A wild birthday!

Celebrated my birthday last Friday... And it was probably the most glorious day I've had in a loooong time.

Took leave from work and spent the whole day doing happy things. Started with one of my favourite nasi lemak breakfasts :) followed by a trip to the new Japanese discount store (which I love) and woot woot they had the sharpener that I've wanted for yonks! The Sonic Ratchetta! For the last few months every time I've gone it's been out of stock! All I got to see was a picture of it hung on the empty display arm and it's price tag... UNTIL NOW! They cost S$6.00 each in the Japanese lifestyle store and only $3.50 at the discount store! There were two types and I just couldn't decide! 

I couldn't pass up on S$1.90 Winnie the Pooh and Donald Duck pencil caps either!

Then lunch at Shin Minori - a Japanese restaurant which I had never tried before... with a 1 for 1 birthday promo! Super worth it! [note to anyone else intending to go, I don't think it's quite worth it to pay full price... but that's just my humble opinion] 

Then a trip to River Safari - with another 1 for 1 birthday promo! Didn't manage to take much photos but I chose the River Safari over our Zoo because I LOVE FISH (and I had gone to the Aquarium last year for my birthday)! 

 I did not know piranas were sparkly... did you?

And to make it better my ticket entitled me to a 10% discount at the gift store which I found the new The Art Faculty flamingo pouch - my favourite design from The Art Faculty! I love them flamingos! It's now my new zentangle carry all! And check out the free pin they gave me to wear around the zoo. 

[Shameless advert: Please shop from The Art Faculty! It's for a good cause! It is a "platform that celebrates the abilities of people with autism and related challenges. We promote and showcase their special talents. For every sale of artwork and product, our differently-abled artists earn royalties to learn the value of work and financial independence..."]

Then dinner at a new food court!

This on top of lovely presents from my loved ones!
 

'twas a great day :) with everything happening at home, guess it's been a while that I've been this happy. Need to learn to "hold on" to the feeling... 

Also sharing my St Pats day IAST - I love how these challenges introduce new tangles for us to learn / try / use. 

luckiline.sh.rock

 

My tile for Joey's Challenge #208...

coil.abacus.drawings.'nzeppel.pokeleaf

Did this tile with a Pentel Fude Touch Brush pen. I quite liked the experience. I had to control my pen pressure (I press far too hard even when writing) and enjoy that on the few bits I managed to control the pen pressure somewhere, there's a clear line weight difference (see some of the beads and bits of the coil) The biggest downside? I can't draw on it with the Sakura white or the Pentel Hybrid Gel Grip white. I ended up drawing with a fine liquid paper pen! As an added benefit - am learning to love pokeleaf! 

Also sharing my Diva name tile for Diva Challenge #356

sandswirl.plume-ar.andromeda.patiences.florz.cubine 

And perhaps as a belated surprise, I was gifted with a second hand (but working) fish tank, with a pump and light and everything... for me to buy what I have always affectionately called "my guys" (they're actually balloon rams... these are electric blue balloon rams...). I always look for them in every fish shop that I enter (and I go into a lot of fish shops because I LOVE FISH) but never bought them for fear of killing them =(. I've taken the plunge! And so far... I LOVE MY GUYS. I hope nothing untoward happens to them though - fingers crossed! I've never had a real tank before! I'm taking forever to write this post because the tank is right next to me and I'm turning to stare and watch them a lot.

And of course (and I'm sure the long awaited for) results of my birthday giveaway! Thank you for participating! Congratulations to Ria, Lisa and Margaret! Please do drop me a line at logically_thinking at yahoo dot co dot uk so that I can get your gifts to you!

Playing with Sparkling Shadows

My contribution for Joey's weekly challenge #207 is a small home-cut bijou tile. 

In a little bit of fun I tried tangling with Diamine Shimmer Ink (Sparkling Shadows) and a smiley Pilot Kakuno (if you look closely at the nib, it's smiling at you =)).  

knightsbridge.ahh.pokeleaf

Had to angle the photo a little so that you could see some of the shimmer. Wasn't quite as smooth as a micron but the inconsistent lines give it a little bit of it's own character I think =).

Liked the outcome so much I tried it on my Diva Challenge #355 tile in my sketchbook.

verve.'nzeppel.YAF.huggins.purk.frunky.knightsbridge.rixty

Didn't bother to angle this photo so that the gold flakes can be seen. 

Interesting experience and outcome I must say. Surprised at what a difference the type of pen can cause. 

And in case you haven't yet... last call for my birthday giveaway here! Open to all! 

