Beads and Zentangle! Happy Mix!

Keith O'Connor Trunk Show!

How awesome is this?  Not only a quick visit from Keith as he travels to and fro with his Spring Trunk Show but he is going to unload the show HERE in Frederick, MD, just for you and me! Yesterday he was in New York, today in Virginia (Off the Beading Path, Occoquan, VA) and tomorrow at my house!  MY HOUSE!  Friday, 6/19, 2-7 P.M., I'm going to have an exclusive bead show at my house!  Come See!

Some of my Zentangle necklaces mixing it up with some O'Connor beads!  Highlighted beads are Keith's!

Jewelry designs from Lorelei Eurto using Keith's beads along with other well known bead makers.  Keith's are in each one of these photos!

 More photos after the fact!  Let me know on Facebook if you'd like to come!

Carol Dee, CZT

Carol DeeZigns

Our Tangled Lives - update on House for sale and tangles!

We proudly listed our clean, orderly, freshly painted, staged home in Maryland 3 weeks ago.  It has been shown 7 times so far and we had a very well attended open house last Sunday.  Waiting for the offer that will set us free!  

So much "fun life" has been neglected during the past months.  We listed two weeks before the following prompt was due for a "secret" FaceBook art journal group that I am part of. . .just enough time to gather my thoughts on paper.  I had gotten the inspiration for the prompt. . .

Well, I'll let the prompt speak for itself:

Yoga for your Brain Tangle Cards
Sandy Steen Bartholomew

Annie Lockhart Soulful Paintings

"Fun life" will happen soon!  Frederick Festival of Arts (not to be missed) and Westminster's Art in the Park are this weekend.  Friends Dia Daniels and Bette Brody will have art tents in Westminster on Saturday.  We still have lots to do in the basement but we also have lots of memories to make in Frederick before we move!

My Zentangle Life!

Thank goodness for Zentangle!

There has been a LOT of activity around here - some of it was actually tangling!  Thank goodness! That is what has been keeping me sane in this crazy life that includes purging, packing, eventually putting house on  market, and moving to new digs. . .can you say "stress?"  Chaos?  That is just one of the blessings Zentangle is in my life.  Stealing the quiet time to do it is a challenge but tangling is better than Prozac for me!!!

I taught a great class last Saturday, March 14, at The ArtistAngle Art Gallery in Frederick, MD.  We had 10 students taking the "Zentangle Intensive" class.  It started with a 2.5 hour "Intro" and then we did a 2.5 hour "Next Step" class after lunch.  Wow!  Just look at the work from this class!

We packed a lot of info and tangles into the first class and tiles:

First tile "Intro to Zentangle" class

Second tile "Intro to Zentangle"

Our lunch choices were to order in from Black Hog BBQ  or go out on their own in Frederick (which is a foodie destination, for sure!).  Since the lunch break was from 12:30 - 2, there was plenty of time to do either.  Most of us wanted BLACK HOG!

The second half of this intensive class included "Next Step in Zentangle" and beyond.  It started with a meditation tile adapted from a recent meditation posted by Holly Atwater, CZT, on her blog  "ha! designs."  I recognized the tangle from almost the first line (Nippa, one of my favorites) so I took great liberties with my presentantion and realized I could make just a few changes and reinforce the "drawing under" technique and illustrate weaving lines.  Thank you, Holly, for a great meditation!   Her voice is so soothing and suited to the meditation technique (better than mine, for sure).  But look at what the class did with it! ! !

Class meditation tile - no visuals except on shading/defining orbs.

My original tile from Holly's blog.

Basic Nippa on Bijou tile

Next we did a quick Bijou (2" x 2" tile) with visuals to learn the basic Nippa tangle.  Nothing "basic" about it!

What keen students!  Very adventuresome and confident group.  The large tile was the one I used to demo the tangle.

