We were about to leave when I spotted an old (perhaps late 1800's) crystal inkwell. Looked to be a petite ladies possession, delicate yet heavy. (Can that even be?)
It was a bit more than I wanted to spend, but Rick bargained the bargainer into a palatable arrangement. Lovely!
As he was paying the gentleman, I spotted this treasure . . . an old silver-plated tea tray, 13 x 21 inches, badly worn, but begging for a chance to find a new home. For $5, I knew I had to "rescue" it!
The center of the tray was a mess, not something I wanted to put out on the dinner table right away. But its stained center offered memories of delightful patterned melodies. I knew we could easily bring it back to life, make it sing again!
After about an hour with a Sakura® IDenti™Pen, it became our newest treasure. I think it will wear pretty well without a finish over it. We'll see. And I think I prefer the idea that in a few years, I might do a different design on it.
What do you think??
AND. . .
What interesting things have you tangled lately? Share it with us and we will (randomly) choose 3 and send some goodies your way!
Life is good.
Maria (and Rick) . . . and Bijou, too!
Please reply with some sort of name (not as anonymous) so we can distinguish your name as a winner!!
Click images for larger views.
Sing indeed...how lovely ^_^ I tangled a small Mooka butterfly on a large whiteboard that had been ignored by my parents and I for quite a while...it still didn't go over too well with them, so I've stuck mostly to paper since ^_^ Definitely inspired to try and find something unique now, though.
ReplyDeleteDaniel, can't wait to see what you find!
ReplyDeletewhat a great hunt. . .
I have spent the last month trying to catch up on my tangle a day calendar. Not very original but I am making a nice resource of tangle patterns. Love the tray. MartyG
ReplyDeleteMmmm! My temptation would have been to simply trace over the amazing designs that were already there...you did a super job. How amazing it is.
ReplyDeleteCan you tell me more about sakura identi pens? I did some porcelain ornaments at Christmas with a regular fine point sharpie and found the ink came off kind of easy. I'd love to find something that doesn't smear on that kind of thing.
What a lovely new treasure that you created! I am trying to be brave and tangle on an old vase! Waiting to see which direction I go next with the tangles! Thanks for sharing your creativity with all of us!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful tray! And am I seeing a potential new tangle in there? Mostly in the middle and a little to the right of the middle?
ReplyDeleteAlso been working in my tangle a day calendar. Have tangled on a Starbucks cup which always draws comments at my local store. They remember me and my order! And an iPad cover. I love your tray! Wonderful inspiration as always. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI've just tangled a silver plate stemmed bowl...tarnished beyond hope, bare spots with silver gone and turned it into a ZIA. Painted with gesso, collaged areas with black/white checkered paper, tangled with ING and it's ready for another 50 years.
ReplyDeleteJudith Shamp
Maria, what lucky finds you have there and what an amazing job you did on the tray! I would not have known what the little ink bottle was and would have most likely passed up the old tray. You truly amaze me!
ReplyDeleteI have been working on some larger ZIA projects to sell. I also had a great time teaching a class for my Zentangle club. I put together 2 of my favorite things, Zentangle and card making and taught them how to make a Valentines Day card. I supplied all sorts of things (including white hearts to tangle on), showed them a sample and some ideas and let them go at it. They loved it and I really enjoyed teaching the class.
Oops, I forgot to leave my name...it's Barbara Burgess. (gobarb26@aol.com)
ReplyDeleteDelightful! Thrilling!
ReplyDeleteI love seeing all the interesting ways you look at life around you. Such an inspiration!
ReplyDeleteI love the inkwell, how elegant it will feel to use it with a beautiful pen and nibs. The tray looks as though it may have been copper under the silver which gives it a warm worn look. Your artwork took it to a new beauty! I have gotten out of the practice of Zentangling every morning and I miss it.
ReplyDeleteWow, you did find some fantastic items!! I love what you did with the tea tray, Maria. Giving something a second life this way is awesome!!!
ReplyDeleteLately I have been tangling some bookmarks to give away and since I 'stole' the idea form Stacy Dowdy, I make pendants.
