Lately when I've been 'trying' to tangle, I have a lot of . . . do I know any tangles??? What do I know? I can't remember a thing! Has this ever happened to you? I am probably not the only person who has so many things going on in my life that my brain is just bogged down by the end of the day and I am left with - - - do I know any tangles???
Now. Rewind to May. I flew to Toronto to surprise a friend I had never really met in person - just online - who is really as close as a sister. While I was visiting Cindy, my CZT friend Cherryl Moote invited us to spend a little time in her home - and studio - and we did some fun shopping that I talked about here. One of the things Cherri showed us was a tangle book she was building in a moleskine storyboard journal. I loved what she showed us so much that I ordered my own journal from Moleskine and got started.
This is what one page looks like. This journal can be ordered from moleskine.com or amazon.com for around $15-20.00. It measures 5" x 8.25" and closes with an attached elastic band. Each of the 108 pages has four story blocks already drawn on the page like you see in the photo above.
From the first photo in this post you can see that I started by keeping primarily to the blocks. That extra space in the middle can be used to make notes about the tangles, or to sketch out the steps, or to say "hey! this is my absolute favorite!" By the time I got to this page I was regretting losing that space in the center and began filling it with tangles that needed more room than one box.
For me - this book isn't intended to show step-outs. This book is all about being something I can grab when I hit a brick wall and can't remember anything. It is a reference. A refresher. A reminder.
Being such, I want to fill it with my favorite tangles to draw. Not ones that I don't want to use, or ones that I can never get to look right. It isn't a place where I 'practice' - I do that in a different sketchbook. I want these pages to look pretty. I want to be able to flip through and have the tangles bring up good memories in my mind.
When I look at cat-kin I remember how I could never get that to look right until Meredith Yuhas taught us the steps in a Retreat to Paradise class.
When I look at verdigogh I remember that it is a cool, versatile tangle that adds a little spice wherever I can use it.
When I look at copada by Margaret Bremner - it reminds me of her little wonky houses - even though there isn't a single house in the tangle.
Anything by Michele Beauchamp reminds me of her beautiful spirals and I find myself trying to fit one in - even if there isn't enough space - just because I love them so much!
And when I see those awesome little Lilah Beans I just smile from ear to ear! I love those little beans!
And thanks, Cherri, for letting me take your idea and make my own book!
As a quick reference guide of tangles I am comfortable with drawing - this moleskine journal is awesome! Except for that whole quick part. Any time I sit down with this journal is good for at least 30 minutes because I just get lost in remembering!
For what seems like the 9th time in the past so many years, I once again had jury duty today. Gotta tell you I am sick of jury duty. It's always when I have doctor's appointments scheduled for someone and they have to be cancelled. Today's cancellations were eye appointments for Kali and myself. Two doctor's appointments for my mom in the next couple days have been saved. So, on the jury summons was the suggestion to bring reading material or writing material, because there would be a lot of sitting and waiting. (Trust them on that one!) Like a true CZT, I took a sketchbook and a copic multiliner. While we waited for the judge to enter the courtroom, I drew the above. I was practicing my dragonaire.
It wasn't long before the judge had about 40 people lined up, waiting their turn to pitch why they should be released from jury duty. (I'm telling you, if I couldn't get excused after 27 years as a police officer, a bunch of middle aged men weren't going to get off because their knees hurt. You go, Your Honor!) But, while they were pitching, I had plenty of time to tangle up the Scales of Justice. (I'm not sure if Lila Bean is waiting for the judge to throw the book at her, or if she's waiting for Lady Justice to show up.)
I was selected to one jury panel. While we were going through voir dire, the attorneys asking us a gazillion questions person by person, I started mindlessly drawing lines. That's one thing I love about the art of zentangle. You don't have to always have your head in the game. You can draw lines while you listen to 5 prospective jurors trying to convince the attorneys and the judge that the defendant "looks familiar." Might I just repeat - - - You go, Your Honor!