The next tile was a real joy!  Cosmo tangle by Sonya Yencer, CZT.  Cosmo is a wonderful tangle for reinforcing "drawing under!"  Thank you, Sonya, for the great tangle and all your help!  Sonya co-authored (with Cris Letourneau, CZT)  Pattern Play: a Zentangle Creativity Boost (Volume 1), one of my favorite tangle books that I recommend to my students.

Cosmo tangle by Sonya Yencer on round tile.  The second bottom left is my demo tile that I just started a couple embellishments on (aura and dashed lines). The students took them home to continue to tangle on.  

Last but not least!

We did OWLS!  This ZIA (Zentangle Inspired Art) was based closely on a class I took several years ago with Suzanne McNeill, CZT, at Art and Soul in Hampton, VA.  We did owls on a 5 x 7 card in her class.  

My sweet owl done in Suzanne O'Neill's class at Art & Soul

 

How cute are these owls (and owlettes) on round tiles that we did in the "Zentangle Intensive"  class last Saturday?

Tangle meditation with Holly @ Ha! Designs

Holly Atwater, CZT (15), sent out a meditation challenge from her blog to complete on a Bijou tile (2" x 2") and to share back.  This was a wonderful way to start this vacation day. . .at 4:30 A.M.! Thanks, Holly!  Well done!  Looking forward to the next one.

Here's my tile:

Tripoli Meditation Tile
2/16/2015
Holly Atwater

TANGLE ALL DAY!

January 31 was an awesome day. . .I LOVE teaching Zentangle®!

I'm going to let the photos tell the day. . .I taught 2 classes Saturday (1/31/15).  Another "Into to Zentangle" class was first, from 10 A.M. - 12:15 P.M.  Six students, two of them very new to the method.

All but one student stayed for the second class - "Next Step 103"(2 - 4:30 P.M.) - and two others joined them for a total of 7.  My good friend, artist Bette Brody (her Etsy site is here), spent the day with us, too.  She was my photographer/helper, and was also able to do a tile or two with us.  I can get used to having an assistant!  She's the BEST!

Main tiles from first class: "Intro to Zentangle."

Rare opportunity to have two students that are REAL NEWBIES to Zentangle.  The top three tiles were Gladden's, a dear friend and local artist.  The bottom three were Molly's  -  one of the two 12 yr. old girls in the class.
Anything is possible, one stroke at a time™ !

Grace and Molly (both 12 yrs. old) were great additions to the class.  Grace is quite accomplished as a Tangler already.
This was Molly's first experience with Zentangle.  Both girls stuck with it ALL DAY and did very nice work.

The right two photos above show the newest and best of my new teaching tools - a document camera with a TV as a projector.
So much better than standing at an easel for 6 hours!

Grace (12 yrs.) has a beautiful hand at Zentangle.  She's been doing it for some time.  Her work and focus were amazing!
There is no limit!

Here is pictured another new tool that was put into use for the first time in a class. It is a large pen holder for Micron pens (also has an adaptor for Sharpies) for arthritic hands or for those that just like a larger pen.  Easy to hold.  There were two tanglers in this class using the holders that hubby, Steve, turned from beautiful acrylics and exotic woods.  I use them, too!  It helps me to hold the pen with a lighter touch and with no cramping. Steve has made several for me.  The lids aren't tight enough to leave the pen in the holder for days without them drying out but taking them out after each session and recapping with the original cap on the pen is quick and easy and solves that issue.

Tanglers always look so "serious."  They ARE having fun but in a very focused, deliberate way!  I do all the talking and they do beautiful tangles!  Most of the ladies spent the day, going through both classes.  Jeanne Booth and Barby Reilly, CZT, joined us for the second class,  "Next Step 103".  Jeanne and I met through our other art outlet - beads!  Jeanne is a talented lampwork bead maker.  Jeanne has also been tangling on her own, doing beautiful work.  She attended one of my first double classes in Nov. '14.   I met Barby in Providence, RI, in June, '14, while taking the 4 day intensive courses to become Certified Zentangle Teachers.  She is teaching in the Gaithersburg area.  Who you don't see pictured in these photos is my good friend, Bette Brody, who is behind the camera!

