Tagh, You're It!

Oh, these Zentangle jokes are just coming at ya, aren't they?
If you just think I forgot how to spell, which is highly unlikely considering my highly-functioning OCD or a comfortable reliance on spell-check, then start here. There isn't much on how-to-do "Tagh," considering it's an "official" Zentangle tangle. In fact, while trying to find out what a Tagh is, I mostly found WHERE Tagh is. here or here.
Cool stuff that was good for many minutes lost in the weird wide spidey web, but failing to help my goal-oriented brain from drawing seed-like pods of "Tagh" for last week's String Thing.
Sigh.
I sat down to draw. And draw. And draw some more.
And toss out a bunch of drawings.
Eventually I settled on a couple worthy of the light of day. And submitted one to the keeper of the IAST before the official deadline passed.

I also practiced "Chillon," which I never use as it seems unfinished or something. But here, it looks like quilting and I like that.

This week's IAST:

I have blown through a few Diva "globes" while waiting in waiting rooms for appointments. The charge this week was to create grids in the round and I've been meaning to do something a little Op-Art, so now is the time! In Zentanglish the pattern is called Knightsbridge, perhaps in reference to marble castle floors? The only things missing are the heraldic banners on the wall.

The EIM word for the week is fish. It wasn't that long ago that I was playing with fish for the 2x2, so I only did one. Tuesday was National Grilled Cheese Sandwich day and what goes with that better than tomato soup and...?

Go Fish!

I've been feeling well; therapy is allowing me greater range of motion. I can drive, which is a plus considering how far to the doctor's office. (Honestly, anywhere from here is far). The doctors prognosis is good, making me happy.

My physician asked about the sketching journal I carry with me everywhere and I was able to share with her the joy of Zentangle and other artful pursuits that allow me to be focused, and as a result feel less pain, for a time. I like non-medical (and non-medicinal) interventions and that I have something to show for the time spent. She saw the value in it and wants to share the concept with her patients, one in particular suffering from immobilizing depression.

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, I wrote a thesis paper on behavioral management of depression. You know the NIKE ads? "Just do it." Well, my thesis was essentially: "Just do SOMETHING." In that regard, artistic endeavors are at their very least mindful distractions and can become conduits to therapy and recovery.

My daughter is finding that making potholders is just the right amount of distraction to work on a broken heart. It pains me to see her so disconnected, but there are glimpses of happiness when she shows me her new work.

And one of our own is having challenges. She wants to take control of her circumstances and infuse her life, particularly an upcoming birthday, with more artful joy. She put the call out to obtain some supplies to make that happen and she was able to happily inform me that a patron has graciously stepped forward in answer. That doesn't mean there couldn't be more happy in her Happy Birthday. Pop on over and say so.

Tag you're it!

All the Posts fit to Print. Maybe

Thank you so much to all you tangly and artistic people around the globe who have been leaving some sparkling comments in this space. I can't tell you how wonderful you all make me feel. And a special thanks to Zoe, who seems to share a peculiar and twisted mind!

It's been a crazy busy week. First, I helped out H2ohphoto.com with a photo session at Aqua-Tots Swim School (North Phoenix) Sunday. That's a cool thing I help with, being part-owner, mostly for post-processing of the images. Keeps my hands busy. Alas,keeps me away from my doodles.

It's a lot of fun, really.

Then my daughter wanted to try some wine. She's a recent graduate into adulthood, so it's a rite of passage, I guess. And there are some decent wines to drink here in the desert. Really! We ventured to Oak Creek Winery in Page Springs. Seeing her face crunch up was priceless! We know she doesn't like dry sherry, that's for sure! Lunch was in Cottonwood at the Tavern Grille. They keep "Plungerhead" available, and that's a good thing. It's the official wine of plumbers everywhere!

In between all that I've been trying to keep up with this week's challenges. So, here goes!
First up, "wheat" at EIM:

Health and Happiness

 Semolina

The first one is utilizing folk patterns from One Zentangle a Day, Day 41. The second is a pattern in Zentangle 8. 

Next, the Diva Challenge. I chose String 109 by David Rae at Tanglepatterns.com and I think I followed all the instructions (which can be found here).

THX

I got very frustrated with the IAST, for whatever reason. It could be trying to do it when I really should be sleeping. I was kind of fighting with the string, which I thought should be an "e," to go with the theme there. Thus, my contribution for this week's IAST is a modified string to make an "e." (My daughter regularly just signs, "e," lower case like e.e.cummings, so I'll get back to this another day) With all due respect for Anne Marks who created the original string--

"e"

Lastly the twinchie thing. The word of the week is "home." I really wanted to paste this up with lots of glitter, but that just didn't happen. Like the "e," I'll get back to that!

That pretty much covers what I've accomplished so far this week. There's some oddball stuff, but I'm just going to launch those to my Flickr feed as they don't need much explanation. Back to the photo processing....Have a brilliant day!