Monday, February 01, 2016

LOLLYWIMPLE.

Hi, friends!
Long time no blog. Thanks for visiting! 


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Soo, lollywimple. 
Yes, I can hear you shouting 'oh, whatever, that's crescent moon!' To which I say, "look again!'

This pattern is drawn as a ribbon or border. It absolutely can be drawn successfully without the initial pencil strings, but since I like to use it as a foundation to build on, I've left them in all the drawings below so you can see where the pattern started. You'll see why in a minute.

The basic steps:

first, the lollies on a string... o O o (which I will refer to as 'bubbles' from here on out, because I honestly don't know how many times one can read the word 'lolly' in a single blog post without wanting to slap the author). 

...aaaand then, the wimples!... ) ) )



Step 0: optional, but try it this way first. Lay down two parallel pencil lines, relatively close together.  When I draw auras around a shape, I don't like to let them go on and on and get too big (I'm lookin' at you, IX!), because the lines start to get harder to control. The closer together your pencil lines are, the more your auras will behave. 

• Vary the size of the bubbles (and the spaces between them, if you're feeling adventurous) along the entire length of the first pencil string. Repeat with the second, varying the size of the bubbles between the left and right sides, and offsetting them so that none are directly 'across the lane' from another.

• Add one aura to each bubble. Then start adding extra auras, here and there, very randomly. The end result can be very interesting if you don't go in order- or even double up on some before moving on to another one. You start with one on every bubble so you have the width of at least one aura between every bubble to work with later.

NOT closing off the spaces between the bubbles (as I have done below) will give you more options for blending this pattern with others. So consider this the version you would use for a simple border.

A couple more examples of a simple border... 












































It's cute... but, very cool things can happen if you *don't* close off those edges! You can see how far the first auras extend past the pencil line- I LOVE irregular edges.









Here's where things start to get a little more interesting...








All those open ends mean bridges to other tangles! Oh, the possibilities! I know Mooka is not the answer to everything....but sometimes it feels like it. ;o)














































I probably threw too many different patterns at this one... but I love busy line art with lots to look at, so I went for broke.









A few other examples. I know this post might not seem as straightforward as some other tangle how-tos (more art, less zen for sure) but you can see where I started if you look for the pencil strings. The other stuff just blooms out of the open spaces in between the bubbles. This is why you should always draw your initial string in pencil with Zentangle... open ends are GOOD. You can't build a city with a wall in the way!

This pattern doesn't have to make sense, visually. Continue some lines, close off others... just have fun with it. Shading does wonders, too.








































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Thanks for stopping by... feel free to leave a comment if you feel so inclined, or come hang out with me here!






49 comments:

  1. Nice to read from you again! That's a really cute new border tangle you have there. :-) However, I'm even more looking forward to reading your post about Cruffle variations. I really, really like this tangle (used it recently for a Diva Challenge) but I've never started to experiment a lot with it because I already like it very much as it is. Unfortunately, it is not used that much, at least that's my impression. Let's see if this tangle gets some more love by others, too, after your post! :-)

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    1. thanks for taking the time to comment! I'm aiming to get that post finished within the next couple of weeks.

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  2. Oh my. This is fantastic. I read this post last night. And thought a lot about it ever since. Came back on this morning to read it all again. And I know I will love working with this tangle - my mind is going crazy thinking of ways to use it. Thanks so much for sharing, and sharing so many suggestions. And yes, well, I need to go and grab a pen! Looking forward to your future posts too - you always inspire me so much!

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    1. I really appreciate that, thank you! I'm pretty psyched about this one and looking forward to seeing where people go with it...hope you share your art!

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    2. I've had a play with Lollywimple - and know it's the first of many! http://raggedray.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/take-one.html

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    3. Ragged Ray, I love it!! Thank you so much for sharing!

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  3. I love this and will definitely try it.

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    1. thanks for the comment, Susan! Hope you like it.

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  4. I absolutely LOVE this! I'm working on a mandala that incorporates it.

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    1. I'd love to see it... you still have my email *wink wink*

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  5. Love your post, Sandy. Once you start going into detail with just one pattern, there is no stopping! It's exhausting work - but worth it. Imagine what you can do with all the orbs.
    I am a monotangle girl in a black and white world myself :-)

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    1. nothing wrong with black and white monotangles... that's where the true ZEN is!

