I'm inspired and challenged...

I'm thrilled with the incredibly inspirational tangles that I have seen online.  Laura Harms' weekly Zentangle Challenge is nudging me to try my hand at tripoli, but right now I am frustrated with my efforts.  Suzanne Wilka at Tinkered Art has helped me get a better perspective on it, and her method makes a lot of sense.  Check it out if you, too, find yourself unable to make these triangles meet properly.  Meanwhile, I'm going to renew my efforts to conquer tripoli!

Zentangle beginner, already obsessed!

I am an elementary school teacher enjoying my summer vacation.  I'm a firm believer in making the most of each day's opportunities.  You know, keeping my cup "half full" is my mantra.  About two months before the school year ended, I discovered Zentangle.  Where?  At the monthly meeting of the Jinny Beyer Club, a group of quilt lovers here in northern Virginia.  One member mentioned that she uses the Zentangle method in her quilting, and I scribbled a note on my pad.  As soon as I got home, I found the Zentangle website, and the rest is history...I was hooked!  I quickly sent away for the kit, and it arrived in just a few days.  With much to do in school to finish the year, though, I had to set my kit aside and be patient until I could get to it.   In the meantime, though, I happily explored all the wonderfully inspirational websites having to do with Zentangles.  It has been glorious!

On June 23, I dared to do my first Zentangle.  Here it is:

Then, in celebration of my daughter's birthday on June 24, I did my next three.  They have exactly 38 tangles in honor of her 38th birthday.  I put them in a floating frame so the backs of the tiles can be read.  Here they are:

Here's how they look in the frame:

Happy Birthday, Jen!

The dishes, the wash, the chores beckon...but, composing a daily Zentangle or two is my reward.  Life is good.