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Zentangle Diva’s Challenge #220 – All Boxed Up – Hopeless Perfectionist Edition

by Suzanne Fluhr on June 1, 2015 · 36 comments

Zentangle Diva Challenge #220

[ If you’re wondering what this Zentangle thing is, start here]

This week, the Zentangle Diva challenged us to use the tangle All Boxed Up by Alice Hendon, CZT (Certified Zentangle Teacher). 

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My first thought was, “Piece of cake. A great border tangle.” And then I got started on my tile. I quickly realized that this tangle is actually a diabolical test to weed out the pathologically compulsive perfectionists.

Confessions: I abandoned the first tile I started. I used a ruler. I measured. Please don’t tell the Mother Ship. I am surely going to Zentangle purgatory.

In an attempt to seek redemption, I went for something that is my version of wild and crazy for the middle. Even there I didn’t succeed in letting it all hang out. There is an actual method to the seeming madness. Please tell me it wasn’t only me who found themselves obsessing about this one. Please.

Zentangle Diva Challenge #220

 

On a happier note, Mr. Excitement called me to tell me he has been invited to speak at a conference in Madrid, Spain in December and to ask if I want to go. Wait, let me think about that for a half a nano-second. “Of course. Absolutely. Yay!” There is even a Zentangle connection. When I attended the CZT training #18 in Providence, Rhode Island, I sat next to and translated for a young Spanish woman from — wait for it — Madrid! I hope she wasn’t just being polite when she said to let her know if I’m ever in Madrid.

For my Zentangle peeps: How did you fare with All Boxed Up? Am I the only person who found out they were lying to themselves about not being compulsive? For everybody: Have you been to Madrid? If so, any suggestions?

 

{ 36 comments… read them below or add one }

Daniel @ The Tangle Corner June 1, 2015 at 5:34 pm

Well…I don’t know about everyone else, but I had a grand time with All Boxed Up. Odd, because I consider myself a compulsive perfectionist as well (I wince every time I think of how many unfinished tiles have met untimely deaths at my hands ^_^). Either way, your tile is lovely and the “wild and crazy” center has a great balance of black and white – something I must confess I am horrible at. Your All Boxed Up is great too – one can’t really tell you had a hard time just by looking at it! ^_^

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Suzanne Fluhr June 1, 2015 at 5:44 pm

Daniel, did you post your All Boxed Up Tile. I couldn’t find it on your Tangle blog. Congrats on finishing the school year. Enjoy the academic calendar. Pretty soon you’ll be looking at summer vacations in the rear view mirror.

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Margaret BLANK June 1, 2015 at 6:23 pm

Hi Suzanne, I too like the somewhat schizoid flavour of your tile. Or is it just the yin and yang of it? Using the box tangle as a box to hold the wild ones is very clever, although it does support your ocd theory! As for Madrid, and you may find thid hard to believe, I haven’t been there. Yet. There’s time, there’s time.

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Suzanne Fluhr June 2, 2015 at 1:06 am

Margaret, you can stop in Madrid on your way to the Costa del Sol or Canary Islands the next time you need to escape a dreary, coldish English winter. In fact, if you plan an escape for early December, we can meet there.

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Sue Sharp June 1, 2015 at 8:02 pm

All Boxed Up makes a great border! I’m enjoying All Boxed Up, and am finding it a fairly forgiving tangle, especially if doing several rows of them…

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Laurel Regan June 1, 2015 at 9:48 pm

LOL, I gave up on perfection for this one for sure – mine is VERY imperfect and rather wobbly, as you will see when I post it tomorrow! I like the way you used the tangle for a border, though – looks good!

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HeidiSue June 1, 2015 at 10:25 pm

I’m with you…All Boxed Up was tough for me. Shading made SUCH a difference, but I just couldn’t make myself break it out of the “box” so to speak. But I love your version of it as a border, and the wild and crazy interior is so much fun to look at! Terrific tile!

Too bad about Spain, but I suppose someone has to do it. 😉

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Suzanne Fluhr June 2, 2015 at 1:07 am

I know. I was just in Spain and now I HAVE to go back. Very tough indeed. 🙂

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Ilse June 2, 2015 at 6:06 am

Shading was the miracle ingredient to my tile as well, Suzanne! I think you did a great job.

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Annemarie June 2, 2015 at 6:11 am

I did no shading in my All Boxed UP, I used a white pen for the middle part. I think you did quite well with this one, like the ‘wild and crazy’ center.

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Alicia June 2, 2015 at 7:56 am

Suzanne!!! Estoy encantada de que vengas a Madrid!! Qué alegría!! Me encantará estar contigo!!! Me alegra mucho saber que vendrás!!! Maravilloso!!!

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Suzanne Durville June 2, 2015 at 9:49 am

I admit that I like All Boxed up, despite the fact that I didn’t finish reading the step outs so my boxes all go one way…*sigh* No mistakes, only opportunities, right? I like your large simple border around the more frenetic interior. Shattuck slips under your central oiece like water under a bridge and I love the sort of “Picassoesque” eyes in the knightsbridge. Very nice!

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Suzanne Fluhr June 2, 2015 at 5:57 pm

I didn’t notice the eyes in the Knightsbridge until you pointed them out. Only a little creepy, right?

