This week’s guest Zentangle Diva is Jane Reiter who challenged us to do a composition inspired by Petoskey Stones. It turns out that Petoskey Stones are the Michigan state stone and are, in fact, very cool fossils of an ancient coral.
A polished Petoskey Stone (Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain)
I did a little research and it turns out my home state, Pennsylvania, doesn’t even have a state stone. We have a state bird, the ruffled grouse, but no stone. 🙁 Seriously, how lame is that?
The idea of a stone inspired challenge appeals to the “rocky” part of my brain. Waaaay back in the day, when I was a student at Williams College in northwestern Massachusetts, I took Geology 101 and 102 my fresh”man” year to satisfy a two course math/science requirement.
I’m sure some of you are rolling your eyes and thinking, “rocks for jocks”. Nope.
#1) No one would mistake me for a jock. I earned half my college Physical Education credits by being in the “band”—-the Williams College Skipping, Jumping, Hopping, Moo Cow Band. One perk of being in the band was being bused to two away football games. The other perk, was being bused back from two away football games.
#2) Williams College was too small to have a Rocks for Jocks introduction to geology course, so we had to take the same courses as the geology majors. There were, gasp, required weekly labs. I really liked those courses and even briefly entertained the idea of becoming a geology major—until I realized it required math courses. However, I’ve always had a soft spot (as it were) for rocks.
Here’s my Petoskey Stone inspired composition:
The central portion is the Petoskey Stone inspired tangle. I’ve been playing around with the outside tangle. Does anyone know if it has a name?
We’ve had a rainy, windy day here in Brigantine, New Jersey. I suspect it’s a mini-n’oreaster. This is what our dog, Dino, looked like when I suggested it was time to go outside for a walk.
Dino, our cockapoo, very unenthusiastic about the idea of taking a walk in the rain.
Given the nightmare flooding unleashed on Houston, Texas and the surrounding area by the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, I told Dino he had to get over himself. I put on my raincoat and out we went for an only relatively slightly sodden mile long walk.
As you can imagine, many Houstonians have become homeless with immediate and ongoing needs. If you are so inclined, you can donate to the American Red Cross or the United Way of Greater Houston to help with disaster relief. A donation to the Houston Food Bank will help them directly feed those in need now and in the coming months.
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
That was a lot of work that you did for this challenge Suzanne, and with a beautiful outcome. Even here in The Netherlands we are horrified by the disaster in Houston and surroundings. Poor people, it will take so long to recuperate.
Thank you for your comment, Annemarie. Houston, and many other low lying areas in the US, would do well to send their civil engineers to the Netherlands to learn how you manage life in your below sea level country.
Great tile Suzanne! I love the contrast between the two patterns. The outer seems like a version of Crazy Huggins. I saw Laura do something similar on one of her live streams where she didn’t connect all of the orbs.
Aha, Crazy Huggins. I’ll have to look that one up.
I bet this tile took you a few minutes longer than the 15 minutes allowed to do this challenge.
Just kidding.
Who would have thought thousands of these tiny little lines will create such a beautiful tile. It is fantastic, Suzanne! Well done.
I find tiny lines relaxing. I’m not sure what that says about me. Something.
I grew up in Michigan and I’ve always LOVED Petoskey stones. Now I want one…
You’re lucky you grew up in a state that has a state stone. Petoskey stones are the new best thing I’ve learned about. See how Zentangle broadens one.
Very lovely Suzanne. I love your “Crazy Huggins” wrapped around your Petoskey Stone. It really does have the look of Huggins gone wild, and it’s beautiful. And the Petoskey Stone you’ve done is so very intricate and delicate. Oh! and the other thing I wanted to mention is that I took lots of Geology in my first 2 years of college too. It was a Junior College near a large university. I took all the classes I could and almost majored in it, but the math needed was just too much and I just couldn’t get it. But I loved the mineralogy part of it. I still love rocks! 😀
I’m glad to learn I’m not the only one whose career as a geologist was scuttled by the math requirement.
Every time I look at the photos of the stones, I see something new. Your interpretation is beautiful.
If you could choose a state stone for Pennsylvania, I wonder, what would it be? My son and daughter have recently become residents of that fair state and I’m therefore developing an interest in all things Pennsylvanian.
Hmm. I would propose micacious schist. It’s beautiful and usually studded with garnets. OTOH, we also have a lot of coal and slate.
Beautiful! ❤️️
Funny to read about your classes. I took some really weird ones along the way myself and found learning something very new was my passion anyway. Math? Always got an “A” because I could follow rules, but I never knew what I was doing, LOL! Your Petoskey Stone looks really nice with that added frame.
Neat Petroskey, loved doing all the lines too. I think it might be the restful repetition? I don’t blame Dino I don’t like going out in the rain either.
Fantastic tile! I do like your interpretation of Petoskey Stones!
Your tile is packed with motion…considering we’re using a stone for inspiration. Lots of fun!
Terrific Suzanne! I love your interpretation!