Zendala Dare #23

It was a very crazy and exciting weekend!  We attended the Mother Earth News Fair in Seven Springs, PA.  It was excellent!!  I have a lot to tell, but wanted to get my Zendala Dare #23 posted (late again!).  I pondered over this one.  For quite a while.  But have to admit, this is my favorite zentangle so far.  I went for a steampunk theme, inspired by Molossus for the bike chain and gears, then added my own pipes, etc.  I finished it last Friday night but didn't have a way to post it from the cabin we were staying in.  Oh well, better late than never.  Here are a couple others:

I will tell about the Mother Earth News Fair soon!

Mother Earth News Fair

It's finally here folks!  This weekend at the Seven Springs Mountain Resort in the southern mountains of Pennsylvania people from all over will gather to participate in all sorts of sustainable living activities and seminars!  This is the third year for the fair to take place in this area, and I'm super excited!  The past two years have been incredible.  This year they have extended the fair from two days to three days; Friday - Sunday.  There are so many excellent seminars I can't wait to attend.  And you can find something to interest just about anyone.  What I love so much about this event is that it doesn't matter your walk of life, we all gather with a common goal: To live life more sustainably.  To become part of the solution, not the problem.  To rekindle that fire for a simpler life.  To share in our experiences.

I'm even more excited for this year as my husband will be able to attend with me.  Not only that, my sister and her husband, and both of our parents are coming as well.  My sister attended with me last year.  But I'm really looking forward to having the whole crew there this weekend.

So if you have nothing planned for this weekend, and your in the area (or if your not), hop on out!  It's sure to be a grand ole time, folks!

Many Irons in the Fire, Zendala Dare #22, and Diva Challenge #86

Hmm....I can't remember what this pattern is called...

I'm a little behind on posting my (second) Zendala Dare #22 from last week.  Talking to my mom earlier this evening I told her that I wasn't just burning the candle at both ends, I felt like I was burning a stick of dynamite at both ends.  I just have too many irons in the fire at the moment and need to slow down.  While it may seem that taking on new "challenges/dares" would just be adding another iron, it actually helps me to slow down a bit and focus my thoughts, something I so desperately need right now.  Unlike many of my other creative ventures, I don't zentangle for anyone but myself.  And this week I had so much fun with the "monodala" dare that I had to decorate all three sizes of the template.  

What I like to call, "Zombie Eyes"

Triangle Variations

I then moved on to the Diva Challenge, to "break free" from the confinement of the lines.  I actually drew a string for this one, thinking that my "box" would be what I break free from, yet still stay within the lines of my string.  That, however, did not happen.  The string was completely disregarded, and this is what came out.

This one felt very organic!

My First Zendala Dare

...which is actually Zendala Dare #21.  But who's counting?  I'm still new to all of this, but thought, "this looks like fun!"  Somehow through my Zentangle searches I happened across The Bright Owl's blog.  The author puts up a weekly zendala template with a 'theme', so to speak.  So here are my attempts: