Howdy gang, sorry for the silence – I’ve been on my holidays. Barcelona and the foothills of the Pyrenees, dontcha know!! I took two books, and read a grand total of 8 pages – so what did I spend my time doing, apart from visiting aquariums, underground river trips, swimming in mountain rivers… ? Well, I discovered a new passion – tangling…

For those of you who haven’t come across it: “Zentangles are a new trend in the drawing and paper arts world. The concept was started by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas as a way to practice focus and meditation through drawing, by using repetitive lines, marks, circles, and shapes. Each mark is called a “tangle,” and you combine various tangles into patterns to create “tiles” or small square drawings.“

I got totally hooked doing 2, then 3 then 4 a day. And my kids saw me doing them. And asked if they could try. And they got hooked too.

I’ve always wanted to be a doodler – I love patterns, and mandalas and henna and paisley. I loved them, I wanted to do them… but I didn’t know how to start… I kept doing the same again and again. This book has been a wonderful step by step guide and teacher – I am really chuffed with what I have achieved in just two weeks. And have a new passion – and am excited about taking it in new directions in my own art….

And I find it so soothing and therapeutic to do. Like meditation – but I get great art to keep at the end. Win-win.

I’m aware that Zentangling is a bit passe for US readers, but it’s totally new to me here in the time warp of Ireland. I’m thinking of getting a copy for the two doodling women in my life. So that’s why I’m sharing it with y’all here. Are you a doodler? Do you Zentangle?  Got any great resources to share? I’ve got a new Pinterest board on them – but of course!