Student Work!

I have meant to do this forever, but somehow didn't. I just wanted to show some of my students' work. These were done by students at the Crafty Camper Retreat in southern AZ this month. I think they did an amazing job! Not everyone was finished when the shot was taken, but they are all off to a great start

The Diva's 100th Challenge

The Diva posted her 100th challenge. If you don't know the diva, you can find out more about her challenges here. In honor of this, the fabulous Maria from Zentangle came up with a new tangle, Diva Dance, that has three variations: Waltz, Foxtrot, and Rock 'n Roll. The challenge issued was to use the new tangle. Here are my first attempts: I love this tangle and want to play with it more, for sure.

Zentangle Meets Mandala

Here are the samples from my upcoming class called Zentangle® Meets Mandala. In this class we will focus exclusively on zendalas, using the Zentangle® philosophy that anything is possible one stroke at a time.  Classes will be held at The Occasional Artist 7150 North 57th Dr. Glendale, AZ (623) 847-2215 - Please call the store if you wish to register for classes. They will be held on Sat., Jan. 5, 2013 9:30 am - 12:30 pm and again on Thurs., Jan. 31, 2013 10:30 am - 1:30 pm for $30. All you need to bring are a micron 01 pen (or your size of preference), a paper stump or tortillon, and a pencil. Everything else is provided. Supplies may be purchased at the store (or from me if the store is out of anything. Zentangle goodies are selling like hotcakes there right now.) It's gonna be a great time, as always! Feel free to email me @janeeileen@hotmail.com if you have any questions.

Crazy Business

Once again, I have been so busy, it's just been crazy. Besides working part time, grandwonderful days, and volunteering, I have been working on new classes,  for zentangle, fabric art, and journaling.

By popular demand, I have gelli plates on order for my upcoming class where we will make a journal from canvas and papers on which we make prints using the gelli plates. I am just putting the finishing touches on the sample book and waiting for my class set of plates to arrive.

Details are in the sidebar and photos coming soon for the classes that don't have them yet. I can't wait to show you! Let me know if you have any questions about the classes, please.

Last week I taught a little book class at Frenzy Stamper, and above are the two books I made while demoing. The ladies and I had so much fun I just didn't want to stop! The students' books ALL turned out so great. We all particularly liked watching the books evolve as we added layer after layer, each bringing an almost all new look to our creations.

NOTE: We are going to offer the class again on Saturday, April 13 from 10-4. More pictures are here: http://janeeileen.blogspot.com/2013/01/gelli-plate-journal.html     Come join the fun at Frenzy Stamper! You can call the store at 480-946-0007 to register, or send me an email @janeeileen.blospot.com.

How fabulous are these?

Ok, how fabulous are these? I wish I knew the source, but sadly I don't. If anyone knows, please share, and if anyone has any corks they want to toss in the trash, toss them this way, Pretty Please!

The Diva's Weekly Challenge #93

So here is my submission for The Diva's Weekly Challenge where we were asked to use the new tangle Bunzo. Since I was working on another project his week as well, I decided to kill two proverbial birds with one stone, which will explain why some of my regular readers will be seeing it twice. Bunzo  was a lot of fun to play with!

Pictures for the Zentangle Card Class

As promised, here they are, 6 zentangles, 2 of which are on completed cards. There will be supplies to complete them all as cards, but I am just showing this much in the interest of saving space for my store display. I will have materials for other letters in case "g" has nothing to do with the recipient or purpose of your card. Students will choose from a variety of card sizes and colors, both for cards and envelopes. Ideas for variations of these zentangles as well as tangling the envelopes will be discussed. I have had a total blast making these and can't wait to share them! More details are available in the previous post as well as the sidebar, and I am always available by email (janeeileen@hotmail.com) if you have any questions.
Note: This class is being repeated on Friday, March 22 from 10:30am - 1:30pm

Zentangle classes are taught at 
The Occasional Artist
7150 North 57th Dr. Glendale, AZ 
(623) 847-2215  
Please call the store to register for classes.

A NEW Zentangle Class!

The first Zentangle® class was such a great success, we're gonna do a new one! Here are the details. I will post pictures soon and update you when this happens, but since all things Zentangle at The Occasional Artist and filling up and selling out like crazy right now, I wanted to give you all a heads up as soon as I could.

