Thoughts

Sometimes my mind is so full of things I want to do, that everything gets all jumbled together - which this tangle reminds me of.  One thought over another, over another, and then where do you start???  Of course there are priorities and those always seem float to the top (and sometimes are "accidentally" ignored overlooked), but the things that are deeper tend to be more the ones I want to explore - they are more adventurous and  certainly more fun!!  I hope on this first Saturday in June you enjoy the adventurous and fun things in your world!!

Layers Squared

First let me start off by saying that Blogger wasn't working this morning and so i couldn't put my blog up until now.  Also, for some unknown wierd internet reason, it deleted yesterdays post so I reposted it for you. 

I started this piece out by just putting one square down, and then another and another, then before I knew it the entire piece turned into squares upon squares.  With each square I made I thought what else am I going to do on this piece?  Aparently I was on a roll and it actually created itself.  Sometimes I think that's what Zentangles is really all about.  I'm a planner and I get frustrated when I come to a stopping point on my tangles.  It's nice when they have a mind of their own and I'm just the tool!!  I guess that's ok too but once again I'm reminded that things never finish up like they start out.  You know what they say, :....."even the best layed plans of mice & men, often go astray".  I guess that sort of fits.  Enjoy your Friday!

What's inside?

I did this tangle a while back and those of you who look at my Flickr photostream will recognize it I'm sure.  It was even featured on Explore (which is part of Flickr that randomly selects pieces and displays them) before I ever knew what Explore was!  I was totally thrilled when my Flickr friends started congratulating me for having this piece selected on Explore (especially when I had no idea what they were talking about at first).  I have to admit that it made me a little silly inside and proud that something I've drawn was selected.  It was a feel good moment for sure!!  Since then I've had two others chosen so there's been three all together.  It still makes me feel good and as always the Flickr comments are so encouraging!!  With all the layers on this piece it left me with a question of what's really on the inside of the big circle?  Of course everyone has their own imagination so the possibilities are endless.  Maybe we're all a little like that too.  Pulling back the layers and finding the surprise on the inside of ourselves - the person that we really are meant to be.  Sometimes it's still a surprise even when we get to that layer but nevertheless, it's us - we all have that part.  Some people have already experienced various struggles and overwhelming good times pealing their layers back, while there are others who are still on that road longing to get to the end and even wondering if they will ever get there.  No matter where you are with your journey, there is a beautifully talented and awesome person beneath all the layers!  I just know it!!

Life as a tapestry

I grew up listening to Carole King, and one of my favorite albums (you know like a record - I know I'm dating myself) was the Tapestry album and I listened to the title song for hours and hours.  It always struck me as an odd song (I've never been very good at metaphors) but I do feel like our life really is like layers and layers of beautiful tapestry.  Like the song says, "an everlasting vision and ever changing views".  Over the course of our lives we stretch and grow and as a result of that our views change.  We think that we have our lives all figured out and then something happens that pulls the rug out from under us and before you know it - we're in a new place growing in a different direction - and that's hard!!  Even though it's scary and can be intimidating, I like that we don't always know what's ahead for us (and I'm a person who doesn't like change).  There is some comfort in knowing that things won't always turn out like we've planned (and boy am I a planner) because even though we hate to admit this, if we knew what was waiting down the road for us tomorrow, we probably would make different choices today.  But because of all the layers in our lives (the things we've gone through before), we have the resources to grow and change with confidence.  The comfort we find in our own tapestry today will make for a more beautiful one tomorrow.

Layers

I know I've said this before on my blog, but sometimes when my brain is dead (which is more often than I care to admit) and I can't think of any new patterns to draw, I fall back on my favorites.  I don't think there's anything wrong with that but the other day when Mr. Thisorthat said they're starting to all look the same, I knew I had a problem!  Not that he doesn't pay attention, (because he's really good at that part) but he brought to my attention that I need to be a little more creative in my layouts.  I hate to admit, that even for me (sometimes) the finished product looks a little like something from my past.  I don't think there's anything wrong with falling into your comfort zone but at the same time we all have so many possibilities at our fingertips that pulling back the layers and exposing that can have an excellent result.  Today I challenge you to step outside of your comfort zone and try something new that makes you step back and smile.  You might be in for a huge surprise at what you have inside you!!