Oh my, another sunny day.  They are increasingly rare, and so I treasure them.  It's downright cheerful outdoors, though cold.  Great to see the sun. 

So where's the fog?  I did this tile this morning as part of my continuing experiment with incising tiles rather than using pen on them.  So it's done only with a stylus, graphite, and after that I used some watercolor pencils to add a bit of color.  I thought it came out quite "foggy."

This was done for the final piece of the Gratitangles2018 Project (November) and is the tile for day 30.  I am officially done and really enjoyed the month.  As I was doing this tangle this morning, I was grateful for whoever invented Gratitangles, and grateful that I had a chance to participate.  I hope I can continue this practice of being-grateful-while-tangling.  It makes a big difference in mood.

I'm intrigued by experiments with the incision technique and plan to continue them a bit. These truly are experiments.  Here is one (below) that didn't work so well.  I did this on a Bijou tile (2x2") and used General's Chalk Pencils for color...in order to get the color I had to rub fairly hard and I noticed the wonderful Fabriano Tiepolo paper did NOT like the rubbing.  You can see that it was beginning to shred.

I'll put that on in the "No fail, no learn" category and I'm glad I tried it.  I have some other ideas that may work better on the Fabriano Tiepolo paper.

This is highly representative of my state of mind.  Here we have a tile that covers days 26, 27, and 28 of the Gratitangles Project.  I'm almost done.

The tangle Bales (day 26) starts out on the left looking reasonably like itself, but then as it moves over to the right of the tile it's desperately trying to escape.  Or spread its wings.  Or something.  Munchin (day 27), a tangle that is usually free-form and wild, doesn't look much like itself here at all, though it too begins to look like an escapee by the time it gets to the right side of the tile.

This piece went places I couldn't have imagined.  It reflects where I've been for a couple of days--very busy and unable to do much creating, so today's work is trying to "spring out of its firm-looking boundaries."  Fine with me!

Though busy and l-o-n-g, both days included good things.  And yesterday, although I didn't do much creating myself, I spent much of the afternoon visiting old friends who are both incredibly creative.  Good conversation and plenty of art-related eye candy made for a lovely day, and inspiration.

Today, it was lovely to stay close to home after so much traveling and allow myself to rest.  I could not have predicted the results of this tile, but I'm liking it a lot.

So in keeping with the Gratitangles Project, while I was drawing this today I was feeling grateful for delightful surprises, grateful for old and dear friends, grateful for a good night's sleep, and for the steady sunshine we had all day.  And grateful for being an escapee (able to withdraw from regular life on occasion).  I don't need to do so often, but when I do, it's nourishing.

The beginning today:  I began designing another large rug.  It's too early by far to show anything, but I am pleased with the start.
The ending today:  After endless rain and then multiple overly-early snowstorms, we finally got all the leaves cleaned up.  It took all day.  Since I'm focusing on gratitude this month, I want to say how relieved I am that I no longer have to do this myself.  Because I live in a condo, someone else does it for me, and of course they have all the right tools & equipment, saving my old bones the effort.  Thank you, thank you.

Two small tangled pieces today...

Above is a black Zentangle® 3-Z tile with White Gellyroll pen and White General's Charcoal. The tangle is called XLnt and it's by CZT Jody Genovese (you can find it on tanglepatterns.com). This is my first try at it, and wowza, it was not easy for me to figure out. I like it very much though and think I'll be using it a lot. This was done for the "It's a String Thing #271" Challenge on Adele Bruno's website.

And this one is done on a tiny Bijou tile (2"x2") using Gold Gellyroll pen and A bit of White Gellyroll, with colors by General's Chalk pencils.  The tangle in the center is Zenith, and that was our assignment for the Gratitangles Project, day 25.  I mixed in a Footlites tangle on either side (same project, day 14).  Zenith is a tangle I always mean to use, and rarely do.

While working on these tiles I could not help thinking of things I am grateful for today:  For example, safe housing, with great caretakers who moved those leaves efficiently and who also take care of the snow and ice.  I'm grateful for the snow tires I had put on my car yesterday.  I am grateful that I even HAVE a car and the money for snow tires. 

I've been feeling the itch to draw a bit again (other than tangles).  One thing I know about drawing is that if you don't use it, you lose it.  And I haven't used it in months, other than tangling. 

This morning as I lay in bed I knew I wanted to sketch something--anything--quickly.  So I got out of bed, grabbed a pencil and post-it note, and did a 4-minute sketch of the Buddha that a friend just brought me from her trip to Asia. 

