Zendoodling.. my new fun for when I can't sew!
 

I learned this new thing over the holidays and I just love doing it. Of course, like anything, I have to add my own bits, but that's just me!

You start with a random doodle which I make with my eyes closed, or I try to control it too much. LOL Then I smooth out the pattern and work in the ends. Next is to fill in the areas with different patterns and designs till it is all to your liking. I take it further and then color it in with my pencils.
Now I am beginning to do some frames around the original doodles.

I cheated on my first one and used a photo of my cat Jazzy. I just printed it in black and white, then traced the main areas from the back and filled them in. After that, I was braver and the rest were made from my own doodles.

Am adding a couple photos to give you an idea. Now I see these patterns everywhere. Especially in fabrics!!! It's really quite amazing.

Love your cat!

Wow! I can sew but I am not an artist. I admire your talent.

beautiful and just amazing!!!

You are doing great pieces.

Thanks guys!! maryb119, I never thought I was an artist either, that's why I love this so much!!!
The books tell you how to do the fill in designs at first then you will find yourself taking off and creating your own. I am really learning how to relax and let my instincts take over which is the key to the whole thing.
I recommend working in pencil, as I erase a lot, lol. Also, once you are happy with it, then I suggest making a photo copy of your piece in pencil or ink before coloring it, as the pencil/ink can smear as you work over it.
At first I didn't do anything without the books right there, but now I just refer to them now and then. Pretty soon I'll be thinking I can design fabrics! LOL

There is also a thread here on the QB on zentangling with your sewing stitchery. That is totally awesome to me. You should check it out if you like the pencil work.

For books to read on it, I recommend the following which should be available thru your library:
ZenDoodling by Carolyn Scrace, publisher is Barron's Educational Series
Joy of Zentangle by Design Originals, Fox Chapel Publishing

Your Zens look Great!! I have tried to do Zendoodling so many times......I will have to try what you do...close my eyes as I always want to "control" where and how the doodle is. Thanks for that hint.

your work is really beautiful and your are right I was browsing pier one imports and saw a lot of that kind of patterns didn't buy anything the place too pricy for me really nice stuff tho.

Jazzmyn, I hope that hint proves helpful to you.
I don't know the zen rules, lol, but I am sure I will see them as I do the quilt police and not let them in my house. After I finish my original doodle, I am not hesitant to add to it or modify it as my artistic instinct tells me as the design progresses. I also look at the doodle from all 4 directions before I decide which end is up. :)
I am sure this violates some rule but it's my design so I don't care. This is why I work in pencil at first rather than ink. Well, that and with my fibro, sometimes I get muscle spasms that make my hand jerk or shake and then I get extra random marks.. lol.

It's such fun to just let my creativity flow and not hinder it with anything. If I'm not happy, I erase... it's as simple as that. My inclination to make something rather than just random designs is natural to me it seems, and I don't fight it. Maybe I should, lol, cuz right now I have a doodle that says Turtle to me... but it says "turtle humping a rock" and that is not something I want to go with. :eek:
Many zen artists work directly in ink and that is the true zendoodling I think. They often use note paper or index cards without lines to limit the size of their work. Some work on tiles.

definitely a lot of fun and great practice for FMQ

I am taking a class in zentangle this weekend, can't wait. I realized that I doodle like this anyway so thought I should translate it into a useful learning experience. I may take some of them and paper piece it or applique it on a quilt - just a thought.

If you stitch them out, they call them zentangles.

Now do you make a quilt.?

Yours are wonderful, love the kitty ... I've made several thread/fabric zentangles as fabric postcards. I know several people who use this technique to practice FMQ, and others who have made small wallhangings with a variety of larger squares. All sounds like FUN

Ohhhhh, I hope you post photos of your work when you finish the class!!

You are an artist and very talented. Thanks for the tips. I have done zentangles with my machine.