Dual challenge tile

I struggled with this one... you can kinda see where I inked out the bits I wasn't happy with... which resulted in this tile. Quite happy with it though. For Joey's Challenge #206 and Diva Challenge #354

moowa.fengle.siri

Remember to take part in my free international giveaway here!

Challenging challenges!

Sharing IAST #231

barney.luv-a

Diva Challenge #353 was quite a challenge for me. Did a heartstring zendala pattern with the help of a few random paper hearts cut from scrap.

Quite like the outcome (and this cute little tile sized easel I got from a local discount store!). Took me quite a few days to complete!

 

Also sharing my tile for Joey's Challenge #205. I loved Andromeda so much! Def on my favourite tangles list!

 

andromeda.'nzeppel

 

 

And if you want to partake in my birthday giveaway, check it out here!

'tis better to give than it is to receive

aquafleur.ahh.yuan.sandswirl

Happy Chinese New Year!

The above character is 福, the Chinese word for good luck or prosperity. Before you ask, no the tile is not upside down! During the festive season the character is commonly hung upside down, because the Chinese word for upside down sounds like "to come" in Mandarin... hence "come hither prosperity!"

Also sharing my tiles for this week's Diva Challenge and for Joey's Challenge as well!

stripling.dragonair.dyon.printemps.marasu.abacus 

hibred.printemps.shattuck.leaflet.y.a.f..rixty.'nzeppel.borbs



For those wondering about my subject title... my birthday is coming in mid-March and I've always liked gift giving. I used to do small giveaways and exchanges on my old tatting blog but I haven't done any here yet... So... to celebrate my birthday, I'm giving away three small gifts! 

First, a Disney Stitch Uni Kuru Toga pencil (the Kuru Toga is my choice of pencil when I'm in the mechanical pencil mood) and a selection of home cut tiles... and

... two more sets of home cut tiles, each with a snoopy pencil cap and a Mitsubishi 9800 2B pencil. Yes, Jetpens classifies these pencils as writing pencils but I have been using them on Zentangle tiles and I loving them... maybe you'd like to try them out too!

I am prepared to ship internationally (hopefully the shipping is not too scary!)!

If you'd like to have a chance to get any of these small gifts, please do leave a comment on this post =) with your email address! Or drop me an email at logically_thinking at yahoo dot co dot uk. Event runs till 15 March 2018! 

In addition, for every reader who signs up for this simple giveaway, I will make a small donation to Arc Children's Centre.

If you are interested, leave a comment today!

Hearts - hugs needed.

Sharing some previous tiles as well as the recent tiles that I have been doing this public holiday long weekend. Enjoying the process de-stressing from work and dealing with the parental unit's illnesses.

 

Hugs and prayers needed =(.

 

IAST #227 done on a home-cut 4-inch tile with together with a brown copic and a blue sakura micron. 

frunky.fife.knightsbridge.msst

IAST #228 combined with Diva Challenge #349 done in my fav. canson inspiration sketchbook. Was trying out a midrori notebook in the last few posts but they weren't pencil friendly and I started hating the process and outcomes. Gave up and reverted back to my cansons and refound my love for zentangle. Also discovered a new pencil at a local new "discount store" and am loving it.

rumpus.printemps.artoo.paradox

IAST #229  and Diva Challenge #350 quite like this one... somehow reminds me of Alice in Wonderland's Queen of Hearts.

ramy.florz

IAST #230 - am particularly pleased at how this one turned out.

funsin.frunky.huggins.'nzeppel 

Diva Challenge #351

 divadance rock 'n roll.snail.florz

Joey's Weekly Challenge #203 - my first attempt at a Joey's Challenge (and at tangle Eddyper)

rixty.eddyper

 

And perhaps last but not least...

 

 

Mom passed away more than 10 years ago when I was still in Uni. Had she still been with us, we would have celebrated her birthday last week. Still missing you 10 years on, Mom. Wish you were here.

Keep calm and carry on.

We've discovered that Dad has a bad complication arising from his condition =(. Prayers appreciated and so was zentangling this week. Keep calm and carry on.

 

Rumpus was introduced with the 12 days of Zentangle 2017 and it happened to be last week's IAST #226

Contra my original Rumpus... so different...

Also re-tried one other project introduced over Christmas.

And finally Diva Challenge #348 in line with Moebius Syndrome Awareness Day. My humble salute to all parents, and in particular parents caring for children with ailments or special needs.

diva dance rock & roll.tipple.aquafleur.printemps.striping.

