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 #298: Philadelphia is Pretty in the Snow Edition

by Suzanne Fluhr on January 9, 2017 · 26 comments

Rittenhouse Square Philadelphlia snow scene

(Zentangle is a meditative art form. If you want to read more about it, start here.)

Rittenhouse Square snow scene in Philadelphia

The snow started at night and sparkled in the holiday lights still glowing in Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse Square.

We finally had some real winter weather here in Philly complete with at least some measurable snow. It happened on Saturday, which meant most people could stay home and enjoy it. It was very pretty, inspiring me to brave the cold to try to capture some of the beauty with my phone camera. If you don’t mind and I guess even if you do, I’ll sprinkle some of my photos throughout this post.

Here it is the 9th of January 2017 (!?!?!) and I haven’t yet made any New Year’s resolutions. I mean there are the usual: exercise, eat better, sleep better, write more, tangle more, decide what I want to be when I grow up, yada yada yada, but I haven’t actually committed any of them to paper.

The first Zentangle Diva challenge of the year is a “Use My Tangle”. We have been asked to use Orbs-la-Dee by Anneke van Dam. Anneke does her tangling and tangle deconstructing in the Netherlands. However, like so many of her countrymen (people?), she writes in English better than I do. Monolingualism is soooo yesterday.

Orbs-la-Dee immediately reminded me of elements of three other tangles, Purk, Inapod and Akoya. The element they have in common are the graduated sized orbs. However, I can see potential for using Orbs-la-Dee for filling in shapes and backgrounds; whereas, the others are constrained by the particular shapes within which they are encased as part of the tangle.

Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia snow scene

The early snow was light and sparkled in the Rittenhouse Square lights.

Consistent with my completely made up theory, I used Orbs-la-Dee to fill in some of the “leaves” of Flux (Maria’s version). I filled in the alternating Flux “leaves” with Shattuck and Sand Swirl. This left me needing a background. I didn’t want too dense a pattern, so I used a tangle I think I deconstructed which I named Aurabead (similar to Nipa, but different, IMHO). Lately, I’ve been using color making Zentangle Inspired Art (ZIA) bookmarks, so it felt good to return to the pure Zentangle method for this one:
Speaking of ZIA bookmarks, one of them led to an opportunity for me to share Zentangle with one of Mr. Dr. Excitement‘s patients. He usually volunteers to work covering one of the inpatient pulmonary services over Christmas so the docs with young children can have time with their families. He was very impressed with one of the patients on his service, a young woman who has had a life full of serious, chronic medical problems. He said she was the only patient who never had the TV on when he saw her on rounds, preferring to read and listen to music. Since he largely financially supports my tangling habit, when he asked me for a bookmark to give to her, I was happy to oblige.

Zentangle bookmarks

Confession: I’ve been a little obsessed with ZIA bookmarks.

He told her a little about Zentangle and she was interested in learning more, so I sent some Zentangle information and supplies for her. She wrote me a lovely note and has shared some of her tiles. I felt very gratified that she found Zentangle helpful and fun. It helped underscore for me the potential for this meditative art form to be a comfort and joy for people who are suffering.

Rittenhouse Square Philadelphlia snow scene

All in all it was a fairly benign snow event, but I thought this Rittenhouse Square lady looked lovely in her snow shawl. (In the summer, this is a fountain and pond.)

Rittenhouse Square holiday lights in the snow

I wish they would leave the holiday lights up all winter.

Zentangle peeps: Have you had any opportunities to share Zentangle that you felt made a difference in someone’s life?  All peeps: Do you make New Year’s resolutions?

{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }

Ilse January 10, 2017 at 5:54 am

Funny idea and well done, to fill up Flux with Orbs-la-Dee!

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Gudrun S. January 10, 2017 at 7:27 am

Nice tile 🙂

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Roz Warren January 10, 2017 at 10:20 am

Thanks for the lovely photos! As you know I live NEAR Philadelphia but not IN Philadelphia and on that snowy Saturday I was, of course, working at my local public library. I appreciate being able to see all the beauty I was missing as I checked books and DVDs in and out.

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Suzanne Fluhr January 10, 2017 at 12:13 pm

Thank you for your service. Probably a lot of people wanted to curl up at home that day with a book or DVD. 😉

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Mandi January 10, 2017 at 10:43 am

Awe Yes he always comment on how I NEVER watched tv lol! I told I do but really only the discovery channel and National Geographic, and a lot of documentaries. Music, art, and knowledge are my passions. It’s so easy to just turn a TV on and dull the mind. My body doesn’t work well but my brain is in top notch working order so why waste it? I only hope that one day I can become as good as you at the art form. However, I must admit that I do like using color in my art. Just like the bookmark you did! I have that placed in my National Geographic magazine right now. They have a very interesting article about the Great pyrmids right now.

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joyce January 10, 2017 at 1:36 pm

Hi, Suzanne, I love your snow photos. Being a displaced Mainer, living in LA(Lower Alabama…snicker), I miss the snow, so thank you for posting the photos.

