I was wandering down the aisle of a grocery store (Whole Foods? . . . Shaw's? . . . I cannot remember which) when I spotted these wooden "grab it" tongs.
I do not especially care for grocery shopping, I do, however like to cook. Quite a dilemma. An old friend once told me, "Only buy what you can carry out in your arms, in one trip," and I try to hang onto that mantra. It has (mostly) served me well.
Anyway, going back to the tongs, I am always on the hunt for things I can give as a "hostess gift" that is fun and lasting. I like to bring wine, but sometimes I want something a bit less fleeting.
Oh yeah, the tongs . . . so I grabbed a few of these, they were only $3.29 each! (So, maybe it wasn't Whole Foods.)
Grabbed my black Sakura® Pigma Micron® and went to town. It did not take very long to do what I had in mind. I did not want to tangle the "use" part of the tongs, just the handle. Not to worry about the ink and foodstuffs.
On the package it said they were made of "beautiful beech wood" (although, I can't imagine them saying it was made of "ugly beech wood" or "smelly beech wood").
I decided to just rub some olive oil on them to protect the ink just a bit then wiped them and, well. . . . here they are.
As another old friend says . . . "cool beans!"
What have you tangled lately?
Something rather unique or silly?
Sometimes the silly stuff comes out pretty cool. . . .
So . . . tell us your story and we'll send these suckers off to one of you for the effort!
Love you guys!
Materials used:
- Wooden tongs
- Sakura® Pigma Micron® - Black 03
- Sakura® Gelly Roll® - White
- Sakura® Pigma Micron® - Brown 01
- Olive oil
Detail:
Rick adds:
Life . . . Grab it!
Click images for larger views.
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29 comments:
I've been tangling wooden leaves as my Random Acts of Art project.I leave them around the community for people to find. I'm adding my own twist by placing each one with a prayer of blessing for the finder. Except for the fact that they are tangled and I am the community Certified Zentangle Teacher, there is no indication of where these leaves came from. I love the idea of someone I don't even know picking up a leaf turning it over in their hand and finding "Random Acts of Art" printed on the back. Too bad, I can't place a chip in them to find out what happens. But not knowing, just letting the piece go, is part of what intrigues me about this. It is up to my imagination to consider all the possibilities. And letting go in faith makes it more powerful.
I LOVE the concept of "Random Acts of Art".
I have given strangers many tiles over the years, but not in a random manner such as this.
This is very cool.
Thanks, Maria (and Rick, too)
These tongs for me bring back so many memories. My Dad was a volunteer fireman among many other things
but, he was injured in a fire when the rood collapsed on him. He dislocated a shoulder and shattered a hip. The worst for him were not his injuries but, his time he would spend recuperating and "doing nothing." As soon as he was mobile enough, he retreated to his workshop and produced "Toast Tongs" by the dozen. I can't see one of these without thinking of him. :)
I currently am tangling on dozens and dozens of oyster shells that I saved from my husbands summer of oyster indulgence. They will become random acts of art for the Boston area soon.
thanks for the memories.
I'm quite new to zentangles, but have fallen completely in love with it. I teach English in Poland, and when my brain is tired at the end of the day, zentangles helps relax me and my hands. I enhanced a the coffee bar menu at school with zentangles, and find every excuse to embellish cards and envelopes and mugs and frosty car windows with it!
I've tangled on fabric luggage tags and also plastic vases. The vases are lightweight and are easy to take along to show alternatives to tangling on traditional tiles. The options are endless, really!
Very Cool Tongs! I love the random, or gifts of art. I have been leaving tiles in random library books for folks to find.
They are beautiful!
I haven't tangled anything interesting lately... just a couple of bookmarks for a CZT swap I've got going :-)
Pretty tongs!
A few moth ago my 'artificial' mum (as she called herself) died at the age of 93. My best friend (her daughter) phoned me to tell that she passed and after that I was walking to my pebbles (waiting for tangling) all afternoon and could not decide wich one to take. Hours later I suddenly knew whant to do: not a pebble but a oyster sell was what I had to tangle as a tribute to her. Because she loved the sea so much. So I did.
