We’ve been sweltering under an excessive heat warning here in the northeastern United States. I’m hunkered down in Brigantine, a New Jersey beach town where it’s supposed to be cooler than my home town, Philadelphia. However, with a heat index of 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius) even at the ocean’s edge, escaping “down the shore” has not helped. It’s hard to believe that on August 31st, I’ll be flying to London, carrying my winter coat because the last part of our trip will be in Iceland. I’ll pretend I don’t notice the strange looks I expect to receive in the Philly airport.
If you live in the United States, you’ve probably been involuntarily humming the musical theme for the NBC TV Olympics coverage. This week, the Zentangle Diva challenged us to produce a composition with an Olympics theme. I’m always hopeful that the Olympics will cause peace to break out in the world and my challenge composition reflects that, but for the first time, there was a refugee team at the Olympics, so clearly, peace remains elusive. Here’s what I came up with:
Tangles used: Cadent, N’Zepple, Tercero, Printemps, Huggins, Abeko and Pokeleaf. (Tercero is a tangle deconstruction I introduced last year.)
I’m blaming it on the heat, but I was a few day’s late in realizing that I missed World Elephant Day on August 12th. I’ve been especially fond of elephants since visiting an elephant rescue and sanctuary in Thailand. You can read about our experience, with a bonus photo of me hand feeding a 77 year old elephant, here.
Amusing the elephants at the Elephant Nature Park in Thailand in 2014.
If anyone is still reading……in response to last week’s challenge, I used a tangle I invented made up. There seemed to be a minuscule amount of some interest in it which is all the encouragement I needed to come up with the step outs. You can check out Aurabead here.
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
This has got to be one of my favorite tangles…love the colors! The reflect your hopefulness:) And elephants have long been a favorite of mine. I used to collect images of them in all forms…crystal, wood, brass. I’ve always associated them with good luck.
Really beautifully done tile! And I like the new tangle too 🙂
What a gorgeous piece! The detail is amazing;-)
Very nice Olympic piece with some great tangling too. I love elephants as well. Magnificent animals. No, I haven’t seen any of the Olympics. I can’t stand to see the faces of the losers. It just breaks my heart.
Very nice pics from you and your husband and the elephants. Such nice and strong animals but also so vulnarable…
Your olympic tile is beautiful, I like especially how you integrated Abeko and Pokeleaf (and the ribbons) and the tangles you have chosen to fill the rings.
My favorite olympic sport is gymnatics, the american girls are amazing!!!
Congrats with your two lovely new tangles. I’ve also found a new one and send it to Linda. Your Aurabead reminds me of L’Eaura but it is definitely not the same. It is not published yet but I hope Linda will add it to the official list.
I like your Olympic-design! The colors and the tangling works well together on the theme! I haven´t been watching the Olympic games at all. But I might on Friday when the Swedish ladies are in football-final! And yes, I like elephants too! 🙂
Trampoline, rhythmic gymnastics and synchronized diving! Have a wonderful trip (and be sure to check the long-range weather predictions for Iceland when we get closer to your departure date…I’ve never had use for a winter coat there in September.)!
Looks like it has been in the 40’s at night.
I love your rings and all the rest of the tangling … It’s full of energy and I love the colors!
I’ve been watching the Olympics with my nephew Isaac. We’re house and dog sitting for my sister. We’ve been enjoying her gigantic flat screen television. Have a great time in London!
You’re having a summer like we get here, so I feel for you with the heat. Lovely work and I love your inclusion of peace.
I like your tile and what you did with the rings! Elephants are amazing creatures; it’s so sad that they are still treated very badly in some places ans all for tourist’s ‘pleasure’.
This is a beautiful “peace” bouquet of tangles! I think it’s highly creative:) The colors and tangles are soft and inviting reinforcing your peaceful message:) Stay cool in NJ, I am in CT; We had a break from very hot weather yesterday – could actually open the windows!
I hope you are enjoying respite from summer down the shore. We always went to Ocean City; my mom saved Long Beach Island for winter–now there’s a story for another day! I enjoyed the degrees of separation, but I think I’d scare you with how close we could really get–must’ve run into you somewhere along the line. I like your peace-ful interpretation of the challenge, quite nice. (But then, you are certified while I’m merely certifiable!) I’ve been enjoying whatever the network throws our way, but I find the synchronized diving most fascinating. How DO they do that?! c
I LOVE your Olympic-themed challenge! It fits. Be sure and take lots of neat pix in Iceland, too! I love armchair traveling with you guys!!
Great interpretation of this week´s challenge! Peace is the principle of the Olympic movement … the most important thing!
I love the idea of your diva tile – especially in this times…
Nice photo with the elephants 🙂
Hm, I think this is not the one you wanted to post!?