Breathing... breathing...

Themes arise, don't they?

First, there was Laura's challenge of the week: Breathe....

(Well, actually, there was something before that, which I will get to in a second.)

Then, I noticed the pattern on my wash cloth.

I've been thinking a lot about my alveoli... which brings me to the thing before Laura's challenge: my current bout of pneumonia...

And I noticed that Samson looks a lot like alveoli, and so does my wash cloth, and I need to remember to breathe to expand my poor plugged up alveoli. So, here's my response to both challenges... Breathe and BREATHE! The big empty space in the middle reminds me to OPEN UP and let the air in!

A Thing a Day - Brave Undertaking

I'm not veering off the path of Zentangle too far... I love it too much! But, every now and again, it's nice to try something new. So, I signed up for "Thing A Day 2011." Like many other "things-a-day" efforts, participants are encouraged by others to post something handmade each day. Unlike other efforts, this one runs for February only! (Smart move: the shortest month!)

I actually used to post a "Daily Notion," and I miss that quite a bit. So, I'm thinking this effort might push me back in that direction.

For my TAD-2011 project, I'm creating an "Odd Fellow" every day. I'm not sure if it's possible to read the explanation in the screen clip I have here, so I will explain. I'm the Creative Designer for a local library's YA Summer Program. A few years ago, I wanted the participants to create self-portraits that were collaged, jointed figures. I cut about a bazillion little bits from magazines and catalogs... all aimed at getting the kids to make figures from abstract shapes. Well! The kids grabbed all the "ready made" faces and other body parts, and I was left with a giant box of clippings! Now's the time to use them! (some of them, anyway!)

After TAD is over, I plan to photograph the fellows and participate in the Million Little Pictures project.

You can read about Thing-a-Day 2011 here.

You can read about A Million Little Pictures here.

AND, how cool is this?!?!? Just as I went back to the Thing-a-Day blog, someone else posted her contribution: A ZENTANGLE. So neat, this synchronicity thing.

This other thing I do...

I have another blog. It's called "Questions from the back of the card," and it focuses on my involvement in the Post Crossing community. Post Crossing allows you to exchange postcards with people all over the world. It's very cool, and I have received over 1000 postcards in the three years (or so) that I have been a member. (If you're interested in learning more about it, go to www.postcrossing.com.)

Each year, on my birthday, I start a new Post Crossing project. One year, I asked people to send their favorite words. Last year, I ran a "scavenger hunt." This year, I am concentrating on the BACK of the card and asking people to send me thought-provoking questions (TPQs). So far, I've received over 100 of those.

Now this card doesn't have a TPQ, but it might actually be my most very favorite card of all time. WHAT A GREAT SENTIMENT! I love it. PLUS, the artwork has some kinship with the art of Zentangle in that in combines simple images in a way that's unique and intriguing.

Anyway, I thought I'd share this and invite you all to a) open your mind with wonder and b) stop by at the other place, by clicking here.

It Pays to Save EVERYTHING!

A star? Can I tangle a star? Welllllll, yes! On this old (old but not quite vintage) bisque porcelain star I had sitting around. Too cool to pop into the "donate" tub, but no idea what it would be good for. Guess I know now!

Challenge me, willya? THANKS!

Laura Harms, C-ZED-T from Saskatoon, is posting a weekly challenge on her blog, I am the diva. The blog can be found here: http://www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.com/

This week's challenge (Week #2) is to use a "double-pencil" string. I found I had done this before knowing I had.

Here's my response to the challenge.

A Tale of Two Duckies

or, why Sharpie pens (though good for many things) are NOT the same as Sakura Pigma pens!

Check out my little "feathered" friends... I bought two, planning to use one on the antenna of my car for locating it in the parking lot. (I swear that the Air Force ought to paint its stealth aircraft the color of my car because I can NEVER find it in parking lots, but that's material for another post....)

I thought that the Sharpie pen, what with being labeled PERMANENT and all that, might be a better choice for something that would out in all manner of weather. HOWEVER, look at what happened! The PURPLE ink is not a choice I made. It's what happened to the Sharpie ink after about 10 minutes on the duck. The black lines are made by, you guessed it... the Sakura pen.

So, now you know. And I do too.

And, by the way, I've just posted new class schedules for Spring 2011! YAY!

Can you make them in color?

Frequently people ask if it's "OK" to make a Zentangle in color. I reply that the traditional tile is done with black ink on a cream background.

No one ever said it was "not-OK" to make colored Zentangle-inspired art work though, right?

And here is some of the finest I've seen.

I recently visited the Franklin Park Conservatory in Columbus, Ohio, where there is a fabulous collection of the glass art of Dale Chihuly. This photo was taken from beneath one of the sculptures.