What is a Zentangle?

Zentange: two 3.5" tiles. (done on white paper, but light turned photo yellow)

Dear readers~In my post called “Award Time!”, I had to tell you 10 things about me that you might not know.  Statement number 5 was:  5. I like to Zentangle.    

After I posted it, I received some questions:  ”What is a Zentangle?”  ”What does #5 mean?”

So tonight’s post will be about ZENTANGLES.   A Zentangle is much like doodling, but it is considered a form of art.  A Zentangle is a line or pattern that is repeated over and over.  Did you ever get bored in a meeting or class and start drawing on your paper?   You probably were doodling.  Anyone can doodle, and anyone can Zentangle!   People of all ages Zentangle~ from kindergartners to over the age of 100!

1. There is no right or wrong way to Zentangle.
2. Zentangling is relaxing, meditative, helps with focusing and fosters creativity.
3. You don’t need fancy, expensive materials to Zentangle.
4. You don’t need to take a class to Zentangle.  You can start right now!  (although classes are available in some places)
5. Schools use Zentangles to teach children to focus, and to have fun without worry of being “correct”.

*A good thing to do is visit the Zentangle website:  click here.
*The first book (and best!) I bought is Zentangle Basics by Suzanne McNeill.  It has great beginner Zentangle ideas.
I found the book for $8.99 in paperback on Amazon, but you can probably find it in bookstores.
*Some excellent Zentangle videos are found here:  click here 

Materials needed:
Paper~  any kind….white is best, I’ve used tracing paper (it’s cheap!) and white drawing paper.
Template~ you will need a 3.5″ x 3.5″ square of paper to trace for each of your Zentangle “tiles”
***Note: children use a  5.5″ x 5.5 ” square “tile”, as their fine motor skills are not as fine tuned as adults.
Adults may use the 5.5″ x  5.5″ size if they prefer.  Teens also like the 5.5″ tile, 8.5″ tile, as well as the 3.5″ one.
Pencil
Pen~ a black, permanent marker “Micron 01 Pigma” pigment pen is suggested.  I have used those, but I also
have used a very fine tipped black ink pen, and recently I found a very fine Sharpie marker that works extremely well for Zentangles.

Materials needed for Zentangles. And how to start a Zentangle.

In the photo above you can see the materials needed.  The pencil, pen (Sharpie Fine…silver & black barrel color), paper, and “tile” to trace for the 3.5″ square.

The color of the paper is much better here!

Steps to Zentangle:
In the photo with the materials, you will see three “tiles” or squares, showing you how you start:
1. Trace your shape on your white paper (I have the brown paper cut in a 3.5″ x 3.5″ size), so all I do is trace it…I don’t have to measure every time.
2. Make 4 dots just inside each of the four corners of your square.
3. Connect the 4 dots, so you have a “frame” inside your tile.  Note….they don’t have to be straight lines.  They can even have a loop in them.  Be creative!
4. Now make a Z or a loopy shape or anything you want…to divide the Tile into 3 or 4 sections as I did.
5.  Now you’re ready to ZENTANGLE !
6.  Start in one section and make a zig zag all the way from one end to another.  Go back and follow that zig zag line with another line near it, all the way…keep following that same line until you have filled the section.
7. Make up some ideas of your own, copy mine, Google Zentangle to get ideas….and have fun!

 

Zig Zags and checkerboards are a good way to start!

I want to thank Rick & Maria for starting Zentangle and give them credit here.

Have fun with Zentangle.  If you enjoy it…let me know!  Post photos too!
Judy

All text and images are copyright © 2002-2012 and are the exclusive property of Judy Johnson (unless otherwise indicated). All Rights Reserved. All Images are protected under United States and International copyright laws. None of the images on this site are in the Public Domain.

They told me I’d see a red rock………

So you know what I thought:  one, solitary, lonely, mound of red DIRT.   Well, ok, I’ll give my friends the benefit of the doubt…..I thought maybe I’d see a single Rocky BUMP or HILL.

In no way was I prepared for the jaw-dropping spectacle that awaited me when we drove into Sedona, Arizona.   I thought we had entered another world….and I guess we had!   There were massive red rocky monoliths everywhere I looked.

