A Zentangle Spiral Guide

For my fellow tangle junkies: some thoughts on collecting and organizing tangle patterns I'm a perfectionist. I didn't always know this about myself, or maybe I wasn't always one and I'm just settling into my own shoes a little as I get older. But "ehh.... good enough" is probably not something you'll hear me say. Because if I'm working on something I care about, and I know it's not the best I am capable of, I have to force myself to not redo every little thing and make it as good as I know it could be (and yes, I do realize that this occasionally makes me a little bit annoying). For example, I've attempted a few methods for collecting and organizing tangle patterns... index cards, flip cards, graph paper pads, Moleskine notebooks, different-sized journals, a small binder with page protectors, et cetera. First I had to let go of the idea that any journal I created would/could ever resemble Maria's... that just wasn't realistic for me. Here's how my lofty standards and I arrived at a solution I could run with. This beast of a craft punch came from Michael's. The bottom view.

Step-by-steps & patterns Examples of this and alternative method here I draw string a lot so it's all over the blog. See also here and here. ("Well" is an official Zentangle pattern - this is just my spin on it) See an example of Morning Glories here See samples of bloom here 2/8's HEART S (no kick) See examples of this in use here You can find this pattern in a drawing here Find this one here and here (3rd one down) See this one in action here An example in my drawing sunset Creative Doodling with Judy West Freestyle Celtic Knot Challenge I previously posted an item giving you a link to how to draw Freestyle Celtic Knots on Youtube. Below is the link if you would like to view it again. I have since draw some basic distructions and am presenting a challenge to you to have a go at your own celtic knot design. Below is my distructions: I have already had a go and this is my example from the distructions above. I would really love to see what you have designed. I will be posting a Challenge once a week from now on and I would appreciate to hear from you guys which day suits you best.

EllenDarbyWorkshopsOnline.com | Home Tangles to Try - Oklahoma Zentangle Fans Monday, July 26, 2010: Tangle "Brix" Although Brix is a very simple tangle, it is a great filler, especially for a larger space. It can be drawn with any size so that gives it a lot of variety. You can also "warp" it easily simply by making the beginning lines not parallel. Sometimes I have "bleed over" of a pattern into a string or a tangle might be open and feel like it needs a background--this is a really versatile answer to those things. Try varying how much you round the corners or how wide the lines are... you can also add some texture to the Brix with just a light line or squiggle. When we begin a Zentangle, the "rule" is to not have a plan ("expectation") of what it is going to look like but many times when I am done I look at the completed ZT and find that it looks like something to me. Thursday, July 22, 2010: Tangle "Sheeko" Sheeko is one of the first (if not the first) tangles I developed; it is based on the Japanese Sashiko stitching. Sunday--Fourth of July! e on it.

Patterns that I have developed | Denzer Family Art My step outs are sometimes crazy, I usually find myself using a new pattern in a zentangle and then try to figure out how someone else could do the same. My mind isn’t always logical but this is what happens. I will share all the patterns I have given steps to in this post. I apologize for some of the photo quality in my earlier postings. A Bed of Roses Birds of a Feather Lady Bug Border Pinwheel Flower Clover Leaf Star Fan-Leaf Cathedral Wedding Chain Reaction Cherry and Leaf Star Burst Bel Fiore Easter Lily Curly Border Sego Lily Sea Shell Bracelet Tuxedo