This was a straight-from-the-bed-into-a-sketch moment of madness.  After all, we each have something we need to do first thing after getting out of bed, right?  And I hadn't done that yet.  So I guarantee it was very short.  And not particularly good.  But you gotta start somewhere.

Not a masterpiece, but could be worse after months and months of inactivity with drawing.  Perhaps this is the start of something.

I've been participating in the "Gratitangles2018" project, an annual November event centered around the theme of Thanksgiving Day in the United States.  I'd include a link to it, but honestly, I don't know who started this or where to find the right link.  And I've looked.  I don't even know who sent me the list this year. 

But in this time when the United States feel less "united" than at any time since the 60s (meaning, the 1860s, when we had the Civil War), I really need to focus on what I can be grateful for...and that is still a lot.

Yesterday, Day 23 of the project, one of my least favorite tangles came up:  Jonqal.  I've never liked it and never ever tried it.  However, I'd committed myself, so I put on some meditative music and gave it a try last night.  Result:

Here's the thing:  I still don't like it, but I'm glad I tried it.  And I admit I like the result better than I expected.  Even though mine is far from perfect (perfection is not what Zentangle® is about, anyway!) and doesn't look like the "classic" version.  [See the "classic" images HERE.] 

It will never be a go-to tangle, but I'm glad I gave it a try.  Lesson learned!  I'm thankful that I made the effort to attempt it, and the attempt was the major part of the lesson.  I want to try more things in life, whether I think I'll like them or not.  I also noticed that the process of doing this was just as relaxing as it is with all of the other tangles that I so strongly prefer.  It got me to the same place, even if it's not--like the sketch at the top of today's post--any type of masterpiece.

It isn't about the masterpieces.  It's all about the work.

It's now day 24 and I tried out a tangle I've only done once before.  Click HERE to see my one-and-only previous try at it.  I supersized it that time, and really like the effect.  Today, though, I did the more classic version.  It wasn't half as easy as the supersized one, and I messed up in places, but I like the result anyway:

Little darling, the smile's returning to the faces
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun
Here comes the sun, and I say
It's all right
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun,…
(the Beatles)

There are so many things to be thankful for today, but let me begin with seeing the sun.  Where I live we haven't had a sunny day in a long time, and although it's extremely cold out, I notice how much the sunshine has lifted my mood.  I can't be the only one feeling this way.

I've a long list of things to be grateful for, including the fact that I was able to do some Zentangle® last night and today, a process that is so meditative and so centering that I feel extremely lucky to have stumbled on it years ago.  Here's last night's tangle:

Next, I did a tangle for Diva Challenge #377.  This piece definitely has a "What the hell happened here???!!!" feel to it, as it ended up in such an unexpected result, with colors I rarely use.  But that's ok--I like it.  Later today I'll treat myself to going to the Diva's page (see link above) and see how everyone else handled this "duotangle" (combining 2 tangles).  I expect I'll be astounded and intrigued by all the different approaches, as always.  Here it is:

I also had time to find a place for the lovely little Buddha my good friend P brought back from her month-long trip to Asia.  There is now another tiny altar in my house:

Gratitude today, in no particular order, for:

• Sunshine.
• Heat, hot water, food, shelter.  So many people do not have some or all of these.
• Dear, dear friends.  How do they put up with me?  I'll never understand, but feel so happy that they do.
• Health.  It ain't perfect, but whose is?  It's "good enough." 
• That my friend who recently had surgery is on the road to recovery.  It's a long road but she is making good progress.
• Zentangle.  And art in general.  They keep me sane.
• Meditation, and all those who practice, including our teachers.  With metta.
• Our beautiful Mother Earth, who supports us even though we are making a mess of Her.  May we wake-up-and-smell-the-coffee, and change our ways before it's too late.
  

“When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.”
--Willie Nelson

Another piece for the Grati-tangle2018 Project.  This is the start of Thanksgiving Week here in the USA, and it's good to be actively looking for things to be thankful for in these very troubling times.

As I worked on this one, I really focused line-by-line and enjoyed the meditative aspect of the drawing.  I was thinking about how fortunate I am to have a home, food, warm clothing, and good friends.  All things that so many people in this world do not have.  I was also thinking about how happy I am that my friend who has been dealing with a very tough health issue is on the mend...not that it will be speedy, but she is getting better.

Lastly, I was grateful for having found this Oriental rug at a local auction last Friday night and paying next to nothing for it.  Only one other person bid on it and I won.

We are expecting our first snow of the season, here in the Northeastern US.  Things are growing progressively quieter as people scurry to get home before the snow begins.

This is another Zendala tile for the Grati-tangles2018 Project.  I've nearly caught up now and am so enjoying myself.  I was focused today on gratitude for good friends and for lovely art materials.