The first tile in the second class was all about the grid.  WOW!

In the spirit of Valentine's Day, we did several projects involving hearts.  The top was learning to draw ruflz.  This was probably the most difficult tangle we tackled in the "Next Step" class.  I think the students' very different styles and adaptations reflect one motto of Zentangle - There are NO mistakes!  All are lovely!


The second little striped heart idea I saw on FaceBook in a journal piece by Chris Titus, CZT.   I saw it last week and quickly added it to the mix to help illustrate "sparkle" and "shading."  So sweet!  I just found out that Chris and Jenny Perruzzi, CZT, are the creators of  the FaceBook group, Square One: Purely Zentangle!  I recommend this page to my students along with Zentangle.com and TanglePatterns.com.  The Big Three!











All of today's tanglers got blank cards with heart cutouts to tangle inside or to put a tile in. Makes a pretty valentine!

Teaching Mooka from the very basic tangle and then morphing it to a  ZIA  (Zentangle Inspired Art) based on an adaptation of Mooka presented by Helen Williams on her blog, a little lime.  Her work is sublime and she has published several e-books and videos that share her very special, delicate and beautiful techniques!

Our ZIA  tile using  tangles learned in this face paced, more advanced class.  I am always amazed at the different interpretations of the same tangles.  Aren't they lovely!

While Bette was photographing the last ZIA tile (posted above), we tangled one last tile -- showcasing "Luv-a."   No photos of that tile from the class but here are my tiles from the day with the "Luv-a" tile included (bottom right).  It is great to have actual tiles of my own from the class instead of huge newsprint sheets that go in the trash!

Top three were used to teach the first class - Intro to Zentangle
All the rest were used to teach the second class - "Next Step 103"

Using my new Ipevo IPEVO VZ-1 HD VGA/USB Dual-Mode Document Camera and a TV from home has SET ME FREE!  So happy with this addition to my teaching tools!

Classes all done!  Last shot by hubby with Melissa's phone.  My dear friend Melissa Meman (artist, jewelry designer, blogger) and Bette Brody, the best friend and assistant EVER!  Ready for the cold outside.    Bette (multi talented multi-media artist, book maker, painter, etc., etc.).  I am so blessed to be able to share my life and Zentangle with such a great crew!

What's next?  Hope I can take time from packing to plan another "Next Step" class before we make a move to Louisiana!  Working on Black Tiles!!!

Zentangle ®

Carol Dee, CZT!  Lovin' it!

WooHoo!  It does help to "wear Bijou" when you are out and about!  Bijou (in Zentangle lingo) is a new size Zentangle tile 2 inches square that is great fun to tangle on.  Combine a nice little tile in a custom, handmade frame and some beautiful beads. . .and a visit to a lovely bead shop in an artsy town. . .Carol Dee, CZT, goes to Virginia!

from top left: 3.5" standard tile, 4.5" Apprentice tile
bottom left: 2" Bijou tile

The standard tile and the Bijou are both 100% cotton, heavy-weight, echru,  fine artist paper. The Apprentice tile is a bright white, smooth paper designed in size and type to be both easier to use and less expensive - for younger users.

Just a little history: last year Keith O'Connor brought his fabulous bead trunk show to Occoquan, VA's, bead store, Off the Beading Path  I am a raging fan of his and his talented wife's hand made beads. Dia Daniels and I headed down there for a fun day and I HAD to wear my first Bijou necklace that featured 4 of his beautiful beads.

It is about an 1 1/2 hour drive from Frederick, MD,  to Occoquan, VA, but more than worth the drive to visit with talented friend, Keith, and I'm always game to check out a new bead store!  A win-win! Occoquan, VA, is a quaint, historic, and picturesque town along the Occoquan River ( Google Map), with lovely boutique shopping, historic buildings and homes, and yummy restaurants.  Add friends AND a beautiful bead store = a FUN DAY.

