100 Days of Zentangle ® 2019

I feel like I need to welcome myself back! It’s been months since my last post and I have really missed the writing process! Let me take a minute and catch you all up! I have been absorbed both with the #the100dayproject and with things at home. School is out and extra time and effort has been needed at home. Things have been stressful but we are hoping that God has His hand on our situation and that things will happen as they should. We are so grateful for everyone’s prayers and positive thoughts for us! I sincerely believe it’s been a great help! Thank you!💜

Now, the 100 Days of Zentangle ® Project I started this year for #the100dayproject has been a revelation! I’m telling you now, I never, ever could have foreseen the many, many blessings I’ve recieved directly because I started this project! It started with a simple idea from a picture on Pinterest. I mapped out a simple project template and got in touch with Liz Drake, administrator of the Facebook group, ZIA’S, Tips, Tricks and Techniques. Working with Liz on the daily prompts, I then posted my proposed idea in the ZIA group as well as the group for Certified Zentangle Teachers. I was very pleased with the warm response the idea got and I took a huge step and went daily on YouTube with pattern explorations and adding the daily patterns to the 100 Days of Zentangle template. Almost as soon as I went to daily uploads, I saw my YouTube channel numbers steadily starting to climb. On April 12, I had 700 subscribers, and today?

1247!! Wow! YouTube now requires 1000 subscribers and a total of 4,000 hours of watch time on your videos in order to allow you to join their Partner Program and add monetizing (like ads, selling swag and such) features. I was chasing this goal but it wasn’t the reason I chose to do the project. I feel this project will be repeated many times and is timeless beyond this project. The number of tanglers interested in having their own inspiration piece they can frame and hang is around 300 that I am aware of. I think when they post their art, their friends will want to create one of their own! I never thought it would gain such momentum. This is where we are on day 85 (which was last week). Today is day 90 for me.

Here are some close ups of the progress.

I’m pretty proud of the art! I’m even happier about the warm community we have developed around my YouTube channel. I’ve made friends all over the world! They have become a part of my family in a way, like dear friends. It may sound strange, but it’s true! I feel my day would be less without the warmth and comfort of this beautiful group! I’ve recieved some wonderful comments from viewers saying that they feel the same way. I hope, if you haven’t joined me yet for the fun and friendship, and the tangling, of course, that you will check it out. Make a gorgeous piece of art and enjoy community!

Next, speaking of community and new friends, I want to introduce you to a very special lady! Her name is LA Juania Dorman. She is becoming very dear to me and I am blessed daily by her willingness to help. She is compiling a list of the tangles used on the 100 day project. The list is not yet available as we don’t know the last 9 tangles yet. As I write this, I am waiting to hear what Monday’s tangle will be. It’s Sunday evening! 😊 La Juania is going to give blogging a try and help out by sharing information here when I don’t have enough time to fit everything in! She is an awesome lady and I can’t wait for you to meet her! You’ll be hearing from her right here very soon!

I want to finish up by sharing the amazing news that, thanks to all the viewers on YouTube, my channel has been monetized already earning a small amount. (I do mean small!) but it’s a great start! I also crossed 1000 followers on Instagram! This will allow me to upload my longer videos to IGTV and not be forced to keep it under 10 minutes. I’ve learned a lot in the last couple of months! I have learned that you all want to know the quirky person I am, and a lot of you like me! Thanks! I have needed your support so much! I feel a lot more confident today about the future than I did a few months ago! I have proven to myself that I can do it! And not alone! As I tell y’all in the videos, “Y’all are the Best!

This is my tile from a game of Tangle Tag with my CZT32 class! Thank goodness I was third and not 16th! 😂

#tangletagczt32 featuring Cirque, Fengle and Mooka!

Finally, I just wanted to thank you all for your continued support! This is a very tough time of year for me and knowing that you are there makes a huge difference! 💜

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Artist Liz Drake’s “The Things I’ve Done”

Yesterday, while working on a Chinese/English artist focus, I was taking a much needed break and happened to check my Facebook notifications. One was a post from artist, and friend Liz Drake. You may remember Liz from her artist focus article several months ago. Here’s the link if you are interested in seeing her amazing art! Her post yesterday was so deep and meaningful, I just had to share it here.

The Things I’ve Done by Liz Drake 

Wanting to do something EPIC makes me want to think about the things I’ve done already in this life of mine. Not just the ordinary things that most anyone has done by the time they hit my age, but the things that make me unique. I acknowledge everything I have done int he past prepares me in some way for something I will do in the future. With that in mind, I thought I would just randomly list things I have done (In no particular order). It will be interesting, educational, exciting and sometimes heartbreaking to see where the future will take me. Bring it on!

I have lived in a home on the historic register that was once owned by clowns.

I have swam in the Ocean, I have dipped a toe in both Lake Superior and the Gulf of Mexico

I have worked in the field I attended college for for 40+ years

I have worked in a prison.

