Category Archives: Zentangle

Welcome New and Returning Subscribers

Many Hearty Thanks, Sharing Creative Ideas, Answering the ‘Kat’ Kwestion

April 1, 2025

Completing my 15th sketchbook, and beginning the next one is always cause for celebration!  To do so, Kat and I thought it would be especially fitting to shout-from-the-treetops enthusiastically, THANK YOU! Thank you all, my loyal subscribers, for coming along on my interesting, hopefully educational, sometimes crazy, always curious nature journaling adventure. 

Zentangle patterns used: LoveBuzz, Membranart, Frostz, Chatoo, Sea Urchin, Toku, Rosie, Calibree

My recent webinar class, “Create a Colorful Reptile Eye1,” sponsored by Host Karen Abend (of Sketchbook Revival fame), generated many new subscribers to my web page and blog, “A Curious Nature.” Wow! And Thanks so much. A special thanks to those who attended the live and/or recorded class. I loved seeing so many colorful lizard eyes (a sampling below). They were incredible! 

Sharing the Wonder of Nature

With all the past and current activity on my blog, I feel so fortunate and very encouraged to carry on. Even though new postings have been random lately, there’s lots of works-in-progress soon to be shared. Meanwhile, comments including what you like about my posts and what you’d like to see more of, are always appreciated.  What inspired you to subscribe to this blog? If it’s just enjoy, that’s perfect! Or maybe you’d like tips to develop a regular or even a daily creative practice, how can I be more encouraging? I’d love to know if you are an active nature journaler or tangler, or express yourself by creating art in other ways, such as through music, poetry, or storytelling. Send me your ideas by commenting on this or any future posts. I’ve created my webpage and blog because of my insatiable curiosity about the natural world. It’s extraordinarily fun to go beyond learning what the names of flowers, animals, rocks, and clouds are. The excitement of wondering and discovering answers for all the why’s, who’s, when’s, and how’s is so rewarding. Sharing is my joy!

Explaining Kat

Thinking new subscribers may be puzzled by my constantly mentioning Flambé or Kat or both, now might be a good time for explanation and background (and perhaps provide a refresher for those who’ve been following along from day 1 of my blog):

In 2014, a young stray calico cat showed up one day on our doorstep when we (Roy and I) lived in Oriental, North Carolina (U.S.A.). This little wild miss seemed to magically appear from our backyard woods, perhaps in search of a meal or a friend. She sat and meowed for a few minutes, but when we opened the door, she ran away.  Efforts to get close to her when she returned several times during the week were futile. Then one day she vanished and never returned. Not knowing what may have happened to this pretty kitty, Roy thought a nice remembrance of her visit would be to add a small cat sketch to my next drawing. A dandy idea!“But only one drawing,” I thought? It was at that moment that Flambé appeared on my creative doorstep, and has never left!

Flambé, aka Kat, is always smiling, popping in and out of all my art, regardless if the piece is imaginatively & whimsically tangled or a serious nature study. Along with forming the best part of my signature “chop,” she’s the heroine of some pretty wild and crazy tangled misadventures, sometimes pushing Kat’s 9-lives threshold to satisfy her insatiably curious nature (and appetite). Flambé adores being noticed, whether she hides inside the story, or shows up front and center. She makes everything creative more fun.  Flambé may be just “Kat,” but she’s my inspiration for and reminder about the value of komic relief, and makes the perfect konstant kompanion!  

Whew! That’s all for now. Hopefully your questions about this blog, inspiration and Kat have been answered. If you’re craving to learn answers to other related topics, let me know.  Meanwhile, Flambé and I wish you an exciting and creative remainder of the year ….. have times full of happiness, creativity, and memorable adventures, but most of all laughter and fun!

Hope to hear from you soon, and as always, thanks for stopping by!   

Meow!

1Unfortunately, the class or recording are no longer available for viewing. But I may have another live demo class some day in the future.  If so, you can be sure the announcement will show up on my blog.

Happy International Day of Happiness

March 20, 2025

Every year on March 20th, the International Day of Happiness is celebrated by promoting the idea that part of humanity’s progress should include how to increase happiness and wellbeing. Wow! What a great idea. 

