Stitching, stitching, and more stitching! And I’m loving it all. I also interviewed a wonderful indie author who writes cozy romantasy. Check out our conversation on my Spotlight. Lots of medical follow-ups this month, and getting used to my five-year course of hormone blockers. Still, not really any complaints on the cancer front. Other than that, just using my time to stitch, get out, and walk in this crazy, gorgeous weather.
The wild horses are also out for a walk today.
I hope you enjoy these stitchy photos of my projects as much as I do… Click here and here for previous articles in my stitchy saga. Linking to shops where I can.
Keep in mind, variety is the spice of life. It’s not hoarding…
WIPs
What I’m kitting up for and can’t wait to start
Isn’t this stunning? It’s from Heaven and Earth Designs (HAED), featuring artwork by Ernie Francis. Just my cup of tea, gorgeous, colorful mixed media, a captivating geisha, and my favorite Japanese anime hiding in the background. But folks, this is full coverage, 90 DMC colors, and 20 x 25 inches when finished (stitching tiny stitches in every little square). I will need to put the unfinished work in my will.
I have eclectic tastes, eh? But aren’t these wonderful? (I’ll just restate it here. I am not a hoarder.)
I also got Meg Black’s awesome book from Amazon. I’m drooling over Dracula’s House and Nevermore. There’s also a Poe bookmark to do.
Which Artsy Housewife after Cats and Cocoa?
Cats and CocoaOctober BloomThe Flower Pot Sampler
Others I want to stitch, but down the road sometime… Sigh…
I’ll leave you with photos from my 80s and 90s stitchwork sprinkled throughout my house
Some newer ones. As you can see, some still need finishing… Working on it.
Thanks for letting me catalog my stitchworks, as they will likely end up in a landfill someday… or maybe, if they’re lucky, in a thrift store for some future stitchworks-appreciator to collect. I’m not being negative, just realistic, and it’s something I’ve given a lot of thought to lately…
The nice steady slow beat where I can breathe and experience satisfaction in my handiwork. I hate to call it escape. Maybe “living” captures the time spent moving colorful silks and cotton through fabric with a needle.
I’m hoping some of my enjoyment will flow into the universe, and you’ll catch the vibe. (See the start of this series, and some of my beautiful stitching this past couple of weeks, in my previous post, and feel free to share your creative outlets.)
Not one fictional word written in two weeks… Wait, what?! But it’s true, and I’m doing okay. Hmmm… My pod people are quiet in my head. Maybe they needed a vacation, too.
So, instead of books and writing, I’m sharing my craft projects, old, and yes! New! I’ve caught the bug again after watching “Flosstube” videos with all the wonderful designs being shown off. I have tons of stash to dive into, but naturally I’m missing certain colors, which leads to retail therapy… Yes! Another benefit of embracing this surprising whiplash turn in my daily life. Somehow, writing doesn’t spark the same need to buy as other crafts do… but that’s a blog for another day.
Retail Therapy
A tiny sample of favorite shops: 123Stitch.com for DMC and Weeks Dye Works floss, Etsy (so much cross stitching!) for patterns and specialty floss, and other items like these gorgeous project bags. My favorite goth pattern designer is The Witchy Stitcher for the eerie and quirky. My favorite fabrics come from BeStitchMe.com
The most exciting part of this birthday month adventure has been kitting up for new starts. Check out these designs I purchased after watching too many enablers on FlossTube. (That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it.) I’ve made significant starts in “Greenhouse of Oddities,” “Cats and Cocoa,” and “I Like Cross Stitch.” I even started an old pattern from my stash, “Single Step” by Stichrovia.
Single Step by Stitchrovia (had in my stash and wanted to start forever)Summer Gothic Sampler by The House of CamA Graveyard Wander by The Witchy StitcherA Stitcher Haunts Here by The Witchy SticherBooks are Magic by Counting PuddlesWinter Flower Bird by Nathnolu (got all four seasons)
My progress… on the first three above.
