In 2021, we learned of a fun Zendala challenge organized by three Certified Zentangle Teachers, Deb and Anica, and avid tangler Jem. We asked them to share with the Zentangle Community a little bit about their experience and how others can participate.
We are excited to re-share with you this guest blog post. Enjoy!
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Jem, Deb and Anica write...
We all have favourite tiles - certain shapes, sizes or colours we reach for most often. Perhaps we also have those that stay overlooked and rather neglected? For some tanglers the pre-strung Zendala tiles are used less frequently, but a recent project has shaken up renewed enthusiasm for them.
A fleeting remark in a comments thread was the seed that began this adventure. Jem observed that she rarely used pre-strung Zendala (in eight years of tangling she'd only tangled about three) - but she'd long wondered what would happen if many tanglers all worked on just one string and then compared their results. Anica and Debbie quickly saw the potential and the three of us devised and polished the idea of #prestrungfun.
We vowed to keep it simple, not wanting rules or restrictions to over-complicate the process. Just an open invitation to use one chosen pre-strung tile, picked by us. No pressure, no competition, any colour, or no colour. No requirement to share your tile in any particular place, just the request to add the hashtag so we can all find and admire each other's work.
We set the date to share our tiles a few weeks ahead - in part so no one had to rush, Zentangle should never be rushed! But also we encouraged people to resist sharing before that date, because we were intrigued to see what we would each create without being overly influenced by others artwork.
On June 6th tiles started appearing on Facebook, Instagram and the [Zentangle] Mosaic app. Over 60 worldwide tanglers shared their results, with some offering multiple tiles as once they started they couldn't stop! The variety was astounding – colourful, classic, bold, elegant, simple, complex and everything in between. On some the string was still apparent, others less so, and some it disappeared altogether. Collectively we clearly proved that from one string there are limitless possibilities. Feast your eyes on the gathered splendour by searching for #prestrungfun on any of the platforms mentioned.
In addition to the obvious joy on their tiles people commented on how much they'd enjoyed the process, and often how they'd not particularly connected well with pre-strung Zendala before this project. There were a number of requests to repeat the challenge and so in August we will be sharing a new string and inviting people to tangle along once again. We hope you feel inspired to join us.
-Anica Gabrovec, Debbie Huntington and Jem Miller
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If you would like to join the next #PreStrungFun challenge, they have selected the Zendala string below to tangle. Upload yours on the Zentangle Mosaic app or other social media outlets using the hashtag #PreStrungFun beginning August 22nd!
*Banner Images taken from the Zentangle Mosaic App. Artists left to right: @NormaJeanZen, @HirokoMCZT32, @dlhuntingtonCZT, @zen_Linea
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Linda on
Roslyn Badcock on
Sue Leslie CZT on
Arlene Mindus on
I also use Zentangle for my embroidery ideas; these are so fun! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EASING MY CREATIVNESS!
Cruzmaribel Morehead on
I seem to have lost my passion for tangling after life events happened and I got lost. I still read every Zentangle newsletter and tell myself I’m staying involved, though not actively picking up my pen. My materials patiently lay in wait. That’s one of the beauties of our beloved Zentangle; it’s patient and quiet in its gentle urging, not forced. I’m standing in the wings watching you all create beauty until I pick up my pen…
Kellie May on
I must have missed this the first time around or I certainly would have joined in! I love pre-strung tiles! I have tangled every pre-strung tile Zentangle.com has to offer (including the ones in the project packs)! I have most of them up for display, in groups of the same pattern, on a huge bulletin board that I have and it is amazing to see just how different they are. Some of the patterns were very challenging to find a different way to fill it in. I am always on the lookout for more pre-strung tiles!
Linda Deedy on
Thank you for sharing the blog about this awesome challenge! It is a nice reminder of a great fun that we had with pre-strung tiles.
All pre-strung tiles are some of my favorite go-to supplies. I find it so easy to work on them that it sometimes feels like cheating. 😁
Unfortunately, Jem is no longer with us, but this is a wonderful way to remember her. She was a lovely person and a great artist. 🩷
Anica on
I love the presturng zendalas and wondered if the art from the Prestrung challenge is collected in one place with in FB or instagram. I would love the inspiration as I too have empty prestrung zendalas just asking for action!!! Thanks Sherry
Sherry Turner on
I love the presturng zendalas and wondered if the art from the Prestrung challenge is collected in one place with in FB or instagram. I would love the inspiration as I too have empty prestrung zendalas just asking for action!!! Thanks Sherry
Sherry Turner on
When is there the next prestrungfun?
Zensusa_ on
thank you for sharing for sharing.
how can I join this great challenge. just draw and upload my sns with that hashtag? 😅
lee josephina on
Hi, everyone,
I also missed the first one: so I was more eager for the second. Can’t wait to post my post.
A very great, a very, very great idea.
Zensu
Zensu on
Debbie Rabb on
Theresa Caillouette on
A delightful idea!! Not only will I participate in this 2nd one, but I just might use this idea for my Zentangle Club’s Challenge for 2022! Thanks!
Jan Brandt, CZT12 on
Mary Ellen Ziegler CZT33 on
아주 좋은 아이디어입니다. 저도 함께 하겠습니다~~~^^
han yeunsuk on
Lori Riden on
I like to use pre-strung sometimes when I feel a bit “stuck”. They help to get me started. I love the ideas of this post. Thanks for sharing.
Lori Riden on
JojelliCZT36 on
Thank you for posting this article. Sounds like a lot of fun and I’m looking forward to participating! I just happen to have one of that pre-strung tile left. Really looking forward to August 22! Thanks again!
LaJuania on
Reminds me of the Zendala Dare and Zendala Moments challenges of days gone by. So much fun!
SPARROW JENNIFER on
For those of you who would like to see a video with instruction on how to create the string for this August challenge, please visit my Facebook profile (Anica Gabrovec) or Facebook page (Zen Linea). Both posts are open for public. I hope that you will find the video helpful. :)
To join the challenge, please use the pre-strung tile from the last photo on the blog post and post your drawing on August 22 (you can post anytime, actually, but that’s when we’ll search for the drawings) on the Mosaic app, Facebook, or Instagram, using the #prestrungfun hashtag. Can’t wait to see what you create!
Anica on
thank you for sharing!
how can we join in August?
Michèle Parent-Bergeron CZT37 on