Mindfulness, habit, and neuroplasticity

I recently attended a two-hour Introduction to Mindfulness class taught by the Director of the University of Pennsylvania Program for Mindfulness (their website can be found here). It was helpful in understanding more about the history of mindfulness, why the science of neuroplasticity has led to the support of mindfulness practices, and some of the techniques that are used to practice mindfulness.  Of course, I believe the Zentangle Method can be used to practice mindfulness and is one of the reasons why I was drawn to becoming a Certified Zentangle Teacher.


This video is a great description of what mindfulness, habit, and neruoplasticity have in common.  Take a look, it's very interesting.

Finally, I found some free mindfulness podcasts produced by UCLA here.  I haven't listened to them yet, but plan to soon.  Maybe I can listen while I am working on a Zentangle....

Great Video with Color Suggestions!

Great Video with some cool ways to add color to your paper!!  Try some and let me know how it works!

Have you lost the point on your tortillions?

A lot of students ask me about what to do when they start to lose the point to their blending stump, or tortillion.  Fellow CZT, Geneviève Crabe, posted a note about how to use a paper clip to fix it right up using a paper clip.  Click on her name to see an image!

The Family that Tangles Together Stays Together

I was fortunate to be able to travel to Indiana to see my family last week and I taught a basics class for them.  It was a lot of fun. My parents, brother and his wife, my six year old daughter and husband all sat around the table trying paradox and other favorite patterns.  Then my sister-in-law took her kit to NY to show her mother and niece.  This is time well spent together, plain and simple. 

CZT 1-1-13 postcard exchange

I signed up for a postcard exchange with some fellow CZTs and have been having fun working on some of my favorite tangles!I have three more to make and send by 1-1-13!

Open Torch

I had a great weekend.  Not only did I celebrate my birthday and go see the Nutcracker with my family, but I got to spend two days in the torch with my buddies.  Below is a picture of us working (we had 10 people total, but not everyone was working at the same time).  Open torch happens about 3 times a year and we get together to catch up and make beads.  In the photo below, my friend Carrie is closer and I am further away.  I made alien beads for the beads of courage program and I made delightful snowflake beads - both posted below.  Being in the torch is the best kind of therapy for me! 

NASA Images: 'Earth As Art' Book Will Take Your Breath Away

You have to check out these images - I'm wondering how I could create new tangles from them!   I've only posted a few below, you can see more here.

What kills your creativity? Vulnerability and Shame?

I came across Brene Brown's research about a year ago and am fascinated by her work on shame and vulnerability.  If you've ever felt 'not good enough' it's important that you listen to this recent interview Brene did with Krista Tippett on the NPR show On Being here.   Brene will encourage you to consciously choose to start living a whole-hearted life. What does that mean?

Do you measure your self-worth by your productivity or use your level of  exhaustion as a status symbol?  What are the shame triggers that get in the way of doing what we are supposed to do?

For example, comparison kills creativity.  This is one reason why I was drawn to zentangle because it is non-representational.  You are not comparing your drawing of an apple to the actual apple.  

If you like the podcast look into Brene's TED talks on previous blog posts.

Article in the Philadelphia Inquirer

Anndee Hochman attended one of my classes and wrote a lovely article about Zentangle that ran in the Philadelphia Inquirer.  You can read the article here.

 

Enjoy!

 

Wow - Mind Blowing Tangle Combinations

Wow - I just found an amazing post by CZT Sandy Hunter where she is combining two tangles into one - the results are outstanding - see for yourself here.  Try a few out or use your favorite two tangles to come up with a new tangle!  Have fun!

Here is one of my favorites by Elena Hadzijaneva

Zentangle Ornament Ideas

I just came across Sue Jacob's blog where she has modified a felt ornament design for use with paper and tangles (see her image below).  It's simply stunning and I hope to test it out this weekend.  Here is the link ornament.

To combine six of the ornaments below into a more complex paper ornament go here.  There is also a video at the bottom you can watch!

We survived Sandy

Hurricane Sandy started blowing on Sunday and increased in strength throughout Monday.  By 8pm Monday night we had lost power.  We live on a hill and have a great view of the valley.  We watched the night sky light up like it was the fourth of July as transformers blew all around us.  Slowly the entire valley went dark and the only lights we could see were from emergency vehicles and flares.  It was scary, but we were fortunate.  Our power was back on within 24 hours and I am grateful to the line repair workers for their hard work.  Many of my neighbors are still without power, due to downed trees that need to be removed before power can be restored.  However, we did not see the damage that the Jersey Shore suffered.  We are very fortunate.  Thanks for all your good thoughts!!   

