 

Inch 

your way 

to next week!!

:0)

EMBRACING THE 'YUK', AND INCHIE, 'WEAPON'

I Am the Diva, CZT

Weekly Challenge #194

'Embracing the Yuk'

   I just want to say, WOW! Elisa, I loved this challenge!!! THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! Using my left hand to do Zentangle, was very rewarding!!!

   If you would like to read up on Embracing the Yuk, Elisa Murphy CZT has filled in for the Diva's weekly challenge. Her quest for this challenge, was to make us feel uncomfortable. (That's the 'yuk' part.) Actually, she just wanted us to feel the empathy of what Laura, the Diva, is going through while her son Artoo had surgery. A bit of uncomfortableness and no control. 

   I remember doing this as a kid. My sis, and girlfriends and I would play school and we would sometimes say that we had to use our left hands for writing. We always giggled at the outcome of our writings. Being that I do massage therapy, I have strength in my left hand but I do have to say, not as much fine skill control.    

   Crazy as it was, as I was doing my tile, I did feel uncomfortable, because I found I had my shoulders clear up to my ears and I was gripping that pencil so tight, that I was not in my ZEN!!! Until, that awareness settled in and I said, Relax, let go and enjoy!!!!! Once I did that, I so, enjoyed this challenge. 

  As I was embracing the moment, I had to also reflect on last week's challenge #193 that Holly Atwater CZT put out. About giving thanks. Ragged Ray's blog really put the whole part of, reflection of thanks, into a beautiful meaningful post. So again, this week, I felt, that, connection of gifts and thankfulness. Using my left hand made me feel helpless, but then I had to stop and think how appreciative I am that I have a left hand. Sometimes, I think we go through life focusing on what we don't have and the negatives, that we forget what we do have and the blessings that are given to us in each and every breath we take, or meal we eat. Anyways, Thank you Holly, Ragged Ray, and Elisa, for reminding me to focus on the good and to be thankful.

If you notice all of the squiggly, un perfect, lines?

   Tangles used:

Mooka

Maryhill

Wud

Phicops

Ooples

   I do have to say, a real challenge is to do stippling with your non dominant had.. CRAzy!!!!!!!!

Thank you to all who leave such heartwarming messages!!! They are felt!

Have a blessed and joyful week!!!

Every Inchie Monday

Weekly Challenge

'Weapon'

   My first thought for this challenge was to draw a naked women's body.!!! Yikes,.....I know!! (But, I do know quite a few women that use that as a weapon on men, or to get what they want.) Anyway, I thought that would not be very appropriate for my Family friendly blog. hahaha.

   So then you can say, I went to the other extreme!!! I thought of 'Weapons against evil'. Crazy, but that is how my brain works! So here it is

Cross; symbol of Jesus, Love: turn the other cheek, Garlic; ward off dracula and a wooden stake to pierce his heart, and a silver bullet: to kill a werewolf.

   I have all of those in my life, except the silver bullet and the wooden stake. But I 'believe', I'll be ok!!

Hope y'all have an awesome week and thanks for all the friendliness you leave me!

((((((hugs))))) to all!!

 :0)

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UMT-'SETON' and INCHIE 'VIOLET'

I Am the Diva, CZT

Weekly Challenge #192

UMT- Seton by Cris Letourneau

Tangles: 'Seton', 'Maryhill' and 'Gnarly'

Great background tangle! Thanks for sharing, Cris! :0)

Every Inchie Monday

Weekly Challenge

'Violet'

I tried to create Wisteria with quilling. (Was a quickie)

Have a blessed and joyful weekend!! And a many thanks to all you 'Specials' who leave me comments! I promise, when I get back to having a little time, I will visit your blogs and return some sunshine!!!! (((((Hugs)))) in the meantime!!

Ps. Prayer request: My 77 yr old Father just had a knee replacement, please send up a little prayer that he recovers and comes back to full health and can be as active as he was prior to this surgery. 

;0) (wink) thank you!!!

:0)

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UMT: 'YUMA' and INCHIE, UNGUAL

I Am the Diva, CZT

Weekly Challenge #189

UMT: 'Yuma' by Tina AKUA, CZT

   Congratulations Tina!!!  It is exciting to have your own tangle chosen on the Diva's challenge!! Well, I loved your tangle Yuma!! I can see that it will be a great tangle for filling in spaces and or to use as a monotangle! Thanks for sharing it with us!!! 

   Step outs for 'Yuma' are HERE, if you want to give it a try!!

Duotangle: 'Yuma' and 'Stripes'

   Hope all of you have a funtastic week, and Thank You, to all who leave a bit of sunshine on my post! You are all greatly appreciated!

