The challenge this week was to Breathe, relax and smile. I accomplished 2 of the 3 with this first try.  I forced myself to relax and breathe deeply....but the smile did not come. This task was a bit of a comfort to me however. This week my dearest of friends tragically lost her grandson to a school playground accident. He was 9 years old. He was full of promise and her greatest delight. I kept saying to myself as I tangled this morning. "Just Breathe" and that would be my advise to Patti this morning... until the joy returns to your life....."just breathe......my dearest friend.....just breathe!  I love you!

I can't resist....Laura, only choose a couple for the slide show.  I don't mean to do so many....it is just that I am addicted to challenges! Sorry.

However...she wants it to look more fanciful or maybe more mystic. She loves the art in say Fablehaven.....or even Tinkerbell.  Oh well I can do is try!

I found this to be refreshingly fun.  Sometimes I really make my life too complicated and this was like a breath of fresh air!

I really tried to just use one color this time. I began with brown....but to add depth I added one more color and then some more...but I still tried to stay true to the brown.

I still have more to learn but I think I made a bit of a breakthrough. I am hoping that I can eventually get a traditional tangle to come out with my pen.

I have been exploring with the new pattern....Ixorus!  It is wonderfully fun!

Please be sure to visit "I am the diva" for more challenge entries. http://iamthedivaczt.blogspot.com/

The big question has been .."How do you get those colors" I decided to color one of my tangles and take pictures at the different stages in order to give people a better idea on how I color. I hope if you are asking the same question that this will help you in your coloring ideas.

Just an added note.....with this picture I used a variety of colored pencils. Some are the cheap Rose Art pencils and some are more expensive Prismacolor pencils. I would love to get some really nice pencils but I have to wait for another gift moment.  I just went by color.  I drew this picture on regular sketch paper. So the end result is that you do not have to spend a lot on your art work. When I use watercolor I use a hot press watercolor paper. This is more expensive so I conserve the paper as much as I can.

Now I went to the bright side of things I think maybe I like less bright better. Is that wishy washy or what?....but it is what it is.  Today my daughter found tons of colored pencils that she had stashed in her room......more scope for color flavor. I will have to give it a try.  

My last two tangles were fun to make but for some reason the colors do not pop for me. I am wondering what I need to do. I will have to spend some time experimenting or something. It just feels  the need of something.  What do you think?

Still thinking spring.......oh the days will be long until end of March, maybe April. We have had a freeze as late as June in the past few years.  I was born in a little valley in Wyoming where it freezes every month of the year. Of course there are gorgeous days in between.  They grow the best peas and lettuce that you can find!