Category Archives: My Blogging Journey

Jul15

Silk Scarf Workshop

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At the end of June I headed to Irving, Texas, to visit with Angie Vangalis.  Angie is quite a gal!!  She works with the Texas Lettering Arts Council and puts on amazing workshops with Zentangle.  I was fortunate enough last year to attend the CZT (Certified Zentangle Teacher) Marketing program she offered.  This time she offered a silk scarf painting workshop and it was great!!  It was a small class, which was nice because we received more individualized attention.  Plus we had an opportunity to get to know her better.  I find it amazing that some people can accomplish so much in their busy lives.  I must be time challenged because I can’t seem to find the time to complete all the projects I want to complete, even now that I’m not “working”.  “Oy vey” (as they say in my country of NY)…where did I go wrong?? Here are some pictures from the workshop.  I have to tell you, I will never look at a handmade, painted scarf in the same way again.  Now I know how much time and effort goes into making such a piece.  And the samples that Angie had of work she and some others have done was extraordinary!! Again, sorry my pictures are always out of skew…I’m working on it! Happy Tangling…B.

Color Wheel

Color Wheel

Beginning to Paint

Beginning to Paint

Drying

Drying

Angie's Scarf

Angie’s Scarf

Angie's Scarf

Angie’s Scarf

Dragonfly Scarf
Dragonfly Scarf

 

Jul14

Catch My Breath!

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It has been quite a whirlwind on my end of the world.  But, if you know anything about Wichita, it is quite windy here and those pesky little funnels show up all the time.  No, we didn’t get a tornado, but my life sure feels like it sometimes!

It’s been about a month now since my job at Via Christi Hospital was eliminated.  To say I am enjoying my time off is an understatement; however, I do know that I will have to go back to work eventually because the bills will not magically disappear.  And, unfortunately, I haven’t won the lottery yet!

In the meantime, I’ve been keeping myself busy with learning new things (I took several workshops regarding WordPress, Taxes, and Business) and I’ve done several workshops myself sharing Zentangle.

Zentangle a la carte was a success!  A number of workshops were offered in this grouping – Beginner, Advanced, Framing on the Cheap, Tangled Ink & Watercolor, and a paperweight making workshop.

Pictures are below – we ran out of time to actually tangle the Tangled Ink piece, so the students took them home for homework.  The watercolor ones dried quickly and we were able to tangle those.

Art of ZentangleFraming on the Cheap
IMG_0427
Tangled Ink
Watercolor

The gentleman taking my workshop is Stuart and I haveIMG_0428 to show you what lovely work he does. He is a pyrographer (the art of woodburning) and he carved and tangled the most lovely cane!! Check it out!!

Stuart Countryman and Cane
Stuart's cane

Well, it appears that even with those classes I took, I STILL cannot get WordPress to put the pictures in for me the way I want them — it is sooooo frustrating! If any of you have WordPress experience and feel the urge to share with me, I’m willing and able to listen!!

More to follow….until then, Happy Tangling!!!

Jun15

Your Guess is as Good as Mine!

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As of today, June 15, no one has been able to guess the tangle name from the photo I posted.  At least I haven’t seen the answer from anyone up until this point.  If you know the answer, please post it on my Facebook page, EmeraldCityTangles, or email me directly at EmeraldCityTangles@yahoo.com.

Here it is again, just in case you missed it…

VC Hallway

I’m not sure if no has guessed it because it’s an official Zentangle tangle (so it’s not listed on Linda’s site, TanglePatterns) or if it’s because not enough people have seen the post.  Either way, I’m brazen enough to give you a hint or two…(psst…one has already been given).  Sue Clark, CZT, from Loveland, CO, used this tangle back in 2011 when Laura Harms, Diva Weekly Challenge, gave the challenge to use a monotangle.

I’m closing this contest out as of next Saturday, June 22.  If no one guesses by then, the Lokta envelope will be used in another contest.

