Interwoven. Everything in their lives was interwoven. No single thing could exist without the other. Each element fed the whole. Crazy Huggins is a wonderful example of single elements combining to make a complete design. In this version, I used a fair amount of shading to add additional dimension to each decorated section. I also used a heavier line weight around the outside to define each section and a finer width pen for the decorative elements.

Daily grind. They used the disks to grind the seeds into a fine flour. The flour was used to bake the unleavened bread that was eaten with every meal. Even though they lived in a world populated with technology, they still created the food by hand. She was impressed with their dedication to their tradition. This week, one of the things I am focusing on is contrasts. Here, I kept it simple by using the contrasting shapes of circles and rectangles.

I haven’t posted anything from Amanda recently, so I thought I would show you a Zentangle she created that inspired one that I did. If you remember, a while back, I posted a tile similar to this, except mine was reversed: white gel pen on a black tile. We were talking about this particular tangle, and she asked why there weren’t very many of my tiles using it. I told her that I have trouble drawing this one because it seems to want to make itself in only small sizes.

I am still working on my project from this week. I’m sure most of you have figured out what I’m making, but just in case you haven’t, today I’m posting something totally different. This monotangle of Sand Swirl was fun to do. Sometimes it’s very calming to just draw auras! I will be showing you my project towards the end of next week (I hope,) and you’ll finally get to see all the tiles put together, so stay tuned!

This is the second of a pair of tiles for my current project. I didn’t want both tiles to match exactly, but I wanted them both to have the same theme. The pictures of these have come out a bit paler than the actual tiles. Hopefully, the pictures of the end result will show the colors better! Zentangle drawn on Strathmore Vellum Bristol using a brown Pigma Micron pen.

Another piece in my current project! I had so much fun making this part. I hope the rest of it goes like this! Zentangle drawn on Strathmore Vellum Bristol using a brown Pigma Micron pen. Shading done with Copic marker, colored and graphite pencils. Color was done with Distress Ink markers. Tangles: Hollibaugh Kuke Web

Twofer. In last Friday’s post, I talked a little bit about project I was working on, and I showed you the first piece. Here it is again, with two more tiles I’ve completed. Both of these have the same tangle on them, Emingle. I liked the contrast of this tangle with the first piece. But it didn’t occur to me how long it would take to draw that many little lines on two entire tiles.

Not all index cards are made alike! Generally, when we think of index cards, we think of the standard 3-inch by 5-inch cards with lines on them to write on. Maybe, if we cook and record our recipes, we’re familiar with the same thing, only a bit bigger, 4-inch by 6-inches. Most of us have also used the ones that do not have anything on them. They are just plain white.

Guess what I am making! I have been kind of “stuck” since about the beginning of the year. I got through figuring out how to handle black tiles, but then I couldn’t seem to get going on anything else I wanted to accomplish. Suddenly, about a week ago, something in the stars changed and I started making Zenbuttons, something I’ve wanted to do for some time. Now, I’m giving you a sneak peek at another project I wanted to try.

Amanda asked me, the other day about Indy-Rella. I told her I hadn’t used it very much because I always end up drawing it so tiny. She did it on a white tile, using black ink, making the elements rather large, which inspired me to try this. I started with the white pen. But I still didn’t get mine as larger as hers. So I thought it might be fun to add different color inks that would make it look like they were fading out on the tile.

Tangle games. I’ve been tangling a long time. I generally tangle every day. Sometimes I get stuck, and don’t know what to do, or I can’t think of anything that thrills me. There are a few tricks that will help, the most common ones are picking strings and tangles at random. I do that a LOT. But I’m at the point where I often want to go beyond the common.

Today’s Zenbutton is brought to you by the season: Spring! Here, the weather can’t make up it’s mind. One day we’re handed Spring, another Summer and then we’re back in Winter. I have to check the weather report before I can get dressed! So, I decided that I wanted to encourage Mother Nature and gift her with a Zenbutton that embodied flowers and leaves and the happy spring colors of warm pinks and yellow greens.

Yes, another Zenbutton! Last Valentine’s day I really wanted to participate in the Valentangle challenge. I ended up admiring everyone else’s work, but didn’t get anything of my own done. So, now that I’m on a Zenbutton kick, I did the challenge from February 5th! I did use four circles rather than 3. And I went with “hearts and flowers”, in as much as Toodles looks a bit like a heart, and I used actual heart shapes on the innermost ring.

While I was working on yesterday’s tile, I was thinking that I would like to try this technique on a tan tile, with a Southwestern, Native American pottery theme. I gave it a shot here. I’m not totally enthralled with it because I feel like the entire tile reads too “brown,” without enough light contrast. I will probably give this another try over the weekend. That said, I do like the tile for what it is!

I had so much fun creating yesterday’s Zenbutton I decided that I wanted to do more of them in different styles. So, for this one, I’m using Marguerite Samama’s Delft Delights style. If you need instructions in this style, they are available from AcadiaLaserCreations on Etsy. Zentangle drawn on Strathmore Vellum Bristol using a blue Pigma Micron pen and a cobalt Copic Multiliner. Shading done with colored and graphite pencils.