Ins and Outs of Mi2

Yesterday I learned that I had another roofer's nail in one of my car tires. This is the second one in 6 months. So, the best laid plans of the day completely turned around, and I was gifted with sitting at the tire center with nothing to do but tangle! What a lucky girl, and I MEAN that! Lately my days have been quite full, and a little tough to set aside some time for tangling. I'm slowly seeing times in my new schedule where I can fit it in, but this opportunity was an added bonus! Plus, the Diva Challenge presented the tangle, Mi2 (created by CZT Mimi Lempart), which I did try a while back and loved, but hadn't played with it since. And, since I'm STILL into the aura play, I couldn't resist adding it to this tangle. And of course, I had to 'puf' it. I was a little disappointed that they had my tire fixed in record time, and I didn't get to sit and finish, but when the day was finished, I continued the first, and did two more before I went to bed. I have to say, I slept really well!! I love this art form.

Choices

Competition is tricky business. The world is full of it. Sure, even though we tell our kids that it's not whether we win or lose, it's how we play the game, we still set up score boards and rosters that glorify the winners. It's natural, I guess, but we do have a choice in our own perception. If we like competition, well, then by all means, participate in the game! If we feel that competition is inappropriate in a certain arena, then each person can make that choice to reconcile that in themselves.

     Just yesterday someone asked me who our new bead store's biggest competition was. My answer is, "We don't really have any." Yes, there are other bead stores in the area, and many of the big chains sell beads as well. That doesn't mean that for us there is a competition. We do what we do because we truly love doing it, and feel we have a way to serve the people who love it too. That's it. It doesn't have to be any more than that for us. We are not interested in being a step ahead of anyone else, or being first at the 'finish' line. Just as in the process of Zentangle, each day is a 'stroke', each person is an inspiration! So...

Thanks to Rho Densmore, CZT, for this week's Diva Challenge (#79!) Her message about the process is one that bears repeating. A recent post on the Zentangle blog also talks about the process of Zentangle and the personal gifts it is poised to give each of us. ...

"Would you enjoy a book better if you could read it faster? Perhaps you could read more books, but at what cost? When you can afford to read at a comfortable pace you can savor a turn of phrase, look up a new word, or gaze into an unfocused distance as you imagine a setting and see yourself in it."

I had a fun time with my tile this week. I was really inspired by Erin Olsen's take on this week's challenge, and I love the Auraknot vibe, so my interlocking circles had me deliciously dizzy with auras. FUN! 

Thanks, Rho, Erin, Laura, Zentangle, and all the beady and tangly peeps who joined in the inspirational fun of the week!

We Auraknot Crazy

Lately it's taken a lot to get my nose out of the bead bags. Starting the new bead store has been an invigorating, but intense endeavor. I have to admit that when I saw Zentangle's first invitation about the tangle that is now called Auranot, I was really intrigued, but alas, there were beads to count.
   When I saw the video on Laura Harm's blog, I knew I had to stop everything and do it. I was also inspired by the group of new Zentangle Intro students from our class the day before. When I woke up this morning, before I got out of bed, I grabbed some tiles from the nightstand and started to play. It was tons of fun to stay in bed and tangle with all the kitties patiently waiting for breakfast. After three tiles, they finally got to eat.
   Auraknot has now grabbed me completely and I've spent the whole morning playing and wandering my little pen over many tiles. WOW. This is more fun than I thought it would be! It took a little concentration, and at first I wanted to go in so many other places before I really 'got it.' I think that may be because I haven't tangled in a while. Once I started, my right brain was like a kid who had been cooped up in the house, finally gets to play outside, and doesn't know what fun thing to do first, so tries to do it all!! FUn Fun FUN!!! Let's go let's go!!!!
   Once I settled into a quiet, less spastic place, it was truly a calming and lovely time. I could feel myself getting more and more focused on each line as I made it. I could go on all day.
    I found myself adding more 'ribbons' to the outer edges of the stars, some of them curling around on themselves, but carrying their aura just the same.
    What an awesome tangle, Maria!!! Just when you think there can't possibly be anything more, here we go into an ever-blossoming space...
   Thank you, Zentangle. Thank you Laura!