Zentangles for Greeting Cards $30  
Saturday, December 15, 2012
10am-1pm

Students should bring: 1 or more Black Micron pens size 01 or whatever size you prefer, a tortillion (paper stump) #2 or softer pencil (not a mechanical pencil) and one adhesive of your choice: Elmer's or any white glue, tape runner, glue stick, whichever you prefer. These items are available for purchase at the store (or me at classtime, in the event they sell out at the last minute, since Zentangle items are selling like hot cakes there right now).

Materials Provided by Teacher: handouts, Zentangle tiles, paper, takehome handouts with directions for each tangle, greeting cards and envelopes
You will be given enough supplies to make 6 cards, and we will complete at least 4 cards and envelopes in class, more if time allows. If you prefer to use your completed zentangles/zendalas for something other than greeting cards, no problem. Keep the card supplies anyway! Plus we will be working on different tangles than we did in Zentangle 1. Zentangle 1 is not a prerequisite for this class. Everyone is welcome to sign up.

In case you missed Zentangle 1 and still want to take it on Saturday, November 17. More details in the sidebar to your left.

Zentangle classes are taught at 
The Occasional Artist
7150 North 57th Dr. Glendale, AZ 
(623) 847-2215  
Please call the store to register for classes. 

Zentangle Class and Calendar Update

Sadly, all the calendars were sold at my Zentangle class today, so I have no more for sale.
I am sorry I didn't take my camera along to take pictures of the ladies' work in our Zentangle® class today. They were amazing and one of the nicest groups ever! Thanks, Girls! I hope to have different zentangle classes on the schedule soon. We were on such good behavior, we were invited back!
The November class, a repeat of today's class, still has a few spots open, if anyone wants to take it next time. I'm betting it will be another fabulous bunch! Details are in the sidebar to the left.

A Zentangle calendar? What?

tangle-a-day 2013 calendar

I got my calendar in the mail and am over. the. top. happy. about it! CZT Carole Ohl did an amazing job designing this, and I can't wait to get started filling it up! I am in the process of completing a book with a monotangle of every official zentangle® tangle and am 9 tiles away from being done. When that happens, I plan to go to town on this baby. I have two calendars for myself, one to get moving on now and one to do a square a day in 2013.  This 2013 calendar was designed for tangling, but I could use it in so many different ways including zentangles, doodles, drawings, quotes, anything I want to collect or do one day at a time. The paper is close to the color of the official Zentangle® tiles and has been tangler tested to make sure a Micron pen does not bleed through the paper when tangling. Most other pens outside of a Sharpie work well, too. I know because my super zentangle buddy, Alice, tested a bunch and showed me evidence. Thanks, Alice! It has beautiful illustrations in open spaces at the end of each set of squares for a month since each month begins on the left side of a brand new page.
There is a 2.5" blank square block for every single day of the year for you to tangle on, and it also includes a full month calendar at the start of each month which can be tangled on as well.

Here are a few ideas Carole has for using the calendar. My favorite is her first idea because you could use the calendar as a showcase of all the tangles you know, kind of like a tangle portfolio. That is exactly what I would have done with one, had I had the idea before I started my book.
• Practice a different tangle in each box.
• Pencil a string through all the boxes (or beyond the boxes).
• Use the numbers as a string and tangle inside or outside of them.
• Practice the same tangle in each box for a whole week (or even a month!).
• Make notes about your Zentangle process.
• Use it to play with CZT Laura Harms’ Weekly Challenge (www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.com)

I also think it would be fun to do a different monotangle square each day across a two page spread until the last square and then use it to do a zentangle that is a combination of all the squares used on the previous monotangles! I think it would be fun to get together with friends from time to time to do a sharing meeting and show our progress in them. If you have one, I would love to see what you do whether you live close by or not!

For Artoo!

I have a little confession, just in case you haven't noticed. Zentangles are taking over a large amount of my free time. Today's photo is a tile I completed as part of a weekly challenge I am participating in. It is hostessed by another fellow CZT. You can read all about it here. This tile is dedicated to her adorable and clothes rockin' little man named Artoo!

