1 Year of Stitches

 I embarked on some stitching late last year actually and decided to casually do the One Year of Stitches challenge, but on my own terms. 
You can see more about the challenge at this link : http://www.brwnpaperbag.com/1-year-of-stitches-2017/


This piece which I call "Into the Blue" was my starting point in January/February this year.

It is my own design that just sort of grew.

It is a wonderful thing to do ... just building up designs stitch by stitch.  I have started another two larger pieces that I have permanently in my standing and lap hoops so I can pick them up whenever I feel like it.  And then there is the Blue Indigo Book project that I am working on as well, I'll show that to you later when I am a bit further on with it.  Threads are everywhere.

Is anyone else doing this challenge?

Social Media - the upside to leaving it alone

I had been tossing around the idea of not interacting with social media for some years.  I know, years! Perhaps you have been too.  I worked from home, I interacted with facebook mostly on a daily basis.  I showed some of the things I was doing, some family, some art, some of my quilting and book publishing work.  It was quite nice and I had a large following of people who were interested in the type of things I was doing. It was quite flattering.

I work predominantly alone and I love that, but Facebook was a social outlet for me, or so it seemed.  Actually it made me cranky, and pushed and stretched and wasted so much time.   I know a lot of people who just said, don't go online or don't post what you are doing.   It compels you in a way. You get "involved" with other people on a social basis, discussing art, discussing craft or whatever it is that you are interested in.  I had a lot of interaction and comments with people from diverse interests.  I love spinning wool into fine yarn, saori weaving, crochet, learning to knit, art in the form of drawing, watercolour, coloured pencil art, sculpting dolls, embroidering journal covers and so on, and then there was my seven books that I wrote and illustrated over three or four years.   It was fun and I had a great time ... but

Advertisements started to creep in, algorithms that decided I might like to see this or that depending on what pages I looked at.  Then there was the great American political race for presidency.  I saw so much that I didn't want to see, political and otherwise.  I decreased the people who actually saw my posts and therefore, those posts that I didn't want to see of theirs ... down from over 700 to 300 odd.  Still wasn't enough, so I did some more culling down to about 45 people.  Mostly family and people I actually did know in the physical world.

Then I un-joined groups and pages.  Still not enough. Still so much that would pop up on my screen that I had no control over, things that I did not want to see or be exposed to for my own peace of mind.

Then I just deactivated it and here I am.   The past few weeks has been lovely.  Some days I don't even turn my computer on.  I don't miss it at all.  In fact, I would go so far to say that my life is better without it.   Do I miss some people? Yes.  Do I miss the immediacy of contact with people? Yes and then No. 

The big upside is that I feel great.  I am enjoying having time to do what I want to do, create or not. I am also starting to realise that I have been missing learning and working.  I love to learn new things and to learn things on a deeper level.  So I may just blog a little more often.  It depends on what I am doing.

So there you have it ... so I am off to do some quilting and I might just find time to read a novel or two :)   Jane x

Tangled Circles & Mandalas

I forgot to show the cover of my new book that was released in March 2017. 

With the colouring in book boom, where everyperson and their dogs it seems published a colouring in book, mine stand out in that they are hand drawn and include an instructional section at the front and a section at the back to test out colour combinations and patterns. Did I mention all have 52 hand drawn illustrations by me ... not computer generated.

I would like to thank everyone who has purchased one of my books for their support.

In a little bit of news here at home ... I have deactivated my FaceBook pages and I will make a post about that later this week to tell you why and what personal benefits I hope to get from that.      Catch you all later... Jane x

Take-Along-Tangles ... A Zentangle Workbook and Colouring Book

My new book - Take-Along Tangles is full of 104 pages of completed tangle drawings, partial drawings and string lines for you to colour and draw.   It also includes a 32 page instruction booklet that has 44 tangle patterns with step outs to show you how to draw them.  All packaged in a little size of 6.2 x 1 x 6.2 inches.

You could use it like a calendar or journal and do two pages a week if you wanted to.

You can see more about all of my books on my author profile on Amazon here :  https://www.amazon.com/Jane-Monk/e/B00LSCZSS8

Happy Tangling xx

Tangled Fantasies Released Soon

Tangled Fantasies is my next book due for release 15 June 2016 ... in time for my 50th birthday ... I am so looking forward to this one and seeing all the amazing colouring pages that you all do.   I love how different each person makes the illustrations.

Today I have released a sneak peek colouring in page from this book for members of my colouring in Facebook group.   You can join in the fun at Tangled Coloring In Books by Jane Monk.

Happy Colouring x

Tangle Patterns by Jane Monk

Over the years I have created over 200 tangle patterns.   A few of my earlier pattern step outs can be found through Tangle Patterns here http://tanglepatterns.com/tag/jane-monk 
Still some of my favourites.  