Three necklaces so far.  They all have a bit of Keith (and Laurie) in each one.  I'm a real fan of the little spiral shell bead!

See more of Keith's beautiful beads on his Facebook photo page - eye candy, for sure!  Off the Beading Path carries a great inventory of Keith's beads and will be hosting him and his trunk show again on January 27, 2015.

Denise, the owner/operator of Off the Beading Path, invited me to give a Zentangle class there.  Last Saturday, artist, friend and wonderful helper, Bette Brody, and I went on an adventure to Occoquan. New document camera in tow, new venue - pretty exciting for me!

           

Intro class - First Tile

Intro class - second tile

Last "tile" (7th project) was a Snowflake Card.  Wish I had more photos!  Just got Bette's and Mine.  They were awesome!

Will post more of the tiles produced on my Carol DeeZigns Facebook photo page.

New classes coming up Jan. 31, 2015, in Frederick, MD.  An "Intro to Zentangle" class and a brand new Next Step 103 class with all new tangles and new ZIA explorations with focus on Valentine Hearts!  More info: BusCarol@aol.com, subject line Zentangle Classes.

Weeeeeeee!

Happy New Year!  Zentangle® ahead!

Last year was awesome!  Zentangled and enameled!  But now we're looking forward.

January brings Zentangle classes in Occoquan, VA, on Jan. 10, 2015.  This class is sponsered by a beautiful bead shop, Off the Beading Path, and is being held at the local community center.  For more info and to book this class, you can check out my class on their calendar:  Off The Beading Path, Carol Dee teaches Zentangle,  This will be a 5 hour class that will cover "Intro" and "Next Step" classes!  And the town of Occoquan is a lovely destination with a picturesque main street, tasty restaurants and fun boutique shopping.

The next Zentangle event here in Frederick, MD, will be on January 31 at The Business Factory of Frederick.  From 10 A.M. to 12:15 is an "Intro to Zentangle" class.  Later that day, from 2:00 to 4:15, is a brand new class - "Next Step 103."  As with previous "Next Step" classes, the only requirements are that the student has taken the "Intro" class and will use their own supplies (.01 black micron, pencil, and tortillion). As always, I have the paper!  The "Next Step" classes will introduce new tangles and work on techniques such as shading and string development.  We will introduce some color this time and do some experiments with Valentine Motifs.  After all, Valentine's day is coming up soon!  These classes will be booked by The Business Factory of Frederick.  More info on this class coming.

On Feb. 28, 2015, Carol DeeZigns will be demonstrating Zentangle at the second STEAM Ahead Event held at The Business Factory of Frederick.  STEAM's (Scence, Techology, Engineering, Art and Music) first event last month hosted over 200 families!  Make your reservations and get free tickets to the event here:

Families trying out different activities from Zentangle, Musical Instruments, to 3-D printing plus much more!

Zentangle booth covered up all day with youngsters and their parents.


After that. . .who knows.  Planning on a move and a change. . .more on that soon, too!

Happy New Year!

We are turning STEM into STEAM (Science, 

Technology, Engineering, Art, and Music) to promote both innovation and creativity to young people and the young at heart. 

Putting the Torch-Fired Enamel Hat on. . .or is it a NECKLACE?

Keeping my head on straight and wearing the appropriate hat these days is a real challenge!  Just getting thru the week making all of my appointments, meetings, luncheons, etc., has never been so hectic! But the last few days it has been hectic-fun with bells on!  Delighted with this new news. . .  Barbara Lewis' latest book Mastering Torch-Fired Enamel Jewelry has hit the shelves (and mailboxes) and I can turn to page 138 and see "my" necklace!

