I don’t know whether it’s the post-holiday January doldrums, but I seem to be suffering from a bit of a creativity slump these days. (On the good side, I seem to be coming out of my reading slump, so there’s that, at least!) Can you relate? Still, I have managed to do some tangling over the past few days, and am happy to be back with a bit of Zentangle® goodness after last week’s Tangled Tuesday break.
New Tangles
This week I learned Sp-Eye-Ryl, Jeewels, Half Onions, Waax, Antique, and Japonica, all from TanglePatterns.com.
Finished Projects
(Since last week’s Tangled Tuesday post didn’t actually happen, I’m catching up today!)
The Diva’s Challenge two weeks ago was her 200th – or “Bi-Zen-tennial” – challenge, and the instructions to participants were as follows:
So, just what is this week’s Bi-Zen-tennial challenge?
This week’s Challenge is to use your Mac’N’Cheese tangle in a Monotangle. Or, in other words: create a tile using ONLY your go to, or favourite tangle.
And let’s take advantage of the WHOLE tile! No borders! Let’s extend from end to end, and fill our tiles BURSTING with Tangly JOY!
And finally – put the number 200 (big or small) somewhere on your tile.
Unfortunately for this particular challenge, my go-to tangle happens to be Beedle – I love it, and use it everywhere, but it doesn’t make for a particularly dynamic monotangle! Still, I gave it a shot and here’s what I ended up with.
Moving on, The Diva’s Challenge for the current week was created in recognition of Moebius Syndrome Awareness day, which is on Friday, January 24th. (Please do check out her post for more information on this rare disorder and how it has affected her family.) Challenge participants were to asked to “use the Moebius Syndrome Foundation’s logo as your string, or create a moebius strip out of paper and tangle that… or some other awesome creative thing that i haven’t thought of.” She further noted, “OH, also – the colour for MSAD is Purple, so if you want to incorporate purple into your tile, feel free.”
I chose to print out the logo, trace it onto a 4″ x 4″ tile, and go from there. I used my purple pen (05 size) for one pattern (Hibred), and my usual black pen (01 size) for the other (Lacy), along with a few purple “Pinch” designs in the corners.
Here’s the end result:
I’m still not used to working with colours, but am fairly happy with how this one turned out.
Onward!
P.S.
The Zentangle® Method was created by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas and is copyrighted. Zentangle® is a registered trademark of Zentangle, Inc. Learn more at zentangle.com.
Previous posts in this series are all tagged Tangled Tuesday.
For background on how I discovered and got involved in Zentangle, and links to further information and resources, check out my blog post For the love of tangling.
You can browse my entire tangle gallery at Ten Thousand Tangles.
And, if you’re interested in having a little piece of my art for yourself, please click on the GoFundMe button below for more information and also visit my Ten Thousand Tangles shops on Society6 and Zazzle. (Pssst… links to my international Ten Thousand Tangles shops on Zazzle are in the Alphabet Salad sidebar – just click on the appropriate flag and you’ll get to the place you need to be!)

Twitter: writercat
January 20, 2015
I always love your zentangles, Laurel. So creative and interesting. I’m tempted to take it up myself every time I see one of your beautiful designs as you always inspire me.
Cathy Graham recently posted… #MicroblogMonday – Small Actions Do Make a Difference
Twitter: alphabetsalad
January 21, 2015
Thank you so much, Cathy! I hope you do give tangling a try some day!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Tangled Tuesday No. 37
Hey I have never tried Zentangle and I have to say it looks like you did some cool stuff with it. I hear you about the post holiday slump. Ugh.
Miriam Slozberg recently posted… The Importance of Teaching your Kids the Proper Pronunciation of Words
Twitter: alphabetsalad
January 21, 2015
Yes, January can be rather bleak, can’t it?!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Tangled Tuesday No. 37
I love your tangles! Such talent you have. My sister is an artist and I am sending this to her. 🙂
PS- I know what you mean on the creativity slump… I am there too!
Twitter: alphabetsalad
January 21, 2015
Thank you so much! Hopefully things will get better as January comes to an end. 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… Tangled Tuesday No. 37
I LOVE your tangles! It always makes me happy when I check your blog. I didn’t get to see the finished product; I don’t have a flickr account. Can you post it?
Kim Eldredge – New Frontier Books recently posted… How a Personal Rant Can Engage Your Readers
Twitter: alphabetsalad
January 21, 2015
Thank you so much! Which finished product did you want to see?
Laurel Regan recently posted… Tangled Tuesday No. 37
I love both your Zentangles–beautiful. I haven’t tried any of the Diva’s challenges yet, but I’m sorry I missed the one two weeks ago; I would’ve liked to try that. Have to keep up with these things!
