This week has been all about the tangling for me – learning patterns, starting (and finishing!) a project, and even trying my hand at a new technique. I’ve been having a lot whole of fun with it, and I’m excited to share the results with you. Happy Tangled Tuesday!
New Tangles
Over the past couple of weeks I learned Signalz, Diosea, Diva Dance, Alien Crest, Window Grilles, Scrawlz, Spiro, Pax, Eddyper, Ferdy, Bunzo, Double D’s, and Cylon, all from TanglePatterns.com.
I even managed to incorporate some of these (as well as a few other recently-learned patterns) into my latest finished piece. More below!
Tangling in Progress
A few days ago I started a new 8″ x 10″ ZIA, and shared this WIP photo partway through.
But then…
Finished Projects
…I carried on and ended up finishing the piece. Surprise!
You know, I can never really tell (at least not right away) whether or not I actually like any of my finished pieces, as once I’ve done the last bit of shading I’m pretty much sick of looking at the thing! Usually I just file it away in my portfolio and then reevaluate quite some time later to get a better idea of how I feel about it. (Is that odd or normal? Artists, please advise!)
I also completed The Diva’s Challenge, which had a “Colours of the Rainbow!” theme for Pride Week. I wasn’t sure at first how (or even if) I would do this one, as my selection of coloured pens is pretty limited – but then I remembered my as-yet-unused set of watercolours, and thought I’d try something a little different (for me) by creating a colour-wash background on the tile prior to tangling with my regular black pen. Here’s the end result.
Though I had no real plan, and no idea what to expect, I think it’s kind of pretty! So the experiment was a success… and a bit of a milestone, too, in that I used my watercolours for the first time (even though I really didn’t know what on earth I was doing!).
Now I think I’m ready for some more watercolour play… watch this space!
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!)
How have you been creative this week?
Please share!

I think using a coloured background works really well and, now that you have found your watercolours, you’ll enjoy using them more and more.
Twitter: alphabetsalad
June 16, 2015
Thank you – I think so too! I’m looking forward to playing around with them.
Laurel Regan recently posted… Tangled Tuesday No. 49
Twitter: petrichorclouds
June 16, 2015
Wow! They’re both great, but though the first one looks more intricate, I think I like the “Colours of the Rainbow” more. It’s beautiful!
Sreesha recently posted… Disturbia – Part 1
Twitter: alphabetsalad
June 16, 2015
Thank you so much!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Tangled Tuesday No. 49
Twitter: FranceneStanley
June 16, 2015
Isn’t it fun experimenting with new techniques? You make me wish I could sit alongside you and try my hand. I like the watercolour background.
Twitter: alphabetsalad
June 16, 2015
It is indeed! I’ll have to play around with them some more.
Laurel Regan recently posted… Tangled Tuesday No. 49
Twitter: thisyearinmusic
June 16, 2015
I really like the black and white picture! Pretty cool…
Twitter: alphabetsalad
June 16, 2015
Thank you!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Tangled Tuesday No. 49
Hi! I love both of the designs. I’m a huge fan of watercolor, so that was a wonderful surprise. The first one is so intricate. I love it.
Amy recently posted… Are You a Country or City Person?
Twitter: alphabetsalad
June 16, 2015
Thank you so much!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Tangled Tuesday No. 49
I think all the rounding you did over your watercolor wash made the tile absolutely sing!
Twitter: alphabetsalad
June 17, 2015
Thank you so much!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Tangled Tuesday No. 49
Twitter: TheCubicleChick
June 16, 2015
Wow and wow. My daughter is a young budding artist. I must show this to her. Got to get her into tangling. I think she’d love it.
The Cubicle Chick recently posted… DIY Rotating Goal List for Work or Home Office
Twitter: alphabetsalad
June 17, 2015
I hope she does – it’s a lot of fun!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Tangled Tuesday No. 49
Twitter: Boomeresque
June 16, 2015
I think you’ve convinced me that I need to purchase some water colors. I had the same idea (to use a colored background), but I had to rely on colored pencils. Your water colors are just the right degree of vibrant, I think. My colored pencil background just doesn’t measure up. BTW, I think you picked perfect tangles to go with the colors. Lovely.
Suzanne Fluhr recently posted… Zentangle Diva’s Challenge #220 – All Boxed Up – Hopeless Perfectionist Edition
Twitter: alphabetsalad
June 17, 2015
Thank you so much! I will have to check yours out – I am sure it is gorgeous as always!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Tangled Tuesday No. 49
Twitter: vinithadileep
June 17, 2015
Just loved the water color one. 🙂
Vinitha recently posted… Do you complain?
Twitter: alphabetsalad
June 17, 2015
Thank you!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Tangled Tuesday No. 49
Twitter: miss_teerious
June 17, 2015
I love that “Colours of the Rainbow” piece. The background has come out really well.
And I can understand what you mean by just shoving it out of sight for a while. That happens to me when I complete a particularly long piece of embroidery.
Kaddu recently posted… My Favorite Video Game As A Kid
Twitter: alphabetsalad
June 17, 2015
Thank you! I’m glad I’m not alone in needing a break from looking at something I’ve made. 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… Tangled Tuesday No. 49
Your ZIA #40 is wonderful! Your DIVA drawing is very pretty!
Twitter: alphabetsalad
June 17, 2015
Thank you so much!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Tangled Tuesday No. 49
Twitter: obsessivemom06
June 17, 2015
Coming back for a visit after a longish while. Your tangles seem to be getting more complex and more pretty by the day. I loved even the half done one. It looks lovely.
Twitter: alphabetsalad
June 18, 2015
Thank you so much!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Photo A Day Challenge – June 1-17, 2015
Twitter: sanchlivinglife
June 17, 2015
Your tangling always impresses me Laurel!
Twitter: alphabetsalad
June 18, 2015
Thank you! 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… Photo A Day Challenge – June 1-17, 2015
This colorful tile is beautiful.
Twitter: alphabetsalad
June 18, 2015
Thank you!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Photo A Day Challenge – June 1-17, 2015
The first one is so intricate and beautifully done 😀 love your work 🙂
Rajlakshmi recently posted… The Whimsy Yogi !!
Twitter: alphabetsalad
June 18, 2015
Thank you so much!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Photo A Day Challenge – June 1-17, 2015
Twitter: carisultanik
June 18, 2015
You’ve been busy! Your work is beautiful, and I love the color wash!
Cari Sultanik recently posted… Umbly yours, from NYC
Twitter: alphabetsalad
June 19, 2015
Thank you so much!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Photo A Day Challenge – June 1-17, 2015
It’s so beautiful and creative, showcasing different patterns.
Twitter: alphabetsalad
June 21, 2015
Thank you!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Photo Friday: Flowers
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