This tile went somewhere I never expected.  I was in an experimental mode.

Interesting to see how the colors have washed out on this one as I uploaded it.  It's actually both greener and bluer.  I made some adjustments but still cannot capture the color.

I worked on this piece yesterday and today.  It's part of the Grati-tangles2018 Project.  As I worked I was thinking of how grateful I am when I am able to "change the frame" if things go wrong during the day.  Not that I'm  good at it yet!  But I'm doing better.

Another tile for the Grati-tangle2018 project.  This one has a variation of Fracas and also the tangle Marasu.

While working on this tile I was grateful for all the things I've been given that allow me the luxury of time and tools to practice this form of meditative art.  I am lucky indeed.

And one last tile for today, same project.  The tangle is Cyme and it's for day 10.

While working on this tile, I was thinking that I am grateful that I know a posse of women who are skilled healers and ready/able to work on a friend who's in need of help.  Gratitude to these friends.  We are geographically scattered but I trust them all and love them all.

Here is a quote that captures the nature of the work we've done together over the years:
“I dreamt we walked together along the shore. We made satisfying small talk and laughed. This morning I found sand in my shoe and a seashell in my pocket. Was I only dreaming?”
― Maya Angelou

Indeed, SVFs...indeed.

Here is a completely WRONG version of the tangle Cadent.  This is what happens when you're so tired you can't see straight.  It's drawn incorrectly from start to finish.  Things don't connect as they should.  I was  aware of it while I was drawing but did not care one bit, had fun, then shaded it and called it done.  It's for the Gratitangles2018 Project, Day 5. 

While I was doing it I was being grateful for all that I have been given in life.

This one's an old favorite called Verdigogh, and represents Day 6 of the Gratitangles2018 Project.  Once again I was aware of how tired I was as I was working on this, and so while I was tangling I was very grateful that I'm at a point in life where I have a lot of control over my own schedule (in other words, if I'm overscheduled it's usually because I do it to myself).  I am grateful that I have the personal choice and luxury of changing this.  So...why don't I?  Because I hate to miss ANYTHING.  Jeez.

Heavy rain both last night and this morning, followed by high winds.  I sat in front of my picture window and watched as every last leaf blew off the many trees outside.  It is now officially November, with denuded trees.  In the back of my house, where yesterday I saw nothing but colorful fall leaves on the trees, I now see only tree trunks and the houses on the next street over.  Yesterday those houses were still invisible.

It is November in every way, after the gusty winds took the leaves from the trees and plastered them onto wet streets, sidewalks, and lawns.

Something is off in that photo--the lighting, for sure!  It's done on a white Zentangle® tile which surely doesn't look white.  Micron 01 pen and graphite, white gellyroll pen to add the dots and a few highlights.  Tangles are Opus and Jetties.  Part of the November Gratitangle Project, Days 3 and 4.

While tangling, I focused on being grateful for:
My good friend in the hospital who is now just beginning to recover.  I know it will take time, but I'm grateful she is ok and that she has access to world-class healthcare.

I'm leaving shortly for four days of tangling heaven--I particularly appreciate the opportunity to attend an art workshop while the American mid-term election is going on (next Tuesday).  And yes, I have already voted via absentee ballot since I won't be here.  But if I were here, my doorbell would be ringing and I'd be barraged by television ads on how to vote.  It will be a massive relief to escape to art-land until after it's over.  And I desperately hope we move in the direction of civility, sanity, and kindness.

Yesterday's tangle was titled Rain, and as if invoked, it has been pouring all day today, including thunder and lightning.  We've had a rainy spring, a heavily rainy summer, and now a very rainy autumn.  We have had more than enough rain.

So for today's tangling I decided to use a Bronze Stardust Gellyroll pen in an effort to invoke the sun.  It's still pouring, and heavy rain is forecast for tomorrow so I'm not hopeful.

This is still part of the "Gratitangles2018" challenge. 

Today I am grateful that my friend who just had surgery is beginning to feel better.  And that the heavy cold I have had for weeks now is beginning to lift.

Just for fun I ran the original photo above through my iPhone app and got this, which I like equally well:

In October there was the "Inktober Challenge."  In November, there is something called "Gratitangles2018."  A challenge in the spirit of the American Thanksgiving holiday.  I don't know if I will be able to fully participate, but here is Day One of this challenge.  The tangle is Rain, and I did this on a Renaissance tile with brown and black microns and a white 08 gellyroll with graphite and a bit of General's white chalk pencil.  Gratitude that my friend made it safely through her surgery.