Cats and Cocoa also on 16 ct Aida, Sugar Cookie (don’t remeber the dyer)Greenhouse of Oddities, and the gorgeous fabric by BeStitchMe, 16 ct Aida, PeanutGreenhouse of Oddities (stitching in SAL sections, starting top center)On 16 Ct Aida from Hand-dyed by Rolanda
Today, the last day in February to round out my record craze, I’m starting “I Like Cross Stitch” and this Stitch Along (SAL), “Tapestry of Twelve,” from the Spring Just Cross Stitch Magazine by multiple designers. You can borrow the magazine issues from Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited. The top left corner is part one of four. I bought the called-for Weeks Dye Works overdyed floss. Gorgeous!
Rescuing Old Stitchworks Languishing in a Box
I recycled hallway picture frames, and now I get to enjoy these.
Stitcher’s House by Stone Street StitchworksFrankenstein for The Stitching Bookclub (SBC) Walkin’ on Sunshine by Luhu Stitches
I’ve touched over a dozen old WIPs (works in progress) in February, including restarting three – all those old problems that made me hide them away and forget about them. I totally got inspired to patiently frog out stitches or toss out the disliked fabric or fabric I measured incorrectly, and show them some love. The first of my three restarts was in my previous post, but I’ll add it here as well.
Old (sad face) Garden Stroll by Carolyn Manning (design free with Sulky Thread Pack)Garden Stroll – New startOld (absolutely no room for the entire design. Oops! Fresh Picked Evergreens by Petal Pusher (came with specialty floss)New (started in the corner this time)And… I finished the free pattern that came with it!A tiny finish! Isn’t she pretty?
And this beloved project, Keiko Sato Sampler by Twin Peak Primitives, started in November 2020, is also on fabric a bit too small, but I love the color with the stamped leaves, and decided to make it work. So, I stitched all night on the berry out to the black border, and part of the crane to see how close I would be to the edge of the fabric. Less than an inch! But I’ll make it.
Keiko Sato Sampler by Twin Peak Primitives
Another Finish!
Check out this gorgeous reproduction sampler, stitched in 1857 by Jane Marshall, a 10-year-old Australian girl. I pulled out the band I was working on (her name) because the color just wasn’t working, and then I couldn’t stop stitching. The silk floss came from my stash, featuring a gorgeous variegated silk called Fairy Quilt Crossing. The pattern was free from Hands Across the Sea Samplers in support of the Aussie fires in January 2020. Many designers contributed patterns, and I stitched three, two I finished in 2020.
I’m blinking hard. The light is bright and welcome. I smile. Where shall I start? I reach for the canvas bin and all my pretties…
This has been my February: emerging from a five-year writing binge, still preoccupied with the many stories I have yet to finish. However, I know I need something different. Suddenly, the urge to stitch strikes me. I experience a moment of panic, but then I remember that dozens of kitted-up projects survived the great purge of 2025 – that strange year (yeah, it was only last year, but it feels like a lifetime ago) when I felt compelled to clear space in my 10×10 craft room for life’s unexpected challenges.
My cancer treatments are behind me now, the world is even crazier, and living in it requires creative survival tactics. I’ll call it revitalization. The joy I’ve found in stitching over all my decades calls to me again, urging me down that rabbit hole of bliss in mindful handwork – all the color, texture, and wonderful redefining rhythms of pulling a needle filled with vibrant silks and cotton through scrumptious fabric.
I’m happy to report that I started the fun last week by organizing all 50 WIPs (works in progress) and my supply stash. And yes, 50 survived the purge, though I sadly gave away 30 others plus tons of stash. My projects are all stored in a beautiful collection of handmade bags in pretty bins on my shelves.
From late 2018 through 2021, I was part of the stitching community on YouTube known as FlossTube, an outgrowth of BookTubers who love to stitch. The channels multiplied as even the shiest stitchers came out of their craftrooms to share their passion through video. Watching these women and men from all over the globe, living all the diverse lives, talking about the huge thing we all have in common, and sharing their progress, is surprisingly addictive… and highly enabling – and the craft supply hoarder part of me went wild. So did many new designers. Careers were launched, dreams were made.
Sitching while listening to books was how I got started writing at the end of 2020… but that’s another story.
I’m so excited to return to this world on YouTube, finding so many old favorites still at it and still working on some of the same BAPs (Big Ass Projects), many of them the same ones I’m trying to finish. Nope, it’s not a lonely craft. If you check it out, you’ll discover that for yourself.
