Diva Challenge #193

This week's challenge was just perfect!  THX to all who have served using:

Trio (pattern by CZT, Hanny Waldburger)
Huggins (by Zentangle)
Xyp (by Zentangle)


When I first tried these three in my sketchbook, I was beyond frustrated, especially with Huggins.  I could NOT make it look weavy.  It looked all slapped together and sloppy.  Then, funny enough, I let go of the instructions, which is very not like me, and figured it out.  Another busy tile, but I'm okay with it.  This one, at least, does reflect the mood.  If I did the Trio pattern again, I would try for a little less heart-ness and a little more something-else-ness.

Diva Challenge #191

Oopsie.  Pretty sure I violated the monotangle thing...but I saw these bubbly things and I thought I would just use a few and then, well, this is what happened.

Sorry, rule-followers.  I'll do better next time.

Diva Challenge #186

Okay, so you know when you start working on a project and halfway through you step back and say, "Um, who did this?"  In contrast to the clean, restrained pictures I've made for the last few weeks, this one went all wacky on me.

First, I had an hour to start the challenge, and I didn't have a circular tile.  That's right, I'm now the girl who was asked to bring brownies but shows up with chips and salsa.  Then, I didn't like my leaves, and I vowed to use only three tangles but I couldn't get enough contrast and then I had to continue the tile in the early morning hours before work and so my tile is all, "I was drawn by a crazy person."

There you have it.  What I could use (if you feel like commenting) is some constructive criticism on how to make the busy tiles look right.  You know, some of my most favorite tiles done by NOT ME are full of different designs and ups and downs and movement and, well, wackiness.  But they look RIGHT.  So give me comments like, "Don't put those two designs next to each other because blabla..." and things like that.  And if you don't want to deal with it, I don't blame you.  I wouldn't either.

Weekly Diva Challenge # 185

My new favorite tangle is Phicops.   It's ALIVE!  I love it love it love it.  My Diva Dance needs a little work, but I'm getting the hang of it.

Comments from the family included, "A butterfly?"  "Cuts of meat," and "It's not my favorite."  But I thoroughly enjoyed creating it and I didn't rip it up.  :)  Thanks for the challenge and thanks for the inspiration.

The Weekly Diva Challenge - #181 - Water

This week's challenge was "Water."  I can see why so many people decided to use color!  It's hard to feel water without the blue.  Time to buy some good colored pencils. Thanks for the inspiration.  It's been a tough week, and this process does help me relax...

My first water tile.  A 2" square and my first time adding any color.  As you can tell, I'm taking it slow.  This one is for a friend, initials KC...Kelp and Cockles and Mussels.  

My second water tile.  I think I'll take a cue from others and photocopy it to color.  It wants blues and greens, but I was afraid to mess it up!  :)

We are funny.

I love it when my kids surprise me with their humor...last night I got a big belly laugh courtesy of E.

We watch a ton of "reality" shows on Netflix.  We've made our way through Mythbusters, Call of the Wildman, Man vs. Wild, and Finding Bigfoot.  Now we're working on The Jeff Corwin Experience, and the kids are still getting used to his funky little asides, some of which is way above their heads.  Last night's episode took place in Brazil, and Jeff was watching some giant otters.  He was making these squeaky noises and the otters were answering, and he was very excited.

E:  How does he know what he's saying?
Me:  I don't know.
E:  Maybe he's saying something really stupid.
Me: What?
E: Like, maybe he's saying, "Put the broccoli on the roof."  And the otters are saying, "That's so stupid!  Why would you say that?"

:)  Love.

Diva Challenge #180

Loving the online challenges...I must miss being in school or something.  Assignments with deadlines are fun, especially when they don't involve grading scales and red mark-ups.

This was another one that I plowed through even though I didn't like it at first.  It turned out very heavy, but not terrible.  I wonder if I should plan for a heavy or a light touch, or just let it happen.  Maybe it's mood related!  :)

Zentangle Diva Challenge #178

This is my first try at a Zentangle online challenge.  I tried the method at a workshop in May and I was hooked...so so fun and I can't believe nobody told me about it sooner.  :) 

This is what I came up with to represent my initials, Mambo and Eddy.  At first I thought the two very curvy patterns would just be too much, but I stuck with it...cause it's way too easy for me to rip up a project into tiny pieces and make it disappear.