Boomeresque:Definition
1. Adj.: Describing a person born between 1 Jan. 1946 and 31 Dec. 1964
2. Adj.: Description of a person, place or thing possessing Baby Boomer je ne sais quoi
3. See also, Boomer, Esq.: A Baby Boomer who is also a licensed attorney (See, e.g., About).

Zentangle Diva Challenge #287 – Happy New Year 5777 Edition

by Suzanne Fluhr on October 4, 2016 · 17 comments

Dreamcatcher Zentangle tangle compositions

This week’s Zentangle Diva’s challenge was to use Dreamcatcher, a tangle by Certified Zentangle Teacher Daniel Lemothe (yay Daniel). Daniel developed Dreamcatcher by deconstructing the pattern used in Native American dreamcatchers.

Photo of dreamcatcher

My dreamcatcher.

Dreamcatchers were originally used by the Ojibwe (Chippewa) peoples who live mostly in eastern Canada and some northern mid-West states in the United States. They are stylized spider “webs” which are hung over the cradle boards of babies to catch bad dreams so they will not enter the children’s minds. They have now been adopted more broadly by Native American peoples. I purchased one during a visit to New Mexico and it hangs on my head board where it catches my bad dreams—or some of them, anyway.

Initially, I felt a little intimidated by Dreamcatcher, but although it takes some focus, it is actually somewhat forgiving and lends itself to many different tangleations. The first one I did is on the left. I did it on an official 3.5″ x 3.5″ Zentange tile. Then, last night while becoming increasingly upset watching TV coverage about the impending United States presidential election, I did the one on the right in a sketch book. (Hmm, it might be a good idea to market Dreamcatchers to help Americans get through this election season.) The one on the left was done completely freehand and I used my tangle, Phirst, as the border. In the second tile, I used my new toy, a compass-protractor to draw the initial eight lines forming the center of the composition.

Dreamcatcher Zentangle tangle compositions

Both these tiles use Daniel Lemothe’s tangle, Dreamcatcher.

Speaking of my new compass-protractor, it also helped me produce this zendala (mandala):

Zentangle Mandala Zendala
Finally, Happy New Year (5777 on the Hebrew calendar) to all those who celebrate the Jewish new year.

Shana Tova U’metukah (שָׁנָה טוֹבָה וּמְתוּקָה)

Best wishes for a good and sweet year.

The site of the Roman ruins of Cesarea on the north central Mediterranean coast in Israel.

The site of the Roman ruins of Cesarea on the north central Mediterranean coast in Israel.

If you’re a Zentangle person, what was your experience using Dreamcatcher? For everybody, do you have a dreamcatcher? Does it work?

(The link for my compass-protractor above is an affiliate link. If you purchase one via this link, Boomeresque receives a tiny small commission that doesn’t affect your price.)

{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }

ria matheussen October 4, 2016 at 5:26 pm

Years ago, I have visited Quebec and there I saw dreamcatchers for the first time. I have bought one to bring home with me. I like Quebec very much, there was such a fine atmosphere and the dreamcatcher reminds me of this beautiful holliday ( it was september, also the best time to see the indian summer) I don’ t believe that he could catch bad dreams but I like the story.
I have found this dreamcatcherpattern on a preprinted Zendalatile and it was very relaxing to draw. I love your big beautiful zendala and my favorite of the two dreamcatchers is the second one, such nice contrasts and a well balanced tile!

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Anita A Westin October 5, 2016 at 1:14 am

You made beautiful Dreamcatchers! Both of them!

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Annemarie October 5, 2016 at 2:19 am

Yes, I have a dreamcatcher and it hangs in the window of our bedroom. And I do dream a lot, but not a lot of bad ones.
I like your zendala’s but my favorite is the handmade one 🙂

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Maggibee October 5, 2016 at 5:55 am

Hi Suzanne, That zendala is fabulous. Wonderful. Wow. I think you are in the same position with the election that I was with the referendum, so I hope you can feel my sympathy from across the pond. I think a dream catcher can only catch so much —-, so yours is just overworked at the moment. And your use of Daniel’s pattern is lovely. When i see the perfect versions of this, and these are pretty near perfect in my eyes, something clicks but I never seem to manage it myself.

