We had fun in Anacortes!

What a WON-DER-FUL group of students attended my September 28th beginning class in Anacortes! You were a delight to teach, and I thank you for bringing your enthusiasm to class with you. As in the past, The Center for Happiness made a terrific venue, even with the wind and rain whipping outside all afternoon. Thank you to Laura LaVigne for her hospitality.

Students, I hope you are tangling your little hearts out, and enjoying your new knowledge. Let me know when you are ready to take your tangling "Beyond the Basics," and we'll get together again. In the meantime, tangle on!

New Zentangle® classes forming!

Hey now! I've got new dates for upcoming Zentangle 101 Basics classes. If you would like to get started tangling the Zentangle way, or if you would like to take a refresher course, take your pick of...

• November 9th
• December 7th or
• January 11th

All three beginning classes are from 1 to 3 pm in the Woodinville, WA, area.

If you've taken the Basics 101 class and are ready to move on, join me for a Beyond the Basics class, with a different topic every time. Contact me for dates. Sample topics include:

• Tangle Enhancements
• On the Grid
• Made to Shade
• Grow an Organic Tangle Garden

Space is limited, so it's best to get your name in early. To register, please email me at arupley55(at)gmail.com with the class and date you would like to attend, and let's get our tangle on!

 

The fine print... Class fees are prepaid to guarantee a special spot just for you, so I will send a PayPal invoice for you to complete the registration process. You will then receive a confirmation email with class details upon receipt of your registration fee.

A few seats left for Anacortes Zentangle® class on Saturday!

Hey, ya'll! We are down to the wire on time to register if you'd like to participate in the Zentangle 101 Basics class at The Happiness Center in Anacortes, WA, this coming Saturday, September 28th. We have just a few spots left. If you have been waiting to register, wait no more! Email me at arupley55(at)gmail.com to get in on the tangling fun!

Take a tangling class in Anacortes, WA, in September!

I will be returning to teach at The Center for Happiness in Anacortes, WA, on Saturday, September 28, 2013. If you have ever thought of taking a class or wondered about Zentangle®, this would be just the place for you to start.

There will be two Zentangle 101 Basics classes offered that day. UPDATE: Morning class time had a typo. It's a 2.5 hour class, beginning at 11:00 am.

• The morning session is from 11:00am to 1:30pm.
• The afternoon session is from 2:30pm to 5pm. (NOTE: If you were in the Basics class at the Center back in February, I suggest you sign up for this class. We may be able to include some additional tips and techniques if we have enough experienced students.)

While these classes are both suitable for beginning tanglers (and those who would like to brush up on their tangling skills), some content will vary. So, students are welcome to attend either or both classes. If you have taken a beginning class in the past, but would like to take this opportunity to commune with other tanglers in a fun setting, it is perfectly fine to repeat.

Remember, there is no formal art training necessary to tangle. "Anything is possible one stroke at a time™," and that is true. If you do have art in your background, you also will have a great time incorporating what you learn into your personal artistic style.

The fine print...

• Attendance requires advance prepaid registration of $40 per class, supplies included.
• Register by emailing ZartfullyTangled@gmail.com with your contact information and which session (or sessions) you are interested in attending.
• Enrollment is limited.
• Early registration, prior to September 14th, is encouraged to avoid cancellation due to low enrollment. (Your registration fee will be refunded if class must be cancelled.)
• Those attending both classes will be on their own for lunch during the break. 

At the February 2013 Anacortes class, we had a terrific group of enthusiastic students, and I'm looking forward to seeing some familiar faces and meeting new aspiring tanglers.

I also invite you to check out The Center (http://anacortescenterforhappiness.org/) and its "Happy Calendar" in more detail.

Someone wanted to know...

I was recently asked if "it was ok" to sign up for the 101 Basics class more than once. The person asking had taken a 101 Basics class a while back and wanted a refresher. She wasn't ready to go on to a Beyond the Basics class, but thought that was required, or at least expected, of her. The short answer is, "Of COURSE it's ok."

I'm here to tell you that the Zentangle® method is all about meeting you where you are, where you want to be right now, without pressure or competition or evaluation. While there are a plethora of directions for you to go with this meditative art form, both in traditionally tangled tiles and in Zentangle-Inspired Art (ZIA), what is most important to me is that you be (or become) comfortable in your tangling at whatever level makes you happy.

