Whats in a mirror?

Mirror mirror on the wall???  Isn't that what we grew up with?  Hopeing the mirror would say we were the fairest one of all???  I think even though we would all like to be as totally selfless as Snow White was, there is a little bit of the Step-mother in us too.  After all who doesn't want to be the best at something???  I think we all have attributes that in our way, make us the fairest one of all.  Whether its our smile, our eyes, or the way we make our family feel special, or the favorite cookies our kids cheer for when we make them - we all have SOMETHING that makes us the fairest in the land.  I think that's what draws me to Zentangles.  I look at some tangles and think I could NEVER do something that detailed and then someone will comment on something I've done and say its wonderful (which of course I never feel like - but I'm learning to).  We can all learn from each other (in Zentangles AND in life) and isn't that really what its all about???  Sharing our experiences and helping one another grow???  Do something that makes you feel good about yourself today!!

Rebel with a cause

Sometimes I get so busy searching out new patterns to try and then putting them to paper that never see the light of day, that  every once in awhile I feel like I need to do something very basic.  For me, this was my back to basic tangle.  Some days I want to learn new things but then I'm fearful that (like the Mooka) they don't turn out like I think they should (its all about that darn vision in my head), so it was nice to do something I felt comfortable with.  There's something about comfortable that boosts your confidence level and makes you believe that you can do anything.  SO after I finished this, I felt a little more qualified to tackle something more challenging.  You'll have to wait for that, but for today, I hope you find something to command in your world and give yourself the boost you need to feel better about yourself.  You really can do anything you set your mind to - whether its something you're comfortable with or even a new challenge to stretch yourself!!  Now go for it and have fun!

Challenge 16 - Mooka

I'm not sure what got into me this morning, but after I saw the video on this new pattern, Mooka, (from Laura Harms' I am the Diva website) I thought I would give it a try.  It seems like every time I try to make any pattern with a loop in it, it never turns out the way I think it should.  So when I decided to give this one a try I was a little skeptical but excited at the same time.  Well true to form, it didn't turn out like I thought it should.  The video made it look so much easier!!  But then I did some shading on it and added some other little things to it and I was happier with it.  I'm sure I'll do another tangle this week with this new pattern, but....not today.  I think the images inside my head are much more controlled (probably because I'm somewhat of a perfectionist) and I wish the end result was the same.  But I guess if everything came out like the vision in my head, then I'd have tons of money and be on an island someplace.  Oh to dream!!!!  Happy Monday to you and keep on dreaming!!!

Long Drawn-out

I started this tangle and thought I would just add a new pattern as I started from the top and worked down.  It seemed like it was more difficult than I thought it would be.  It seems like the patterns all started to look alike.  Maybe my mind was feeling a little square that day - he! he!  Who knows.  Then after I got it finished I could see someone leaning over the top of it and dropping little disks like they did on the Plunko game from The Price is Right.  I don't know if they even play that game anymore because it's been YEARS since I've seen it.  Back to the Bob Barker days.  Anyway this was interesting to me how it ended up.  Another one of those, you don't know what you're ending up with until it's done, tangles.  I hope whatever you're doing today, it ends up being a fabulous day for you!!

Hearts, Ribbons, and Flowers

How can you go wrong with hearts, ribbons, and flowers?  Those are some of my most favorite things.  Of course if you visit my blog very often you probably have figured it out already.  I love finding new ways to do the ribbons without always putting a pattern on them.  The flowers will probably end up in color (then I'll post it again for you) but there's something about the black and white (or gray scale) look that really appeals to me.  It looks....natural????  Well as natural as you can get when you're just using a pen and pencil.  I think the greatest (or one of the greatest anyway) about Zentangles is that each tangle is your own.  It reflects what you're feeling, where you are in your head, and what comes out on the paper is all yours.  Even if you're using a pattern from someone else, no one else is combining the same patterns in the same way.  It's your own masterpiece.  Take ownership of your work and be proud of it, it's all you and it's fabulous!!!

Ready????

Ready?  Are you ready??  Ready for what the day holds?  Ready for the weekend?  Ready for all the things that are coming your way that you're not planning for??  We make plans and get things ready for what we think is coming, but then there are the days when we're blind-sided.  When things come out of nowhere!  Then what??  Were we really ready for anything??  Not usually, at least when we can't see what's ahead of us.  So I guess the question would be how do you prepare for something that you really don't know is coming???  Man I wish I had THAT answer.  I guess that's when it's time to trust yourself, those around you, and God for His guidance in our lives.  Hard things to do and much easier to say!  For me - I'm there right now and it's not a fun place.  I think tangling can be a lifesaver - like a rope that's keeping you tied to something you can control when life puts you in a place where there doesn't seem like there is any.  Today is full of opportunities - even if you don't want them - they are waiting for you.  Draw something and find what you're ready for - even if its a little thing - you're ready for it!