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  6. I'm excited about this tangle, as I haven't been about others in quite a while. I love that you have taken it in so many directions ... talk about versatile! Thanks for sharing it.

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  7. Can't wait to get my pens out and try this one - I love it! Thank you for being so inspiring :)

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  8. Such a great tangle! I've enjoyed playing with it in my sketchbook, and now I'm ready to draw a few tiles. Thanks for posting so many ideas to get my creativity going. Sara B.

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  9. I adore Lollywimple and can't wait to try it. You are the best.

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  10. What a funny tangle. I for sure love to tangle it. Thanks for inventing, dear Sandy.

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  11. GREAT tangle, Sandy!!! And great post. :) Delighted Linda Farmer added this tangle to her website today. So many more tangle addicts will discover it!

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    1. There are so many possibilities with all the open ends of this tangle pattern. I'm excited to see the crazy variations people will come up with. Thanks for taking the time to comment, Jan!

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  12. Sandy, this tangle is just delightful! I really love your examples where you connect to other tangles. I think it's the best explanation I've seen. Might I possibly have your permission to use a copy of this blog post in an upcoming class I have in order to illustrate the concept of connecting tangles? Thanks!

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    1. Of course you can. I just ask that you not modify anything and let people know where you got it... thank you!

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  13. Lovely tangle you've created here. I love all the variations you've shown. You've highlighted how versatile this tangle is quite well. Really great post. Looking forward to seeing more from you!

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  14. Dear Sandy! This looks great and very fun! I must give it a try! Thank´s for sharing!

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  15. Love this Zentangle. Thanks for sharing. Nadine Logie

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  16. This looks fun! Will definitely be trying it!

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  17. I like this lovely cheerful tangle, I' m gonna use this pattern in my future tiles. Thanks for sharing.

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  18. I enjoy your style so much! Great tangle, giving me lots of inspiration. Thank you for sharing!

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  19. Hi. I am SO EXTREMELY GLAD that you "expanded" on your demonstration of this tangle. Why? Because the 1st look made me think, "Oh! Yuck! Pimples!" Sorry :( I wouldn't normally tell my negative private thoughts, but as I looked at your other versions I was SO EXTREMELY GLAD (again) to see how beautiful this tangle could be. Thank you. I also don't see any need for the pencil lines at all because they are not used to connect the lollies.

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  20. I just followed the link from Linda Farmer's site, and I'm glad I did. Your tangles are wonderful and so much fun! I'll have to practice an awful lot before I can produce art like yours but I know Im going to have fun doing so. Thanks for sharing you art and talent with all of us.

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    1. Thank you, Carol! I was going for fun. Hope you enjoy it.

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  21. Oh my stars!!! The options for this ... right now, I just want to sit and stare at your examples. But soon I'll be trying my own lollywimples. (And what a great name!! - it tickles!!!)

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    1. Thanks for the comment, Susan! When I got certified to teach Zentangle, I distinctly remember Rick and Maria saying that they don't give their tangle patterns names that suggest that they should be drawn a particular way (thereby implying that there is a wrong way to draw it). They are very much into the No Rules philosophy, which is one of the most important aspects of true Zentangle.

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  22. My life has not been my own this past week. I'm just not really studying this post. The possibilities are endless. I love this tangle! 🤔😁😍👍🏻

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  23. that should have said "i'm just now studying" sheesh. and i'm doing it again now. not not just now. hahahaha! sandy, i know that you will understand that cause our brains work the same crazy way. going to try this out this afternoon. yay!!!!

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  24. I set aside Lollywimple the first time I saw it for just such a time as this - Christmas. It's endless variations have been my to-go this year to decorate envelopes, gift tags, stationary and ornaments. Thank you so much for this versatile tangle.

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    1. I'm so glad it makes you happy, Linda! Merry Christmas!

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  25. I was just about to head off and do some tangling; another great new one to try! So many directions to go with this one! I can see it becoming a "comfort tangle."

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    1. Thanks for commenting... so glad you're inspired!
      Happy tangling!

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  26. Hey Sandy! Even though this pattern is not new-new (you get me right?) it is new to me! I just received a travelling tangle start with a nice big Lollywimple on it!! I had to come find out about it!!! I am so glad I did!! I will make a little card and add this to patterns I love :) Thanks for sharing!!

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    1. awesome! go forth and lolly...or wimple. whichever you prefer!

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  27. Just love this ! Its 1 for my Journal.

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