So, yes, you can take the 101 Basics class once, twice, or three times if it makes you happy. I do vary the tangles that I teach in the 101 Basics class from time to time, so you may learn another tangle or two if you attend more than once. Or you may just gain confidence and feel more secure after a repeat session.

The written class evaluations I've gotten from past students usually comment on not just the fun they had learning something new, but also in my supportive and reassuring teaching style. I'm here to help you be and feel successful, so feel free to go at your pace, and if it means repeating a class, there's NO stigma or shame, only GREAT fun to be had.

To paraphrase Mr. Spock, in honor of the recently-released Star Trek adventure... "Tangle on and prosper."

Grow an Organic Tangle Garden with me on July 13th!

If you are on the list for my Zentangle® 101 Basics class in July, or have taken a beginning class from me or another Certified Zentangle Teacher in the past, you may want to jump in and "Grow an Organic Tangle Garden" in the Beyond the Basics class on July 13 from 2:30 to 4:30 pm. No Wellington boots, clippers, shovels, or leather gloves required.

We are going to learn how to compose a tangled "garden" using organic tangle patterns. Just as you would plan which plants to place where in a live garden, I'll share some ideas on which tangles work well together in a garden setting. Supplies are included in the class fee of $35. If you are interested, please contact me sooner than later, as space is limited in this Beyond the Basics class.

For questions or to register, email me at arupley55(at)gmail.com. Tangle on!

Waiting list for July 13 101 Basics Class

If you are looking for a 101 Basics class coming up, the next one with available openings is August 10 from 1 to 3 pm in Woodinville. There's been a flurry of interest in the Basics class this month, so there is now a waiting list for that date. As with the July date, class space is limited, so contact me to reserve your space soon. To register, email me at arupley55(at)gmail.com.

Zentangle class schedule set through August 2013

I've posted new information on class dates and content on the Classes page of this blog. Take a look and see what will work for you. I would love to help you along on your Zentangle® journey. Tangle on!

Ensemble tiles, 9 times the fun...

I've been meaning to post a sample of what you can do with the pre-strung ensemble tiles that you can get from your local CZT or from the www.Zentangle.com website. Below is a completed set that I tangled a while ago for an "ensemble exchange." In this exchange (which is a common thing to do with other tanglers), I kept my center tile and traded the other eight of these tiles for those tangled by other friends. We each ended up with an reassembled ensemble jointly created by the nine of us. My finished group ensemble is out getting framed at the moment. I'll post a photo at some point in the future.

 

So, here's how it works. When the tiles are laid out together in the 3 x 3 arrangement shown here, the strings in which to tangle are pre-drawn across the breaks in the tiles, leaving just the one border around the edge of the set of 9 tiles.

 

These ensembles are created from the same luxurious Fabriano Tiepolo artist's paper used for the blank Zentangle tiles, just utilized in a fun new way. On the back is space to sign your name, date, and add any notes or messages you want to, if you are participating in an exchange.

 

Interested in creating your own? Contact me. I'd be happy to help you.

 

 

Getting zen-spired and sharing it, again!

Admittedly, it's been a while since I posted, but I have to tell you (at least part of) why that's the case. In late March, I attended a gathering of Certified Zentangle® Teachers across the country from me in Northampton, Massachusetts. We spent a terrific and inspiring weekend learning from each other, sharing information, and getting both rev'ed up and a little silly. I know, that's not so zen, but it sure was fun. The only hiccup was the flight delay that caused me to spend an extra night in Hartford, CT, but hey, I had my tangling supplies, so I just chilled in the room and tangled away.

In these classes, I learned more about tangling with color, creating a tangled an "organic garden," and some additional "beyond the basics" ideas to share with my students. Our teachers included Marie Browning and Sandy Steen Bartholmew (love their books!), and I came home with a headful of tangled thoughts, but so excited.

Several of the CZTs which whom I attended certification training were able to make the trip as well, coming from places like California, Saskatchewan, and even Australia, in addition to those from the Northeast, South, and Midwest of the US, and other Canadian locales. The enthusiasm generated by being with these upbeat, sharing and caring people was nothing short of awesome.

Then, to make these last couple of months even better, Jenny, my CZT friend from Australia, made a trip through the Seattle area a few weeks later. We spent our time talking tangling, looking for patterns, shopping for teaching supplies, giggling, and eating gigantic pieces of deep chocolate layer cake at a restaurant in Edmonds, WA. The only down side was the Vegemite she brought along (wink, wink).