The shell was put next to her hands and went with her in the coffin.
This was a moment (again) to be so grateful for what Zentangle has given me.
Thank you both.
I tend to buy sport flip flops because they fit me better than regular one but I don't like having the sport logo on them. My current pair of Adidas are black on the top so I tangled with a black 01 in the white letters and now it's just a cool design!
I started tangling actual dried leaves. I find a nice one I like, press it and tangle. I want to tangle a feather next! I find them all the time!
Any hostess would be thrilled to receive these as a gift. And I bet they wouldn't be used, but displayed. Maybe a strip of magnet on one side and hung on the refrigerator. I know they would make me smile every time I opened the door.
Although familiar to you, I have started making birthday gifts tags with tangled initials. Illuminated if you will. I am pleasantly surprised at how they turn out, and they look great on the gift.
I absolutely LOVE putting tangles all around me! I've done canvas bags, aprons, tennies, earrings and necklaces, frames, my clipboard, AND - I just tangled a box that is being shipped out later today! Tease!
My biggest challenge is to test out which pen will work best for each surface.
My son's girlfriend is tangling her laptop cover. Can't wait to see how it turns out.
Last Sunday I attended a CZT Connecticut workshop where we learned to create tangled beads. It ends up being a piece of jewelry that is quite catchy. The white tangled tube beads look like porcelain after being tangled. Sadelle Wiltshire,CZT taught us the technique. It was great fun and I wear my jewelry with pride and love it. Others seem to love it too.
Olive Oil, huh? I never would have thought of that, but I'll definitely remember that. They look amazing.
Maria, Sooo very cool. This is a unique hostess gift. I plan to copy your great idea!
I tangle my note pads that I use at work. Adds a touch of beauty to my sometimes stressful days.
The Tongs are beautiful Maria...I've done some light switch plates, my yoga block and recently the ace bandage for my recently sprained ankle!
Craziest thing I tangled...my Kats food dishes. I know they appreciate the effort.
I was on a trip with some important clients and had a lovely new red blouse to wear on the last day. It was a bit wrinkled, so I decided to iron. Horrors - the iron was too hot and I burned the collar! Since I challenge myself to pack light, I had nothing else and 10 minutes to get to the lobby. I quickly pulled out my Microns and tangled a little something over the burned area - my clients were so impressed and couldn't tell it had a burn at all. I'll add a little more to balance out the other side of the collar, but Zentangle saved the day and my new blouse.
I shared Zentangle with a dear friend the other day, who always thought she had no artistic ability. We used one of the books I found in our library, One Tangle a Day. She loved it! (and so do I!)
I'd love to receive your special tongs. I've needed some to remove hot toast from the toaster for some time now. ;)
I received a set of glass coasters from a girl at work. The kind you are supposed to put a picture in. I took out the paper and cut some watercolor paper to fit the space and tangled away! They look awesome!
How cool is this Maria! I'm currently taking a series of classes with Molly, and I can't wait to take my level to the next step. This is just fabulous! Joanne
I used my sewing machine to make a very interesting 'ZIA' I used several embroidery patterns on white broadcloth ironed to refrigerator paper to stabilize it. Then I finished it by hand stitching a 'string' and adding bead work. It is quite unique and I have had several compliments on it. Last Halloween I tangled a white plastic pumpkin for our son who was born on Halloween, for his 40th birthday. He loved it and said he'll always have a nice Halloween decoration...! I love Zentangle, talk it up every chance I get. It amazes me how I can sneak it into almost any conversation! I look forward to meeting you both in November.
Hello Maria! What a fabulous creation, I love the idea of using olive oil to seal the wood.
My latest tangle surface is my file box for work. I found a fabulous cardboard color, un-decorated, file box and knew it would be perfect. Black copic mulitiliners and a silver sharpie have done the trick. It is truly difficult to close my eyes to all the wonderful surfaces to tangle on!
The tongs are gorgeous; what a great idea! I know the recipient was thrilled to get them.
What a great idea and a wonderful project-these would make a stunning gift for anyone!
Thanks for sharing!
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