I kept my camera stuck to my side for the whole week!  Every turn in the road produced another photo opportunity, another gorgeous vista.  The best part, for me, was watching for the play of light across the huge rocks.  From early in the morning, until sunset, the sun changed the colors of these beautiful masterpieces of nature.

Here’s one of my favorites:

Sedona, AZ

I’ll post more another day.

Good night!
Judy

All text and images are copyright © 2002-2012 and are the exclusive property of Judy Johnson (unless otherwise indicated). All Rights Reserved. All Images are protected under United States and International copyright laws. None of the images on this site are in the Public Domain.

Is that really a snowflake?

Note…  I had three photos on my draft but they would not upload to the actual post.  I tried for 40 minutes to reload them and downsized them to a thumbnail.  They still would not load.  I am very frustrated.  This has happened before.   Has anyone had a similar problem?  

Hello blog readers!

We’ve had warm temperatures, rain, freezing rain, sleet, golfing weather and high winds but not much snow!  We are far behind our annual snow totals for this season.  It concerns me for our beautiful Freshwater Seas….our Great Lakes, that surround our state of Michigan.  The lakes depend on moisture, such as rain and snow to keep their water levels up.  This low-snow year is not boding well for our lakes.  We need much more snow to ensure higher lake water levels.

Today we awoke to a snowstorm.  All the trees were covered with white “frosting” and the flakes were falling from the sky at a heavy rate.  I have a quest to try and catch snowflakes on my photos, so I set my image speed high and went outside.  The wind was furious and the snow whirled around me.  But I was able to capture some snowflakes.

About 3 hours later, the sun came out and the skies turned blue with puffy white clouds.  I can’t tell you the last time we saw blue skies like this!   In Michigan we say: “If you don’t like the weather…wait a minute, and it will change.”   I have a feeling Michigan is not the only state that takes credit for that quote!

Blue spruce

The Blue Spruce stands tall and mighty against the wind, protecting birds from the elements.

 

Good night! Sleep well…
Judy

All text and images are copyright © 2002-2012 and are the exclusive property of Judy Johnson (unless otherwise indicated). All Rights Reserved. All Images are protected under United States and International copyright laws. None of the images on this site are in the Public Domain.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Hope

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Hope.

There is Hope in a rosebud; Hope for the future flower that will soon burst forth, petal by petal.  There is a great amount of energy inside this rosebud, gathering force to push forward.  For this rosebud, Hopefully, there will be a future, if the weather cooperates, and other obstacles such as animals, clumsy feet and clippers don’t get in the way.

There cannot be any Hope without action.  Along with Hope there must be motion, movement, endurance and strength.
The rosebud has all of these.   Struggling to make it to the bloom stage, it is full of action and Hope.

 Without a minimum of hope, we cannot so much as start the struggle.    ~Paulo Freire (1921-1997)*

*from Paulo Friere’s Pedagogy of Hope 

Have a good evening, readers…

Judy 

All text and images are copyright © 2002-2012 and are the exclusive property of Judy Johnson (unless otherwise indicated). All Rights Reserved. All Images are protected under United States and International copyright laws. None of the images on this site are in the Public Domain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Berry” Wet

Hello everyone!

 I’m sure you’ve noticed I like taking photos of the ornamental tree fruit in our yard!  I call the fruit “berries”, because I’m not sure if they are Ornamental Crab or Cherry trees.

No matter what their official name is, the bright red color is a nice contrast to the browns and grays, as well as the backdrop of snow at this time of year.

By this time of year, our berry crop is becoming depleted as the deer find them very  tasty.

The photo I have today was taken after a recent snowfall, when temperatures had started to rise again.

Good night, all…

Judy

All images are copyright © 2005-2012 and are the exclusive property of Judy Johnson (unless otherwise indicated). All Rights Reserved. All Images are protected under United States and International copyright laws. None of the images on this site are in the Public Domain.

Award Time!

I am hopelessly behind on giving out awards.   Here they come….  ;)

AWARD #1

Thank you so much, Amira, for nominating me for the Kreativ Blogger Award!  I am so honored to be considered for this award.  And to have it come from you, is the icing on the cake, for you are a very Kreativ Blogger!  Thank you again!  If you do not know Amira’s blog: MindBlur, please click on her name and visit.  You will not be disappointed!