Ganesha Calling Project

One of my fellow CZTs, Dilip, who was trained in Providence when I was but who lives in India, has requested that others contribute to a special project he is doing. He needs 100 Ganeshas before December 31st. You can read more about it here: http://thingsoftenspeaktome.blogspot.in/p/zentangle-ganesha-calling.htmlhttp://thingsoftenspeaktome.blogspot.in/p/zentangle-ganesha-calling.html
This is my contribution.

More Zentangles

Well. My computer was giving me fits on the last post and doing all sorts of tricks I have never seen before. Ghost? So I decided to just start a new post and see if that would do the trick. Ghost. Trick. 'Tis the season, right? Anyway, here are more of my zentangles, starting with more spaces that started the same followed by borders. Borders and stripes are another favorite for me. I have pages and pages and more pages that are bordered in different ways with tangles. They would be perfect for cards or stationery or signs. I had so many that for practice, I just started doing stacks of them.

Playing with Tangles

 I have been getting enough feedback from a variety of sources asking me more about what "those things" (zentangles) are on Pinterest : ), what I am doing in my book or other similar questions, so I decided to post some more pictures of my own work including my first submission for the Diva's Weekly Challenge. The first photo shows what I did for the challenge for which all participants were asked to begin with the same string. I do admit it has been a little spooky around here getting the house fixed up with seasonal stuff, and that along with playing with negative space inspired my entry. I was working away on my Zentangle, when I "saw a ghost" so I just decided to run with it. It is what it is. Not my usual stuff, but fun anyway. It would be fun for a Halloween card.

I have to say that I think the mandalas turned into zendalas are my favorite ones to do.
The next ones are related in that each set started off the same blank space before I filled it in. I like playing to see different ways to fill identical areas.

I will be doing another post very soon with more samples of my work.

Classes Update and New Photos

1.  Flowered, Upscaled Quilt and Doily Book 

Saturday, September 29, 2012  9:00 - 1:00

Frenzy Stamper in Scottsdale, AZ

7064 E. 5TH AVENUE

Call the store 480.946.0007 to register.

We have spaces left, if you still want to join the party!

Sample photos here:

and here: http://janeeileen.blogspot.com/2012/08/have-i-mentioned-that-i-love-my-job.html
$45. for class and supplies, including detailed handout, fabric, lace and ribbons, vintage doily, sewing thread, quilt piece, buttons, waxed linen, embroidery floss, and paper for pagesMake a journal/ book using an old quilt and vintage doily. Create fabric/fiber flowers 6 different ways to embellish your book. Extra flowers not used on your book may be taken home for use on another project. Make tabs for your pages, and call it a fabulous day. This book will be both beautiful and fun! 
Student Supply list: fabric scissors, measuring tape, sharp hand sewing needle with an eye big enough for embroidery floss, straight pins, sewing machine with bobbins and machine needles (If you do not have one to bring, you can rent one for $5. for the day, if you let us know you need one when you sign up. Rentals are limited.)

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2. Below are NEW sample photos of another upcoming class: Little Canvas Books. This will also be held at Frenzy Stamper in Scottsdale, and you can register by calling the number above.

Each participant will make two books. We will be doing the painted fabric covers and pages in class. I will also have a sample of a nearly completed one to show you one idea of what you can do with your little books when they leave the store. That is the last photo.  Since this will be in December, these small books will be GREAT for stocking stuffers or gifts for special people in your life, including you!!! Every book will be a one of a kind creation since students will be choosing their own fabrics, papers, paints and embellishments from my stash. Each book is about 4X6 inches, so they are small enough to tote around in a pocket, backpack, purse, or pocket, but don't let the size fool you. They are mountains of fun to make.

Saturday, December 1, 2012 at Frenzy Stamper in Scottsdale10:00 - 3:00 with a lunch break - Bring your own lunch, or go out. There are many options in walking distance from the store.

$40. for both books which includes detailed handout, paper for pages, canvas covers, embellishments, thread, embroidery floss, and glue, if you prefer glue over sewing. There will also be two sewing machines on hand that you may use if you don't want to bring your own. Time on the machine will be minimal and if sewing machines scare you, I can do that part for you.