Some time ago, I saw a circle maker like yours online and discovered, much to my frustration, that, although they are made by a UK company, they cannot be bought in the UK. Doh! I moaned about this on Facebook and a very nice American lady sent me one. It’s a joy and i hope you get as much fun out of yours as I do mine.

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Mathes Czt October 5, 2016 at 7:10 am

Suzanne your pieces are great. I love dreamcatchers – I used to make them and sell them years ago. Maybe that is why I really find my zen in zendalas. i do love my compass and protractor – use them all the time. This pattern is the first one I did without using them though. Many zendalas ahead for you – enjoy!

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Jacqueline Gum October 5, 2016 at 7:29 am

Love the idea of the dream catcher, whether they work or not! And your tangles do a beautiful job of capturing the idea!

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Roz Warren October 5, 2016 at 8:05 am

Happy New Year to you as well!

Thankfully, I don’t remember my bad dreams. (Or perhaps I don’t have them because my life is so relentlessly delightful?)

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Suzanne Fluhr October 6, 2016 at 2:47 am

That must be it. 😉 Or, your bad dreams aren’t really dreams which is why you don’t remember them as dreams. I’m betting that sweet dreams will return.

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Michele Wynne October 5, 2016 at 9:49 pm

I love your Dreamcatchers and that Zendala is amazing!

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Susan October 6, 2016 at 10:45 am

These are spectacular, especially the mandala.

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Nan Loyd October 6, 2016 at 11:55 am

I love protractor and had actually forgotten how much fun I used to have making designs with one! Thanks for the reminder. Alpha Hubby brought home a Dreamcatcher last year – it’s beautiful! I swear, your Zentangles are works of art – I’d buy some of them to frame and hang on my wall. Or impress on a real tile and use on a tiled back wall as a point of interest. Just too cool!!!

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Jean Chaney October 6, 2016 at 3:45 pm

Both of your Dreamcatchers are very nice. I love my dreams, even bad ones. I find myself pleased at my own creativity and even horrible ones make me smile once I wake up. But then, I know I can be a bit different in my thinking sometimes 🙂 It’s funny that I had a student yesterday who I was teaching how to use a similar compass to make circular shapes in which to add tangles. He was so excited to go home and play more. I used to teach my elementary school students to use a compass for their art projects. They are really fun to play with and I like the designs you created with yours!

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cheryl stocks October 6, 2016 at 3:55 pm

Your Zendala is masterful, Suzanne! Beautiful work this week.
My dreamcatcher is 20 years old, from our first trip to Arizona and hung on my car’s rear-view mirror until the leather strap broke. It kept our family from harm for many-a-mile and proudly shows the wear. My new automobile talisman is a warrior angel my brother painted, and was still working on when he passed away last year. But the dreamcatcher is still at work. I took it out of a drawer for inspiration this week; I went pretty lateral/literal with one of the Zentangles.
And I might just have to get one of those circle thingies, a present for my left-brain.
Much happiness in the New Year to you and your family. Cheryl

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Melena October 6, 2016 at 9:32 pm

Your original Dreamcatcher is beautiful, and I love both of your Dreamcatcher tiles. Can’t make up my mind which I like best. 😀 And your Zendala Mandala is gorgeous. I have a all those tools plus some (I took some architectural design classes but never got too far with it – life interrupted). I’m going to have to get them out and do some Zen style Mandalas now. That should be fun.

I do have a small dreamcatcher, and some dreamcatcher earrings that I made. Hmmmm, now to go find them. 😉 I did crochet a large bicycle wheel size mandala. But I used a stretchy yarn and it stretched all out of shape. Maybe it was the weight of the bad dreams. LOL

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Suse October 7, 2016 at 3:36 am

Lovely intricate work!

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Val Brandon October 7, 2016 at 10:19 am

I love all your tiles Suzanne and your fun sense of humour. Happy New Year.

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Anja October 7, 2016 at 11:03 am

Love your wonderful dreamcatchers and your beautiful Zendala/Mandala

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