I also have a series of e-books with my tangle pattern step outs with a total of 144 patterns in them. You can purchase them  at www.janemonkstudio.com

Grown Up Coloring Book Easter Bonanza

Well that was a blast.   All the winners have been contacted and have indeed received their prizes in the mail or via email, depending on their prizes.   Thank you to everyone who took part in this wonderful extravaganza.  A big thank you to Andrea Schmitz  for organising this wonderful event. 

I will be posting some exciting news about my next book due for release in May ... soon :)

Enjoy
Jane

Grown Up Coloring Book Easter Bonanza Event on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/events/1662965183954955/
Are you going .... heaps of giveaways from ten different colouring in book artists including me. Join in the fun.

Come join in the fun over at my FaceBook Page

https://www.facebook.com/groups/TangledTreasures/

Come join in the fun over here at the site dedicated to sharing your colouring in pages from Tangled Treasures and Tangled Gardens colouring in books. I have just released one of the illustrations from Tangled Gardens for everyone to share in the group. Jane x

It is here, it's here! ... I have my copy to hold!

This is my second colouring in book "Tangled Gardens".  I have received an advance copy and   I have to tell you ... I love it.

It is available for pre-order through online book stores and is set for release date 15 November 2015.    Do yourself a favour (and me) buy this book and give copies to your friends .. makes the most perfect gift to give someone for Christmas :)

Once again ... this book is printed on nice weight paper, illustrations printed on one side of the page only and each page of illustrations is perforated for easy removal.   There are fish, owls, trees, flowers, birds, leaves, trees. cats, butterflies, stars, pumpkins and abstract illustrations, even a chess piece horse ... see, something for everyone ... I hope you enjoy it.  

Happy colouring ... Jane x

The Art of the Slow Stitch

 I love hand stitching. I love hand stitching with cotton, silk, handspun yarn (I spin wool as a hobby).  I wanted a little hand stitched pouch to carry my small hand stitch blocks with me.    I made this little double sided pouch.   My husband made me the little button to go with it. It has a slight camber to it and I love the feel of wooden buttons, even more when hand made by my husband.

I call this stitching "The Art of the Slow Stitch".  It is art.  It is slow. It is one of the most relaxing and thought provoking past times I can do with my two hands.   It is tactile and I can use naturally sourced fibers, hand made fabric.  The fabric is from http://www.the-stitching-project.com/  The fabric is beautiful, hand made cotton.  Gorgeous to stitch through, sturdy enough for a pouch and should last me many many years to come. 

I love the rippled effect that my stitching has created on the back. See the image at the bottom right.  Ah there is so much to learn about hand stitching and the best way I know how to learn is to do it. Have a go at it yourself.

Happy creating until next time ... Jane

A Newspaper Article about Tangled Treasures

The Tasweekend edition of the Mercury Newspaper has run a little story about my colouring book journey.  It is interesting to read about yourself 😀

Zendala Tiles and a little Tip

A Zendala for you all to look at.  How many of you have had a go at Zendalas. They are a lot of fun.    And a little tip for the week.  When I want to keep a new pen in my traveling kit, I tape it up with some washi tape so I know it hasn't been used and I won't get it mixed up with the used ones. :) 

Keep creating art, until next time ... Jane x

Zentangle play with Acrylic Ink

This is a little tutorial about combining Zentangle with some acrylic ink art.  I hope you enjoy it.  

Ingredients:

Starting out with "a few" colours of acrylic ink.

Heavy weight watercolour paper

Motlow Grafx Art Masking Liquid Pen

Circle Templates ... You can repurpose any round item to use

Straws

 

Method:  take your circle template and draw circles onto the paper with the Motlow marker.

 

Make sure to wipe your templates with some paper towel before the medium dries, although it will rub off when dry it is easier to do it now.

  

Mix a few drops of each colour liquid acrylic ink with water. I have used twelve colours to signify the colour wheel.

Place a small amount of colour in the centre of the page and blow gently with the straw.  The ink will go in whatever direction you blow air through the straw onto it. Make sure to take regular breaks from blowing through the straw as you may get lightheaded if you do too much at once.

You can see I have done each of my colours from the centre outwards.    I have also used up left over ink on another piece of paper to play with another time. 

When the ink has thoroughly dried, you can rub off the Motlow resist to reveal the clean white paper underneath.  Use a soft eraser or even your clean finger to softly rub the blue resist off the paper.

And the big reveal ... Doesn't it look great.

Now for the Zentangle part.   I am going to use Zentangle patterns to fill in some spaces.

My pattern books are available to purchase and download as a PDF at www.janemonkstudio.com

Tangling with Staedtler Triplus Fineliners and matching up the coloured pen with the inks as best I can. 