Student Supply List: fabric scissors, apron or clothes that love paint
Optional: metal edged ruler or personal paper cutter and/or sewing machine, if you don't want to wait to share or prefer to use your own tools
Optional: metal edged ruler or personal paper cutter and/or sewing machine, if you don't want to wait to share or prefer to use your own tools

Announcing Zentangle Home Parties!

HOME PARTIES

If you want to learn more about the Zentangle method, where anything is possible one stroke at a time, but my teaching dates don't match your schedule, there is always plan B! Get together a little group of your friends, and let's get creative! 
For parties of 5 or more, the hostess gets the class for free!
$30. class fee  plus $4. for supplies (if you don't want to bring your own supplies) including a micron pen, tortillion, Zentangle pencil, paper tiles, and detailed, teacher drawn step by step directions on how to draw each tangle.  Students can have fun learning in class and take the handouts home to continue working/playing at home or on the go. Additional supplies will be available for purchase with the hostess receiving a portion of the profits.     Classes can be held on a variety of topics on a variety of levels of expertise. Contact me for details, so we can customize your party for you! janeeileen@hotmail.com

My First Prayer Flag

Just in case you have never heard of a prayer flag, my understanding about them is that these flags are really just to send your wishes out into the world. Artists who make them often hang them in the breeze to send out their thoughts and ideas. I will be attending An Artful Journey Retreat in late February/early March of next year, and we have been given the option to bring one along. Collected ones there will be given to lucky winners at the retreat. (fingers crossed)
Well, since I had been admiring the ones from Jane LaFazio's Prayer Flag Project that she took over, and had really wanted to try one out, it all added up, and I finally made one. There are many wonderful examples there, if you want to see more.
I wanted to keep mine simple and straightforward. The reason I chose this theme besides the fact that I am hopelessly addicted to heart shapes in my art is that when I thought about what I could send out into the world, all this just added up.
I made it from a piece of a curtain from my daughter's house. The curtains were there when she moved in, and I was making the new curtains. I was overjoyed when she said this one had to go, because I saw the potential for something else in it. It was just a matter of time.

I used a little faux quilting technique that I show in some of my classes, so it was easy and simple for me to do. I love hand embroidery, especially French knots which was I able to include along the border of the heart. It went along with me on a recent trip so I could work on it. Those of you who know me, know I cannot sit still very long if I don't have something in my hands!  It has been to 5 states already, in my suitcase. There's just one more stop on its tour before it may take flight again to its new home. I hope the new owner LOVES it as much as I did making it. I have a sneaking suspicion that there are going to be more.

New Classes Added to My Teaching Schedule

I've been busy setting up new classes and now have them listed in the sidebar. If you have any questions, please let me know by emailing me @ janeeileen@hotmail.com. And if you want to sign up, info. for each class is listed in the sidebar as well.

I am pleased to say that I  will be at The Occasional Artist in downtown Glendale, AZ.  There will be  two Zentangle® classes and a demo. at an upcoming make and take, as well as a fiber arts journal class. The pictures below show the journal as well as examples of some of the Zentangles® I've been playing with lately. Fun projects!

I've also been booked to teach 3 classes for an art retreat this December in southern AZ. I don't know if I am more excited about being fed by a personal chef the whole time or going to have fun with the girls for a a long weekend, but just maybe I don't need to decide. It is just gonna be fun. Period. I can't tell what the classes are 'cause it is part of the surprise everyone signed up for. It filled quickly when it was announced to their group, but I think a few more spots may be squeezed in soon. If you want more info. about how to meet up with Denise and her group, you can contact her @ denisemeetup@gmail.com.

I also took a new sample of my September class at Frenzy Stamper, for the quilt and doily journal with flowers to Frenzy Stamper, so you can see it there or in a photo below. Each person will leave with their own one of a kind creation and extra flowers to use on other projects. A few other examples are shown in an earlier post. http://janeeileen.blogspot.com/2012/08/have-i-mentioned-that-i-love-my-job.html

At Last!

I got my etsy shop updated yesterday. At last! Here are a few examples of what the new things are. Whether you are just window shopping or looking for something for that someone special (like maybe you, cause you know you deserve it), I hope you find something you like! You can find my shop by clicking here: janeeileen.etsy.com or clicking on one of the photos in the sidebar. Enjoy!