Nope, no resolutions here! I stopped making them quite a few years ago, as they never amounted to anything at all.

Your Ors-la-Dee tile is unique, I really like the way you used it as a filler. What really got to me, tho, is your bookmarks. They are stunning!! And so glad you were able to share with Mandi…she strikes me as a very brave and intelligent woman.

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Suzanne Fluhr January 10, 2017 at 4:43 pm

Thank you, Joyce. I’m not sure how much I would miss snow and cold although I admit it is pretty — at least on the first day. The bookmarks are very satisfying and even in this age of electronic readers, people seem to enjoy receiving them.

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joyce January 10, 2017 at 1:37 pm

Oops…should be “Orbs,” not “Ors,” sigh. Didn’t catch it in time to correct it, sorry.

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Carmela Claessens-Soro January 10, 2017 at 3:36 pm

Great work, and i love your Bookmarks

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nan @ LBDDiaries January 10, 2017 at 3:41 pm

I love, love, love your winter snow pictures. Mine lasted a whole day but is pretty much gone now. I’m just grateful we had some since it’s still pretty rare here in AR. I love Rittenhouse Square – I think I could live there among the twinkly lights and be happy!

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Suzanne Fluhr January 10, 2017 at 4:33 pm

Thank you. I wish they would leave the twinkly lights on all year round.

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Laurel Regan, CZT January 10, 2017 at 3:58 pm

Gorgeous winter photos and fun idea for a “tangle within a tangle” tile – nicely done!

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Deanne B January 10, 2017 at 4:34 pm

Terrific Diva tile! Great composition! Enjoyed your photos too! I too have been on a bookmark making binge! I introduced my niece to Zentangle 3 yrs ago. Now she’s 14 and we still do creative sleepovers… crafting and watching movies. Zentangle has allowed me to create a very special bond with her as I was not present for the first 6 yrs of her life. 🙂

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Annemarie January 11, 2017 at 2:22 am

I like your work and the photo’s!
I hardly ever make resolutions, but this time I did: I want to be less and less judgmental.

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Suzanne Fluhr January 11, 2017 at 10:46 am

A worthy resolution, Annemarie. I think I’ve naturally become less judgmental as I’ve aged. Like many people, the older I am, the more I know I don’t know. This is why teenagers believe they are brilliant and everyone else is “lame” and/or “annoying”.

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Sue Sharp January 11, 2017 at 7:16 am

Lovely post Suzanne! Love the photo’s (I also see them on FB), and LOVE the story about the woman who received your bookmark and now has an interest in Zentangle. Your tile is really pretty and I like seeing Flux filled with tangles. Aurabead is cool – and your lines are so even!

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ria matheussen January 11, 2017 at 9:13 am

Glad to be back on the challenge again.
Beautiful pics of the snow, I love wintertime.
Very original idea to fill Flux with Orbs-la-dee.
A while ago I designed also a new pattern L’Eaura, is already on http://www.elatorium.de and looks a bit like your Aurabead.

http://www.elatorium.de/l/3614-l-eaura.html

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ria matheussen January 11, 2017 at 9:28 am

Best wishes and a good health for 2017!!!

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Anneke January 11, 2017 at 1:57 pm

Very clever use of Orbs-la-Dee, Flux looks great with it! And thanks for your compliment, Suzanne. I’ll tell a secret…. Reading many Zentangle blogs has been very helpful 😉

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Jean Chaney January 11, 2017 at 5:00 pm

Nice how you used Orbs-la-Dee as a filler. Nice bookmarks and sweet of you to share. And, you can keep your snow. That’s why I don’t live back east any longer LOL!

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Annette P. January 13, 2017 at 3:24 pm

Wonderful tile! To fill Flux with Orbs-la-Dee is a great idea! I like your lovely bookmarks,too! Thank you for those beautiful and impressive photos!
Wishing you a happy and peaceful new year!

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michele January 13, 2017 at 10:27 pm

Beautiful Philly pics! Your Diva piece sorta reminds me of mine. I love it! I am also a fan of creating bookmarks. I make them from rejected art. I have many bookmarks;-)

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Danni O'Brien, CZT January 14, 2017 at 7:38 pm

Your Flux filled version of this challenge works beautifully. Love your Christmas share, wonderful to hear how Zentangle can touch others. Happy New Year!

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Annie January 15, 2017 at 6:47 am

Enjoyed this visit to your lovely photos, excellent tiles and highly comical writing! Happy New Year, Axxx

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Holly {ha! designs} January 16, 2017 at 2:03 pm

What a fun post to read, Suzanne! The photos of the snow are beautiful… but I have to admit I enjoy living in a place that doesn’t receive it! Your tile is lovely! What a wonderful idea to use it as a fill in the flux leaves. I loved reading about the patient you gifted supplies and your beautiful book mark to. It’s fantastic that you could make a difference in her life.

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Agness of Fit Travelling January 21, 2017 at 7:31 pm

I could never imagine that Philadelphia looks so magic while holidays. Thanks for sharing!

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