Been out of it - spam sharing

Spam sharing my tiles / work since Xmas. 

12 days of zentangle (didn't buy the project pack as shipping is prohibitive). Particularly proud of the zendala. 

Most of the tiles done whilst vacationing with Dad in KL. 

pokeleaf.shattuck.printemps.florz.'nzeppel.yincut.sandswirl.hurry.knightsbridge

Visual Journal Zentangle tile for the trip. 

featherfall

Visual Journal Zentangle tile for a holiday visit to the local bird park. Coloured with Sakura Koi watercolour markers. Inspired by the Scarlet Macaws at the bird park. 

crazy huggins.sandswirl.'nzeppel.shattuck

Didn't manage to do last week's Diva Challenge but was inspired to play around with Crazy Huggins (which I have had trouble dealing with... until now!). Used a Prismacolour liner with 3 different purple pens (Sakura, Copic and Zig), orbs coloured with cheap Colleen double sided colour pencils - the dream colour pencils of my childhood.

 

And this week's Diva Challenge #347 using items that were lying around 1 day during breakfast before work:  

 



Shaggy legoman. rainbow hair tie. set square protractor. overjoyed membership card. teaspoon

 

purk.printemps.ninjastars.frunky.yincut.ramy.'nzeppel

Take a step back.

This whole thing with my Dad is really getting to me. Been quite stressed out. Upset. Weird. Whatever. Work hasn't been helping. 29 November 2017 is possibly the worst work day ever in my 10 year career from which I am still "recovering". 

P has been trying to convince me that too many tears have been shed recently whereas it doesn't really help (I know he's right but then I can't help myself). I suspect that he semi-planned a day out after my own medical appointment (was on leave from work for the appointment) to take my mind off things. 

First with a trip to the local Art Science Museum which currently features Treasures of the Natural World. I had told him that I wanted to see the exhibit to see the thylacine (AKA the Tasmanian Tiger) although it eventually transpired that we went to settle a dispute - whether the Dodo was the size of a chicken or at least the size of a turkey. I voted chicken (thanks to Ice Age) and lost miserably... 

Then we went to The Animal Resort - which I admit to not knowing existed till then where there were oodles of animals to feed (I like feeding animals, especially fish). 

Loved the blue of the peacock and was somehow taken by the stinker of a look that the large rooster was giving me. 

Next, for a coffee at what I think is one of the most  inspiring of places, The Art Faculty. The Art Faculty showcases and promotes the talents of special people, commonly those who are autistic. Their retail space sells various items designed / drawn by special people and also features a small cafe, where your friendly baristas are also of special needs. 

I have a soft spot for contributing to places like these. 

My favourite design from the Art Faculty involves dinosaurs by Sheng Jie (I love dinosaurs) and these flamingos by Jun Yi (I loved the stunned and lost looking ones especially). Do check them out! 

So whilst there, I picked up a couple of presents for my cousins, enjoyed my iced earl grey tea and took out my sketchbook and started on a new tile for IAST #222 (whilst waiting for my gifts to be wrapped).  

verdigough.tipple

I used a navy Micron PN (they are finally available locally albeit only in boxed sets) for Verdigough with orange, blue and green microns for the tippled background. I went a bit crazy drawing that many bubbles. I chose blue green and orange because  the colour wheel suggests that they "go"... however based on the tile, I'm not quite sure...   

And as a final stop, I asked P to bring me somewhere I would be happy...  

P does know me doesn't he. 

I feel a whole lot better having written this post. Perhaps sometimes you just need to be able to take a step back and breathe and appreciate the wonderful things that are around you and have been done for you. While I did have fun yesterday I think I was so stuck in mire that I didn't realise to its full extent what an awesome day it was. I guess it's kinda like zentangle - when you're done you need to hold it out in front of you and admire the tile in all orientations. Another life lesson from zentangle.  

Thank you for staying with me this post. Do leave a comment because well, everyone likes having comments.Somehow makes it seem like you're not so alone... you know what I mean? 

Back in action

The bestie got married last weekend and it was beautiful =). What better way than to commemorate the occasion than with a tile (using the last IAST string).

Wishing ya'll all the happiness ever! Love you both! 

Use Sakura Koi watercolour brush markers in the tile. I think I like them better than the Tombow brush markers! Which may be a blessing in disguise since these markers are a heck load cheaper. 

Also sharing my Diva challenge #344 piece (after several weeks hiatus due to all the pffft things that were going on). Done with a Micron PN and a sparkling blue uni-ball signo (which sadly doesn't really show well in this picture).