My challenge now is to balance time for crafting (including knitting and crocheting) with time for writing novels. I’ve got nine, yes, nine stories in the works. I’ve always been, and always will be, a multi-crafter, serial starter, and steady finisher. Lately, I’ve focused on finishing short stories for anthologies, but those novels keep on developing…
Want to see some of what I’ve been doing this past week? Because I must share. 😍 I stitched on 13 projects, making really decent progress, and even finished one last night! I plan to finish another one in February. As with my novels, I’ll keep you posted throughout the year.
I hope this inspires you to catch the crafting bug or return to a favorite – maybe carve out some time to create a little something every day, then share the beauty. It makes a difference to the universe.
I did get a finish done last year, which I adore. Monster Whale by Owl Forest Embroidery. It still needs framing… so you get my chihuahua for now.
Yes, this is about murder mysteries that make us feel good—a paradoxical genre, if there ever was one. Stories that have us curling up with a hot cup of cocoa on a chilly day to solve a crime alongside our favorite quirky, clever, and often reluctant hero. Someone sort of like ourselves—but not quite—who lives in a sleepy seaside town (with an inexplicably high crime rate), owns a charming shop, or runs a cozy home business that puts them in the path of murder, prompting them to develop a heretofore unknown knack for solving crimes. Or maybe, they come with a background perfect for the job.
For all those feels we crave, there’s usually a bestie or group of besties, a clever or goofy pet, or a sexy detective on the way to becoming a lover—either helping things along or making life more complicated, or both—and a backdrop involving something we’ve wanted to try but never found the time for. Okay, so we make the time to read. Why not kill two birds with one stone?
Here are some of my favorites: knitting, crocheting, needlework, antiquing, baking, catering, bed-and-breakfast hospitality, a witch hosting a secret vampire book club in an attic above her shop, K-9 search and rescue, dog shows, dog sledding, and even a sentient cat and corgi detective duo who adore their clever human and life on a farm. Then there are the historical periods, and more exotic pursuits like Egyptology or archaeology. Have I intrigued you enough yet?
If you happen to be a person who hasn’t read a cozy mystery, here’s a list to get you started including many of those I alluded to above. You might also enjoy this brief blog on the history of the cozy genre and how it filled a niche.
Richie Billing covers the cozy genres in a conversation with authors Jami Albright and Sara Rosett, where they also talk about marketing a series, author branding, and book launches on The Fantasy Writer’s Toolshed. I hope you find it as enjoyable and informative as I did.
Thank you for visiting and supporting an indie author. For more cozy reading, check out my paranormal romance novels at bydllewellyn.com.
The spicy scent in the air is enough, but then there are the crisp, warm colors, both bringing the coziness that lends itself to all the activities I enjoy—writing, reading a good paranormal romance, knitting, walking with my dogs and husband, taking a drive through the mountains, maybe on a yarn crawl, or going to Apple Hill to pick up a deep-dish apple pie. I’m missing those this year. But my friend and I are already planning for next year.
I mention a drive through the mountains (only miles away) because from my house, the colors are somewhat absent. But it’s only minutes, and I find myself immersed in color. That’s life in the high desert. I’m situated at 5,000 feet amid scrubby sagebrush and elm trees, looking across at Mt. Rose with its tantalizing streaks of orange and yellow. I do have a single pistachio tree that tries to do its brilliant thing before the frost hits or the winds blow off all the leaves. Still, I can’t complain about the views from my two acres.
Fall is also when I order my calendars and customized weekly planner from Personal Planner, an activity I eagerly look forward to all year. Setting up a new planner is the best part. When I need a break from writing, I turn to my neglected cross-stitching, knitting, and crochet WIPs while listening to books or watching movies. I also enjoy coloring in my planner inserts or doing a little Zentangling. So cozy! I signed up for the fall Writing Battle Short Story Contest because I haven’t participated in one of their seasonal challenges in a while, and I miss them! I’m also thinking about writing a flash fiction piece for a contest with Fractured Lit.
Here are a few photo collages to spread the cheer.