You could use a calligraphy pen and use the liquid acrylic inks, but the pens were easier and less fiddly for this tutorial.

Still a little way to go until I finish this piece but I think you get the idea. It was a lot of fun and would be a great project to do with children.  I would think you could use food dyes to the same effect.

Have fun and let me know if you try it.   

Keep making art until next time ... Jane x

Playing with Ink, Paper and Salt

September .. second week in and I meant to make a bigger effort to blog about stuff happening in my studio.   Thought I would share this with you all. 

Today I inked up some thick 300gsm Fabriano Artistico Hot Pressed Extra White paper, spritzed it with some water and added salt flakes.  Such a fun thing to do. 

The resulting papers will be used to create Zentangle Inspired Art.  I am making a whole heap of Artist Trading Cards for swapping.

The finished pieces with the salt all removed.  Love love love.

Until next post ... Jane x

Book Signing Event at BURNIE SHINES - Tasmania

 I will be doing a book signing and little mini workshop for Tangled Treasures at Not Just Books in Burnie (Tasmania, Australia) in October.  You will need to contact Kevin at Not Just Books to book for this.   It will be fun :)

Not Just Books

52 Wilson St

Burnie, Tas 7320

Ph 6431 9039

Adult Colouring Mini Workshop with Jane Monk

Jane will be signing her 1^st colouring book ‘Tangled Treasures’ which will be available to purchase on the night.

The workshop will include a talk, practical advice and a  Q&A session plus an exclusive colouring page only available on the night

Jane who lives in Tasmania is a Certified Zentangle Teacher, Artist & Quilter  she has previously published ‘Zentangle Stitches for Quilters & Fabric Artists’

Date:     Thursday  15th  October

Time:     From 6.30 pm

Venue: Corner of Mount & Cattley Streets (old Pharmacy warehouse)

Tickets: $10 from Not Just Books  (includes workshop, Exclusive colouring page & a drink on arrival)

Tangled Treasures Coloring Book is in the house !

Tangled Treasures Coloring In book is in the house ... my house that is.

It feels very nice to hold this book in my hands.  A book that has taken many many months of thought, planning and illustrating. Not to mention the work of putting it together by the wonderful team over at CPI (Creative Publishing international and Quarto Publishing Group USA).

Mostly I will draw the cover illustration first and parts of that image will filter down through the pages like magic.    I love my first colouring book.  

For those that want to know a little about it:   Each illustration is printed on one side of the page only.  The paper is a nice heavyweight white paper that will work quite nicely with some water if you use water colour pencils.  Each illustration has a perforation to allow for easy removal from the book.     I have included some basic colour theory and information on colour techniques.  At the back I have provided two illustrations for you to try out your own colour combinations and pages for you to try out the techniques.   Here is a little sneak peek inside the covers:

The illustrations are influenced by my own drawing style and the highly popular Zentangle style (of course I am a Certified Zentangle Teacher as well).   I have included some more open illustrations as well as some that are more complex in size and density.

I hope you enjoy this book as much as I have enjoyed creating it.

You can purchase it through online bookstores and I believe it will be in great bookstores in August.

Jane xx

Kaffe Flavoured Pies & Tarts

I have been stitching some more of my tarts for my long term project that I have named "Kaffe Flavoured Pies & Tarts"

This is my effort from this mornings bout of insomnia.   They are so cute :)

One Tangle Volume V - Gridlines - 26 Tangle Pattern Step Outs

The latest in the series is One Tangle Volume V - Gridlines  with 26 fantastic tangle patterns based on grid lines. All designed by Jane Monk. In this volume you will find tangle patterns from basic to advanced with some great information on how to make your own grid lines along with three tangle step outs that can be used as background fillers.  Buy the PDF today, download today, create and draw today!

Tangled Treasures Coloring In Book

Tangled Treasures is a colouring in book by Jane Monk, published by Creative Publishing international.  Inside there are 52 of Jane's unique hand drawn illustrations and basic information on colouring techniques and tools.

This book is available for pre-order through places like Amazon, BookDepository, Fishpond and the like. The book will be available in bookstores from August 2015.

Jane has started a facebook group called Tangled Treasures where everyone can join in and share their coloured pages from the book. Leading up to the release, Jane has shared one illustration from the book with the group. On the 1 July another illustration from the book will be shared with the group. Leading up to the book release, Jane will share mini-colouring pages that have not been published previously and are not in the colouring book. The group is a closed group, but anyone can request membership. The only stipulation is that you do not share the illustrations with anyone outside of the group, nor post on your own pages until after the book release. Jane is also trying to organise some virtual colouring in sessions when the book is released. So come on over and celebrate this wonderful colouring book. https://www.facebook.com/groups/TangledTreasures/