Just where did this great idea come from?

The year was 2011.  The members of the UN General Assembly collectively brainstormed ideas on how to recognize happiness as a fundamental human goal. From these exciting talks a resolution was born, calling for a more inclusive and balanced approach to economic growth promoting happiness as an essential part of progress.

The following year (2012) the General Assembly held the very first UN Conference on Happiness. From this event another resolution was adopted declaring International Happiness Day be celebrated annually on March 20th.

Inspired to find ways of enhancing human progress through happiness, in 2013 the world celebrated the first ever International Day of Happiness! 😃

Zentangle patterns used: Ailux, Bzings, Adobe, FloralySs, Bunnyline, N’Zeppel 

What is this thing called Happiness? 

The “pursuit of happiness,” a phrase found in the Declaration of Independence, is an ideal upon which America is based. Merriam-Webster defines happiness as having “a sense of well-being, joy, or contentment. When people are successful, or safe, or lucky, they feel happiness.” But reasons for feeling happy vary from person to person.  Are you happy when delighted or glad?   Do you experience happiness when sipping a cup of good coffee or tea? What about when your dog greets you at the door after a long day, or when your cat purrs in your face …. do these signs of affection make you happy? 

Research has shown people feel happy if they have good quality relationships, are passionate about their job and/or hobbies, and by helping others through volunteer work or random acts of kindness. Other factors influencing happiness might include your overall satisfaction with life, your mood at the moment, and your ability to meet basic needs related to health, work, and finances  (although having extra money does not necessarily make people happier).

Have you ever considered what things in life make you happy? Do these things just seem to happen randomly or do you intentionally seek out ways to experience happiness? Have you taken the pulse of your happiness meter lately? 

When there are large numbers of happy people, it can make communities and even entire countries happier places to live. Some of the happiest countries in the world include Finland, Denmark, Norway, and Iceland. Switzerland, New Zealand, Canada, and Australia also rank in the top 10 for the happiest countries. The United States ranked 19th.

Prismacolor pencil colors used: white, cream, yellowed-orange, goldenrod, crimson lake, dahlia purple, mulberry, violet, violet blue, non-photo blue, true blue, peacock blue, apple green, peacock green. Inking created with Sakura Pigma Micron archival ink pen, size 01.

Looking for ways to observe this year’s International Day of Happiness? 

If the daily grind, never ending politics, or hearing about or even experiencing one natural disaster after another have got you down, I know the feeling. It’s high time to regain control of our inner selves and set free the happiness within. It may not be easy, but what better day to take on this challenge than March 20th, the official International Day of Happiness!

How to start? There’s probably as many ways to promote, create and achieve happiness as there are people in this world. If you already know what to do, great! But if you’re seeking ways to become a happier person and share your happiness with others, here’s some ideas I thought make good sense: 

To become a happier you:  Be kind to yourself, not overly self-critical or perfectionistic. Really savor your life experiences because this will intensify and prolong their enjoyment. Set meaningful goals for yourself that provide structure and purpose, give a sense of identity and increase self-esteem. Seek healthy challenges, stretching your abilities just a bit beyond your comfort zone to realize your potential. Build intrinsic motivation, rather than just relying upon doing things to please others. (‘Intrinsic motivation’ refers to the drive to engage in activities that are inherently interesting or enjoyable without external incentives or rewards.) Practice gratitude. Appreciate and make note of all the ‘ups’ (the good things) in your life rather than focusing only on the ‘downs’ or what you still desire. Be a problem-solver; avoid the temptation to vent, complain and reinforce negativity; instead, cultivate optimism and practice positivity regardless of circumstances. And last but not least, engage in random acts of kindness.

To promote happiness in others:  Take time to build and improve the quality of relationships with supportive people. Respond actively and constructively, celebrating when others share good news. Listen to others with 100% of your attention. Practice mindfulness, compassion and empathy. Maybe you can volunteer or help someone in need. And this is worth repeating ….. Take time to engage in random acts of kindness.