Rules:

The Rule for the Kreativ Blogger Award is to tell 10 things about yourself.  Ten?

1. I like to sketch and draw
2. I love anything vintage
3. Swimming is my sport
4. I like weight lifting better than cardio

5. I like to Zentangle
6. I love detail….I look for detail in everything, buildings, art, clothing, photos, nature, sky and clouds…..
7. I celebrate diversity and the inclusion of all people, no matter what race or creed
8. while I love to wear black (pleez, it’s slimming!)~ I adore color everywhere
9. laugher is my other sport  ;)
10. I hope for Peace in the world……”give peace a chance~”

Name blogs that are deserving of the award….  and post the award on your blog.

Here are the names and links of the blogs I nominated to receive the Kreativ Blogger Award!  This is the hardest part for me. I love all the blogs I follow.  These blogs below are worthy of your time…check them out!  They are terrific!

Congratulations to all of you!
1.  bloggedbykate
2. cravesadventure
3. creativityaroused
4. inspiredandpretty
5. mirthandmotivation
6. montanaoutdoors
7. photonatureblog
8. anuneducatedpalate

Please check out these wonderful blogs above!

AWARD #2

One Lovely Blog Award..…….   Thank you Dolly and Demonsking!  I am flattered that you think of my blog in this way!  I will strive to live up to this award.  If you have not checked out Dolly’s blog or demonsking’s blog, please click on their names and go there.  They have awesome blogs!

There are no rules for this Award.   All you need to do is accept or decline.  You can post the award on your blog.  If you see a blog that you feel is happy, helpful, insightful, cheerful, or lovely, you are welcome to give them this award.   Enjoy!

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My nominee for One Lovely Blog Award is…

livingoutmypurpose  

Congratulations livingoutmypurpose!  Check out her blog….she has great posts!

 

 

AWARD #3 The Candle Lighter Award….. 

 

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Thank you so much, MJ, for nominating me for this wonderful award!   I am humbled that you chose me, and I will strive to keep the light burning brightly by being positive and making a good effort with my blog.  

There are no rules for this award.  All you have to do is accept or decline.   If you see a blog that is positive, brings light to the world and makes the world a better place…then you can give this award to them.

The recipients:

kvisionphotography

robertsantafede

Congratulations to you!  Everyone…please check out these two blogs!  They are great photo blogs!

Congratulations to everyone!

Judy

Old photos saved!

Hello blog readers….

I am truly happy tonight!  Some very special ten year old digital photos were able to be saved from loss and I now have them in this computer.

In 2002 I went to Italy with a brand new, credit-card sized Minolta DiMage Z digital camera.  I also took my old Nikon film camera.

In those days we had a PC computer, that died a horrible death….the hard drive blew up or something.  My photos were still in the PC computer but the question was: How do we get them out and into my Mac/iPhoto?  Well, the problem has been solved and my photos are safely in my Mac.  I feel as if I’ve been reunited with some old friends!

Now that I’m working with the photos, I noticed that the pixel size is 800 max.  Digital cameras have changed so much in ten years!  I plan to show some photos in the future, but I have one to share tonight.

I took this photo in Florence.  We  were in the process of climbing the 600 steps to the top of the Duomo of the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore.   “Basilica of Saint Mary the Flower” (the cathedral of Florence).  Along the stairway are a few windows, and I shot a couple photos through those windows.

I really like this photo because it captures part of the city and the countryside too.

Good night…

Judy

All text and images are copyright © 2002-2012 and are the exclusive property of Judy Johnson (unless otherwise indicated). All Rights Reserved. All Images are protected under United States and International copyright laws. None of the images on this site are in the Public Domain.

Recipe: Jason’s Super Bowl Snack Mix

Serving up today: Jason’s Super Bowl Snack Mix

This is another family favorite, it’s  SUPER EASY and it’s not just for the Super Bowl!  ;)  It makes a lot, so you may want to cut the ingredients in half.  Or, because it is so GOOD, you may just want to make the whole recipe and keep it in an airtight container for future snacking!

You will need one huge bowl, or at least two large bowls.

