My 15 minutes of Fame

I cannot believe I have missed the past 4 challenges. I have drawn the tiles but somehow never managed to list them. This is my submission for weekly challenge 17 sponsored by Laura Harm AKA Diva.

 I hope to get on a  more organized schedule and get things done on time, but it is spring and flowers are blooming and seedlings are waiting patiently for their new pots and I just want to be "gettin dirty" playing in the garden.

Blooming this week are my irises and a few clematis. Lots of azaleas a few camellias are still strutting their stuff and the coreopsis, ajuga and pink oxalis are really putting on a show.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Tuesday's Tangle

I can honestly say I don't know which part of this weekly challenge was more difficult for me. Actually drawing the zentangle/zendoodle entirely with my non-dominant  left hand  (only created to hold my wedding band and keep me from looking funny) or posting the result here for all to see. Hmmm, that is a tough one. I chatted with my favorite artist, and she even agreed. It would be really hard to do mostly because of being a perfectionist. That part was really hard to over come. I had no idea it was so deeply ingrained in my psyche. I told my son about this challenge and he took great pleasure in explaining that if is wasn't difficult, it wouldn't be a challenge.
So I am going to rise to the challenge. I have drawn  and colored entirely with my left hand and the only thing left to do is to close my eyes and post it before my brain figures out what I am doing and brings my right  hand to a screeching halt.
Challenge # 13" Non-dominatrix"

For a real treat if you have some time, check out Laura Harm's blog and see what so many very talented artists have created this week using only their "non-dominant " hands. She puts together a weekly slide show of everyone's entries too. 

So, if I am drawing with my left hand, does that mean I am in my "right mind"?

Something in Blue

I haven't posted in the past 4 challenges from Laura but I missed doing them so much I knew I had to get in on this one. My computer crashed earlier this week and took with it all of my pictures and such and although I have been able to re-format the hard drive, now I am restoring it from my online back up system. It may take a while longer to get back to normal but in the meantime, I will try to keep all of the promises I have made ( ie. SamanthaG, seed starting, J & JB camellia propagation etc.) and the blue earrings along with the sterling and copper rose bracelet I have been promising to show you.
This week's challenge  is to create something in blue. I sat down and closed my eyes to draw my string and when I opened them I saw this.... or at least the beginnings of this.....

The blue colors don't show up as much in this scan as they do in the actual card. Laura's Mom is having a birthday this week and since her favorite color is blue, I think I will call it the blue chicken (bird) of happiness. Happy Birthday Laura's Mom. 

Who can quit with just 1 tangle though? I had to keep making them here are a couple of others I did last night. 

It felt really good to be creative again. It seemed like months since I have made or drawn anything. As you can tell I seem to have garden paths and flowers on my mind. It must be time to start the seeds!

Thank you to all of my followers and for all the comments! You are the best.

Hearts for Artoo

Laura's son Artoo has been very sick, so this week's  zentangle challenge was to combine 2 of the challenges we have already done in to hearts for her little one. These hearts are filled with love and prayers for little Artoo's healing and peace and rest for the family as well.

I always post more than 1, but these hearts are dedicated to Artoo and my newest little great nephew Christian, just 1 month old and recently hospitalized for an infection.  The prayer of my heart is that both these little boys will heal quickly and grow strong and healthy real soon.

I just love a good challenge!

I just love challenges. I for some unknown reason like to test myself just to see if i can do something. You know, Sudoku  puzzles, crosswords, word tangles, "can you see this" images, anything that makes my little brain stretch a little. Lately I even seem to enjoy those silly little quizzes that psychologists use to determine your personality and etc...... Is anyone else like that, or am I just weird?

Anyway, I have been doing Laura's challenge each week and today as I was uploading some zentangles to my flikr photostream I found another challenge I have yet to check out.
This week's challenge at I am the diva CZT was breathe, relax and smile. Not easy to do while trying to doodle. True to form though I could not stop with 1 doodle. So here are the best 2 from this week.

Now I am off to check out the new challenge at Life imitates doodles  If you haven't checked into zentangling, you're missing out.

Tuesday's Tangle

This week's challenge from Laura was a new tangle pattern called ixorus. I had such fun drawing it, I couldn't stop. I ended up making about 6 tiles and then forcing my family to choose the best of the bunch. Zentangling has become my newest obsession. I don't get tired of doing it and every little tile is so different. These are  their choices for my best tiles.

My favorite artist and I have decided to do a collaboration. She will do the painting and I will add doodles. I can't wait to get started. I have been her biggest fan for many years so the chance to work with her on a project is so cool. I get so excited when I think about it, I am doing the happy dance! When we get it done, I will be sure to post it. Till then have a great time tangling.

Tuesday's Tangle

Last week I began following Laura's zentangle challenges. I just love drawing these little pieces. They start with no design in mind and each little line just adds into your pattern. I guess I love the spontaneity of drawing something and not knowing what it is going to be.
I read a blog last week that talked about silencing the inner critic. It was a wonderful post and it made me really think about my drawings and when will I be satisfied with them. I wish I could find the post again so that I could link to it for you.
There are so many people doing such gorgeous zendoodles and zentangles that I could spend hours looking at them all. Each one is so different. My biggest problem is I can't stop drawing them. I have become addicted. ( ok, there are worse things I could do. Right?)
This week's challenge was orbs. I had a lot of fun drawing the orbs and no fun at all trying to decide which to post.
Here are  my entries for the Weekly challenge # 5. Orbs

If you haven't tried zentangling yet, Check out this website. I think you will love it.

Been doodling when I should be working!

I can't stand the cold weather and this past week's cold storm and actual snow at the beach has made me lazier than ever. I don't want to work, or cook or do anything I normally do, but boredom and I are not a good combination.
I have recently found zentangling and zendoodling and have become crazy about it. I never thought I could draw anything, but these little pieces don't have to look realistic and you just incorporate any "mistake" you make into the design, so it is right up my alley.


Laura, over at "I am the Diva" posted a weekly challenge, so last night even though I was a couple of days late, I got my pens and paper ready and attempted the challenge. I haven't ever responded to a doodle challenge, so you can't, laugh. PROMISE ? Ok, here they are, I made 2.....

If you haven't tried zentangline check this site out. you will love it. This is also a great place to find patterns.

Enjoy, Hope you don't get hooked on doodling like I did.

How Do you Doodle?

Lately I have been looking for and reading about ways to spark my creativity. I stumbled on Zendoodling this past week and I have had such fun. I read about drawing with my nondominant hand, which was kind of a joke because well let's face it, that hand really only holds my wedding band and keeps me from being lopsided. I decided though that I would try it. Just to see what came out.
So I closed my eyes, and using my nondominant hand I drew with a pencil until I counted to about 15 or 20. Then I opened my eyes and began filling it in with my other hand and I was amazed to see the patterns that were developing.


I guess the amazing part is that I have never really drawn or sketched and before I started seeing these patterns developing, I couldn't make a stick figure look "normal". The best part is that I am seeing lines and colors in a different way and now I can see new designs for some jewelry pieces.

Next time you feel as if you need to jumpstart your creativity, check into doodling. It is almost like meditating and you don't really have to focus or concentrate on the doodle, you can concentrate on other things and then just be surprised at what you drew ( almost subconsiously) while your mind was elsewhere.
I think you will enjoy it too. You can doodle anytime and anywhere, all you need is a pencil or pen and blank paper. Try it and let me know how it works for you.