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For far too long, progress in the world has been all about the economy. But more people are realizing that happiness is also an essential part of progress. And come to find out, Flambé agrees! Especially when she can improve her relationships with the birds, bunnies, fish and frogs. Now if I can only teach her to sing instead of all that katter-walling she seems so fond of! Guess I’d better brush up on my constructive criticism? Hahahaha-Lalalalalalala-Hahahahaha!

Whatever you do on this day (and into the future), be sure to spread the happiness!

And as always, thanks for stopping by!

National Cat Herders Day!

December 15, 2024

You don’t have to be a cat lover to celebrate National Cat Herders Day. The only requirement is to know someone or even be that someone who’s attempted to accomplish a complex task by controlling the uncontrollable, organizing the disorganized, or bringing to order a disorderly cast of characters, akin to like trying to herd cats*.  From parents and teachers to project managers and team leaders, this humorous observance pays tribute to those willingly and persistently taking on the challenge of controlling difficult or chaotic situations. Show the love and appreciation for people in your life, and quite possibly yourself, who take on any impossible or frustrating task with patience and humility.

Zentangle patterns used: Choir, Ease, Windflower, KittyKitty, Fragment oA6, Apichu, Budlite, Cat-kin, CD Joy, Cloudy Day, Raindotty

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*The origin of the phrase “like herding cats” likely came from the opening scene of Monty Python’s Life of Brian (1979). In this scene, shepherds are discussing sheep and the topic strays to cats: “Can you imagine a herd of cats waiting to be sheared?”  

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**A fish manikin is a form carved from wood or foam by taxidermists used to mount a trophy fish. Flambé’s school of striped manikins all looked like trophies to her! If only she could’ve herded her cat kin into an attentive and cohesive group long enough to teach them her sure-fire plan for breaking up that school of fish …….. maybe, just maybe she would’ve had a striped manikin to Mount on the wall of her den!

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***A clowder is a real thing! It’s what “they” call a group of cats. Honest.  But then being naturally curious like my sidekick, Flambé, I wanted to know how many cats are needed to make a clowder. Here’s what I learned: 

“Three or more cats make up a clowder, which makes sense. After all, three is a clowd—er, crowd. Jokes aside, this is mainly because the word “pair” covers pretty much any group of two, and if a cat is by themselves, then they’re just … a cat.”

But that doesn’t explain how these feline groups are ever formed ……. after all, wouldn’t that be a frustrating endeavor and quite nearly impossible …… exactly like Herding Cats?

I’ll let you be the judge, but please let me know!

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As always, thanks for stopping by!

On the Edge of Chaos …. Annual Chaos Never Dies Day

November 9, 2024

Chaos Never Dies Day is an annual holiday observed on November 9th that reminds us that chaos and disorder are natural and inevitable parts of life. The day encourages us to embrace the chaos and find humor, creativity, and resilience in the face of uncertainty and unpredictability. It’s a time to let go of perfectionism, embrace imperfection, and enjoy the ride.

Flowing from Flambé’s depiction of the chaotic world that lives between her pointy ears, emerges 16 simple continuous line shapes. Can you find them all? 

Drawings and Zentangle patterns: Zip, Stacked Stones, Bekkwheat, Boxworth, Ellis Chuang Rabbit, Tomada Rooster

(If you’d like a little help finding these shapes, the answers can be found at the end of this post. But only peek after you’ve given the illustration a thorough looking over.)

Of course, Kat has embedded herself within the chaos; her discovery makes for 17 total shapes.

Flambé’s thoughts on Chaos to Creativity OR an attempt to interpret her scratched lines on paper, in the above illustration.

A few of my elementary thoughts about Chaos and Chaos Theory

Now that Flambé has delighted and (most likely) confused you on the Nature of Chaos, allow me to reflect on my first exploration into the fascinatingly mind bending subject of Chaos Theory. Having never given much thought to the Theory, per se, I’ve always pictured “chaos” as something hectic and uncontrollable. A state of unruliness, mayhem, or disarray liken to natural disasters, mob pandemonium, mass shootings. Sound familiar? We’ve all likely been witness to an unfathomable situation and declared our world to be in “complete and utter chaos!” But there’s more, a lot more to Chaos Theory, where it is encountered and how it affects us. 

