5 Golden Rings! I love that Tipple was the tangle added for the 5th day – I used a lot more than 5, but spotted this 70’s era gold sharpie nearby which added a nice accent!

Usually Tipple is my last tangle, it fills in all the nooks and crannies, but today I used a pre-strung 3Z, and the string made a perfect starting point with tipple. I can’t wait to order some 3Z tiles now, this sample was a fun shape to work with.

Here is how the tile started out:

And the very best part of this whole tile? I paid more attention to the focused part of tangling, and lots of deep breathing to melt into a relaxed state, and I was very happy with my time spent!

If you are interested in seeing more about the 3Z’s of Christmas challenge – check out the Zentangle Blog. You can see my other tiles so far on the SoundTangle facebook page.

Happy Tangling!

I am excited to introduce a new class series! Brown Bag Tangling is a series of classes offered for busy teams and groups who want to jump start creativity, but can’t find the time to take a class.

The Brown Bag Tangling series is a group of four one hour tangling sessions scheduled once per week, twice a month or once a month based on your schedule.  You reserve your conference room, grab some friends, bring your lunch and I will come to you.  This series is ideal for a group of 3 up to 6 people.

Starting with an introduction to Zentangle we will focus on the benefits of using this method for relaxation, focus and mindfulness, and each session will build upon the lessons before.

Have you already completed a series of Zentangle classes? Brown Bag tangling can keep your practice fresh and offer you regular practice. Check with me about how we can customize the sessions for your team.

This year I am thankful for the peace and reflection I find in quiet moments. I am hopeful that the challenge of approaching the world with a lens of love will be worth the work that it takes, and I am encouraged by the acts of kindness I choose to see each day, no matter how small.

In this season of Thanksgiving, I hope each of you finds joy in your heart, a few moments to call your own, and the perspective to see what unites each us over what divides us.

In a quiet moment, pick up a pen – tangle, sketch, draw, color, write in your journal or write a letter.  The pen has power to heal your heart, your mind and your bonds.

Happy Thanksgiving

Like many on the west coast, a few weeks ago the entire region braced for a big storm. Emergency supplies were purchased, candles and flashlights put in easy to find places, games and events were cancelled all over the region and everyone hunkered down at home to wait for the wind.

It was hurry up and wait at its best, and after we took care of getting ready – I used the opportunity and luxury of this found time to start working on an Opus Tile.  9 times larger than the standard 3.5″ Zentangle tile, Opus is a commitment. It was a great excuse to spend the afternoon indulging in some relaxation, focus and to keep my mind off waiting.

In the end – the wind didn’t blow much around us, the lights flickered only once – and though I made great progress on my Opus tile, it will forever be left unfinished like the storm.

The next day in reflecting on the unfinished work – I felt like it actually was left in its proper place. With a string that resembles the eye of the storm, the white space feels like it needs to be there so that the tangles can breathe.

Opus Tile with Diva Dance, Ennies, Onamato, Knase, Florz

It is that time of year that the summer busyness is over, there is a little more routine and time to get back to work!  I love diving into the projects that I have made a list of over the warmer months.

One of my favorite pastimes is hunting for treasures in thrift shops, and estate sales. You never know where inspiration will come from.  Lately I have found myself drawn to the purse and tote sections looking for the perfect totes for my treasures. I came across several that I fell in love with – that are a fun new way to carry my supplies.  As luck would have it – I kept coming across more that I also thought would be wonderful Zentangle carriers – so I put together the treasures in combination with some Zentangle supplies.

One of my favorites is this darling little clutch, which reminds me so much of one of my favorite tangles.

Repurposed clutch is the perfect container for a portable Zentangle kit.

Diva Dance Rock ‘N Roll

Check out some of my other treasured finds on my Etsy Store:

Charming Blueberries

In a little bit of nostalgia,  I thought I would post a photo of my trusty supply tote, I think about the transition it has taken in it’s useful life, each time I pack it up for a class.

