From the diva: Weekly Challenge #153: UMT v.24 "Jailed Johnny" - by Sadelle Wiltshire, CZT

Once again, I am limited on time, and only have a few minutes to post my entry.  So here it is...my take on Sadelle's "Jailed Johnny".  Lovely tangle, Sadelle.

Click here for this week's challenge.

Happy tangling (or sad, or curious, or restless...but take time to tangle).

- Dayna

The diva's Weekly Challenge #152: New Official Tangle Aquafleur

I have had a challenging week (no pun intended), which I will explain later.  So for now, here's my take on this week's challenge...and it's one of my first White-On-Black tangles.

Enjoy life,

Dayna

This challenge can be found here.

This week from the diva: Weekly Challenge #150: One Little Word

Sometimes things just have a way of working out, like this week's challenge from the diva.

A little over a week ago, I ran across 365grateful, a site that tells of a film that is all about a year-long photography project, all focused (sorry for the pun, but I'm sticking with it) on gratitude.  Hailey (the person behind the camera) initially started the project as a way to help her fight depression, and from all accounts, it certainly did help her, and others who followed her lead.

I have wasted a lot of my adult life in bad situations that I didn't avoid well enough, others I didn't fight hard enough to break free from, and there were many years I just walked around half-awake.  Always I was wishing for something more--some things tangible, and some more esoteric.

And now?  I LOVE MY LIFE.  A few years ago, my best friend's fight against breast cancer woke me right the hell up.  I have made it a point ever since to never let fear be the reason I didn't do what I wanted or needed.  I've got a million miles to go, but I've come so far, and I am so thankful.

I figured I would love to do a project like Hailey's.  I don't do photography, but I do Zentangle.  Why not use that medium?

So I started my own project, which I call my "Grateful Zed" tangles.  (For those of you who are non-Canadian, the letter "Z" is called "Zed" in Canada.)  I've done 11 so far, in no particular order of importance to me, but rather done as the inspiration hits.

And now the diva has posted this week's challenge, and I bet you can guess my "One Little Word"--

GRATITUDE:  (n) A feeling of thankfulness and appreciation.

The "string" is in the shape of the "gratitude symbol", which originated with the Go Gratitude Project back in 2005.  I just liked the shape.

“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that 

what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.” 

― Epicurus

This quote could not be more appropriate for me.  I have so much love and happiness in my life that I have to pinch myself sometimes, and I know how special that is.

New Tangle Pattern: Mosey

I am just too excited about this pattern.  I was waiting for a meeting this afternoon and only had enough time to play around with my pens, and this just happened.  It is my favorite Dayna-tangle to date!

Here it is...

Enjoy using it in your tangling!

Cheers,
Dayna

Zentangle-inspired Christmas cards

These are some of the Zentangle-inspired Christmas cards I did this past year.  (And a special thanks to Deb Kopeschny for our little Holiday card class!)

From the diva: Weekly Challenge #149: "Twenty-Fourteen"

This year is already presenting me and my family with hurdles and sadness, and still I have a feeling of hope.  I'm determined to make this my best year yet.  Zentangle has helped me in so many ways, and it will remain a part of my daily quest for peace and joy.

Here's my 2014 tangle, using "2014" as the string.

I hope you all have a wonderful year!  And check out my Christmas cards, done with the Sakura metallic Gelly Rolls... and also my new tangle pattern:  Mosey.

The Diva's Weekly Challenge #147: "UMT v. XXIII - Boo*Kee"

It's a rough day for me.  There's a lot of turmoil going on, and I found my tangle challenge today to be a welcome, calming diversion.  It also gave me a chance to try out one of my new Sakura Gelly Roll Metallics.  (Yes, I caved...)  I hope you enjoy my take on Laura's tangle pattern:  "Boo*Kee".

The challenge can be found here.