When my reference list of lesser known Annual Days revealed November 9th is celebrated every year as “Chaos Never Dies” day, I was appalled.  I mean, really; who wants to live in a world of ever-present and everlasting chaos? 

But from the description of this Day, it appeared there was a positive side to chaos, piquing my curiosity.  Anything that can make us laugh and inspire creativity has to be awesome! So began my last few weeks of intense study and pouring over countless YouTube videos to learn about Chaos Theory. 

The more I read and viewed educational videos proclaiming to explain Chaos Theory in easy-to-understand language, the more confusing it seemed. The language was English, but the concepts seemed abstract to me …….. well, they were just plain chaotic! (This caused me to laugh!). It would be easy to spend a lifetime trying to “get it.” I’ll just have to keep learning!

So far, I learned about many familiar and new terms associated with Chaos Theory.  These include the Butterfly Effect (highly central to Chaos Theory) which shows the connection between disorderly and highly organized things, like how the flap of a butterfly’s wings can lead to a string of events that can form a hurricane! It’s complex, but emphasizes (among many things) that we can’t know the consequences of seemingly simple systems due to unpredictable variables. That leads to Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle, Feedback Loops, Fractals, Probabilistic and Deterministic modes, etc. 

Are you still with me?

In a nutshell, Chaos Theory “provides a scientifically quantifiable but simultaneously poetically suggestive way of looking at how almost everything in life is connected to everything else.”

We live in a “chaotic” world, and how we react and/or adapt to its unpredictability and complexities matters.  But as someone (?) once said, “Embracing unpredictability sparks creativity.” 
What does Chaos spark in you?

The images of all Continuous Line drawings and their order of emergence.

As always, thanks for stopping by!

Happy World Smile Day!

October 4, 2024

World Smile Day is an annual celebration of the simple yet powerful act of smiling and spreading joy to others. It was created by commercial artist Harvey Ball in 1999 to honor the iconic smiley face he created in 1963. On this day, people are encouraged to perform acts of kindness and make others smile, both in person and through social media. World Smile Day is celebrated on the first Friday in October.

Poem Created by Barb

As always, thanks for stopping by!

Nature Journaling Meets Zentangle …… It’s International Rock Flipping Day

September 8, 2024

Unbeknownst to me …… until right now! Hitting me like a ton of rocks, I just learned that every second Sunday in September each year marks a worldwide celebration known as

 International Rock Flipping Day

Today is a day to encourage people to explore and learn about the natural world by flipping over rocks to see what creatures and other organisms live underneath them. Participants share their findings and observations with others to promote curiosity and appreciation for the environment.

Zentangle patterns: Barney, Cobbles, Tupuk, Roxi, Ringz, CO2, Rigel, Piepers, Konk, Calliwags, N’Zeppel
Whimsical poetry by Barb

So tell me …..

How many rocks have you flipped over today?

What did you discover?

If no one was at home, tell me about your flipped rock(s)!

Bring out your Inner Child!

I don’t care what town you’re born in, what city, what country. If you’re a child, you are curious about your environment. You’re overturning rocks. You’re plucking leaves off of trees and petals off of flowers, looking inside, and you’re doing things that create disorder in the lives of the adults around you. – Neil deGrasse Tyson

A few more …..

As with other phases of nature, I have probably loved the rocks more than I have studied them. – John Burroughs

If it weren’t for the rocks in its bed, the stream would have no song. – Carl Perkins

The problem is not scientifically illiterate kids; it is scientifically illiterate adults. Kids are born curious about the natural world. They are always turning over rocks, jumping with two feet into mud puddles and playing with the tablecloth and fine china. – Neil deGrasse Tyson

an earlier version

As always, thanks for stopping by!

