Patreon

I was encouraged to start a Patreon site. I've thought about it for a bit, but I like the idea of being able to make some content that I can then eventually release for free, while still working on my other projects as well.
Patreon offers me that option and it's kind of awesome.

It won't change anythnig regarding my blog, if anything I'm hoping it will keep me more motivated to stay connected.

If you're interested, you can follow me over there too. I plan on posting things there that are public as well as the content I plan on keeping private for patrons and it will likely be different content than what I post here.
My Patreon site

If you know of anyone you think might be interested in becoming a patron, please feel free  to pass on my link!

The pink trees

On my street, on the treelawn we have a stretch of these gorgeous trees that have pink flowers.
They aren't cherry blossoms, but the appearance is similiar and for a few days we have these incredible, gorgeous pink lined streets.

For about 5 minutes.
Then it rains, every year and the wind blows and they all fall off.
I was able to capture a quick picture of them this year when the sun was out and use it for a watercolor.

I thought I'd share some WIP pictures of that watercolor with you.

I first put down some washes of color.
This is the part I always hate... I never like how it turns out at this stage.
This is the "awkward teenage phase" of art.
LOL

 Then it's time to start defining the flowers a bit more.
A close up so you can see how they go from blob to impression of flower

And here is where I am now.
It's not quite done but the entire paper is soaking wet and I need to let things settle... including my vision of what it will be.

So I'll set it aside for a while and finish it in a day or so. Or sometime next week. 

Do you have any pretty trees or flowers that pop up in spring near your house?
I'd love to know!

A little bit of morning painting

Video today instead of words. :)

ISBN

In the last week I have been finalizing some really awesome stuff.
I created a coloring book that's going to be in hand by the end of the month and I can show you my sneak peek here! 

It's available for preorder on my website and I've been jumping for joy (and freaking out) for days.

Today, I got my ISBN for it.

I can't even tell you how excited I was by that, I can only imagine this must be what it feels like to be Stephen King... LOL

I promise I'll have lots more to show you in the upcoming days and weeks now that I have that project settled. 

I hope you've been making awesome things, I'd love to see what you are working on!

Shaking off the dust...

Hi friends!
It's been a long time. I loved blogging and keeping track of what I was doing, what I was learning and trying and I think I just kind of backburnered it for a bit.
I'm back.

I've been working on things daily still.. I'm still a firm believer that that is how you grow, in art, in life, in everything. Just do it.
Nike should totally hire me lol


I'm looking to get back to more behind the scenes sharing of what I'm doing and some tutorial and other fun things like that.
I have had a LOT on my plate, I realize I'm technically running 4 businesses right now and that's a LOT but they all fall under the same umbrella and I'm looking to smoosh them all in and share them with you.


I'm about to jump in and do some Zentangle work in my journal. I'll be sure and share that as I go!

So... break out your pens, your pencils, your paints and let's make some stuff ok?

Capture your tangles using the power of sunlight! 

Please shoot me a message at
Tangletroves@gmail.com if this video doesn't work or is not visible.
I apologize for any inconvenience!

You can also access at https://vimeo.com/206735996


Some other examples of projects created for your enjoyment!
I'd love to see what you make, how yours turn out and what you do with it in the future.

(see video of this developing here https://www.instagram.com/p/BGASCwbI3DG/?taken-by=whimsybykelly)

Whew happy new year!

I think blogging every day for a year burnt me out temporarily.. plus I had to put the studio back together after the water damage... but I'm back!
I won't be blogging every day but I'll be putting some awesome stuff up and I have a lot of new and exciting things going on this year.

I know you like to see all the things I'm doing, so here is a group of sneakers that I did over the last few weeks. (Some were holiday orders) but I've revamped things into collages.
I have been playing with alcohol inks and the February Troves just shipped out. Things are busy and life is going well.
I miss the 365 challenge though. I really do.
I've been creating almost every day but not posting... I should consider posting more. I will if you'll share links to your stuff with me in the comments!

Let's call this "Vacation mode"

I'm going to be honest. I'm being a bit of a slacker. This year has started out cold out and I had a flood in the studio and really with me wanting to be super cozy and lay around in my PJs and not do much.
Not productive. I know. Not creative, I know. But... I'm almost done hibernating.
I'm working on some plans for this year and I think I'm just ok with taking the week off. I didn't realize that posting 365 days in a row was as much work as it was LOL and I really want this year to be full of cool things so I'm planning out my challenges.

I am going to post my giveaway next week too... so I just wanted to let you know, I haven't disappeared. :) I'm still here.. just being a bit of a bum for a few days while I figure out how to go from posting daily to what my new plan is.
I am still making stuff every day! I hope you are too!

Happy 2016!!!!

I am very excited about this year and I hope you are too.

Last year ended with me finishing up my 365 day challenge
This year I'm going to post weekly challenges every Monday morning and I hope you'll join me in continuing to create this year.

I'll be kicking off the New Year with a giveaway... but I'm waiting on a few details from one of the sponsors, so that will be going up on Monday as well.