So apologies for the dearth of recent posts, but I'm back at it now. Working on a new list of dates for both Beginning Zentangle 101 and Beyond the Basics classes. I have some fun new ideas about the Beyond the Basics classes, which I'll explain here with an update before too long.

I'd like to give a shout out to all of my past students, as well. I've been re-reading your class evaluation forms, and while I'm enjoying that there are so many positive comments (thank you very much), I'm also taking note of what you said you would like to learn, so I can incorporate those things in upcoming classes.

If you already tangle, keep it up. If you would like to learn, contact me to start your Zentangle journey. You won't regret it!

Tangling a mermaid

Last weekend, I spent some time at a retreat at Camp Indianola on Puget Sound. A tangling opportunity presented itself in the form of a plywood blank in the shape of a mermaid. The nautical theme of the retreat and the mermaid outline got my imagination going. I decided to do a quick paint job on the plywood, which admittedly wasn't the smoothest "canvas" upon which to work, and then see what tangle patterns would suggest themselves. I only had limited pens available, so I worked with an Identipen for the majority of the project.

I tried for some patterns that suggested flowing hair and seaweed and some waves and foamy bubbles. I think it worked pretty well. I liked how the tangles just seemed to fit and grow into each other.

In the end, it was a fun experience. Next time I'd try it on a better surface with a pre-planned pen in mind to maximize the results. But here it is, warts and all, and I hope it gives you some ideas of your own. Actual size is about 24 inches in length.

 

 

If you are interested in learning the Zentangle® method of tangling, shoot me an email, and let's chat about it. Remember, "Anything is possible one stroke at a time."

Need a Tangle*A*Day 2013 calendar?

If you haven't seen Carole Ohl's newest Tangle*A*Day calendar, it's not too late to pick up one to kick-off your new year.

Carole's done an excellent job researching paper stock and has come up with a surface that's well-suited to your Sakura Pigma Micron 01 tangling pens. She's planned a nifty and useful page layout. It's a terrific tangling surface, and the daily box frames can be used in several different ways.

I'm posting some examples here to give you some ideas. You can do a solo tangle per day, or you can do multiple tangles on a single day. Try drawing a string within one day, or across two or three.

I have one copy remaining, available immediately, at $22.50. Contact me if you would like to snag it.

Tangle a couple of tangles a day for less than a month, and you will be all caught up!

"Survey says..." help, please!

Survey says... Part 1

I am currently working on updating curriculum for my Beyond the Basics class series. I would like some input from any of you tanglers who already know the basics, whether through my Zentangle® 101 Basics class, a class with another certified teacher, or your own exploration with the practice.

What topics most intrigue or confound you?
What tangles are you most interested in learning?
Is there a Zentangle Inspired Art project you'd like to try?

What would YOU like to learn?
 

Survey says... Part 2

Additionally, some of the CZTs with whom I collaborate and share resources have been asked if they would be willing to meet with some students to tangle on a regular basis, sort of a mini-class - something like a quilting group or book club - to provide some guidance for a reduced fee.

I don't presently have such a group planned for my local area, but I'd consider it. I'm interested in hearing from you if it's something that "tangles your fancy." If you are in King, Pierce, or Snohomish County, or maybe a bit further afield, let me know what you think.


You can either comment on this post, or preferably, email me at arupley55(at)gmail.com.

And thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts.

Linda Farmer's "Tangle Guide, 2013 Edition" now available

I know, I know. I JUST posted about how you don't need to know every tangle and pattern and try to corral all the step-outs. And that IS true.

But as a public service, I did want to let you know that the 2013 edition of Linda Farmer's lovely Tangle Guide has been published. Linda does a stellar job of doing that corraling of all manner of tangles and patterns for the rest of us tanglers. Her website, www.TanglePatterns.com, has all kinds of links and resources and step-outs and suggestions and lions and tigers and bears, oh my! (Just kidding about the animals...)

Linda has put together a guide with almost more tangles and patterns than you can imagine, and this updated edition covers all the new ones up until the very end of 2012.

If you are interested in your own personal copy, you can get the details from her at http://tanglepatterns.com/2013/01/the-tanglepatterns-com-tangle-guide-2013-edition-is-here.html. Linda does ask for a minimum $12 donation in return for an e-copy of the guide, which helps enable her to keep on providing us with this superb service that she has put together.

If you DO get a copy of the guide (or even if you just go to the website), remember, start small. Try the official tangles first, or if you see another one that you just love, ok, try that one, too. Patience and practice will pay off.

