Quilt Testers In Action

Quilt Testers In Action

Pages

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Getting Tangled


Its not unusual for drawings in my sketchbook to look something like the one above. If you are at all familiar with Zentangles, you can see why I would find the idea of them intriguing. But, until last Thursday, I hadn't been able to do much exploration of Zentangles. About all I knew was that they were a structured form of doodling. Then my quilt guild, The Material Girls, had a visit from Pat Ferguson. She is a certified Zentangle instructor, and she also uses Zentangle-type patterns to quilt her quilts.

Pat gave us a little lesson. We created two tangles on tiles she provided during the meeting. I made a couple more in the following days. Apparently doing this is supposed to have a meditative effect. 


I found these to be fun, but trying to remember all the rules was kind of anxiety inducing, which works against the goal. 


Pretty soon I was back to my sketchbook, ignoring rules, and having fun.


I'll probably investigate Zentangle drawings further. If nothing else, it should give me some new ideas for machine quilting my quilts. Sometimes I get stuck quilting the same patterns over and over, and this could get me out of that rut.

And as a bonus, this has spurred me to pick up my sketchbook again. Somehow over the last year, the book had been quite neglected. I think that following the Sketchbook Challenge blog, instead of inspiring me, has been intimidating me. My sketchbooks are very plain, mostly black and white, and may have weird things like grocery lists, and lists of books in among the drawings. They don't compare to the glorious sketchbooks being shown off on that blog. But, it feels good to be drawing again.  So I'm going to keep drawing, in the way that works for me. A little bit zen, a little bit plain, and a little bit random.

 Do you keep a sketchbook? Do you draw Zentangles? Or is your sketchbook something completely different?

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey Mom--you know what would be neat? Zentangle inspired throw pillows, scarfs, notebook covers. Just an Idea.

Also, I love the word zentangle. I may or may not be sitting in my apartment saying it just cause I like the way it sounds.
Love,
S

bunnits said...

Cool. We've had some lessons by a certified instructor at our local Hobby Lobby, but I had to pass it up. Might have to sign up next time.

Crafty Green Poet said...

your bunny drawing is adorable and i like all the drawings for the amount of detail and the complex patterning. I don't keep a sketchbook but I do have a little book that I fill with small collages that I've made

Jade said...

Buntangle! Love it!

The Fab Furs said...

Ignoring rules and having fun sounds like the way to go.

The Vegetarian Hunter said...

Zentangle? I have never heard of such a thing, but I think your sketchbook drawings are fantastic! I used to make little sketches like this years ago - but it has been very long since I felt that free in my doodles.
I have a sketchbook and it is filled with ideas, books, recipies, thread and just random things along with quilt patterns and doodles. That for me is what a sketchbook is to look like. To me, it is a tool for drawing, but also for a journal, and daytimer and all around companion. lol. I have been very much neglecting mine as of late.
Cheers,
Carolyn
OH and I think your daughter is onto something about the pillows.