By Kraken! It’s National Sea Serpent Day, August 7, 2024

August 7, 2024

Today is National Sea Serpent Day, and while these magical, mystical, and mythological creatures may not ring true for you, Flambé now believes otherwise. Read why a Mama Kat’s lessons should be heeded at all costs, and how a litter of 8 kittens would’ve been better off if they’d had a wise Mama like Flambé. Learn how a Sea Serpent finds his lunch in murky water, and what they like to binge eat. But most of all, be sure to celebrate this auspicious day …… perhaps by visiting an aquarium to see what a “real” Sea Serpent looks like, and to learn about their life cycle, color(s), size and the habitats where they live.

National Sea Serpent Day is a day dedicated to the legendary creature known as the sea serpent. It is a time to celebrate and learn about these mythical sea creatures, which are often described as large, snake-like creatures that live in the depths of the Oceans.

Zentangle patterns used: Uzu, Seashimmer, Spilus, Iraku, Diamond Fringe, Mona Pua, Cat-a-line

Baby, it’s hot outside! 

Poor Flambé has been searing her paw pads while conducting daily curiosity quests. To cool the burn, she’s been wading into a sizable neighborhood pond, becoming engulfed in a cloud of steam as all four paws are instantly chilled.  “Aaaahhhhhhh! Now that’s relief!”

However, one day Kat decided to indulge in a full body pond plunge, completely drenching her lush fur coat. Because the pond was unfathomably deep, and since she was soaked to the tip of her tail, Flambé decided to practice a bit of free diving. Gulping a huge breath of air then turning tail, down …. down ….. down she plunged into the murky cold water.  After zipping up to the surface to fill her lungs, Kat exclaimed, “Cool!  I’ll return every hot afternoon to chill out!”

But during her second deep … deep … deep dive, Flambé saw she was not alone. Emerging out of the dim depths of the pond was a gynormously scary creature with a huge head, foot-long eyes, sharp teeth, and long wavy arms! Could it be her nemesis? 

As a wee kitten, mama Kat warned her about swimming or diving in deep water.  Mama Kat warned Flambé about the presence of the always ravenous, underwater creatures known as Hydra, Kraken, or Sea Serpent.  Mama said these monstrous Sea Serpents had such a keen sense of smell, they could instantly sniff a potential meal of “fat furry feline” frolicking frivolously in their watery realm. In the blink of a foot-long eye, an unsuspecting Kat might be greedily gobbled and gulped!

Now back to dire matters at “paw” ….. Daring to take a closer look at the menacing Kraken, Flambé gazed in horror at one of its five crops; it was plum full with a litter of eight kittens! Mama Kat was right.

Sea Serpents may have an excellent sense of smell, but Flambé’s hearing was superb. Before the Hydra could sniff out Kat, simultaneously those eight kaptured kitties let out a yowl loud enough to raise an undersea garden! “They’re alive!” Flambé to the rescue!!! 

What is Flambé’s plan to rescue all eight kitties? How does she avoid being sniffed out by the Sea Serpent? Will hiding in plain sight right next to that row of razor sharp teeth, fool the Kraken? What can Kat use to quickly pry open the Hydra’s crop cage, rapidly expelling the kitties? Are Sea Serpents ticklish, and if so, where? If you were in Flambe’s predicament, what would you do?

Please share your ideas quickly …. just in case Kat’s efforts are foiled and all is lost!

Line work before color.

Until the next chapter of Flambé’s exciting Misadventures!

Zip! Zip! ….. Happy National Zipper Day, April 29th

April 29, 2024

National Zipper Day is a holiday celebrated on April 29th every year in honor of the invention of the zipper by Gideon Sundback in 1913.

Zentangle patterns used: Oeillet, Snakin’, Ocip, Idea, Spoken, Tork, Nutz, Strutz, Pipez, Stem Out, Thoofen.

While you’re having fun (or going crazy) chasing Flambé’s maze of zippers, here’s some very cool facts about the world’s largest Zipper manufacturer ….. YKK.  

The initials YKK stand for Yoshida Kōgyō Kabushiki (Kabushibibaisha), a Japanese business that owns the most popular zipper brand in the world. Because of its cutting-edge technology and reliable materials, YKK continues to dominate the fastener market worldwide.

