Diva Challenge #206: Tools/Trade

This week's Diva Challenge was to use some new tool or method to create our Zentangle. I chose to color a Zendala with a set of 12 Koi watercolor brush pens which I acquired some time ago. My go to color method is usually Prismacolor pencil. The markers color palette was more limited and the colors brighter. However, I was pleased with the effect which the brush pens produced and like the bright springy feel of the piece. I think I'll be playing with them more in the future.

Diva Challenge #202: Duo Tangle - Chebucto vs Copada

This weeks' Diva Challenge was to use two tangles in one tile. They are Chebucto and Copada and both are patterns created by CZT Margaret Bremner. Both tangles were a bit challenging on their own though by far I consider Chebucto the hardest of the two. The step outs for both tangle can be found by clicking on the name of each tangle. Here are two Zentangles in answer to this challenge.

Zentangle Challenge - White Space

The Diva's weekly challenge was to create a Zentangle and not fill in every little space. I must admit that can be a challenge when you are tangling. I often have to consciously make myself leave negative space, but I I seem to like the tangles I create with white space much more. Though you can fill in every space of the tile with pattern and still have white space by carefully choosing which patterns you use. Some of them leave a lot of white within their design and this serves the same purpose compositionally.
At any rate here is my tangle of this challenge:

Spring Fever

 

 

Seeing as how we just had around 15 inches of snow or so dumped on us in the last two days you may think I am out of my mind. However, we have had so much new spring merchandise coming into the shop in the last two weeks that I really am having spring fever. There reaches a point in February where I am ready for spring colors to brighten up my mood and my surroundings. Sheila and I have both been getting in new spring stock and the whole store looks full, fresh, and festive.  We have new fashions, handbags, scarves, belts, jewelry and prom purses. Remember, the coffee pot is always on, so stop by for a visit when you can. Until then here is a small preview.

Brrrr.......

January may have come in warm and snowy but it is going out cold and blowy! Subzero temperatures have finally come home this week. A great time to stay inside and make those February valentines. Reflecting back to when my boys were young I thought of how we would always make Valentine's to give others. Usually flat, about the size of baseball card, we would paint and color them one Saturday afternoon. After they had signed each one (a laborious process), we would staple a bag of candy or a lollipop onto each card. For some reason over the years an extra treat had become a part of the giveaway. When I was growing up we were happy to get the little cartoon based cards from all of our class- mates. Nowadays specially packaged candy is the Valentine!  Some marketing genious, I suppose. But I must admit I am still a sucker for the homemade with love variety.

And so... I have been playing around with Tim Holz's alcohol inks again for a valentine swap on artfortytwo.org. Alchol inks are solvent inks which adhere to any non-porous surface.  They can be used to color metal, dominos, glossy card stock, glass, etc. I am always discovering a new use for them. They are just so versatile and colorful, as well as quick and easy. Inspired by an article in the December issue of Cloth, Paper, Scissors I thought these little ATC's would look perfect mounted upon a card. They can be removed and hung up on their own as an ornament or picture frame. I love the look of the alcohol inks on the metallic foil tape on the sides of the card.

So with Make and Take coming up on January 24th at Swift Weaver's I decided a Valentine's project was just what the weather ordered. At left is a card designed by Swift Weavers' intern Diedre Ranney. We hope to see how you can inspire us with your own designs and ideas. We'll be here Monday night from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m or email us your own valentine creations at dianetrew@yahoo.com.