Today it carries my class supplies – a tote full of creativity waiting to happen.  Long ago it was actually used for grocery delivery from HomeGrocer.com – one of the fabulous tragedies of the fast paced, work 24/7 Dot-Com era.   HomeGrocer was an important part of my past career and those long hours and lack of balance are an influence of why I love to share the Zentangle Method with so many people to help them find their creative spirit, focus, and a way to quiet the busyness of their minds. .

After a recent session on creating Mandalas with Zentangle (known as Zendalas) I thought it would be fun to explore how the design changes with color.

Taking photo copies of my original design – I selected two contrasting color pallets to enhance the piece. A song on the radio put me in an 80’s mood, so I couldn’t help but using all the shades of high school hi-liters for one of them, and more calming colors on the other.

It is interesting how the work changes so much with the addition of color.  I find something I like about each of them.

I definitely recommend trying this technique, it isn’t complicated, takes just a few moments and it frees you up to try a lot of different options.

This past month has been exciting at SoundTangle.

Not only have the offices relocated from the basement to a real studio space (with windows and everything!) but our “warehouse”  has been bustling with activity as the inventory doubles.  We are growing from a single shelf to half a closet!  It is a small step but so exciting to have materials in such regular use that organization and efficiency have become a priority.  There are too many pens, tiles and kits coming and going to simply keep in a box.

All these supplies are not languishing on the shelf – but are spreading around the area to our 100+ students.  We had a mini celebration in the class where the milestone was reached, I quickly passed it and I expect to reach 200 before the end of second quarter!

It has been amazing to send so many people down the path of creativity!

I’ve recently been asked what I do when I tangle – as if there must be something more than just the act of putting pen to paper and focusing on the marks the ink makes as it flows to form shapes and patterns.

What time of day is it, what am I drinking, or am I having a meal?  Am I tangling in the morning when the day is fresh and the sun is not up. Am I am having a cup of coffee to awaken my senses, or in the afternoon do I have a cup of tea when the promise of a relaxed evening awaits and the sun is bright in the sky.  Perhaps I tangle during lunch when I have a mid-day break from work, chores, errands or meetings. Or do I find time in the after dinner hours when a glass of wine is at hand and the day is winding down.

I tangle all these times, but find I prefer a clean space, clear of distraction, without refreshment.  The practice of Zentangle deserves its own time – or rather my mind deserves the focused time to tangle. I long ago gave up trying to “multitask” when practicing Zentangle.  My scratch paper for lists stays empty, my coffee gets cold, my tea becomes tepid, my lunch turns warm on its plate. If I am lucky and in the zone I might not even hear the children fighting as only siblings can do.

After learning the Zentangle method – and how much more there is to it than just drawing, it is worth it to have a little nibble and then spend the rest of my lunch time feeding my inner self.  I now enjoy that cup of tea after I tangle – when I can reflect on my artwork and have a clear head to make the lists and plans for the rest of the day.  Practicing Zentangle can even replace that glass of wine to provide a relaxing end to the day.

Whenever you find the time to tangle – give it, and yourself, permission to focus. You will be glad you did.

I read a while back that when you sleep it is like a little army of cleaners goes through your brain sweeping up all the garbage and waste you create with your thoughts during the day. That especially on a particularly hard thinking day a power nap can really refresh you and help you continue your good work into the evening. That a solid night sleep is so beneficial to making you feel well and be productive with your thoughts because your brain now has a clear ‘workspace’.

When I practice Zentangle -or any kind of focused activity – I think of it as a tidying up of my mind. The power cleaners come out when I sleep, and when I am awake – I give myself an opportunity to clear my head and spend some time really focusing.  By spending five, ten or 120 minutes on a focused activity it creates a tidier path for the rest of my thoughts to work uncluttered for the next few hours.

Whether you find that focus in knitting, or running, or gardening, practicing Yoga – or with Zentangle, feel good about giving your mind a clean space to work with and do it often!

 wound up