Until then, settle in, let me know your plans, let's create a great year!

And it's over... 1 year of creativity.

I had planned out this piece for most of the year. I suspected that it would be seasonally appropriate when I did it... but oddly, it's not. There's still no real snow here in Buffalo NY for the first time that I ever remember.
But I put the final touches on it today to make it my final piece for the year.

And... Wooohoo! We did it.
I created something, most days art of some kind... EVERY DAY This year.
Every. Day.
The push to do so has been amazing and has held me accountable. I'm going to continue next year, although I won't be posting daily. I found that harder to do than the creating.

I'm going to create a weekly challenge of some kind and I'm still going to continue to create every day and I hope you will as well. If you completed your 300... please send me either your email or your mailing address. I want to send you a little something!

Not my image... I can't find where I found it, but I loved it. :)
If it's yours please let me know so I can credit you

Thank you so much for your participation, for your friendships, for joining me on this really great journey.

Make stuff everyone.
Make stuff EVERY DAY.


Now... starting tomorrow... um.. yeah, tomorrow...
I have a contest. :)

So check back, learn a little more about what I'll be doing next year and hey,
HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Finishing out strong!

It's been a rough couple of days in the studio.... but I am determined that I will get something made and posted every day.

Before I left to work on the studio, while I was caffeinating for the day, I did this. I finished it this evening when I got home. 

It was a good reminder to myself that it doesn't take long, and no matter what is going on, it does make me feel better. 

Sometimes it's best to create early!

So this morning I was working on some tangling, glad I did that because nothing else creative happened.

When I got to the studio today, I discovered part of my roof had collapsed due to snow/slush. So that's a mess.... but  no one was hurt 

Tomorrow is a new day right? 

Tangling, tangling and more tangling!

Not a creature was stirring.. not even a mouse. Or the dogs. Or my minions. It was a silent morning and it has been GLORIOUS!

I spent it with my pen, my pencil and some tea and I feel refreshed after the busy holidays and happy. 

I hope your holidays were wonderful and that you did get some down time to recharge.
This is my first attempt at using Sam Taylors "Crease" and I love it. So simple, so much at the heart of what Zentangle is all about one. One line, then another and then a little shading and something so simple turns into something that looks so amazingly complex!

I liked it so much I had to do another tile to use it in. 

I'm already planning on adding it into some classes!

What are you working on today? Do you have time off this week as the year wraps up?

Calendars!

They aren't quite as pretty or much fun as some of the other things I create.... but today I put together my calendar for the next 2 weeks.

You can check out the downloadable version or register  here.

As the end of the year is coming on, I know that everyone is busy but I hope you are still making time to create!

4 more days!!!

A little magic...

A very good friend saw my skylines and asked me if I would create something special for her.

I loved every minute of doing this project.
She had it framed and sent me this.

I love her framing choices and I'm so glad her family loved it.

Merry Christmas to all!

I told you that I had a little something planned. Just a little Merry Christmas drawing for today. I figured no matter what I could fit that in.. .
BUT then I got tons of art supplies for Christmas.

So it's not very GOOD but it did let me play with my new prismacolors!

And now it's time to get back to the festivities, but I did want to post today.

I hope your holiday is wonderful. <3

NO peeking...

I can't post the creative stuff from today. 

But I did create.. and I hope you made time to as well. 

Merry Christmas everyone!
I will post tomorrow, but it won't be til late. 

From my home to yours, the merriest of Christmas festivities!

The day before the night before Christmas

First allow me to present you with an earworm. :D

This was listened to at my house as a child.

A lot.

So this was the order that was picked up last... and therefore means the studio is closed for the holiday.

I have several things planned for the next few days so that I still have time to create (I planned them in!) and I'll also show you some of the things that had to stay under wraps.
Tomorrow's will probably be a giant pile of gift wrapped presents. LOL
I'm going to count that because it involves creativity!

Here's hoping you are enjoying this time of year!

3 days til Christmas and less than 10 left in the challenge!

Where where does time go? I am AMAZED at how much I accomplished this year.
I hope as we are wrapping up you feel like you tried some new fun stuff, that you created a lot, that you had fun and that you've learned something about yourself.

I will have done some form of creating EVERY day for the last year.. in just under 10 days Wow.
If you'd asked me 2 years ago if that would have ever happened I'd have told you no.

Next year my word of the year is "Limits" because I know sometimes I push myself too hard.
I'm going to still try and create every day, and I'm going to try to publish blog posts at least 5x per week but every day posting was a little tough sometimes.

Speaking of pushing boundaries.
I am doing ballet slippers and I am IN LOVE with them.
So. Much. Fun.

Aren't they pretty? I love the way the paint acts on the satin!

Welcome to Night Vale

Today is crunch day. The last 2 orders (that need to ship anyway) are going out.
Only 1 is for Christmas delivery and I couldn't refuse her... so I took it way after my cutoff... against my better judgement, and yet I'm so glad I did.