Tiles from points east

My husband and I recently returned from a two-week trip to central Canada: Toronto (where relatives live) and Ottawa and Montreal (where we used to live). Of course I took lots of Zentangle supplies, and even taught a class of 19 in Ottawa. You can see some of their tiles here, and here are some I did while on vacation.

Tangles: Borb, Drupe, Fleurette, Flez, Florez, Tripoli

Tangles: Beadlines, Black Pearlz, Cadox, Camelia,
Knightsbridge, Sunflower, Verve, Wud, Zedbra
This one also has a bit of sparkle on the 'pendant'.

Tangles: Camelia, Cruffle, Paradox, Tripoli
and something I've been working on that I'll probably call Wildwood

Monday Camelia

I've been enjoying Anne Marks' new tangle Camelia. It's an elegant tangle that doesn't look like a square grid until you look closely. Here are three tiles where I've tried it.

Tangles: Camelia, Knightsbridge, Ninja Stars, Posh, Tripoli

I love the little floating balls in this next one! Hurray for shading!

Tangles: Black Pearlz, Camelia, Jalousie, Munchin elements,
N'zeppel, Pearlz, Zedbra

Not sure I like this zendala tile that much, but I like the Camelia, and I really like the echo of Camelia near the center pinwheel. I tried a different pencil for the shading and was not happy with it.

Tangles: Camelia, Cubine, Paradox

Tiles for Monday

Tangles: Black Pearlz, C-scape, Dex, Hollibaugh, Paradox,
Pearlz, Purslane, Vermal

Using two of my new tangles, Cadox and Dentri:

Tangles: Cadox, Dentri, Tripoli, Zewm

Tangles: Gneiss variation (split in the middle), Knase, Parabola, Paradox, Tripoli, Zewm

Monday monotangles

Mainly.

C-scape (with Beadlines and Purslane):

Tripoli (with a Black Pearl):

Using only official tangles

This Monday I'll share some tiles I did recently using only 'official' tangles: tangles developed and shared by Maria Thomas and Rick Roberts, the founders of Zentangle. The drawing instructions for the tangles in the tiles below are all public, so you can find them if you're interested. Check Tangle Patterns or the Zentangle website for past newsletters.

Tangles: Assunta, Aura, Flukes, Rain, Tortuca, Tripoli

Tangles: Betweed, Knightsbridge, Munchin, Paradox, Shattuck, Strircles, Tipple

Tangles: Bales, Drupe, Fife, Finery, W2, Yincut

Some tiles for Monday

Tangles: Black Pearlz, Flez, Flux, Jalousie, Phuds, and Knightsbridge Auras

Tangles: Betweed, Dansk, Miranda, Tipple, Tri-dots

Monday tiles - partial biggify

Sometimes the string creates sort of a band through the tile. I had the idea recently to 'biggify' tangles through that band, and do the same tangles small in the other sections. My first attempt was not very successful. The big Rosé in the middle is too weird-looking and Jonqal doesn't have enough difference between big and small.

Tangles: Jonqal, Knightsbridge, Rosé

Second attempt was more successful, but still not quite what I had in mind. The 'big' section is more of a triangle or a mountain, which is fine. I think Tipple doesn't work very well for this idea because there are necessarily large and small elements in the pattern.

Tangles: Flux, Knightsbridge, Munchin, Tipple, Tripoli

Woohoo! Success! Well, pretty much. Let the bells ring out and the banners fly!

Tangles: Knightsbridge, Paradox, Tripoli

Thought I should have another go at it. This time I did the larger versions of the tangle on the 'outside' and the small version in mid-section. One thing I like here is that the band I notice first is all Finery, not either the smaller or larger tangles.

Tangles: Finery, Shattuck, Spinners

Monday tiles - in color

I used the standard Zentangle tile for these, but because I used color they're really ZIAs (zentangle-inspired art), not zentangles. Doing zentangle-inspired art in a single color like these pieces is really quite easy. Simply choose a colored pen instead of black, and tangle away. The challenge may be to find a pencil that matches your ink color so you can do the shading!

Tangles: Black Pearlz, Posh, Tipple, Tortuca, Unyun, Wud and elements of Munchin

This brown one began as a possible 'house tile' but it went elsewhere. You can still see the roof lines.

Tangles: Emingle, Jalousie, Shattuck, Shing, Spinners,
Tagh, Tipple, Tortuca, Wud, elements of Tripoli

Green is nice. Unfortunately I couldn't find a pencil that was a good match to do the shading. And many of the ribbons didn't go over or under where they "should" have. But there are no mistakes, right?

