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Friday, May 31, 2013

French Ivory Encore

Had to share this image with all you tanglers.

This box (probably originally designed for a dressing table top) was in Rick's parents' basement, just waiting to be discovered. It's about 4 by 10 inches.

It just so happened that my sister Sue, (who works here with us) was having a birthday. I knew she collected "French Ivory" and that she loved the pieces I had recently tangled.

So, "Happy birthday, Sue!


And I thought I'd throw a few recent Zentangle tiles for fun. I have been playing with "bending" the rules a bit. When a tangle is made up of triangles . . . what's to stop us from bending those lines for fun and interest?

Such fun.





What do you think?

Let us know and we'll send one of these tiles to a responder.

Winner of our previous blog is Georgia Jensen. Please email your mailing address to zentangle at gmail dot com. Congrats Georgia!

Rick adds:
Maria and I are already having fun deconstructing that woven table top on which the box is sitting. We'll see what we come up with and let you know. We invite you to explore your own deconstructions, too!

Click images for larger views.

38 comments:

Tangles and More said...

Wow! Love the box. Wish I could get my tangles to flow so smoothly. Like the bent lines in the triangles. So far when that has occurred on things I have done it has not been intentional. I like the Munchin one the best.

Ann at Deep Magic Tangles said...

A single rule bent by Maria is worth a thousand kept by others. ♥

Chrissie said...

I love the ivory box that you have tangled and the triangles bending the rules and going in different directions. What fun. I shall keep my open for a new step out soon of the wicker looking top the ivory box is on.

Suzanne said...

Ooh I love the bendy munchin!!

Anonymous said...

The Ivory box is so beautiful and your lovely Mooka's look perfect on it. I am sure Sue was thrilled with the gift.

Shelly Beauch said...

Zest for life is bending the rules and being flexible. It sure is better than being rigid and brittle. Thanks Maria for your soft swirls and gentle flow.

Bette Abdu said...

Bending the rules to match the space available is a testament to flexibility - Bravo.

Heather said...

The box is lovely. I am working on a full face mask right now after taking a class with Brenda Shaver. After taking the class I am a lot more confident.

Looking at your tiles, I ponder how to replicate the same tangles with my sewing machine. That was what brought me to Zentangles in the first place, that it would help me with my machine quilting.

Deby said...

The box is so lovely with a personal touch. Your squares are amazing! I love them all! Very inspirational!

Unknown said...

Loved the bending of the rules concept. Thanks, Rick and Maria, for the rules of Zentangle and the concept that bending the rules is part of Zentangle! The rules are there to give you structure,assist your creativity and to get you moving along. If, at any time, your creativity requests that you bend or ignore a rule, then by all means, ignore the rule.

Elizabeth Beveridge (BethB on Blogger) said...

Your gift box is beautiful Marie, with your flowing mookas. I just love it. I also love how you "bent the rules with the other tangles, especially munchin.

When people balk at the structure of Zentangle patterns, I always tell them it's like ballet... you learn the foundational steps in your lessons, then you have a basis for dancing freely from the heart.

Rick and Maria, I love how you dance!

Anonymous said...

WOW, I had never heard of French ivory before. If I was Ricks sister, I would give you all my pieces to do.

As always, your tiles are gorgeous and helps give us ideas to use. Thank you for your inspiration.

kp said...

Maria, your work is always so beautiful! What is the name of the tangle pattern you used for the second-to-last tile? I really want to try that for myself.

Annet said...

That tangled box is gorgeous. The pattern beneath it reminds me of my tangle Wicker-work (http://fat-quarter.blogspot.nl/2011/03/wicker-work.html)

Linda said...

As always, beautiful! I gather such inspiration from all the gorgeous works you both create!

Tmbr said...

Oh so Beautiful! I love viewing your works, they are such an inspiration. "Bending" the rules huh? Great idea! Going to have to push myself out of my box and do just that (with Zentangle of course) :) I LOVE the third tile down, so flowy! Thanks for sharing!
Blessings!
Traci R.
Tumwater, WA

BarbaraW said...

I look forward to each of your wonderful posts. This box is so gorgeous. Love the idea of bending the rules. The results are fantastic.

Sue Clark said...

What a beautiful box and treasure for your sister, Sue! I love the idea of bending the triangles since I sometimes find it hard to always line them up. Thanks for always keeping us inspired with new ideas!

Kelley Kelly said...

Oooh, that box is gorgeous - what a lovely gift!!

Bend the rules all you like; there are no "wrongs"... at least when it comes to Zentangle (i.e., don't try to get out of a speeding ticket with that. It doesn't work. Not that I, um, would have personal knowledge or anything...)

I think the Munchin is my favorite - it seems to lend itself well to swerving!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful ivory box. What type of pen/ink do you use on ivory?

Gloria - Maryland

Sandy Hunter said...

So much inspiration in this newsletter... thank you for sharing!

Margie Smith said...

It's so awesome. I would not have considered "bending" triangles. But having seen it done, I wondered why I didn't think of it. I think it may be that I'm so focused on the rules that it just never occurs to me to do something odd. And if I had done it by accident I would have considered it a failure. By showing this one instance of bending the rules has got my mind bending other shapes. How awesome.

Zentangle said...

Gloria, Rick mentions in this blog an older blog on French Ivory that will answer all your technical questions.
maria

Melinda Barlow CZT said...

Maria, the box is beautiful, I also love the bending. I love curves and this opens the door for many more verations of tangles. Thanks for all you do for this wonderful art of Zentangle.

Laughingorchidstudio.com said...

Elegant as usual, thanks Maria.

Sandra Chatelain

Sandy Hunter said...

P.S. Love your new signature, Maria!

Awasthlm said...

Such harmonic tiles to look at. Must have given harmony even to the artist. I wish to introduce the tangling to a lot of people and also to do it more myself.

The box is extremely beautiful. :-)

Thank's :-)

Pennyb said...

The box is beautiful. I'm glad you left some ivory- the understated look is very classy. I love the triangle tile - I 'm definitely going to " tangle lift" that one!

tanda said...

Wow, I am always in awe when I see these tangles. I LOVE the box!!! Absolutely gorgeous.

Chai said...

The ivory is a treasure in itself and the tangling on top adds so much value. What a beautiful gift to receive.
I love the simplicity of the triangular tangle in the next to last tile you posted. It is so clean and strong.
Wonderful work.

Grandma said...

Just so beautiful, from the ivory box to the last tile! I love the Zen quality and the calming affect I get while admiring them. Got to go Zentangle right now!

Barb Round,CZT said...

The box is beautiful and so are all of the images. The second from the bottom draws me most - it is so serene.
Barb

Tricia, CZT said...

Gosh, I wish I had the know-how to 'bend' and 'twist' patterns. Practice, practice.

Sara said...

Now I'm going to have to go a-hunting for some ivory boxes! What a charming idea! And now I'll try to bend some rules tonight, too....maybe with some ice cream...but more likely with some triangles. Thanks for the inspiration!

Teresa said...

wow! that is stunning! I would love to own something like that (I know... that's a birthday present for your sis :)). I might try my hand at tangling something other than a tile. Maybe... someday... the 12th of never. LOL!

Marcia said...

More beautiful art! Thanks for sharing

Heather said...

I'm new to Zentangle, so don't know all the rules...maybe that's a good thing!

Jodi said...

Love the "bendy" effect. In tangling it could be affect. Beautiful. I love letting my eyes wonder over your work. Mesmerizing.