spiraling into the center

This piece (another one I did while at Tangle University) was done using a stencil.  We were all given different stencils to play with, and I lucked out when I opened mine and saw it was a nautilus shape...many other participants were eyeing it with lust in their hearts.  As this design is a favorite of mine, I felt very fortunate.

One of the many reasons I love the symbol of the nautilus shell can be found in Oliver Wendell Holmes' well-known poem "The Chambered Nautilus," which most of us read in school:

"He left the past year’s dwelling for the new,
Stole with soft step its shining archway through,   
Built up its idle door,
Stretched in his last-found home, and knew the old no more..."

The way this poem encompasses the idea that we must grow, and then let go and enter an entirely "new chamber," grow more, let go again...a lesson I very much need to learn.  Especially because of the pattern it creates--which can only be seen in retrospect, and which is so lovely.  May it be so for all of us, in each of our lives.

None of the printing I did at Tangle U turned out well and I had to augment all the prints with Gelly Roll pens, as I recall.  The teaching was great--the fault in poor printing was all mine.  I do like this tangle, though.  It has a lacy, calming, feminine feel that appeals to me.  I remember feeling peaceful as I was working on it, despite the fact that it didn't start out well.  Somehow it came together once I stuck with it. 

Another valuable lesson from working with Zentangle.