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Jean Chaney June 2, 2015 at 6:37 pm

A RULER!!!!!????? Definitely a hand slapper LOL! You need to try to relax. Make some messy lines. Embrace the mess, and you will enjoy what you are doing so much more! (Okay, I used to obsess too, but that will pass eventually once you give yourself permission to just enjoy Zentangle the way it was meant to be enjoyed!)

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Suzanne Fluhr June 2, 2015 at 9:31 pm

Jean, sometimes I “embrace the mess”. Baby steps. 🙂

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Jay June 2, 2015 at 7:01 pm

Beautifully tangled !!

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Yukari June 3, 2015 at 2:54 am

I love All Boxed Up as a border! I think Im going love using this pattern!

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Jacqueline Gum June 3, 2015 at 8:58 am

Non-zen tangle lady loves your tile! Including the boxes around the border. Just sorry it brought you such angst:) Awww…Madrid. I’ve not ben there, but I’m looking forward to reading your blogs about it! You never disappoint!

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hungrycorgistudio June 3, 2015 at 10:03 am

Love your ‘All boxed up’!
What a neat idea using it to border a tile filled with all kinds of lovely tangles inside. Nice! Sarah.

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Cari Sultanik June 3, 2015 at 11:17 am

You are DEFINITELY not alone. I think the wild side does show through, though. I may have to take another crack at this sometime this week, maybe, perhaps…

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indira June 3, 2015 at 8:52 pm

I had to chuckle at your use of ruler. But you did not use eraser. So, you did not break all the rules! The tile is very dynamic and well done.

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LonettA June 4, 2015 at 2:41 am

Wonderful tile with the “All Boxed Up” border! Fine shading!
I had a lot fun with “All Boxed Up” with its great effects after shading!

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David Hunter June 4, 2015 at 11:54 am

I love your Challenge Tile, Suzanne. The center is fabulous with lots of interest and design balance. The All Boxed Up boarder turned out just fine. It so reminds me of a board game. Well done.

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cstocks/1xeritas June 4, 2015 at 2:44 pm

I, too, am trying to embrace the mess, to very mixed results. Letting it all hang out is for other people. I think you did a fine job of it, stuffing all that crazy schizoid mess into a box. Madrid sounds fine, never been. Have a brilliant day! c

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Suzanne Fluhr June 4, 2015 at 2:52 pm

“Crazy schizoid mess”! I guess I’ve succeeded in letting go. 😉

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cstocks/1xeritas June 4, 2015 at 3:29 pm

I meant it in only the most complimentary fashion! c

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Inken June 4, 2015 at 3:44 pm

Wonderful tile, great idea to use “All Boxed Up” as border. And filled up the middle with other pattern.

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nan @ lbddiaries June 4, 2015 at 3:59 pm

I won’t even pretend to understand Zentangle other than to enjoy the results! My favorites are when you show them to me in nature – now I see them everywhere!

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Donald W June 5, 2015 at 11:38 pm

Did not have that much trouble with this tangle from a perfection standpoint, was just not sure how I wanted to shade it or put it together. I wanted to stay away from the typical border. Could have included it in a stacked tile. I think the contrast is good.

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Sandra June 6, 2015 at 5:18 am

I like your tile, it was a good idea to make the middle “wild and crazy” 🙂 There is a great contrast in your tile.
Your post is so funny – I hope you are not getting tooooo mad when using All Boxed Up *lol* 😉
I liked the pattern but it is really one you must concentrate a lot when tangling…
Sorry, I had never been in Madrid.
Many greetings from germany, Sandra 🙂

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Lynell June 6, 2015 at 11:53 am

I struggled with this one as well. Wayne’s a CZT and never uses a ruler, but I have succumbed on occasion. I have no guilt about it though. I know that in Zentangle it is the process that is important….but for me sometimes it’s the end result that I am wanting, so it just depends. In the big art Bible in the sky my picture of being in art heaven doesn’t include a purgatory of any kind. YOUR art (in my estimation…and only yours really counts) has always been inspiring to me.Becky Robertson on Toula Boula said it best…when we do art we are going to fail (there is no question about this) but the goal is to fail a bit less each time you try. ALSO I am very excited that you get to go to Madrid in December…can’t wait to see the pix and travelog…you write so well!

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Suzanne Fluhr June 7, 2015 at 12:41 am

Lynell, thanks for the pep talk.

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Charlotte Carpentier June 7, 2015 at 3:20 pm

I had a heck of a time getting started with it, the OCD in me wanted matchy things that would not happen, so I just went for it. I used a Zencil (small stacker) for the string. And the wonkiness made it work. We had 2 CZT’s from Spain in CZT 14, you should look them up too! Maria Perez and Anna Coli

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Marcia @ Menopausal Mother June 7, 2015 at 6:20 pm

This is pretty cool—I don’t know anyone else who does these Zentangles, but it seems like you’re really good at it!

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LezliB June 8, 2015 at 12:44 am

I love your post! Actually, that’s the whole reason why I didn’t do mine in a straight line…I am somewhat of a perfectionist also and couldn’t get those lines to cooperate to save myself. I like what you have done with it and it makes a very nice frame. But I do have to agree with you, it was one of the more difficult ones, as I said last week, straight lines do NOT agree with me. But you managed yours admirably. I like it!

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alice June 13, 2015 at 2:07 pm

thanks for trying my new tangle All Boxed Up! i love what you did with it, and yes, i am obsessed with this tangle – i’m using it in everything i do lately. hahaha! have fun on your trip!

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