:0)

Don't forget

to put some

Zen

into this

Tangled

World

!

Every Inchie Monday

Weekly Challenge

'Ungual'

   So you say, what,......? What is ungual? Well, it is the distal most claw or hoof bearing phalanx.

If that doesn't help, than maybe this picture will.

This is my drawing of a Centrosuarus's phalanges, and ungual.

   Welp, I hope that helped! (Whew, this was a tough on this week, but very educational!!)

Have an awesome week, everybody!!!

Keep 

Inchin' 

Along

!

:0) 

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MACDEE, and INCHIE, 'PLUM'

I Am the Diva, CZT

Weekly Challenge #180

UMT- MacDee by Anneke Van Dam

   This is a quickie this week, as it is a very busy one!! If I have a chance to do another and hopes to visit everybody's blog and leave some messages, I will do so! Meanwhile have a blessed and happy week!! 

Tangles used: Amoeba and MacDee   (remember to click on images to enlarge)

   I just want to send out a thank you to all who left messages last week!! You're a light to my day!! (((hugs))) :0)

Every Inchie Monday

Weekly Challenge

'Plum'

   Wow, this was a tough one for me this week! Didn't know what to do! Do I even have anything that is the color ,......plum???? Anyway, I went with a punch tool again! And created,,,..........well,....what else, ......but a ..............'plum'!!!

I used my balloon punch tool, and then cut and modified it. I also used vellum paper and embossed it to create a round ball like shape.

   

Once I had my plum's shape looking the way I wanted it, I then added color to it to create my best visual of a plum.

Welp, have a 'plum' of a week and we'll be seeing ya' next week!!

:0)

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'BE LIKE BIJOU' and INCHIE, 'PRIVACY'

I Am the Diva, CZT

Weekly Challenge #179

'Be Like Bijou'

   So, Maria and Rick, creators of Zentangle, have a whole new addition to their Zentangle family. Bijou!! Now he's a cute lil' guy, but personally if I find snails,..................well, you don't want to know  what I do with them. (Well, when you're a gardener, there's a good reason why ya' don't care too much for them.) I do have to say though, snails are cute! And 'Bijou',............well, he is,... "The Cutest Lil' Snail, Ever!!!" It must be because he's from Paris! :0) 

   Anyway, I think I had a visit from 'Bijou'! tonight, as I was working on my new 2"x2" tangles, I looked at the window nearby and guess who I saw? You guessed it 'Bijou'!!!(he is an adventurous lil' guy)

See that spot on the window. The big spot! (don't mind all the dirt) It's 'Bijou'!

Here's a closer view. He was a being a little shy and hiding in his shell.

      So to celebrate Maria's and Rick's new family addition, they have done a tribute for 'Bijou' by creating a new tile in his name. So,.......... "Welcome, Bijou!!"

Here are my three 'Bijou' tiles. The top one that says Cuteness, has 'Feather  Fall', and 'Feathers'. The tan one has 'Pokeroot', and 'Zuan Shi'. The lower right one has 'Tucked  In' and 'Ooples' (my newest tangle, find step outs Here)

   I rather liked the new tiles, because I love 'little'!! Anywho, make sure you give them a try and Relax, Breathe and Slow Down. (Simple words from 'Bijou') 

   I will have to tell you my inspiration for the cuteness tile, as our family has had a feathered friend join our family, recently.

  Do have a lovely week and, as I could also take advise from 'Bijou'. "Slow and Steady!"

Thank you to all who take the time to leave thoughts and friendly comments! You put smiles on my face!!  ((hugs))

;0)

Every Inchie Monday

Weekly Challenge

'Privacy'

   This is what came to mind!

    I was thinking a little on the romantic side for this one! 

Have an awesome week!

:0) 

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UMT-CRUX and INCHIE, NEGATIVE

I Am the Diva, CZT

Weekly Challenge #175

UMT- Cruz by Henrike Bratz

   I have totally been enjoying the simplicity of true Zentangle lately. Just using the basic strokes and only black and white. It really is therapeutic, as life has been very busy and changing around my home. So it's been a God send that I learned about this art method.

   I enjoyed this tangle, Crux, even though I'm not big on grid based patterns, I enjoyed it.

Tangles used: Crux, Quandary, Knightsbridge, Tipple, & Aquafleur

   Please, drop by the Diva's blog and read about her awesome time at the CZT 15. She's the best!!!! Try joining in on the fun, and................

bring some Zen 

into this 

Tangled world!!!

Ps. Donald Wilka, thank you for your suggestion for last week's challenge! I took your advice and added some more heavy lines and black into my tangle (here) and I'm much happier with it!! Thank you so much for your suggestion! I had fun doing that too!!

