In November I was fortunate enough to attend the 1st CZT (Certified Zentangle Teacher) reunion – zenAgain, sponsored by the founders of Zentangle®, Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas.  This 3 day gathering brought about 215+ CZTs together from all over the world.  It was a joy to meet many of my virtual colleagues in person.

There were new products, techniques, tangles and constructs presented that will enhance our ability to engage our Zentangle students.

Since I’m at my winter home in Panamá my students here will learn all about these things first.  On Friday January 6th I will be teaching my returning students these new tangles:
Drawings, Waybop, ICanThis and Noom

Drawings – pronounced Draw Wings

Also we’ll explore the new 3Z tiles – both plain and pre-strung.

The January schedule offers four workshop days.  Each session includes a Zentangle Basics and an Intermediate/Advanced workshop. The details are here http://www.tangleclubhouse.com/workshops/workshop-schedule/

At this time Jane is also offering a free copy of the book she curated The Mindful Drawer (I’m in the book too!) if you sign up for her newsletter at The Mindful Drawer website.

As always the best way to learn the Zentangle Method is to take an in-person workshop with a CZT.  Go to the Zentangle official website to find a teacher in your country/state  Search for Certified  Zentangle Teacher   While you are on the official Zentangle site consider signing up for the free Newsletter where you’ll stay up to date on Zentangle related news and often be treated to a new tangle from the founders of Zentangle – Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas.  

Thanks for reading, Bette Abdu your Certified Zentangle Teacher in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire, USA and  San Carlos, Panama

Zentangle on 3.5″ Sq white tile click for larger view

Zentangle® has become better known in this year due to numerous factors.  More Certified Zentangle Teachers (CZTs), the proliferation of books and videos and of course the Internet (Blogs, Websites, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and lots of other online venues)   Those of us who learned the Zentangle Method (patent pending) from the founders, Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas applaud this serge in popularity and familiarity.  However along with this visability has come numerous ‘interpretations’  that don’t really share the essential elements of Zentangle.

Purely Zentangle

Additionally there has been a proliferation of Zentangle Inspired Art (ZIA).  ZIAs deviate from the Zentangle Method in a variety of ways (often it is representational, end result oriented, color, media used et al).  This can be confusing to those just learning about Zentangle.

If you’d like to know more about the real Zentangle here are some suggestions:
1. Visit the website of the founders of Zentangle and sign up for the free newsletter while you are there.
2. If you have not taken a live workshop with a CZT yet please consider doing so.  There really is a difference.  You’ll learn about the subtleties of the Zentangle Method that transform it into a relaxing activity that will improve your focus, open up your creativity, reduce stress and more.
3. Join the Facebook group just for Zentangle.  Square One: Purely Zentangle®
Two fellow CZTs, Chris Titus and Jenny Perruzzi, decided to create a Facebook page that is only for posting images and discussion about Zentangle in its simplest form.  3.5″ square white tiles, black pen and pencil for stirings and shading.   I’m enjoying getting back to the basics of Zentangle and have posted there several times.  The tiles in this post are ones you’ll see from me (Bette Abdu) on the Square One: Purely Zentangle® Facebook page.

click for larger view

3. Visit Tangle Patterns  There are lots of interesting articles and tutorials at this site.
In a July post to this popular website Linda Farmer says:
“Remember that Zentangle is a mindful process, not a picture-drawing race against time. Savor each stroke!”

Tangle On!
Bette Abdu
Certified Zentangle Teacher

Saturday July 12th I’m hosting a Tangle Time for CZTs and any Tangler who has taken a workshop with a CZT at the Gordon-Nash Library in New Hampton, NH from 10am – 2pm  Those who want to join in the fun should RSVP at MeetUP site. This is a free gathering (not a workshop) but a donation to the library is suggested.

For those who are interested in a more extensive opportunity to Tangle, Tangle, Tangle without distractions please consider the 4th Annual Retreat for CZTs and Avid Tanglers.  A  long weekend with no day-to-day duties — just tangling.

The Diva Challenge #175 was today’s project.  I used the Renaissance Tile (a lovely tan paper) that seemed to fit the bill for this challenge.  This week is a UMT (use my tangle) and Crux by Henrike Bratz  was the chosen tangle.

Here’s my entry

Mono-tangle using Crux

Here is my contribution to this effort to entice Charles Osgood to interview Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas, the founders of Zentangle for his show.

Zentangle, Note, envelope sent to CBS Sunday Morning show on April 1, 2014

Some CZTs who come from a quilting background include:
Pat Ferguson, Connecticut, USA  Pat’s book Zen Quilting is available via my Amazon link (yep I get a tiny cut and you get the best price by purchasing via this link – thanks)
Elaine Huffman, Massachusettes, USA
Jane Monk in Tasmania, Australia
Nancy Smith Colorado, USA 

Nancy Smith Quilted Zentangle Pillows

In fact it is Nancy Smith’s just published YouTube videos for Quilters Newsletter Magazine that prompted me to write this post.  On December 27, 2013 the episode is called Make a Quilted Zentangle Card with Nancy Smith.
Yesterday another project segment was posted called Make a Quilted Zentangle Pillow with Nancy Smith.  (picture above is from this video)

Consider taking a Zentangle Basics workshop with me to learn the basics of the Zentangle Method.  They spread your wings with one of the many Zentangle Inspired Art forms (ZIA)  such as Zentangle on Fabric.  Check the workshop schedule or send a message with your request for a ZIA topic.

Zentangle on Fabric Workshop sample

Happy New Year
Bette Abdu, Certified Zentangle Teacher

There is plenty of instructional value woven into the creation of The Bauble Tree. Only one tangle, the Bauble, has step outs but the other tangles are from Sandy’s immensely popular Zentanlge® tomes, Totally Tangled and Yoga for Your Brain® (yep Yoga for Your Brain is Sandy’s trademarked phrase) or from the well know tangles from Zentangle.  What I enjoyed the most was the dialog that shares the progressive thinking used to build the tree and embellish it.  Shading is explained in dialog and images. This shading section is completed with an excellent one page graphical tutorial on ‘shading round things’.  In addition to sharing details of the pens and paper used you’ll learn about Shear Heaven from Cre8it for transfers and lots of useful information about the unique Derwent Inktense Pencils for adding color.

What could be better?  OK there is something even better. Sandy is offering this newest e-book in her Inspiration Sketchbook series as a holiday gift with a deep discount until Dec 25th.  Regular price is only $8.50 but with the code from her blog you may download it for just $1.00.  So head over to the Beez in the Belfry blog post to get the details and order you copy.

http://beezinthebelfry.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-bauble-tree.html

Tangled Star

Tangled dimensional stars are a lovely way to decorate a Christmas tree or to adorn your holiday table.

Yesterday at a gathering of New Hampshire Certified Zentangle Teachers we constructed some of these stars.  We used a paper that has a nice surface to tangle on and a bit of substance to hold the folds,  Antipasto made by Vercata but any drawing paper will do.

The size of the initial perfect square will determine the size of the resulting star.  Fold, cut and adjust the fold lines first.  Then flatten it to apply your tangles and re-establish the folds to achieve the dimensional look.
If you’d like to give it a try you can see directions for this project here. Note these directions are offered for personal use only.

If you’d like to take a Zentangle workshop or give one as a gift this holiday season please check out my workshop schedule.

Remember that if the classes posted don’t work for you I offer workshops in private homes for groups that you assemble.  Scheduling these workshops is done on a case by case basis so please contact me if you’d like details.