Jason’s Super Bowl Snack Mix

INGREDIENTS
1.one packet DRY Italian dressing mix
2.one bottle popcorn oil

3. 5-6 boxes/bags of any cracker or pretzel of your choosing.

DIRECTIONS

1. Combine the packet of dry Italian dressing mix with the bottle of popcorn oil, mixing well.

2. In a very large bowl combine 5 or 6 boxes of your favorite kinds of crackers and pretzels:
Example: Cheez It’s, Mini Ritz, pretzels, oyster crackers (small round white crackers), Wheat Thins….
you can use any cracker or snack of your choice.  (if you are using two large bowls instead of one huge bowl….put half of the crackers/pretzels in each bowl.)

3. Pour oil mixture over top and mix with a spoon very well.  The oil will sit on the bottom, so make sure to mix well.  If you are using two bowls, pour half of the dry dressing mix/popcorn oil over each bowl, stir cracker mix well to combine, then move some back and forth between the two bowls to get an even mix)
Store in an airtight container.
Enjoy!                  **Thanks to my daughter for this recipe**

This is so yummy, you may be tempted to eat it all yourself!   We’ve been nibbling all afternoon and evening!!
Good night~
Judy
All text and images are copyright © 2005-2012 and are the exclusive property of Judy Johnson (unless otherwise indicated). All Rights Reserved. All Images are protected under United States and International copyright laws. None of the images on this site are in the Public Domain.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Simple

                                                               Simple~”Shaker Box”

Mother Ann Lee founded the Shaker* movement in England. The Shakers desired freedom and religious tolerance.  Mother Ann and eight followers came to Albany, NY in 1774 and formed a settlement there.  Shaker life was very simple, driven by religious convictions, and hard work.

Their architecture followed their lifestyle.  It was almost stark in its simplicity, but served these economically conscious people well.  Mother Lee would remind them not to waste a thing.  The interior of their homes were simple as well.  ”Shaker Peg” hooks lined the walls and served as a place to hang coats, hats, as well as chairs, when not in use.  Shaker furniture was plain with clean lines.  The furniture was often made from pine which was durable, yet lightweight.

Mother Lee , a firm believer in hard work, reminded them to “Put your hands to work and your hearts to God.”

The Shaker box, as I have pictured above, was meticulously built individually so that each lid fit perfectly upon each base.
Craftsmen still make Shaker boxes the same way today, using the tools that the Shakers would have used.  The boxes were used to hold everything in a Shaker household from buttons, to dry goods, from shop tools to kitchen items.  In addition, they were made in sizes for nesting.  When the boxes were empty, they could all be nested together into the largest one.  This would fit with the Shaker’s philosophy of keeping things neat, simple and not wasting space.

The Shakers were responsible for the invention of many items including the clothespin, circular saw, flat broom, Babbit metal, a wheel-driven washing machine, and many more.

*The original and proper name of the Shakers is the United Society of Believers In Christ’s Second Appearing.
**Credits to: www.wikipedia.com and www.shakerboxesnb.com  for information.

***Thank you to my friend Tom for making my Shaker boxes. I have a nest of 6; this is the largest.  Each box in my set has a Bird’s Eye Maple top.  I wish you could see it clearly.  They are truly a work of art….

Good evening friends!
Judy
All text and images are copyright © 2005-2012 and are the exclusive property of Judy Johnson (unless otherwise indicated). All Rights Reserved. All Images are protected under United States and International copyright laws. None of the images on this site are in the Public Domain.

Safe Harbor

Good evening friends,

I love this little harbor.  This is Fayette Historic State Park’s harbor in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.  Fayette is a former townsite where pig iron was manufactured and then shipped to steel companies in the Great Lakes area. The town was bustling from 1867-1891.  Several homes in townsite have been restored, as well as the hotel, and a building describing the pig iron manufacturing business.  There are 19 buildings onsite in all.  There is a campground, a picnic area, and trails to walk alongside the harbor and Sand Bay in Lake Michigan.

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If you would like to learn more about Fayette Historic State Park, click here.

Thanks for reading and good night….
Judy
All text and images are copyright © 2005-2012 and are the exclusive property of Judy Johnson (unless otherwise indicated). All Rights Reserved. All Images are protected under United States and International copyright laws. None of the images on this site are in the Public Domain.