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CZT Family Tree: Christine Basile

CZT Family Tree: Christine Basile

We always say that the Zentangle Method attracts really awesome people. We have had the pleasure of working with wonderful Certified Zentangle Teachers (CZT) all over the world and we are excited to share these wonderful people with the entire Zentangle Community. Through our series, CZT Family Tree, we will introduce individual CZTs.




Today, we are excited to introduce Christine Basile!

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Name: Christine Basile

CZT#: 40 & 43

Hometown: North Attleborough, MA

Favorite tangle: The one I am doing. I love to tangle. It is a calming practice for me. I am always expanding and learning a different tangle or a different way to do a tangle.

Favorite place to tangle: In nature or anywhere under a bright light.

How I use the Zentangle Method in my life: When my wife/partner of 39+ years was undergoing chemo in her battle with uterine cancer at Mass General Hospital in Boston, I always had my journal, tiles, and Micron pens with me. It was my therapy and gave me something to do besides worrying and getting stuck in anticipatory grief. Tangling and being creative helped me remember to breathe and helped me focus on something positive. It was a daily habit, and it became my drug. I needed to do it - I wanted to do Zentangle. There were many times when doing tangles was the only controllable in my life. It saved my mental health and me. I also made many thank you cards and notes to friends and family who helped prepare food for us, run errands, or just spend time with us. Tangling helped me downshift and take one step at a time. Zentangle also reminded me daily to live with an attitude of gratitude. Even in the worst of times, I was grateful for the life and love we shared and the time we were together. We filled our lives with many challenges and adventures. We shared an amazing life and a courageous love.

I enjoy doing Zentangle Inspired Art (ZIA), as well. I tangle on sea shells, pumpkins, journals, Christmas ornaments, wedding and graduation gifts, and mats in frames surrounding tangles or pictures. Now, I am more aware of finding tangles/ patterns in architecture, metal work, wood designs, fabrics, and nature.

I LOVE the Project Packs and the Table Tangles, tips, and techniques on the Mosaic APP.

My favorite story or memory about teaching the Zentangle Method is: One day, I was having lunch at a nearby diner in Westborough. I was tangling at my table. The waitress kept walking by my table and watching. When the lunch rush was over, she came by and asked what I was doing. I explained Zentangle and the method. I showed her some of my tiles. She was fascinated and asked me if her eight-year-old grandson could do something like this? I told her, “of course!” For her “tip,” I gifted her with some tiles, a couple of pens, a pencil, and a tortillion. I gave her the Zentangle website. She was thrilled! I told her to try it with her grandson, and she would enjoy it too! She thought my gift was her best tip ever.

Through my experiences as a CZT, I have learned: That the philosophy - there are no mistakes - is a practice for me. It took me a while to master this and come up with creative strokes when my tangle did not go the way I thought it would… For me, patience, acceptance, and creativity go hand-in-hand with “there are no mistakes."

If I’m not tangling, you will find me… Staying busy with self-care, traveling, listening to music, and laughing with family and friends.

Bijou

4 comments

  • Your tangles are awesome. I love the seashells. Thank you for sharing your story and work. Is it difficult to tangle on the shells? Do you do online classes?

    Marlene on

  • Whatt a wonderful story and wonderful tangling

    i too am addicted to zentangling

    francine silver on

  • Christine – i love all the surfaces you tangle on! One of the women from my native style flute circle tangled on her flute! Rhank you for sharing your story! With gratitude, me

    Mary Ellen Ziegler Czt #43 & 33 on

  • Christine … you are gift! I have never left a conversation with you without a warm smile filling me up. Thank you!

    Molly on

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