Exciting news - my new sketchbooks are coming!

I've been working on some quilted linen sketchbook kits especially for Zentangle artists, and after some trial and error the first one is now completed!  Here's a sneaky preview of the sort of thing I'll soon be offering for sale on etsy.com.

The book itself is a quality Winsor & Newton watercolour-grade sketchbook containing 50 sturdy double sided pages.  I've made a removable cover from Japanese linen, lined with 100% cotton Osnaburg fabric.  On the front I've mounted a quilted panel of natural linen onto which I've sewn my own zentangle design using free-motion machine embroidery.  The back of the book has a pocket which holds the Zentangle kit, comprising of an HB pencil with eraser, two Sakura Micron pens in sizes 01 and 02, a mini set of watercolour paints and an artist's quality size 2 paintbrush - everything a Zentangle artist-on-the-go could want. 

I'd love to hear any comments you might have, or suggestions as to how I could improve this kit!

Front of sketchbook

Back of sketchbook

Contents of kit

 Thanks for looking!

I am the Diva challenge #80 - Mi2! Mi2!

This week Laura at I am the Diva set us the challenge of creating a tile or ZIA using the tangle Mi2.

I was really pleased about this as I love Mi2, although I've only drawn it once, and then only to practice it, not draw it "properly"!  Thank you Laura for this great challenge!

I decided to concentrate on the negative spaces, which I thought looked not only like seeds, but leaves - so that's what they became, and I decided to make the whole ZIA a big leaf.  And then I realised that I have an almost obsessive need to "tie up the loose ends"......so I took that literally and did exactly that around the edges, with my own little knot tangle, as yet un-named and un-published*.

* Update:  I've just noticed that there is already an official tangle called Pendrils, which is very similar to this one, so I cannot call it my own after all.  Never mind - I'm sure I'll come up with something original one day!

I just had to use my beloved watercolours of course, and polka dots, which I adore.  I hope you like my ode to a leaf.

I am the Diva Challenge #78 - Auraknot

This week, the lovely Laura at I am the Diva gave us the challenge of producing a zentangle-inspired tile or ZIA using the new official tangle Auraknot.  I have to admit I was petrified at the thought of this challenge!  I've tried drawing this tangle several times this week without success, and to tell the truth I almost gave up.  Then earlier today I read a comment written by another challengee, who said we are often reluctant to do something because we are scared of failing.  How true that is - it certainly is true of me, anyway!

So, I decided to be brave and I've tried again.  I used watercolours, because I love them.  I decided to draw a fantasy sea-themed ZIA - because I love the sea.  And I used some of my favourite tangles including Sanibelle and the little pebbles (oops I don't know what that tangle is called but I'm new to this so please forgive me!)  The Auraknot tangle became almost secondary, but that meant I stopped worrying about it, and I think I'm fairly happy with the result.  As far as Auraknot is concerned my fish got rather "mixed up" but my starfish and its babies turned out okay I think.  Let me know what you think - good or bad because that's how we learn.

Zendala Dare #13 - Play with Paper

This week Erin at the Bright Owl set us a challenge to use paper we would not normally use for Zentangle, and provided us with this template:

So I dug into my old paper stash and found a pad of patterned cards I'd never used - and as I have a birthday coming up I thought I'd make myself a birthday card!

I think the floral pattern has been lost rather, but that's probably because I never know when to stop and don't know the meaning of less is more (oops!).  Overall I'm not really happy with this now it's finished, but I did enjoy doing it.  I used Dust Bunny, and other tangles I either don't know the name of, or that I just made up as I went along - as I tend to do!

Thanks for looking, and thank you to Erin for setting another great challenge for us.

Happy Birthday to Me!

I am the Diva Challenge #77

This week the Diva set a special challenge for Rho Densmore, whose brother-in-law Pete sadly passed away recently.  Rho has designed a beautiful new tangle for Pete, which she calls "Fiore di Pietro", and our challenge is to create zentangles, tiles and ZIAs using this tangle, which she plans to put in special memory books to be given to the family in Pete's memory.

So Rho, here's my tribute to your dear brother-in-law, and of course I give my full permission to use it if you feel it suitable.

I send my thoughts and good wishes to Rho and her family at this very sad time.

For Pete