Annemarie
I have been tangling on official zentangle tiles, or artist tiles that were official zentangle size; gluing the tiles to squares of cardboard, and gluing that to cork backing. Finally I sealed the tiles with dishwasher safe mod podge so that when they are used as coasters, the drinks won't ruin them. Gave a set of green ones to my aunt, and she loved them!
ReplyDeleteSince I have had to be portable, so I can tangle while I am visiting my Hubby in the hospital, I have just been using tiles. I do have a new pair of tennis shoes, waiting in the wings that once I have the time, I am planning to tangle. Your tray is most lovely, and what a find with the inkwell. Glad that both pieces now have a new home.
ReplyDeleteKate Ahrens CZT IX
I never would have thought to do that with a silver tray! I have three that have seen better days. I need to try this. Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteUsing sidewalk chalk, two young friends (ages 7 and 9) and I recently tangled the tiles around our swimming pool. Great fun!
ReplyDeleteI've mostly been tangling Opus tiles lately but did recently do a pair of tennis shoes and my Z coffee mug (!) and did my laptop case and a cat-shaped wine bottle a while back. I have a shower curtain to do and I need to get brave enough to tackle it! Perhaps this will be my inspiration!!
ReplyDeleteK2 (Kelley Kelly)
I would never have thought to tangle on that tray. Thanks for sharing the brand specifics of the pen you used.
ReplyDeleteWonderful treasures! The tray is such a neat idea! Maria, you've inspired me to try to tangle other things besides paper. :) Lately, I've been creating daily journal pages with bible verses and inspirational quotes and then I tangle around them.
ReplyDeleteI tangled a page in a "goodbye book" that is presented to each child we serve in a psychiatric facility. I'd informally shared tangling with him as a leisure skill. Hoped to plant the seed that reminds him to try this on his own when he experiences a rough patch.
ReplyDeleteI love that use of Zentangle. I hope he does , too.
ReplyDeletemaria
The most interesting thing that I have tangled in recent days was that I have tangled in purple; Which is tangles done with purple gel pens, because the color of purple means creativity in life.-JW
ReplyDeleteI have been tangling my envelopes for my pen pals.
ReplyDeleteI have been working on some pieces for my sister Carole Brecht's new facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/thesandwichwoman, and blog, www.thesandwichwoman.com, which is a support community for all us 'Boomer Ladies' who find ourselves assisting either grown children, or seniors in our life, or both. Along with the cover photos and profile pic designs I did, she is using my Zentangles and ZIAs to inspire her writing for her posts, and at some point will be using them to illustrate her book she's writing on the same subject. My name is Jan Steinle and I am coming to Providence for CZT Training #19 and can't wait!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great find and what an amazing rescue! I have been drawing on some wood and preparing a larger piece for in my garden. When finished I will send some photos. Thanks for sharing. Ellen
ReplyDeleteOMgosh, You just gave me an idea. I have a siverplated punch bowl that was my mothers. Now, I will get it out of the garage do some tangling on it!!!
ReplyDeleteCheryl
I tried tangling a feather. It didn't work so well so I have decided to try some Modge podge omit in a thin layer first to hold together the tiny pieces before I give it another try! I will accomplish it!
ReplyDeleteI also have a rescued tray. I have cleaned it and the finish is very beautiful even with the worn down pinkish area, I am thinking I would take on what you have done here, but I need to ask did you do anything to the surface first! Should I paint it? Did you.?
ReplyDeleteI did nothing to the tray but clean it well and make sure it is dry.
ReplyDeleteI used the Sakura IdentiPen, the fat end, it dried quickly and seems fairly stable.
I do not know anything of its longevity, but that doesn't seem to bother me. As I said, if it starts to fade, I'll just either touch it up or take the marker off it entirely and do it again, perhaps differently. We'll blog it for you if it happens!!
Have fun all you lovely angels ours. . . .
Maria
I was in the hospital over Thanksgiving of last year and "tangleing" kept me from missing my family so much! Thank you for your newsletter and blog. Both enjoyable!
ReplyDeleteI've been making origami puzzle boxes from business cards, finishing them with the plain side out. That gives me 6 surfaces on which to tangle. So far, each side has been a separate entity, but i will do the next one so that each side continues the adjoining ones. Another thought is to do a single tangle on each face and use it as a decision-maker (like your multi-faced die).