I have worked in a doctor’s office where I learned to assist with minor surgical procedures, remove stitches and casts, give immunizations, draw blood for labs and do simple lab tests.

I have also managed a garbage company at the state fair.

I have had the honor to serve my Lord on Alter Guild in my home church.

I have managed a florist company while the boss was on vacation.

I have done telephone soliciting for a local newspaper.

I have been paid to scoop ice cream and wait tables.

I have lived happily for 2 years in 47 square foot with my spouse.

I have been a hockey mom, gotten involved, kept score and laced more skates than Heinz have pickles.

I have been camp leader with the boys at scout camp for a week.

I have had poems and essays published in magazines.

I have won contests.

I was once voted one of my town’s “Ten Most Interesting People”

I have single handed taken 11 kids between the ages of 16 and 6 camping for the week end.

I have lived in a small town, in the middle of nowhere and in the cities. I prefer small town.

I have driven a stick shift in a car and taught my children to do the same.

I have driven a semi truck—forwards as well as backwards.

I have piloted a boat. I have rowed a canoe, a kayak, a john boat and pedaled a pedal boat.

I have flown a light plane….with much coaching, but I was in control.

I have won blue ribbons at the state fair, for art, for gardening, for floral design, for baking, showing rabbits and for hobbies. I have collected several silver platters for “Best in Show” at the state fair.

I have owned a milk cow–and milked, and made my own butter.

I have sheered a sheep.

I have managed a salt water fish tank and several fresh water tanks as well.

I have been represented in several art galleries.

I have grown, frozen, canned and put by fruits, vegetables and meats for winter. I have made jams, jellies, and dehydrated foods.

I have rendered tallow to make candles.

I have made funeral arrangements for someone I love.

I have stood sentinel over a very dear friend while she waged her personal war on cancer.

I have held vigil and been present when someone took their last breath.

I have sewn my own clothes and too many costumes to count. I have even done the sewing for a couple weddings–as well as my own.

I have changed the oil in my car and made minor repairs.

I have repaired the lawn mower–successfully a few times.

I have written and self published a book that has sold over 200 copies.

I have written and maintained a bimonthly professional column in a nationally distributed magazine.

I have published and edited a state wide newsletter with a circulation of about 350 families.

I have been part of a team teaching vacation bible school in both Canada and Alaska.

I have re-wired and re-plumbed my home.

I have heard the heartbeat of the ocean, smelled it rain in the desert and felt the night come alive in the mountains.

I have been divorced more times than I care to admit to, but when I finally got the getting married right, I got it right!

I have given birth to and had the opportunity to herd four amazing sons and enjoy their journey from babes to amazing young men. I have had the opportunity to watch them enjoy the journey of parenthood and to share in their joys with my amazing grandchildren and even now great grands.

I have had the opportunity to watch my siblings chase their dreams and have even been included on a few occasions.

I have watched The Magic Flute performed at Semper Opera House in Dresden, Germany.

I have at least driven through parts of every state in The United States of America.

I have flown “stand by” and learned the inner workings of commercial flight.

I have encouraged others to dream the impossible dream through public speaking.

I have learned to laugh at myself.

I have been the first person on a young horse’s back. (Not as dramatic as it might sound as my sister literally had him eating out of the palm of her hand before plunking me up there.)

I have started an art club, that continued to meet and grow even after I was unable to attend.

I have taught art classes, and enjoyed watching people do what they didn’t think they could.

I have learned to walk again when I was told I never would.

I have learned to trust in God, not religion.

I have learned to embrace hope and to look for the light.

I have enjoyed sunshine and danced in the rain, I have dreamed dreams and chased them down. I still struggle with not sweating the small stuff. I have learned that life is a journey, not a destination. I am determined to enjoy the journey.

Liz Drake

Facebook Art Page Tangled World by Liz Drake

I think you can see why this moved me to think about my experiences and accomplishments as well as heartaches! As I thought of some of the things I would put on my list, I decided that writing the list would be a great personal growth exercise. So here’s my list of things I’ve done:

