Zendalas

I gave my sister some pre-strung Zendalas and she inspired me to do one of my own.  I made one and put it in the pretty notecards that Maria Thomas and Rick Roberts have developed. They are made with cuts to hold square or round tiles.  Here's the one I did for the round tile called a Zendala.
This was so much fun!  I am sending this one to my niece Jamie Rumph for her birthday!  (Happy Birthday Jamie!)

Christmas Travel

We had a great time traveling to see family for Christmas!  Christmas Eve we drove to see our son and daughter-in-law...and their dog Tonka!  We had a very relaxing dinner and enjoyed a Christmas Eve service.  Christmas morning Angela and Jarrell made waffles for breakfast with their new Belgian waffle maker...yummy!  Christmas day was an hour drive to Bastrop to see my parents, my sisters Kristi and Bev, and a niece and nephews.  We enjoyed good food and a fun round of a white elephant gift exchange.  As usual we had a good time.  Angela made out like a bandit with a new pair of boots!  The day after Christmas we took off to see Keith's brother and sister-in-law in the Houston area, only to get there and find out they were REALLY sick!  We checked to see if there was anything we could do for them and left to let them recuperate!  We stopped for some delicious BBQ and took off for home.  While in the car today I worked on four tiles.  Yes four!  It was a great drive home!  Here they are....so much fun!  Hope you will join me after the first of the year for Zentangle classes.  Schedule to be completed soon....stay tuned! :)

Intentional, as Rick and Maria say, "One stroke at a time."

Recently, my husband and I were driving back home from visiting our daughter in Odessa, TX.  It's at least a 4 hour drive.  It's hard to spend that time in the car, riding, with nothing to do.  Then I came upon the idea to tangle while riding.  It's not the steadiest drawing environment, but it causes me to slow down and be more intentional.  My husband is always surprised that I don't know where we are on our journey. Am I'm always astonished how many miles have zipped by so quickly!

These are a couple of tiles I worked on while on our trip.  The process really does work to produce a meditative state and a new piece of art to boot! Thanks Maria Thomas and Rick Roberts for developing the Zentangle process!

Another.....opportunity

Keith and I have been in Odessa for almost a week, helping our daughter Lyndsay.  Her husband Ricky has accepted a new job in the Dallas area and she was desperate for a little help with her two little ones.  We always jump at a chance to see grandkids, with no 9 to 5 to hold us back we came right on over. :)  She is a second grade teacher with end of the semester activities to conclude, and now move out of her class room.  She is sad to leave her co-workers and students. But, would be more sad to be separated from her husband for 5 months with short weekend visits.

Christmas is generally busy enough, but trying to keep a house ready for Realtor's to show and organize to move is a HUGE job! We're busy from morning till night, thankfully picking the kids up from daycare slows our evening activities.  Did I say slow?  We have an 18 month old and a 4 year old here!!!!  They bring us much joy!  Issie wants to be my helper when I cook....cause Gran's the cooker!  And Aaron is a Papa's boy...kind of hurts my feelings!...really hurts the mommy's feelings!  Oh well, have to look on the bright side, he likes to play peek a boo, and I can do that from across the room!

New opportunity for my daughter and her family.  New opportunity for us to get to the Dallas area to see other family members and friends in the area.   According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
OPPORTUNITY:  a good chance for advancement or progress.  That sounds positive, I'm a former counselor, so I'm using my reframing techniques on myself!

Now for another opportunity!  I will be posting dates and times to schedule Zentangle 101 classes for after the first of the year....stay tuned!  This will be your opportunity to learn to focus, be intentional, relax, and become a better problem solver.  And another end result will be a small piece of art that you created! 

Till next time, be open to new opportunities!

Christmas Blessings!
Sharon Morris, CZT 13

Change...or Opportunity?

     
Change, such a scary, exciting word!  I've been discussing "change" with different people for the past 16 years.  It started when I was a school counselor, just beginning at Canadian ISD, Canadian, TX. Karen Minyen, my principal and I would discuss how change is hard for most people.  The two of us looked forward to the possibilities of "change".