ReplyDeleteHow beautiful to give a new lease on life to a well loved item. I have tangled on many things, some successfully, some not so. My husbands shed wall, the cats food bowl, shoes, Christmas cards, name tags, post boxes, almost anything can be tangled on. Love your blog, I enjoy the inspiration. Thanks, Chriss
ReplyDeleteThe inkwell looks a real treasure. I've been tangling in a sketchbook (Canson Mixed Media) which I'm using during a Pattern Design course at my local museum - neither tutor nor students had come across Zentangle & it's been brilliant to refer people to your website. Thank you for all you do & for the freedom you've given me with artwork - & continue to).
ReplyDeletePaula (PEP)
I've filled numerous paper pads with my practice, but this November found some porcelain doves with a bisque finish at the local craft store. After working on about 10 of them [front & back], I gave them as Christmas ornament gifts. Now I'm on the lookout for more doves! Nothing is safe!! Thanks for bringing a new passion to my life!
ReplyDeleteHow coincidental Maria...I bought 2 antique ink wells last weekend! Not as elegant as yours, but they caught my eye and the price was right! I have several of my Mom's silver trays from the 70's...they used them as golf tournament trophies!! I have them out all the time with displays on them...now I have a way to bring new life to them with your inspiration! The latest unique item I tangled was a 2' x 3' piece of tan foam board for my Renaissance tan class...I wanted to practice on a large scale before my class (I still use an easel and large pad). It came out great, and I am considering framing it! I hope you are still getting use out of your peacock scarf I gave you at seminar 16...I treasure my time there and share all my stories every time I teach...which was just today!! ~Kim VanZyll
ReplyDeleteI wear my peacock scarf more than any other. They are my colors, rich jewel tones apparent in everything I do. . . . my clothes, home or my art. Everyone asks me where I got it! Thank you, Kim.
ReplyDeleteMaria
I really enjoy the post about your stained glass window. Hope to win a print. I too enjoy creating with stained glass. The details in the window are more than beautiful. Stunning. Thanks for sharing the story.
ReplyDeleteJust found Zentangle and starting to play with it. Can't wait to see what I can do with it. I know I have a long way to go, but the results should be great and FUN !!!!!!!! :) :) :)
ReplyDeleteI have been tangling using my original photos as inspriation by drawing the photo image onto watercolour paper, then using the pencil drawing as a string. I choose tangles that suit the image and once I am done tangling, I watercolour the ZIA and add some iridescent watercolours as accent on a few places in the drawing.
ReplyDeleteCurrently I am the only one locally who shows ZIA art in shows in my area where I live. I receive a lot of interest in the Zentangle method and people want to know my process.
Thank you Rick and Maria for blessing me with the gift of Zentangle! I am very happy to share it with others who want to learn the Zentangle method.
Hi Z-gang!
ReplyDeleteWhat better way for me to spend a sleepless hour this morning than to catch up on your musings. You always make me gush with delight and gratitude by sharing your art and inspiration. I have this great blank wall in my home that I keep dreaming of tangling on. Really, it's my home why not?! I think, if ️sleep escapes me for another half hour, I will start designing it. I wish it was a whiteboard wall though so I could just make it a living piece of art! I love that you make or take time to explore and be inspired. Something I must do more of.
Thank you so much for the inspiration!
Julie Tamanaco
Tres chic! How lovely and brave, dear Maria. I see you carrying - proud and smiling - your next tea on the beautiful tray around. Brave to go over the old ornaments with the amazing tangles. Congratulation and thanks for inspiring. Huggi Bea
ReplyDeleteThat is so beautiful, it just keeps getting better!
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of pen do you use to tangle on clothing and shoes. I have a special request to tangle a tie..don't want to loose the design first time it is cleaned....happened to the mug I tangled even after baking the design came off when i washed it by hand
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of pen do you use to tangle on clothing and shoes. I have a special request to tangle a tie..don't want to loose the design first time it is cleaned....happened to the mug I tangled even after baking the design came off when i washed it by hand
ReplyDelete