Great drawings! (And this is what happens when you stitch your zentangles: http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...e-t215558.html )

You are on your way to being a master Zen artist. I discovered this style of "doodling" last year and really enjoy it.
The cool thing is you can so easily transfer this to quilting and get some beautiful images with thread and needle.
peace

Ben Is beautiful and all those little quilting motifs are just awesome and stunning.
peace

I am totally blown away by your needle work with Ben. OMG, how do you ever get that kind of control over your machine and needle? I can't even get my pencil work that smooth and even.
I am just stunned and amazed by your zentangle piece!! Great work azwendyg

That is awesome...

If you are interested is Zentangles.........you can go to this website, she has some Great instructions on making a LOT of different designs. This is Not my site nor do I know the person that has this website...just wanted to share.

www.tanglepatterns.com

Maybe you should go into fabric design!

Beautiful, it's apparent you are an artist, my doodles are simply doodles! Great art work.

These are just cool. So beautiful, and fun. You really have the knack, and I adore your cat!

I looked into "Zentangle" on the internet when another quilter showed a piece she had quilted using zentangle methods. I love it, and it satisfies my creative urges in many ways- like when I'm away from my quilting habitat.

jazzmyn, thanks for sharing that site, always great learning more about something I love!

Already I have learned that I am not zentangling.. I am creating zentangle inspired art. Apparently, I jumped right over the zentangle part. I think I will go back and try doing some of that. I will have to cut my paper into smaller sizes to control my need to use the whole area. LOL

I don't think I will ever be able to transfer my art to fabric, as I don't have that kind of fine control needed due to my neck, shoulder and arm issues. But I love seeing what others are doing in that way!

Love, love, love your cat! I am going to steal your idea and do mine! Your zen doodles are amazing!

JanieH, Thanks for the kind words, you don't have to steal any of my ideas, I put them right out here to share!! The whole point in posting something that gives so much pleasure is the hopes that it will bring some joy to others, either by seeing it or by being inspired to do it themselves.
Hugssss and smiles........

All I can is "WOW"!

You are very artistic. Wow I just returned from my weekly art class...I would like to ask your permission to share your creations with the group please. :). I so enjoyed seeing your work.

Judy in Phx, AZ

Your ZIA's are beautiful and I just wanted to alert you to the 'official' website for Zentangle which is of course www.zentangle.com There you will find a whole community of artists who love to tangle and create new patterns. Some also have a weekly challenge that anyone can participate in. I've been tangling for a few years now and have 6 art journals filed with zentangles. Susanne McNeil, inventor of the 10 minute block is an avid zentangler and has written many books on the subject. http://blog.suzannemcneill.com/

Here is a Valentine one, it was fu to do :)

Judy in. Phx, AZ

Love that you are sharing! Hope others will also. Here is my Valentine Zendoodle and some of my more recent doodling:

Wow...outstanding. You are awesome :)

Judy in Phx, AZ

In the Valentines one, the first photo, if you can see them, there are 3, maybe 4 hearts in there. LOL

I'm also having fun having others make that first thread for me and going on from there. The 4th photo started with a thread my son drew for me. The original thread was the large circles with the two small circles inside them in the upper right corner of the drawing. That is called a Fu, and is his logo he puts on the clothes and things he designs. He was really challenging me to do something with that. LOL I named that drawing oooooohh Fu.

DH did one for me and I have just finished filling it in, it became a fish. I'll post it when I finish filling in the colors.

Judy, you are too kind, I thank you so much for your generous praise and enthusiasm!!! I have so much fun doing these and it really helps me forget my pain. I got some colored pens at the dollar store and am also enjoying using them mixed in with the colored pencils.
I admire the just black ones that others do but just can't seem to like mine that way.
I am learning from the sites you shared and like picking up new things. I like making up my own too, but probably someone else came up with them long before I have. LOL

You are very artistic. These are soooo interesting.

Beautiful, artistic and creative. These would translate beautifully into quilting or indeed fabric, or even embroidery. Absolutely inspiring thread. I have a DVD of the zentangle method, but I have a lot of trouble stitching straight lines, let alone being let loose with extreme doodling:).

very cool.....