Zentangle with Kids

Take a look at an article about Zentangle with kids in School Arts Magazine here.

Great description of mindfulness

This is a nice and short you tube description of mindfulness from the Director of the Penn Mindfulness Program.  He speaks about cancer specifically, but it is generalizable to everyone.  Check it out here.

Try this, it's fun!

I found this you tube video about how to draw a freehand Celtic knot - take a look!  Celtic Knot

Habits and Mindfulness discussion on NPR

You probably know by know that I use the Zentangle method to help me practice mindfulness.  There was a very interesting discussion about habits and mindfulness on the NPR show Voices in the family that you can listen to here.

Here is the description of the show:
October 8, 2012 — Everything we do and feel can be considered a habit. Scientists suggest 40 to 45 of our daily activities are based on choices we make, then stop thinking about. They become automatic. While habits — especially negative ones — seem to drive us, by understanding how they’re established in our minds, we can begin to take the reins and transform our lives.
Dr. Dan Gottlieb examines creatures of habit. Dan’s guest is New York Times investigative journalist Charles Duhigg, author of “The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business.” The book addresses habits formed and broken — through anecdotes and cutting edge research. We also hear from Michael Baime, director of the Penn Program for Mindfulness at the University of Pennsylvania.

Enjoy!

Tangled Pumpkin

I watched this video by Suzanne McNeill and loved her idea of using paint pens on plastic pumpkins.  You can see images of my pumpkin below as well as an image of the pens I used.  I completed it over the course of a few days.  I had the most trouble trying to figure out which tangles to use.  I have a white pumpkin I'm starting next and will post pictures when I'm done with that one. You can find these pumpkins at craft stores and I used sharpie oil based paint pens (pictured below).

Have fun!

Cookie Cutters for Strings

Hi there,

I found this ghost cookie cutter at the thrift shop today and thought - wow - that could make a cool string!  So here it is traced onto a tile.  I used the larger Apprentice Tiles since the cookie cutter was larger than the regular tiles.

Here is the tangled ghost!

An Inexpensive Tangle Gift Anyone Can Make!

As I was looking for frames for the square tiles, I came across these wine glass charm frames that I think would make a great gift for a hostess or a wine lover.  They were in the wedding area of Michaels and are $3.99 (take your 40% off coupon!).  You will slide out the photo that comes with the frame and slide in your design.  I used an Artist Trading Card and traced the photo that came with the frame (four times - see below) and then added my tangles, cut them out and slide into the frames.  There is a plastic cover that you will slide your paper under.   It was so quick and easy!  I put these back on the packaging so you could find them!  Have fun!

Frame Options for 3.5 x 3.5 tiles

I have a lovely group that meets about once a month for a Beyond the Basics Zentangle class.  This month they asked that I talk about framing options for tiles.  You can find some on the  Zentangle web site and below is a listing of what I was able to find at local stores.  Hope it helps as you consider giving your artwork as gifts or keeping special ones for yourself.

Bed Bath and Beyond has this lovely little frame for $5.99 - take your 20% coupon with you!  I found this in the store and was not able to find it on their web site.  I was able to pop my square tile right in.  It has a felt back with an easel - no hanging option.
Details:  Siena Narrow Plain 3.5"x3.5" photo frame (Silver Color)

Below are some options I found at Michaels - take your 40% off coupon!

Photo Cube 3.5"x 3.5 inch -  $3.99 each.  Leave the square insert that comes with the cube in and slide your tiles in.  You might want to put a little tape over one of the edges where it slides apart to keep it from accidentally coming apart if someone picks it up.

Packaging looks like this

Another option is this lovely frame that comes in white and black for $7.99.  It is from their Hanging Collection and is a little bigger than the zentangle tiles at 4" x4 ", but works just fine if you flip the piece of paper that comes in the frame over and place it behind your tile!  Images of front and back.

The final two framing options I found are magnetic photo frames.  One is flexible and one is acrylic. I prefer the acrylic one over the flexible frame.  Both are 3.5"x 3.5" and $1.99 each. 

Enjoy!!