Don’t forget, if you haven’t signed up yet for the Zentangle a la Carte being held at the Carriage Factory Art Gallery in Newton, KS, on June 22 and July 6, click the link and register.  Spaces are still available.

Happy Tangling from the Land of OZ!

Jun12

To Work or Not To Work…that is the question!

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I learned Friday that my job position has been eliminated!  Interesting how things happen in your life.  I keep wishing I could retire.  But I didn’t plan on it happening like this.  So here I am trying to figure out how I can do what I love (teach and share) and stay afloat.   Others have done it, so why can’t I?

Unfortunately,  it always seems that obstacles are in the way.  You’ve heard them…Not quite old enough (but, really, how old is old?); not enough money in the bank (but, really, do we EVER have enough money in the bank?); what about health insurance (but, really, isn’t that what Aflac is for?); what would the neighbors say (but, REALLY, whose life is it anyway?).

My brain says I need to have a J.O.B., my heart tells me otherwise.  It kind of reminds me of a certain tangle I know and love…here’s a picture of it that I snapped recently while at my place (soon to be NOT) of employment.  The first person** who can tell me what tangle this picture looks like will receive a beautiful, green Lokta Zentangle envelope.  I’m down to 9 of these…they are quite rare you know 🙂

VC HallwayIt’s telling me that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and that I just need to follow the arrow path (kind of like the Yellow Brick Road).  Most likely I’ll end up with another job for the security of insurance and a constant paycheck.  However, you never know..I might be just enough of an adventurer to head towards the light.

…On the Journey to Happy Tangling!

(**There is a caveat – if you have won before, please give someone else a chance, thanks!)

Jun6

Zentangle a la Carte

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I’m cooking up something to tantalize your tangling tastebuds!  I’ll be holding a Zentangle a la Carte in Newton, KS, at the Carriage Factory Art Gallery, on June 22 and July 6.  You pick and choose from 5 different courses!

cooking pot

Here’s the List:

  1. Zentangle 101
  2. Zentangle Too – Beyond the Basics
  3. Framing on the Cheap!
  4. Zentangle Paperweight
  5. Tangled Ink & Watercolor

Choose 2 workshops and receive free, as our gift to you, a 3-piece Zentangle Pen Set or 12 pre-strung Zendala tiles, or 20 blank white Zentangle tiles!

Go to the “Workshops and Demos” tab to learn more.  If you did not receive my most recent newsletter and would like to be on the list, please email me.

Happy Tangling from the Land of OZ!

Jan4

A New Year Has Begun…

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Already into 2012!  Wow!  So what to offer you for this new year?  I thought I’d share with you some of my favorite blogs, although if you are hooked on Zentangle you may already be going crazy googling every Zentangle site you can find.  It boggles the mind!

First and foremost, of course, is Zentangle.com, Ze Beginning and End of Zentangle 🙂  It is the site that Maria Thomas and Rick Roberts, the Founders of Zentangle, offer.  Oh to be a Certified Zentangle Teacher…that is the quest. Young tanglers, old tanglers, in-betweed tanglers.  Get your Zentangles here!  Lots of fantastic information and inspiration to be had.

My next favorite is Linda Farmer’s (CZT) site (although I admit that favorite may not be the best of terms as all of them are my favorites!).  I was fortunate enough to have met her at the CZT 7 Certification Program that was held in Rhode Island last October.  Her site is TanglePatterns.com.  Elizabeth Barrett Browning said it best, “How do I love thee [Zentangle]? Let me count the ways.  I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my [Sakura micron] can reach…”   Well, you get the idea.  How many patterns are on TanglePatterns.com??  I’ve tried to count the ways, but, alas…more than the stars!  Although this is a free source, many of us who tangle know the amount of time and effort that goes into Linda’s site, so may I suggest you consider a small donation/subscription.  In fact, if you know of a tangler, gift her/him with a subscription.  Yes, I know it’s free and they can go to it any time, but what a neat thing to do.  Do up a little Zentangle in a card and let them know you have purchased a subscription in their name as your gift to them.

Another favorite (and, again, there are too many to mention, so forgive me all if you are not listed here) is Margaret Bremner’s site,  EnthusiasticArtist.blogspot.com.  I love her crisp lines!  As you scroll down the left side of her main page site, you’ll see that there are links to tangles, videos, and other tidbits of interest.

Unfortunately, I can’t list everyone here at the moment, but I hope you enjoy those few that I’ve shared.  I’ll share more as time goes on and if you know of a way for me to list all the blogs and sites I come across, let me know and I’ll do it.  I just don’t know the process if there is a way.  I’m always open to learning, so any knowledge you want to share is certainly welcome.

Until then, Happy Tangling from the Lollipop Guild in the Land of Oz!

Dec30

What WAS I thinking???

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Okay, so by now some of you have been looking at my “Workshops and Demos” and thinking…what WAS she thinking??  I was so excited because I’ve been working on a “Zen and Zin” workshop (Zentangle and Zinfandel – with a little Red wine thrown in for color) and I set it up for 10 AM in the morning!  You must all think I’m out of my mind.  Who in the world drinks wine at 10 AM??  Well, I sure don’t!!  Maybe a mimosa for Sunday brunch, but not wine!  I must admit, I really don’t know what happened there…too much on my mind, I guess.  Or else my mind is full of “tangles”!

Thus, I have revamped my Workshops tab and you can now see it for what it really is.  An “i HEART you” workshop.  Christmas is over, New Year’s is this weekend, and Valentine’s Day is just around the corner.  So in this workshop we’ll be making a beautiful Zentangle heart that you can frame, or make into a card, for that special someone in your life.  Stick around for the second workshop and we’ll be working on a special project.  You’ll have to attend to find out what it is.

So, there we have it.  Hope you will forgive my “tangled” state of mind as we continue down the Zentangle road together!  Happy Tangling from the Land of Oz!

Dec19

As the New Year Approaches…

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Another year is going to soon pass and we will be moving in 2012!  Life is an amazing journey that changes minute-by-minute, providing twisty turns that sometimes take you to places you never dreamed of!  If you had told me a year ago that I would be blogging (such as it is) and learning more about websites and the technology that is out there, I would have thought, oh boy, are they ever wrong!  I do enjoy learning but the technology piece is challenging.  I so admire my children and their friends…they have a special knack for it, as if it were placed into their DNA.  So, when I have challenges, I usually turn to my techie friends to help.  Although, it’s always better to teach someone to fish…so, I’m doing my best to learn from them and do the fishing myself.

In viewing and reading through other blogs, I realize how important it is to you (my readers), and to me (so I can learn more) to include neat things for you…so, my New Year’s resolution is to include content that is informative, creative, and FUN!  Without a little fun in our lives it would be too dull.  And Zentangle provides just that.  Creativity and fun.

With that in mind, here is a link to a neat “Tangle Catcher” pattern from Jane Monk Studio.  The Tangle Catcher was conceived by Jane while at Zentangle Training in Massachusetts USA … it s based on the same catcher that we used as school children,  but this time with Zentangle patterns on it.   http://janemonkstudio.com/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=20

From all of us in the Land of Oz…we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Nov14

The Journey Continues…

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I am amazed at all of the information you need to learn about to blog, put up websites, teach classes, prepare for classes, continue to learn your craft, network, etc, etc, etc.   The days are just flying by and it’s already almost the holidays, which in and of itself makes for busy days.  Fortunately, this year I am taking it easy.  No fuss shopping for me!  I am baking (some of which is already done) and tangling.  So, although the stores do get my money for supplies…I don’t have to run around looking for a parking spot at the mall and trying to decide what to get everyone.

This walk on the Yellow Brick Road is going to take me places I could never have imagined.  I am looking forward to seeing the results of my efforts and how those efforts will impact peoples’ lives.  I really enjoy, so very much, this art form and can’t wait to share…