Tangle on!

Recommend-A-Friend program still on for 2013

Tangling the Zentangle® way is even better with friends!

With the Recommend-A-Friend program, receive $5 off of your class registration fee with each friend's paid registration. Good for all class levels. Not valid for classes taught at organized venues. Limit per class to the value of the class fee, not including supplies cost.

Grab a friend (or 2 or 3), and you’ll have a ready-made shared group activity when you get together forever after.

Contact me for available class dates.

Overwhelmed by tangles and patterns?

I've been meaning to address this for a while now, as it happened to me when I first started tangling. There are around 140 official Zentangle® tangles at this point in time. There are at least a few hundred more tangles and patterns* available in books and on-line. While that's an amazing collection to which we have access, what's a new tangler to do?

At first, I frantically tried to collect step-outs** of them all, organizing them alphabetically in a 3-ring binder with page protectors. I spent so much time organizing, I hardly had time for the tangling. Not exactly how I wanted to spend my time. 

Then I took a class from a Certified Zentangle Teacher, got more in touch with the simplicity of the practice, and quit trying to go for the gusto with my all-encompassing binder (which by then was two binders because the first one wasn't big enough to hold all I was collecting!). It was suggested to me that I start with the official tangles, about 130 at that time, which I learned from both certified teachers and on my own with step-outs. I still don't have them all memorized, frankly, but that will come, as with other practices, with time.

Memorizing all the tangles and names isn't as important as the practice of Zentangle. Rick Roberts, one of the founders of the Zentangle method, commented on their Zentangle blog (http://zentangle.blogspot.com/) that he and Maria (Thomas - the other founder) both have their favorites, their "go-to" tangles that they like to use frequently. I have my favorites, and you will, too. It's not a rule that you have to like all of the tangles equally or even use them at all.

So, first, relax. Don't stress out. Don't try to do what I did. Pick up a tile and your pen and pencil and start small. Go easy. Enjoy the process. The rest will come with time. In your time, and nobody else's.

Tangle on!

* Not all patterns can be tangles. Tangles are non-representational structured patterns made up of no more than two or three (and frequently only one) of the five elemental strokes of the Zentangle Method. Patterns are all around us in our world, and many are suitable for deconstructing to create a tangle. However, not all patterns can become successful tangles. They can be fun and interesting, and you may choose to use them in your Zentangle Inspired Art (ZIA). But to keep to the basic tenets of the Zentangle Method and receive the most benefit from the practice, tangles, official or not, are the first choice over patterns.
  
** Step-outs are simply the step-by-step instructions, usually 6 steps or fewer, that show how a tangle (or pattern) is created.

Come on, get happy!

Happy New Year (a little delayed)! I hope the holiday season was one of joy and blessings for you, and that your 2013 is off to a great start. It's cold, cold, cold here this last week, but that just means it's a terrific time to sit by the fire, or wherever suits your fancy, and tangle away, which I've been doing.

Had a lovely time in a Zentangle® 101 Basics class with four new tanglers last Saturday. I am always pleased and surprised at how each student takes to tangling and does it with his or her own style, even when I teach them all the same basic Zentangle method.

More on that another time. Back to getting happy... I wanted to let you know about a class I'll be teaching at the Anacortes (WA) Center for Happiness on February 17, 2013. The link for more detail and to sign up for the class is http://anacortescenterforhappiness.org/zentangle-workshop/. 

The class will be another Zentangle 101 Basics class, plus a bit. The Sunday afternoon class is a 3-hour format, from 1 to 4 pm, rather than the more standard 2-hour Basics class I usually teach. As noted on the website, there is a class minimum of 10, so if you are interested, don't delay registering so the Center can get an accurate count.

What is the Center for Happiness, you say? According to founder Laura Lavigne, "the Anacortes Center for Happiness is both a movement and a place. One of Washington's very first Social Purpose Corporations, the Center's stated mission is to "provide joy, growth, connection and kindness to its patrons and anyone associated with it - as well as the local, state, national and world community." As a movement, it is an invitation for you, wherever you are, to join us and participate in raising your own happiness, as well as the world's happiness."

 

It's an intriguing concept, and I invite you to check out the Center (http://anacortescenterforhappiness.org/) and its "Happy Calendar" in more detail.

The world can always use more happiness, and so can each of us. Zentangle is a life-skill and tool that can make a difference in your "happiness quotient." So come on, sign-up and get happy!