Last week, I responded to the Zentangle Diva’s Valentangle challenge from a cruise ship in the Caribbean Sea. Some of you left comments suggesting that you would rather have been there than where you were. If misery likes company, you will be happy to know that we flew back to Philadelphia on Sunday, landing when the wind chill was 4 degrees Farhenheit (minus 15 Centigrade) Without.Our.Winter.Coats. It hasn’t been above freezing since and last night we accumulated about 5 inches of snow. (My Canadian and New England friends are now laughing hysterically that I think this amount of snow is even worthy of mention).
In her challenge blog post this week, the Zentangle Diva (Laura Harms) told us about the Harms’ family Valentine’s and Canadian Family Day celebrations, including some really cute photos. (BTW, if anyone deserves to be a mother, it’s Laura, an opinion I’ve formed since joining her challenge community and reading her weekly blog posts.)
This week’s challenge is to incorporate the theme of the Chinese Lunar New Year into our tile. This sent me down Memory Lane to a warmer lunar New Year last year, when we were in Vietnam during the lunar New Year celebration. (Let me know if I seem to be slightly weather obsessed). You can tell no one was freezing by the attire and foliage in this photo taken in Hoi An, Vietnam which was decorated for the New Year’s celebration.
This year happens to be the Year of the Goat in the Chinese zodiac. I drew everything on my tile free hand of which I am unabashedly proud. However, I obviously chickened out by not drawing the goat’s entire body — baby steps. So, here’s what I came up with. (Yes, after drawing the goat, the rest of my composition runs off the page on the left. #poorplanning)
Last week was the first time I was ever on a cruise since I became a tangler last spring. As I imagined I would be, I was as happy as a little clam (idiomatic sea creature metaphor—I actually have no idea if little clams are ever really truly happy), sitting on a chaise lounge on deck (in the shade!), working on Zentangle tiles while looking up at the azure sea now and again. I was going to share my cruise tile production with you, but my WordPress blog editor is not cooperating. If you are bitterly disappointed, you can check them out on my Pinterest Zentangle and ZIA board here.
Do you work on tangling projects when you’re on vacation (“holiday” for denizens of Great Britain and the British Commonwealth Nations and nations that would be Commonwealth Nations but for some residual bad feelings–i.e. Ireland)? Would you consider going on a cruise vacation/holiday with a group of tanglers?
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How did the doctor pass his time while you were tangling? 😉
p.s. I forgot to say I love the lanterns and that’s a good looking goat!
Dr. Excitement was also happy as a little clam—-working. He brought several writing projects. We bought an unlimited Internet package, so he could keep up with his work email which he said was less stressful than worrying about what he would find upon his return. Lest you think he wasn’t exciting, he also went to the gym twice, read two books and is working on “Exodus” by Leon Iris in preparation for our trip to Israel next month. We went to the evening show almost every night and managed to stay up late enough to get in a little dancing on Valentine’s Day. No wonder “they” call us Mr. and Mrs. Excitement. One of these days, I’m going to give him a glass of wine and see if he can be exciting enough to try a Zentangle. 🙂
i love your piece!! it’s beautiful. Thanks for your kind words <3
I want to say THANK YOU for all your nice comments on my blog! I’m so happy about it :-)))
Your diva-challenge goat is wonderful – so many little patterns and nice contrast! Love the goat you drew.
I think your cruise sounds to have been wonderful! And I do love your goat tile this week. Axxx
Wow, Suzanne, this is stunning! You are proud of yourself and that’s indeed what you can be.
I’m so glad you enjoyed your cruise. My hubby and I went on one, years ago, and it was almost the end of our marraige HAHA! He’s not good at vacationing! When we go where HE wants to go, I do take just about everything with me, as I have a very short attention span. Knitting, spinning, Zentangle and art materials all come along for the ride. I LOVE your goat. He is really well done. I did comment back, on my blog, to your hysterical comment to me LOL!
Love your Tile, Suzanne. Your Goat is awesome. You tangled your tile so beautifully. Lots of attention to detail. Your Chinese Symbol for Goat is terrific. I so enjoyed your coverage of your cruise.
I like your goat. He’s got a pensive smile on his face. The way you have shaded the background…every printemps standing out just slightly from the others! amazing, and of course, the way the Sheep character floats. Impeccable shading, truly!
Hmmm, would I go on a cruise with other tanglers? Heck yes! what fun that would be.
As for taking my tangling on vacation, I would…let’s see if I go anywhere for vacation this year. Last year, I used several days of vaycay time to go to concerts, and one weekend away. I took a little notebook and pen, but I would take it all with me, if I have the chance.
Great take on the challenge! I must admit, I’m a little bit stumped by it, so think I’ll skip a week. Interesting to see what others are doing, though!
You should be proud of your freehand work it is good ( I traced my image). Lovely tile.
That’s a beautiful goat-tile, even if it doesn’t fit the page. The tangles are beautifully drawn!
Absolutely gorgeous! So beautifully drawn!
Your tile is beautiful. Since I don’t do Zentangle, I’d be more likely to be doing a crossword or reading a book on that chaise lounge. Your posts have intrigued me though and I may look into Zentangle and give it a try.
Donna, thanks for stopping by. I also did a few crossword puzzles and read a book. We only got of the ship once during this cruise— very unusual for us. If I can get a group together, I’m thinking about a Zentangle at Sea workshop. Warning: Is addictive. With your crafting talents, you might enjoy it.
That’s a great goat – love your tangle. I confess to being weather obsessed here in Southern Ontario where I know we’ve had it a lot easier than the east coast, but I still like to complain. I can’t imagine braving that weather with no winter coats. But the cruise sounds diviine.
I have a friend in Ontario. She often shares the temperature in Ottawa on her FB page. All I can say is OMG. Brrrrr.
lol and here I was complaining about the weather. After the wonderful Caribbean, Philadelphia must be a shock. Have been hearing the weather reports and you guys are in for some disasterous snow storm. Hope you guys are indoor warm and toasted. Sending some sunshine
p.s….love your tile too 🙂
Welcome back, Suzanne. Sorry about the coats…ouch! I was whining about the fact that we’ve had arctic cold and over 100″ of snow in February (with more to come tomorrow) – until I saw the Diva’s “ho hum” comment about it being -29 degrees there. I guess I’ll take snow 🙂
Your goat is great and I’m really impressed with the free hand symbol. Nice work!
That’s odd, I could swear I never got my usual Boomeresque email notification for this one. Anyhoo, that is absolutely awesome Suzanne! It actually put a smile on my face. Btw…I’m weather obsessed too 🙂
Hi Suzanne, love the tangle cruise idea but I think im a bit too far away. Cries of “Shame!”do I hear? Anyway, the goat is super duper, both in itself and the use of patterns. You mentioned CZT training again and brought out the green eyed monster in me again. I may forgive in time! In the meantime, keep on tangling, your work is always a pleasure to see.
Wow. I don’t know why I missed this last week, but it’s such beautiful work. There’s something about your shading that makes it look elegant.