Tangles: Assunta, Black Pearlz, Blake, Crossview (intended), Fife,
Rouche, Tipple, stripes with highlights

Monday oddities

These Zentangle tiles strike me as a bit unusual. The first is inspired by a quilt I saw a few months ago at a quilt show. The pattern, or maybe the quilt, was called Island Sunrise. I did a quick sketch of it on a Zentangle tile, then finished it at home later. I don't remember the colors of the quilt, but this black and white version makes me think of fireworks.

I had a different idea when I began this next one, then it went in its own direction. The large circle overlaps two string sections, and I'm not sure why I left it very white, with no shading.

Tangles: Black Pearlz, Boss, Crossview, Lacing, Zapateado,
a Knightsbridge Aura and some Rounding

Just my tangles

I've come up with quite a few tangle patterns and decided to do some tiles using only my own tangles. I've tried this before, and usually get to a point where some other tangle is appropriate, and it's always best to go with inspiration. However, these times my plan worked!

Tangles: Bevia, Chebucto, Dansk, Ninja Stars, Prestwood, Yuan

Tangles: Dancet, Diamond Panes, Dutch Hourglass,
Gingham, Tridots, Yale, Yoga

The next two tiles began with a blind border and string, thus the off-center rectangle. They fit nicely in a series I seem to have on the go: Tiles on a Tile.

Tangles: Boss, Croon, Dust Bunny, Ionic, Lotus Pods, Screen,
Seljuk, Yabbut and a solitary Ninja Star

Tangles: Cockles'n'Mussels, D'Uni, Lilypads, Magma,
Moving Day, Parch, Shades, Zedbra

This is not quite all my tangles. To see drawing instructions for any of these press the "My tangles" bar just under the blog's name. The page is under construction and is still messy. Working on that. Press the name of the tangle, not the image. I haven't yet posted drawing instructions for Yoga.

Monday tiles

Here's another tile where I began blind: no dots, but blind border and blind string. A few things went "wrong" but I kept going anyway and I quite like the result. What went haywire? Well, Not-a-Knot is truly not a knot and the black triangles of Daggerly started on the wrong side and it needed adjusting. But I like how Providence is divided in half along the string line, and the little 'tails' of beady things that go out to the edges. The two extra "page corners" at the lower right were added towards the end for balance.

Tangles: Assunta, Beadlines, Black Pearlz, Caviar, sort of Daggerly,
Knase, Lotus Pods, not quite Not-a-Knot, Providence

I experimented with Sarah D's variation of Paradox that results in a tunnel effect. It reminds me of the cornucopia that my mother used to put on the table at Thanksgiving, minus the fruit and vegetables.

Tangles: Munchin, Paradox, Pearlz of sorts

Monday's tile: development

Today I'll show you a bit about how one tile developed. Unfortunately I didn't think to do scans earlier in the process, so we'll have to depend on words.

This one began with the 'asterisk string' from the DivaCZT's weekly challenge #64. However, instead of drawing straight pencil lines, I wobbled them across the paper. Of course, they didn't cross neatly in the middle and gave me some extra little sections. There are only three tangles used: Fohbraid, Munchin, and Paradox.

I had the tangles all drawn, but it seemed too bland across the bottom, so I "striped" a few of the small Paradoxes. I chose those three because they seem to be coming out the other side of where the Fohbraid triangles start going through. Below is the tile with all the ink tangles, but no shading yet.

Here is the tile with the shading added. What a difference! But there was something I didn't quite like about the triangles in Fohbraid. I decided perhaps it was too many lines (Auras) so...

... I filled them so that there was only one white band at the edge of each triangle. It still seemed a bit fussy at the bottom so I filled in one Paradox section entirely black. I think it balances the black triangles at the top.  Now I think it's finished.

Monday tiles - Beginning blind

We've been challenged with the idea of blind strings, which are quite fun, and shake things up if you're getting in a bit of a rut. I decided to try doing a blind border first, followed by a blind string. I didn't bother with the initial dots because I wasn't going to be able to see them anyway!

I placed my pencil at a reasonable point in the corner of a tile, closed my eyes, and started drawing. I often find, when I do things blind, that it's very tight, even when I know that and try to make bigger movements. One thing I like about starting out blind is that it usually ends up off-center which gives me an interesting challenge. I get something like this...

Tangles: Coaster, Knightsbridge, Parabola, Paradox, Providence (almost),
Shattuck and no shading yet.

...which is rather interesting, but I wanted it more centered. The solution: add something in the blank areas.

Tangles: as above with added Seljuk, and shading too.

Here's another one that was almost falling off the (top) edge and needed some centering.

