The SUN has Returned - 10 Ways to Keep Tangling in Summer

I am typing this on my balcony wearing shorts and flip flops and it feels exhilarating to let my feet free!  For many people once the warm weather returns, we tend to focus on outdoor activities which, after all the snow we have had is perfectly understandable. Though things can seem to be more care free in the warmer weather, stresses tend not to take the same break so it can be a good idea to continue the Zentangle practise in warmer months too. 

So, I have come up with a list of ideas for you to tangle and still enjoy the summer sun...sound good?  Then read on!

1. Head to the beach!  Find a stick and a spot of sand and tangle BIG in the sand.  It's really fun to do with someone else, and who knows who might join in once you've started something.  Great to do with kids too.

Or, take your supplies to the beach and tangle on tiles or paper.  It could go something like this....swim, nap, tangle, read, eat....repeat.

2. Tangle on Rocks!  It's easy and fun to do. Just pick some smoothish rocks wash em and let them dry and then tangle with fine sharpies (you don't want to wreck your good pen nibs for this, so sharpies are best).  You can also paint the rocks first with cheap acrylic paints, let them dry and then tangle on!

3. If you are giving a lot of gifts this summer, how about tangling a gift tag or card to make it more personal?  Also something you can do at the beach! Get the tags at the dollar store and add some nice ribbon.  I like to use them for hostess gifts like jam or wine. 

4. Speaking of wine.....if you purposely spill your red wine on a Zentangle tile or other similar paper and let it dry, it's fun to use as a string.  Wine not your thang?  No worries,it works with dark staining juices, think pomegranate or blueberry, or strong coffee or tea too! Spill it sister!

5. Set a goal...Try Tangling for 100 days straight, just a few minutes as day, that's all it takes.  You can either use small tiles or paper like the Zentangle Bijou tiles to do a tiny mono tangle a day or thing BIGGER...Get a larger piece of paper and start with one tangle in one corner and in just a few minutes a day, slowly add on with another tangle. Finish that one? Start another and keep going!  It takes at least 3 weeks to develop a habit so that if feels natural and weird to stop, so stick with it.  Here's one I did a few years back on a big piece of paper, adding a bit each day and Voila!  Make it a project on social media so others can see what you are doing and it helps to keep you going knowing others are watching what you do....yes, Big Brother is Watching!

6. Got Garden Tools that could use a sprucing up? Say no more, tangle your dibbler!  A few years ago, I had a garden of weeds and grass...ugh.  I dreaded pulling them up, but then I remembered what my dear old Dad did.  He kept a garden fork stuck in the ground so that anytime he passed by and saw a weed, he just grabbed his fork by the walkway and plucked it out!  So, I did that but of course had to pretty up my fork first. I sealed it with polyurethane and then let it dry, added the tangles with an oil based sharpie and then sealed it again with several coats of krylon. Prettiest Fork on the block! Makes a nice gift for a gardener too!

7. Let those Feet Loose!  A while back I took an intensive Mandala course on line and one of the exercises was to trace around your feet and then draw and colour the inside space.  This is so fun to do with kids....lots of giggles!

8. Create a book of Tangled Hands.  One of my students liked to draw the hand outlines of her loved ones and tangle them with patterns that were special to that person. She created a sketchbook of all the hands and then made a copy to give to the person who's hand she drew. This is her work:

9. Tangle with KiDs or GrAnd KiDs!  Children love to tangle.  This is especially good to get them to settle down.  If they say the classic "I'm bored" in the middle of summer, show them a tangle or two and watch how the magic unfolds. 

10. Join me at a week long retreat this July! Decades ago I attended an intense community building session in Naramata one winter, it set the stage for me as a young woman and I still use the same tools today.  Well, last summer we had a big reunion of our class and from that an idea grew that we would offer a little bit of the same experience of years ago in a week long retreat of sorts this summer.  So I am teaming up with some pretty talented and soulful sisters to bring you a great week to learn and nourish your spirit.  Zentangle will be one of the mornings, as will poetry and other great offerings. Then in the afternoons you are free to explore or kick back on the private beach meditate, tangle, or walk the labyrinth.  You can stay on site or camp for a lesser fee and scholarships are available. To find out more check out the link below under Winter Session Redux...that's us! 

https://www.naramatacentresociety.org/summer-2018#/event/326/summer-week-4-july-21-28

Have a FAbUlOuS Zentangle Summer!