• I have sung/performed in 12 states and 6 countries.
• I sang a gospel spiritual as part of a choral performance in Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, and in the Cathedral in Riems, France. Amazing acoustics!
• I’ve rattled windows with my sung high notes.
• I’ve interpreted classes from preschool to advanced university courses.
• I have earned fluency in 3 languages (though sometimes I think I should remove English from the list).
• I have earned 2 college degrees.
• I don’t have biological children but have always raised others’ kids.
• I drove a school bus for 5 years.
• I’ve worked as a bilingual secretary for a relief organization.
• I’ve studied Music in the German language.
• I’ve performed in the opera including roles in Don Giovanni and La Traviata and Die Fledermaus.
• I have sung in churches across a 6 state region. I felt at the time that it was Every church in the region!
• I’ve driven on the Autobahn at speeds so fast it scares me to think about!
• I have learned to play the violin, piano, kettle drums, electric bass and the trombone.
• I’ve been a manager at McDonald’s.
• I worked as a Sign Language Interpreter for 15 years.
• I’ve been abandoned by a parent and rediscovered them after 31 years.
• I’ve experienced the grief of losing 2 careers to illness.
• I’ve been the choir director in a church.
• I sat and sang to my mother as she slipped into death.
• I have ridden a Tennesee Walker, an Appendix (quarter horse/thoroughbred mix) and an ornery palomino.
• I have mucked stalls, fed, hayed and groomed horses.
• I learned to drive on a stick shift (manual transmission).
• I’ve experienced youth hostels in 4 countries.
• I have been a foster parent.
• I’ve worked as a travel agent.
• I’ve taken an overnight ferry between Maine and New Brunswick Canada
• I’ve traveled through Alaska, eaten Caribou sausage, stood in Denali and ridden a tram up the side of a volcano. I have seen the Aurora Borealis, whales and been herded by dolphins.
• I’ve stood at the foot of the Swiss Alps unable to see the tops.
• I have fostered abused and rescued dogs for the shelter and the rescue agencies.
• I’ve volunteered in the local animal shelter.
• I’ve worked as a legal secretary.
• I’ve become an artist and blogger.
• I’ve been a college football fan and attended Oklahoma University home games from about 1972-1982, as a child with my younger sister. We watched Billy Sims’ heisman trophy season and several National Championship years.
• I started working as a sacker in a grocery store at age 14 years.
• I experienced the shaking and boom of the explosion of the Murrough building bombing in downtown Oklahoma city.
• I sang in the National Memorial Service for those lost in the bombing.
• I’ve traveled and camped in most states in the union.
• I have lost 3 people to suicide.
• I have learned to care about God’s opinion and ignore those of organized religions.
• I have learned to focus on the good and survive the bad.
• Most importantly though, I’ve found that you can still find happiness and fulfillment even after your dreams and hopes are crushed. It’s all about the willingness to open up to new experiences and possibilities, and having the right attitude about the change.

I can only imagine the amazing lists you all might come up with! I encourage anyone interested to use the comments section and post your own lists! It’s a fascinating experience and you will feel much more accomplished and interesting when you finish! I look forward to reading your comments! Write in your own language and I’ll post a translation. If you have questions, please contact me at Thetirelesstangler@gmail.com.

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Artist Focus: Liz Drake

Liz Drake’s “Joy”

Meet Liz Drake! Liz is one of a long list of amazing artists I’ve met through Tangle It! Pattern Club. Several weeks back I featured an artist named Barb Masinton from the group. The post included Barb’s “go-to” week one entries. I thought it would be fun to see how Liz approaches the challenges. As we move forward, I hope to have a great collection of different artist’s “go-to” challenges. I’m going to enjoy having them to compare and appreciate! 

Liz Drake

 “Liz Drake here, Artist at large. After raising 4 sons, spending 40+ years in medical imaging as a career, I retired, cashed in enough of my IRA to put a down payment on a semi, obtained my CDL and went over the road with my husband in our 18 wheeler. Living a life of adventure on road offers opportunities to see things I would never see otherwise, it does have some artistic limitations, space for supplies being just one. Two people living in 47 square foot can be quite a challenge in itself. Most art store parking lots are designed to prohibit big trucks entering. I’m not real sure how their delivery drivers manage, but the space allowed for them even is very tight and restricted from customer use. We have no route, no schedule, no structure or calendar beyond the load that is on at the time. On a good day with no major cities involved, we can do up to 700 miles per day. On days we are in major cities, have to load or unload—or both, we sometimes only log 200-300 miles. Sometimes we sit for pseveral days between loads. Life is very unpredictable, getting mail is next to impossible, and the stress levels can become incredibly high when you throw weather, road construction and unreasonable dispatch into the mix. The need for a Zen-like art outlet is more than apparent in my life. Enter Zentangle Inspired Art, I had scratched the surface several years back when my artistic passion was gourd art, (where I was represented in several galleries, vended at several yearly juried shows, and taught classes)

 

I publish a short “lesson” note each week along with attempting to post a daily doodle on my Facebook Art Page Tangled World by Liz Drake. Go ahead, check it out, oh and give it a “like” while you are there. All comments appreciated.

  

My next art adventure is to get a few of my favorite pieces printed into note cards and postcards. I hope to package and sell to finance “My Epic Adventure” when I plan to build a pedal vessel and camp and pedal my way from the source of the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico.” 

 
 

One of Liz’s “go-to” challenge tiles. I love her ideas!

I am amazed that Liz is able to produce art like this while working on the road! I want to be around to see the art she comes up with on the pedal trip!

 

Thank you so much, Liz, for allowing me to share your art and your journey! You’re a fascinating lady and I expect I will be asking to add your art here and there when the opportunity arises! I’m off to check out your Facebook page.
 

 
 
 
 

This is my favorite! Of course, if it’s purple I am guaranteed to love it!

 All the art and images on this site are copyrighted by the creating author/artist. They are not to be used, copied or pinned without the creator’s written permission. All rights reserved. 

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