:0)

Every Inchie Monday

Weekly Challenge

'Negative'

   So, no one really likes the word negative, cause it has such a negative feel about it. Well, are you a 'glass half empty', or a 'glass half full'? I did think of that one after I completed the one I did., but that's ok, I'm much happier with this idea!

   I used the negative space from a punch tool to do this weeks Inchie. (I just had to put a positive twist to it by using a happy face punch tool) :0)

So my question for you is, which one is the negative?

   Please, any of you Tanglers, or others, hop on over to EIM, and join in on the fun!! Inchies really are a lot of fun and just as addicting as Zentangle!! (Heck you could even Tangle your 52 Inchies for the year!! Wouln't that be fun?)

Have a Blessed and Happy Week!!

:0) 

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SUPERIMPOSED STRING, and INCHIE, 'MAROON'

I Am the Diva, CZT

Weekly Challenge #174

Superimposed String

   Laura, has another guest post person for this week's challenge! Aimee Belair, has challenged us to place one string on top of another,

and then tangle it. Superimposed is what this technique is called. 

   As it is a really neat idea, I don't always use a string with my tiles. (whether or not that makes it a Zia or not an official Zentangle, I'm not too sure)There is still so much for me to learn about Zentangle. (I'm sure it would help if I took a class.) Anyway, this was a challenge for me this week. I'm not to excited with the outcome, and tried to keep it the basic Zentangle look without color.

1st layer of string

The 2nd layer of string added on.

Here goes.

Tangles used: Jitters, Tropicana, Zonked, Maisie, hugzINkizzez

   Like I said, I'm not too crazy about this one, so I may have to give it another try, if time permits.

Another crazy week! Have a great one and we'll see ya' next week!!

   I'm hoping to get a Patriotic Tangle in somewhere, but if I don't, have a great 4th of July!!!

UPDATED July 8, 2014

Thanks Donald for the suggestion! I like it much better!! 

Isn't it amazing how different a tile can look, just by adding more weight on lines and circles!! (It's still not my favorite tile, but the whole Zen experience was worth it!!

Every Inchie Monday

Weekly Challenge

'Maroon'

   Now, I know everyone is going to look at my Inchie and say, "What does that have to do with the color maroon?" Well to ease your curiosity, maroon, gray and white were my high school colors. So that was the first thing I thought of when I saw that word. I actually like that color. But by the time I was out of high school, I was kinda done with it. (And how many of you remember that color with mauve and hunter green, as home decor back in the 80's??? ) Enough already!!!!

   Anyway, the city I live in, in So Cal was known for it's steel mills. Many people moved here from other states and countries (for that matter) to find labor work with the steel mills. Therefor we have the famous hospital known as Kaiser Permanente. It was mainly for all the employees that worked for Kaiser Steel. There really is so much more history to this Inchie, but this is all I have time for now.

This little guy was, and still is, the mascot for my high school. 

   At the time I was in high school, it was the only high school in town. My little farm and steel town has now developed so much and has so much more population, that there are now 5 or 6 high schools here. Call it progress, .............I don't know!

   Anyway, have a wonderful weekend and for those of you that live in the US, HAPPY 4TH of JULY!! 

  We are the Home of the Free,

because of the Brave!!

Thank you

for our freedom!!

GOD BLESS AMERICA!!

xo

:0)

DUOTANGLE: AURAKNOT vs MOOKA, and INCHIE, LAVENDER

I Am the Diva, CZT

Weekly Challenge, #172

Duotangle: Auraknot vs Mooka

   Now, Mooka is one of my go to Tangles. I just love it!!! Auraknot is a different story! But I have to say, after doing this challenge, it gave me some practice. I think if I used it more often, I would grow to like it more too!! Thanks to Maria and Rick for these two, great Tangles!

Done on light blue card stock.

   I had so much fun doing this duotangle and they flowed so freely, that I had to do two! 

Oh, here's a little sample of some gifts I Tangled. Please take a peek at my last post to see these and a couple other ideas for Zentangled gifts.

   Have a great week, all of you fellow tanglers!!!

Remember,.....

go put some Zen,

into this 

Tangled world!!!

:0)

Every Inchie Monday

Weekly Challenge 

'Lavender'

   Now with a word as simple as Lavender, I couldn't think of anything, other, to do,...... but simple! 

   Being that I am a massage therapist, I am way too familiar with Lavender. (Thank goodness I love the fragrance.)

Here I showed the punch tool I used to create this weeks word, Lavender.

   I have had such a busy week, but today I finally found time to do my entry and post it! So, hope your week has been outstanding, and now I wish you a very Joyous weekend!!!!

:0) 

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