My crafts are never carried out alone. This is Fernando, the chihuahua, and Harley the… Well, your guess is as good as mine. Both rescues and my best writing buddies. These are a few of my favorite fall cross stitch projects, two finished, and one I’m hoping to get done by Halloween.
How about a cozy paranormal romance for your fall reading enjoyment? Follow me to stay posted on my October sale.
As a dedicated student of arts and crafts since I could hold a crayon, May is a special month. It’s Mermay! An entire month dedicated to mermaid art.
Since I write more than engage in any other creative activity these days, I’m offering a short story, Beneath the Prismed Light, in celebration. It features a selkie (another wonderful mythical sea creature) and a lighthouse keeper in a romantic dystopian fantasy. A brief history of the selkies is included in the end pages.
This story, with its surprise twist on the lore, is free to my newsletter subscribers. This month I’m sharing it here.
The center photo is one of my attempts at Mermay art, and I had fun trying some digital manipulation for different effects.
If you want to peruse some (much better) whimsical, fun art, hashtag Mermay or Mermay25 on Instagram or Facebook.
My friend, author J. K. Divia, is offering a Mermay, Selkie Takeover giveaway in collaboration with other authors. I participated last year, and will do so again in 2026. Check it out and good luck on winning some great books and swag.
I’ll leave you with a YouTube video from one of my favorite Mermay contributors, although I’m pretty sure mixed media artist James Burke creates mermaids all year long.
I have all of his Washi tape and use it liberally in my journals. Perhaps you’ll discover the wonder of watching this art come to life and be inspired to create some of your own.
In my bio, I call myself a multi-crafter. I even share photos of my works because I can’t help myself.
In simple terms, it means I engage in multiple crafts. But there are layers to this label. Maybe levels is a better word. Some love all things fiber (the yarn hoarders). Some love all things needlecraft (cross stitching, embroidery, needlepoint, etc.). Some love mixed media because you can hoard every kind of medium found in traditional art stores or out in the world if you’re one of those who love to repurpose discarded things.
Then, there are the ones like me who become obsessed with all of the above either at separate periods in life or all at once. See what I mean? Layers. These are my main obsessions. There are others I won’t bore you with. Ironically, writing has been the cheapest craft of all and takes up way less space in my craft room!
I have enjoyed every crafting journey over my rapidly growing decades. But the one I went the most crazy for (while also engaging in knitting and crocheting) was the modern cross stitch wave (as opposed to the 80s wave and the 90s wave I also went crazy for… in bursts). The period started somewhere around 2014 with the first YouTuber stitcher creating a “Flosstube” channel. The stitchy video sharing blew up and reached a peak around 2018 or 2019 (which is where I came in) and is still going strong.
This fun channel belongs to a hard-working wife and mom in Pennsylvania. Karla is listed in my acknowledgments in Tigris Vetus because she’s also an avid reader and did an ARC read for me. I’ve been following her since 2019 (from my crafty account) and when I sent her signed books, she kindly featured them in her latest video.
This is the crossover part. The layers. The levels of multi… the obsessions that make a community.
Karla’s channel is called Craft_Adictk. She likes to work on full coverage, massive projects, and they are amazing.
Other amazing stitchers who have influenced me…
Mother and daughter, Pam and Steph of Just Keep Stitching. I have a T-shirt with their faces on it. They’re up to 350 plus videos with thousands of views.
Ellen Reid of Crash Test Dummies fame shares her Maximum Cross Stitch Power Hour. Talk about multi-crafting! She has recently become a designer of vintage samplers in between touring with the band.
Mostly, I felt the need to talk about a craft where the obsession has waned a bit since my Pod People took over my brain. I miss it. The obsession that is. I still stitch in my rare downtimes. But instead of rotating twenty projects, I’m rotating about eight. There are even layers in the amount of the obsessions inside the obsessions.
Happy stitching and happy writing or whatever craft is in the air tonight.
Oh and that 40-year obsession with cross stitch that keeps cropping up. It finally resulted in a finish for a project I started for my dad during the first craze – Finished in 2020 and fully finished (the term stitchers use to mean framed or otherwise finished for display) by my stepmom in 2022.