Twitter: alphabetsalad
January 21, 2015
I ended up putting a note in my calendar every Monday, as I kept forgetting about it!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Tangled Tuesday No. 37
As usual, you never disappoint with your tangling goodness. Your beedle looks so much like a necklace, I’m tempted to teg wearing it…If I can get it off the paper that is lol 🙂
Life Breath Present recently posted… A Quality Toothbrush
Twitter: alphabetsalad
January 21, 2015
Thank you so much! I do love the beedle pattern – always feels very 3D to me.
Laurel Regan recently posted… Tangled Tuesday No. 37
Twitter: BatteredHope
January 20, 2015
You say your creative juices aren’t running? Are you crazy? You are creative standing still and I can’t began to relate to how you do it!
Carol Graham recently posted… Sorry But Your Husband Has Irreversible Brain Damage
Twitter: alphabetsalad
January 21, 2015
Thank you so much, Carol!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Tangled Tuesday No. 37
I admire artists and your creativity is amazing, wish I could be as fantastic.
Twitter: alphabetsalad
January 21, 2015
Thank you so much!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Tangled Tuesday No. 37
Twitter: nabanita21
January 21, 2015
I can understand the creativity slump…I go through this when I’m too fatigued…But then you are reading so that’s a good thing 🙂
And the tangle will colour has really come out good Laurel
nabanita recently posted… Do you know how memories are made?
Twitter: alphabetsalad
January 21, 2015
Thank you very much! I guess there are only so many hours in the day to do the things we enjoy. 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… Tangled Tuesday No. 37
Twitter: indywrites
January 21, 2015
You have bounced back from the creative slump. I love the Purple design Tile! You have integrated the design beautifully with the logo!
The color is very well balanced! You should use it more.
Inderpreet recently posted… Release!
Twitter: alphabetsalad
January 21, 2015
Thank you so much! I do need to learn to work with colour more – definitely a goal for the future.
Laurel Regan recently posted… Tangled Tuesday No. 37
Twitter: ellytreehugger
January 21, 2015
What creative slump?! I certainly see no indication of it! Interesting the names they come up with for all these designs, but always such interesting patterns, even the simple ones! 😉 <3
elly stornebrink recently posted… Wordy Wednesday: What is it that I really want to say?
Twitter: alphabetsalad
January 21, 2015
Thank you very much! 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… Tangled Tuesday No. 37
Your zentangles are awesome. Just remember we can’t be creative everyday…365 days a year. Sometimes you need some down time.
Kathy S Combs recently posted… Screwed and Tattooed
Twitter: alphabetsalad
January 21, 2015
Very true, Kathy! I need to remember that.
Laurel Regan recently posted… Tangled Tuesday No. 37
Well, I like them both! Your beedle one looks like a beaded necklace you carefully laid out on the tile and your Moebius tile turned out great!
Quinn recently posted… Diva Challenge #201
Twitter: alphabetsalad
January 21, 2015
Thank you so much! 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… Tangled Tuesday No. 37
A lovely tile and you did very well with the color!
Twitter: alphabetsalad
January 22, 2015
Thank you so much! 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… Wildcard Wednesday No. 1
Great tiles.
Twitter: alphabetsalad
January 22, 2015
Thank you! 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… Wildcard Wednesday No. 1
Twitter: Boomeresque
January 22, 2015
I think your response to the Diva’s moebius challenge worked out really well. You managed to capture the never-ending, infinity aspect of the design while using two tangles. Very clever.
Suzanne Fluhr recently posted… Zentangle Diva’s Challenge #200 — “Bi-zen-tennial Celebration”
Twitter: alphabetsalad
January 22, 2015
Thank you very much!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Wildcard Wednesday No. 1
Your linework is so perfectly and evenly spaced. Gorgeous work and love the purple too…makes it more scintillating and consequently makes us more AWARE of Moebius Syndrome! Beautiful!
Twitter: alphabetsalad
January 23, 2015
Thank you so much!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Photo Friday: On A Walk
Twitter: obsessivemom06
January 22, 2015
I love your tangling Laurel. Glad you’re back and good you’re reading too. I like the way you made use of your creativity slump to read. Way to go.
Twitter: alphabetsalad
January 23, 2015
Thank you – and yes, filling the gaps with reading is probably a great way to go!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Photo Friday: On A Walk
Great tile. Love the tangles used.
Twitter: alphabetsalad
January 24, 2015
Thank you!
Laurel Regan recently posted… How has blogging changed your life?
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