Today, YKK produces more than 50% of zips worldwide. Zips may be easy to make; they may have not seen much innovation in the last fifty years, and they may be simple but (so far) no other zipper company can compete against the YKK monopoly. 

YKK, founded in 1934, manufactures and produces about 10 billion zippers a year. The YKK Group consists of two main operations – 1) the fastening business, and 2) the architectural products business. The fastening business, includes zippers made for the apparel industry, comprises about 40% of its global business. The architectural products business, includes products for windows, doors, curtain walls, and even bridges and ocean clean-up products for the oil and gas industry, comprises the other 60%. 

The largest zipper factory in the world! The YKK factory in Macon, Georgia has earned that label.  This mega factory boasts 14 modern plants and over 900 employees, producing 7 million zippers a day. These zips, which come in more than 427 standard colors, total over 1,500 styles including a luxury style called Excella, where all of the parts are highly polished!

What’s so special about YKK Zippers? They are amazing in their ability to self-lubricate the more you use them. Have you ever had a zipper that becomes sticky and gritty over time? If you check the brand on the pull, it will always be some lesser make of zipper. “Sticky and gritty” are nasty characteristics experienced with a YKK. As a matter of fact, the YKK brand zips up and down more smoothly the more you use them! 

After learning a bit about YKK (my curiosity at last satisfied), I immediately ran around to all of our closets checking for the brand …….. hey, they’re all YKK! Now it’s your turn …… Check your zipper pull tabs! Are they YKK? I’ll anxiously await your full report!

On and on and up and down! Because I put so much detail and time into my Steampunked Zentangle tangle, I was going to make Flambé’s post to commemorate National Zipper Day short and sweet. But because there’s so much information about Zippers, my fascination grew exponentially, much like my Zipper maze! 

Line work before color.

Hope you enjoy this abbreviated overview about Zippers! If you’re heading outdoors to ponder this fascinating technology, don’t forget to Zip Up! 





March 2nd, National “Dr. Seuss Day!

March 2, 2024

Zentangle patterns used: Spoonflowers, R lily, Tropicapod, Chlink, FishFace, Safish, Dudley, Toobs, Emoball, Taxi, Mystic, Noches, Verve, Wartz

March 2, 2024

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss! Born in Springfield, MA in 1904, if this brilliant author, poet, and illustrator of more than 66 memorable children’s books was alive today, he would be 120 years old! That’s a lot of candles …….. and imagine the variety of fanciful characters he would still be gifting all of us “kids!”

Dr. Seuss Day is an annual celebration held on March 2nd to honor the birthday of Dr. Seuss, a famous children’s author. The day is marked by reading Dr. Seuss books and participating in educational activities.

March 2, 1904 – September 24, 1991

Seriously, is there anyone out there who’s never heard of Dr. Seuss? Born Theodore Seuss Geisel, Dr. Seuss began his career as a cartoonist early in life. With an imagination beyond compare, he began writing children’s books in the 1930’s, publishing his first, And to Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street, (one of my first Seuss books) in 1937. Then war interrupted his career, and for a number of years he turned political cartoonist (note to self: haven’t seen those ….. must find!), returning to writing children’s books after the war. 

His early work after the war included:  If I Ran the Zoo (1950), Horton Hears a Who! (1955), The Cat in the Hat (1957), How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1957), Green Eggs and Ham (1960), One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish (1960), The Sneetches and Other Stories (1961), The Lorax (1971), The Butter Battle Book (1984), and Oh, the Places You’ll Go! (1990). He published over 60 books during his career, which have spawned numerous adaptations, including eleven television specials, five feature films, a Broadway musical, and four television series. (Wikipedia). 

I always have, and always will love the works of Dr. Seuss. Apparently Flambé is a fan too. And even though it’s not her birthday, I wanted to delight Kat with my best attempt at Seussian-style storytelling poetry, inspired by her favorite book (and food), One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish. 

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss! 

Line work before color.

Like myself and Flambé, do you have an insatiable appetite for all things Dr. Seuss? If so, share your favorite character(s) or book(s)!