I am aware that we have a whole month to go until fall starts. But it’s my favorite time of year, so I get a little excited about this time in August, especially as the heat finally got knocked down yesterday by some lovely (albeit blustery windy) rainy weather.
That meant it was a day for binge-watching Hitchcock movies featuring Grace Kelly (thank you TCM) and working on an old Diamond Painting WIP that keeps calling me from my craft table. Three years and nearly 65% finished! Ouch.
Yes, that’s what happened to my avid crafting after I discovered the joy of writing fiction. But I manage to have days like this on occasion when I bring out my dozens of cross stitch, knitting, and crochet WIPS and enjoy Audible or TCM while I craft away. Those days increase in the fall because well, the days get cozier for couch potatoes like me.
Still, my pod people (aka my story characters who I like to say were seeded in my brain by aliens because what else explains their takeover) are with me. Some kicking back and relaxing like I am, some hatching their next scenes or new chapters, and many clamoring for a finish. If the truth be told, these days of mindful crafting unleash my pod people like nothing else can. I just need to keep reminding myself to take these breaks from writing their stories.
Our brains are a remarkable thing.
What’s your favorite time of year or way to relax?
While I primarily write fantasy romance, I can’t help but explore other genres. I’m endlessly curious about what elements readers expect to get lost in when they pick up a thriller, for example. Is it all about the cleverest plot twist? What makes a satisfying horror story? Experiencing nightmares from the comfort of your armchair?
What do readers want in historical fiction… to compare life to better times, worse times? What keeps them swiping pages in a steamy, emotional romance novel, besides the steam? Okay. My last one. What is it about traveling to a future world here or out there that draws readers to sci-fi? For me it’s the idea of having a future of any kind.
Then, there are all the sub-genres.
Within the sub-genres—even within a single novel—are the myriad of tropes that change constantly depending on what’s popular.
Where do you go to get inspiration before you even get to the genre you want your story to live in?
Do you prefer writing in one genre? What’s your go-to style?
If you have a favorite style and genre, how do you come up with fresh story ideas inside that genre?
Do you feel your way through the mechanics of a story, and let it tell itself? Or do you establish your structure and all the rules first?
This excerpt is from an article I found after Googling the subject question.
…This [looking for compelling interests] might take the form of research, conversations, looking through ephemera, or journaling. If you follow the trail of that preoccupation, you’re bound to come across the engine of a story.
The idea of being “bound to come across the engine of a story” totally resonated with me. When I started writing, I had no idea about the mechanics of the craft, or that fiction writing was… well… mechanical. Don’t get me wrong. I was an admin assistant and paralegal for decades. Proper grammar, editing, and the efficient conveying of words in sentences and paragraphs were my bread and butter. In other words, mechanics. But when I started my writing journey, I was focused on the artistic side of things—the creative outlet just like all my previous downtime activities in arts and crafts. The “feel good” aspect.
Creativity for me is all about the organic flow of imagination and ideas, letting one thing build onto another, applying different mediums until it feels right under your hands. That’s how I write. I feel my story through the keyboard as I type. But three years into the journey, I’m learning there is much more to it. Feeling the words might get those ideas flowing, but to craft a good story takes the study of and dedication to the mechanics.
So, after plowing through writing my first novel using my decades of voracious reading and acquired business writing sense, and all the grammar fluidity I honed along my career path in combination with my imagination, I’m now digging deeper into the mechanics of fiction, especially as I try my hand at a different genre.
I love reading and watching good horror. Now, I want to write one.
Short story anthologies are a great way for writers to try out the mechanics of a whole new device. I’m currently challenging myself to write a horror story under 20,000 words. Thanks to articles like the one above (and I recommend reading the short piece with quotes from great writers about finding their story ideas) and folks like Dave Chesson, the Kindlepreneur, who generously share resources like Horror Writing Prompts: 50+ Ideas to Get You Started, I’m on my way.
My problem is that I have a real tough time writing scary, bad people, doing scary bad things. That’s where examining the technical aspects of the craft might help. So, I’m off on a whole new tangent. But hey! That’s my joy.
Here’s a link to one of my side trips, aka articles, that you might find helpful. Writing Evil Characters. Packed with great memorable nuggets like this.