My journey in torch fired enameling has been going on for quite some time.  Jewlery-technique-class-junkie that I am, I have taken several classes over the years that have included brief forays into different torch firing techniques but NOTHING as intense and fullfilling as when I tasted Painting With Fire, Torch Fired Enameling, with Barbara Lewis!  I fell HARD and FAST and couldn't get enough!

I've taken classes with Barbara, read her 1st book several times, watched her videos, tutorials and finally took her certification to teach class (I was one of her first two teachers in this method). It has been a great trip!

November 6, 2014, I will be at Art Retreat at the Prairie in Roundtop, TX, with Barbara taking the certification again. I was going there anyway and I know that there will be new techniques and more fun added to the curriculum.  Maybe I can lend a hand, too!

I enameled over 80 beads in an analogous group from light sage green to dark blue, using various base coats and then various translucent coats. That gave me a lot to choose from for my jewlery submission for the new book.  Only 12 beads and one focal made the cut.  For those enamelists wanting more info on the colors, you can read my blog post from April.

What was left after the jewlery was done?

Drumroll, please!

The earings and bracelet didn't make the cut for the book but I'm thrilled the necklace was included!!!

                                                                                   

On page 138!

Thank you, Barbara, for the wonderful opportunity to be part of this lovely book and to be one of the   jewelry artists that you chose to represent the colorwheel in the book.  My hat is off!

I hope this book exceeds the awesome record of the first one,  Torch-fired Enamel Jewelry

After all, it was Amazon's 2011 Craftbook of the year!  This new book has all the makings to repeat that and beyond!  God bless!

Other contributors on Facebook and beyond:

Lynnea Bennett - Designsbylynnea

                                                       Laura Guenther - Blueantiquities
                           Heather Marston - Crystals, Stones and Wire: Jewelry by He-HeBeads

And Me:

Carol Dee Myers

Carol DeeZigns

CarolDeeZigns@gmail.com

www.facebook.com/caroldeezigns

www.facebook.com/carol.myers

ZENTANGLE® or Carol Dee, CZT!®

This summer has really ushered in some serious movin' and shakin' for this gal!  And more excitement is on the way!  Enameling, traveling, weddings, selling house and moving (that may not be the fun part).  Some GREAT FUN was the 4 day love fest in Providence, RI, where 108 students (I'm one) from ALL OVER THE WORLD came together to become teachers. . .Certified Zentangle Teachers (CZT).  WooHoo!

Me: back row, right, in shade with shades.

We had beautiful weather but wouldn't have known it but for the lovely terrace where we had all our meals (and a few late night parties).

What an awesome, lovely and lively, fun group!!!  I think EVERYONE was happy!  But after all, we were in a state of ZENtangle!   

Here is a photo of work done at the seminar (CZT 15) and since.  I even took a Zentangle project along on the latest trip to Maine.

Latest tanglings

Fabulous new friends:
Barb, me, Candy, Marty
Pat, Susan

The Providence Hotel, Providence, RI, was so lovely and the food and service was awesome.  We spent many pleasant and often joy filled hours in the classroom.  We also spent evenings (after evening learning break outs)  on the terrace getting to know each other better over wine and giggles!  Bless the three boys that were in this group.  They definitely didn't become one of the girls but added just the right manly touch to the group.

I'm  too tired from all the excitement over the last month to do the event  blog-justice (it WAS BUCKET LIST material).    Too tired to think of any more words to write so will just post a few more photos.

Mentors/Teachers/Zentangle Creators Maria Thomas and Rick Roberts.  Genuine!

Rick and Maria present John (one of 3 male teacher/students) with a prize. . .a collaborative Zentangle work.  All of us tangled a small portion to make this lovely art piece!

Guest speaker, Laura Harms, "I Am the Diva!"

My diploma.  (Taking a bow)



Steve and I will be changing tracks and trains again as we ready this house for the market and prepare for a move.  I see a lot of calming Zentangle in my future!

Special thanks to Rick and Maria, Molly, Martha and the whole crew.  It was a blessed bucket list event!

Carol Dee, CZT!