Tangles: Ambler, Assunta, Baton, Black Pearlz, Fohbraid, Paradox

Aaaaand... one more for good measure. Mambo is from Helen Breil who designs clay stamps. You can see her design here. I find the 'filling in' a little easier if the hollow 'S's touch each other.

Tangles: Crossview, Lacing, Mambo, Tipple. Plus
stripes with highlights and more.

Keeping track of tangles

(Now I have the song "Takin' care of BIIIZZness..." going through my head.)

If you're really into Zentangle you'll have started a collection of tangles. There's no way I can remember all the patterns I've seen and liked and want to use sometime. I lost track months ago. There are so many! I have a few things that keep me (relatively) organized so today I thought I'd tell you what I do, and at the end, what some others do.


IN THE BEGINNING, when I had encountered Zentangle but hadn't taken a class from someone trained in it, I started keeping patterns in a small  notebook (6" square, spiral bound, bright pink foam cover!). I labeled the top corners to try to categorize them. I still refer to it occasionally but it's no longer adequate, and also contains errors, so it doesn't really count.

An aside: Mambo is a lovely pattern I discovered a couple of years ago. It slightly resembles the new tangle Fengle from Zentangle - although not as versatile - and the tangle Jash (inspired by Justine Ashbee's work). Mambo is from Helen Breil on a website called shadesofclay.com and it's a pattern to stamp into damp clay.
You'll see me using Mambo in one of next Monday's tiles.

Here's what I do now:

FIRST, MY OFFICIAL 'ILLUSTRATED INSTRUCTIONAL'

This is the sheets of tangles and step-by-steps provided by Rick and Maria at the CZT training I attended. Back in May 2010 there were 102 official tangles. Now I think it's up to 116.

SECOND, A LIST OF TANGLES

After I became a CZT I started keeping a list of tangles I particularly liked. If I read the name, I visualized the pattern. I soon realized that sometimes I wanted a Dark, or Light, or Medium tangle, so I divided my list into those categories. Then I noticed that some were not dark or light, but Bold, like Hollibaugh and Jonqal. I noticed that some tangles were an all-over Gray, like Emingle and Amaze. Many work for Lines, Edges and Borders like Ennies and Xyp. Many begin with a Square Grid, some are based on Triangles, some have a very organic Flora look. I now have 13 categories, having just added Good for Children. It runs to three pages! Of course, some patterns fit into more than one category and may be listed a few times.

Maybe I should have said "lists" of tangles. I have the three pages by my desk for reference. I also have it at the back of my visual reference binder (see 'Third, Pictures' next). I also have a lovely little travel case of Zentangle supplies and printed this list in a much smaller font size, one sheet, two sides, to keep in that kit. Finally (yes, there's more!) I keep a list on my computer that's strictly alphabetical, but it's in columns and includes all my categories. I'm a bit OCD and very good at organizing things!

THIRD, PICTURES

I had collected around a hundred tangles and was starting to lose track. I could no longer call to mind what something looked like just by reading the name. I realized that - OF COURSE! duh - I needed a visual reference.  I decided that a binder with ATC-sized plastic sheets would work. I put one tangle on each ATC card. Sometimes I use Zentangle's ATC cards (that lovely Tiepolo paper) but it's also a great way to use little leftover pieces of drawing paper.

I thought I would just keep all the B's together and all the K's together, etc. but they're so easy to move around they are actually alphabetical. I add a little red star in the right corner if it's an official Zentangle tangle, and a blue star on my own tangles. Occasionally I put variations or notes on the backs of the cards. The yellow sticky-note keeps track of how many tangles I have - just out of curiosity. It's currently 318.

 

FOURTH, INSTRUCTIONS FOR YOUR WONDERFUL TANGLES

I also keep a binder with print-outs from the Internet when others post instructions for their tangles. I don't keep everything I encounter; there's just too much and not everything appeals to me. I keep tangles I especially like and tangles that may be of interest to students.

I take this binder to advanced classes so people can look through and perhaps find a pattern they'd like to try on their mandala or illuminated letter. The print-outs are in plastic protective sleeves, back to back, and I keep all the same letters together.

(NB - I really appreciate it, when you post a tangle, if your name and the tangle's name are included on the image! And don't use colored background; it uses a lot of ink!)

SOME OTHER IDEAS

People have devised various methods for keeping tangle patterns organized and accessible. As new ideas come to light I'll add to the list here.

While writing this post, my hand went haywire, I dropped the mouse, and the post got published briefly, incomplete. A few people saw it during those few minutes. One of them was Terrie Purkey who wrote me:

"I've tried several ways to manage the wealth of tangles I have accumulated and most recently have settled on this. I've made a 4x6" card with each tangle, it's name and who created it (using the template from TanglePatterns.com). Then I've hole punched it and keep them on a series of keyrings ... I needed more categories than just alphabetical, but rather than searching light and dark I tend to search grid or organic so those are my main categories but also I've separated out borders and floral. The rings are portable and easy to flip through when looking for something new to try. I also keep a master list on the computer that's strictly alphabetical but with light/dark & organic/grid categories (love Excel!).