…evil characters are heroes in their own stories and in the stories of their minions and countless supporters. And as heroes, it’s important to see how the plot of your story or novel is affecting them and forcing them to grow. ~ Naomi D. Nakashima
However, what I’m learning about the horror genre is that the antagonist doesn’t have to be a person. It could be an entity, an urban legend, the protagonist’s own mind… So off I go, tripping further down the tangent highway of horror.
I would love to get your ideas on how you find ideas. Leave your comments below.
I’ll leave you with this cover and link to one of my short stories where I did venture down the path of horror to a degree, dabbling in a totally fun sub-genre—one I’d never heard of until entering a writing contest with Writing Battle. Cannibal Comedy.
Ride through a swamp in a gondola full of serial killers on their way to a banquet in The Passengers. Their grim pilot? He wears a dark cloak and carries a scythe. The story is also part of my collection of short stories for 99 pennies on Amazon.
D.I could talk all day about your teaching and how wonderful you are at motivating and supporting those around you. That is my experience with you, Audrey. But this is my opportunity to dig into what motivates you. What gets your creative juices flowing?
A. Whether I’m putting a new class together as an art teacher, or working on an art piece for myself, I’m motivated by different things. As a teacher, it’s the desire to get my students excited about a new project, a new technique, a new medium, new tools, etc. that motivates me. Knowing that people are growing as artists and becoming more confident in their ability is what drives me to create classes.
I start with a project that interests me and one in which I feel there will be lots of learning opportunities. I create the piece of art that I will teach probably 6 or 7 or more times in different ways in order to find the one I think will be a real “WOW” for the students as well as which one will present the best learning opportunities. I also want to pinpoint specific areas that will perhaps be more difficult to learn so that I can begin to think about how I will teach them. This entire process so far is what gets my juices flowing and excites me. Now I have to create the class and the detailed and structured lesson plan my students deserve!
When creating art for myself there are a number of different things that get my creative juices flowing. The main thing that keeps me motivated is that I LOVE what I do and that’s probably the most important thing of all. Other things that excite me are ideas from my journal that I want to try out. Keeping a journal of things I see, hear, learn, and want to pursue is an invaluable tool. Learning and trying new things is also a huge motivator for me. So, I take lots of classes. And no matter the topic of the class, I find it usually helps me refine a skill, take a new approach, reinvent a technique, and just fall in love all over again with what I do.
I have a very close friend who is an accomplished silk painter and when we’re together we bounce new ideas off each other and support each other. If I’m stuck or she’s stuck, we try to ‘unstick” each other. We definitely find ways to get each other’s juices flowing! It usually involves a LOT of laughter. Laughter is a HUGE part of my life. And so is music. I find it both inspirational and motivating. So, you can rest assured there’s music on when I’m working in my studio.
Taking a long walk is also a huge help if my creative juices need some stirring up. I’ve learned that sometimes I just need to get out of my chair and do something different that I enjoy. And I’m always amazed at how many “Eureka!” moments happen during some sort of relaxation activity that gives me pleasure.
D. Zentangle inspired art is what I’m most familiar with in your body of work. And we will talk more about that style in a bit. But you incorporate so much more into your pieces. Have you always pursued art? Did you start out on another career path? If so, what made you change? How were you able to focus your life on art and what types of events crafted your unique style?
A. I have been creating “stuff” and making “messes” since I was five years old, using whatever materials I could find! I do the same thing today, but now it’s called Mixed Media Art. LOL! I am inspired by playing with color and layering and fascinated by texture. I always have been! However, none of my formal education focused on the visual arts. I have a BA degree in Communication Arts and Science and an MA in Human Resources Management and Development.
I needed to earn a living and support myself and felt that creating art wouldn’t allow me to do that, so I focused on a career in Human Resources. And what a wonderful and exciting career I had. I zeroed in on the training and development aspect of human resources and did a lot of motivational speaking, as well. Eventually I started my own training and development business. I did a lot of team building for organizations, management development, and taught teachers how to teach. Throughout my professional career, I used my spare time to create art (collages, jewelry, greeting cards, etc.); after all, this was my passion. And I sold my art at juried craft shows. I also took lots of art classes. I promised myself that when I retired, I would transition into a full-time artist
D. Who and/or what were your biggest influences?
A. A wonderful and talented artist in New York, who I took classes from on a regular basis, was a huge influence on me. She encouraged my mixed media work and I learned so much from her. In fact, she was the one who encouraged me to become a Certified Zentangle Teacher. She felt that as an artist, I would love to incorporate Zentangle into my work. And she knew how much I loved teaching.