Then in 2002, my husband and I changed our residency.  We moved from the Panhandle of TX to the Hill Country of TX.  When we first started talking about it my husband had some apprehension.  I saw it as an opportunity to live in a beautiful part of the country.  I had never lived with a river running through the center of a town.  What an opportunity!

In 2007 I retired from Tivy HS as a school counselor.  It was scary, I wasn't sure I was ready, but it seemed time to go. After that "leap" I jumped into art workshops.  It's just like a dear sweet lady told me once, "you don't know what you don't know."  If I had known what I didn't know I might not have spent all that money and time on art supplies and lessons.  But, if I hadn't I wouldn't be here today!

Yes, today I said goodbye to some dear friends at K'STAR Youth and Family Service, where I have been working as a Family Specialist for the past 2 years.  What a great opportunity and experience it has been.  Thanks Chuck for talking me into it! :)

Now I have a new opportunity!  I will be sharing my love of art in as many ways as I possibly can!  I know everyone doesn't believe they are an artist.  But, from my year of experience doing Zentangles with kids and adults, I know they will create their own personal piece of art.  Not only a pleasing square of interesting shapes, but peace from the pressures of life.

Stay tuned as I put together some great Zentangle classes to help you transform your world into a less stressful approach.  Let me show you how to take the dread out of the changes in your life and reframe them into opportunity!

Certified Zentangle Teacher!

I am still in amazement that I am now a Certified Zentangle Teacher class #13!  I had looked forward to the seminar for so long, now it has come and gone. But the memory of it is still fresh in my mind. I have to share, I honestly have never gotten so much out of a training. I've taken a lot of art workshops, have a lot of formal education under my belt, but nothing compares to the excellent quality Rck and Maria and team produced. Also I have made lifelong friendships. An awesome experience!

The training gives me the confidence to get out there and share this wonderful method of teachings others how to find a way to deal with the stress of this world. Also how to become more inspired and creative. I can't get running fast enough! Friends have recommended that I get a website, but until I get a source I am just going to use my blog. In hindsight I wish I had been prepared to hit the ground running when I got home, Nov. 14th! So I have to counsel myself to do what I can just one step at a time! I need to go do a tangle so I can refocus!

2 YEARS LATER....

I just viewed the blog I set up, it's been two years since I blogged!  What has happened in those two years?  Well, I went back to work! Yes, can you believe it?  I've work as a Family Therapist for KSTAR Youth and Family Services, a nonprofit counseling service.  Very little painting has happened in these past two years. But, I have started Zentangle drawing.  And in November I am going to Rhode Island to get my certification to be a Certified Zentangle Instructor.  We just never know what direction our lives are going to take. 

Also, last year I started going to Bible Study Fellowship.  I hadn't been in a class since we left Miami.  We studied Genesis last year and are studying Matthew this year.  These are two studies I have done before.  But, God's word is living and I am learning something entirely new!  Maybe it's because I am in a new place in my life.

OK, back to the work thing.  Yes, I have been working, but am leaving KSTAR the middle of December.  I am going to pursue my art.  I've already been using the Zentangle method as an art therapy with students and adults.  I have also instructed a couple of classes.  People are receptive to the Zentangle method.  It isn't about being a good artist, it's about repeating a pattern to develop intentional focus.  In the process a person relaxes and comes away with more clarity and problem solving skills. In the process a person actually ends up with a small abstract art piece. I have also drawn some Zentangle Inspired Art pieces and entered them in a couple of art shows.  I won a 2nd place ribbon with one of them. 

I have a couple of other art gigs coming up.  The Die Kuntsler Art Show Oct 30 - Nov 1, in Fredericksburg.  Then I have an opportunity to show art at the Six Shooter Winery, Fredericksburg.  I've been working to get pieces for both venues.  After the new year there are several other shows to prepare for, one will be in May.  My sister Kristi and niece Jerica and I are putting on a small gallery show of Zentangle Inspired Art.  We are really looking forward to it!

I noted in the last blog 2 years ago I was experiencing a lot of anxiety over the future.  Well, thankfully studying God's word I have renewed my faith.  God is Sovereign!  He will direct my footsteps.  I thank Him for the gifts He has given me and pray that I use them to His Glory!