CZT Diane Ryan has made a little sample of each tangle on a metal-ringed tag and strings them on an reference bracelet. Check out the first video on the Zentangle blog here. You'll also see some new tangles demonstrated. (Ooooo!)

Another CZT, Sue Jacobs, uses colored post-it notes in a sketchbook. She shared this idea in the summer of 2012 in her blog post Organizing my tangle patterns.

I don't like graph paper for zentangle, but it does make for neat squares! CZT Linda Farmer of tanglepatterns.com fame uses two sizes of Moleskine notebooks with graph paper. You can read about how how she organizes things here.

Another CZT, Suzanne Wilka, who does the Tinkered Art blog, uses 2" square paper on metal rings. You can read her recently updated blog post about organizing tangles here. She also mentioned that "...while I liked the idea of categories for tangles I found that
the more I tried to label them the more it felt like I was creating artificial limits to using them."

Susan Breen Silvy, another CZT, uses 8.5"x11" paper oriented horizontally. On the left are six blocks for the design progression of the tangle and a 3.5" block at the bottom to show the finished tangle. On eht right are six larger blocks to record tangelations. When folded in half the page fits into a small sheet protector and then into a small three-ring binder. The steps for doing the tangle are on the front, variations of that tangle are on the back. The small size makes it easy to take the binder along.

CZT Geneviève Crabe has a Tangle Organizer book available for purchase. There are four different lay-outs and you can choose your favourite according to your needs. You can see them here.

 MaryAnn Scheblein-Dawson, one of the very first CZTs, wrote in April 2012: "A Rolodex is also a good way of organizing your Tangles, although it does not help with the "portability" issue, since it's still in a box. But they are pre-punched. They come in 2 sizes so you could use whichever fits your needs best. And you can purchase clear protective covers for each card so they don't get "icky". You can take them out of the Rolodex and put them back in easily. Perhaps the larger format is better for the step outs."

A CZT from the 8th seminar, Sandy Hunter, has tried out many organizational methods and finally came up with something that works for her using plastic coin collector pages. Read about it here.

Monday tiles - Providence

One of the freshly-minted CZTs, Rho Densmore, came up with this lovely tangle. She's called it Providence in part for the city where the CZT training seminar was held. Do read the story and find out what inspired it in her blog post with the drawing instructions. I love the look of the corners curled up and over. I've been trying it, and think it will appear as a lovely mandala center soon!

Tangles: Fleurette, Munchin, Paradox, Posh, Providence
plus stripes and three Black Pearlz.

Tangles: Black Pearlz, Providence

Monday tiles - Fleurette

I've been enjoying CZT Geneviève Crabe's tangle Fleurette lately. It's lovely how it fits into a variety of shapes. I rather like it with a tiny dot in the center. On this tile, I added the Fleurette on the far right at the end; it just seemed to need something more there.

Tangles: Crescent Moon, Fleurette, Hibred, Knase,
Perfs, Prestwood, Tipple, Zedbra

This next piece was done on a scrap of buff mat board. I used both brown and sepia inks, and colored pencils for the shading. It's about five inches square, so not really a tile.

Tangles: Bouclé, Fleurette, Flez, Flux, Parabola, Pearlz,
Phuds, Posh, Shattuck, Tidings, Tripoli

Monday tiles - more Hi-C's & Plaited

Last week I tried two new tangles. I've been doing more with Hi-C's and Plaited  - so this Monday's tiles feature those.

In this first tile I did Hi-C's and tried different things with it. In the first tile I did it in a square (as in the drawing instructions) in the upper left and a triangle in the lower right; also in two other triangles below the square. I discovered that it works nicely in a triangle shape too!

Tangles: Black Pearlz, Hi-C's, Knase (sort of), Paradox, Zedbra

The next was done with a 2-pencil string. You can see more about that method here (and more if you check the Labels list on the left of the blog). Here I left the ribbon areas blank and filled the background. I filled all the areas of Hi-C's with thin black spikes.

Tangles: Baton, Hi-C's, Tipple, Undine.
This began with a 2-pencil string.

Finally, Plaited. It took a few tries but I think I've got the hang of it! That in spite of the booboo in the lower right. Shading is also great for partially hiding things.  :-)

Tangles: Crescent Moon, Fleurette, Plaited, Tipple.
This began with a blind string.