D. What made you decide to bring the joy of art to others?
A. As a breast cancer patient, the positive effects that Zentangle had for me as I experienced the anxiety, tough decision making, sleeplessness, etc. associated with this disease, was a strong force in my wanting to share it with others. I learned firsthand what a meditative and calming process Zentangle could be. I found it particularly helpful when I went for my radiation treatments. I would sit in the waiting room and “tangle” like crazy in my journal so by the time they called me in for my “dose” I was truly relaxed. I remember years later I had a student in one of my Zentangle classes who had been in that waiting room with me (her husband was receiving radiation) and at the time she wondered what the heck that red headed woman was so enthusiastically doing in her notebook! She learned that it was me tangling. At any rate I, both the artist and cancer patient, wanted to bring this magical and beautiful art form to others. Whether my students chose to use it as a meditative tool too or simply to create art and find joy would be up to them. But as a cancer survivor I truly felt compelled to share it with everyone who was interested. I am a big believer in “paying it forward.” So, as an artist I have used teaching art as a way of giving back the joy, the serenity, the magic, and the creative inspiration that art continues to give me!
Enjoy this TEDx demonstration of the power of Audrey’s motivational speaking.
D. Now let’s peace out and get a little more Zen.
There are so many benefits to learning and engaging in the art of Zentangle. And I for one really appreciate that you were there to pass them on to me. The meditative aspect, portability, minimal supplies needed, and ability for anyone to produce a piece of art after one lesson are just a few. What are the most important aspects of Zentangle for you from the perspectives of a practitioner and a teacher?
A. As a practitioner, I love that Zentangle can be incorporated into practically any other art form!! Whether it’s pottery, quilting, painting with any medium, jewelry, etc. As an artist, I find this very exciting; being able to have this tool in your kit no matter what your discipline. As a teacher, I love that Zentangle allows everyone to be successful and tap into their creativity. Additionally, it’s an art form where folks are encouraged not to be self-critical or judgmental, but rather to enjoy the process.
D. I remember my first class so well. Zentangle 101. We were in the fabulous old Brewery Art Center’s ballroom. The class was full, and you had a margarita bar set up. I was hooked before we even got started. But when the night was over, and I had several tiny pieces of art I could call my own that I could hardly fathom were created by my own hand, I was a believer in the method.
Zentangle 101, September 2015
More classes at the BAC
You have been teaching folks like me for a long time, adapting to Zoom like a pro during the Pandemic, and constantly producing exciting projects for your students. I will miss those sessions now that you’re moving on to your next artistic stage, but so grateful for the wealth of memories and skills you instilled in me, and I’m thrilled you can spend your hard-earned time pursuing your passion.
Tell us what’s next for you. What projects do you have in the works, or are you just going to let the creativity flow?
A. I am returning to the mixed media aspect of my art. I miss that. And I am looking forward to letting the “creativity flow” without the schedule and discipline associated with teaching. Here’s a photo of a mixed media piece I’m working on now. It’s a combination of collage and acrylic paints).
D. Thanks so much for that glimpse into your studio and a sunny piece of beautiful art!Let me take the opportunity to share more art you have generously provided for our chat.
D. On this note, one of the things I love to discover about creators is what kind of space they utilize for inspiration. Are there any secrets you would like to pass on about creating the perfect studio, environment, or mood? Do you have a special time of day or a process in addition to a place that helps you be your most creative?
A. Okay, not really a secret :-), but for me two important things one should make sure they have is good lighting and storage space. Even if your funds are limited… Just google “creating storage space in my art studio” and you’ll find tons of very creative, inexpensive, and wonderful ideas for storing your supplies. You want to be able to find things when you need them and have a workspace that you can clear up when starting a new project. Insofar as lighting is concerned, watch for sales at the craft stores (on-line too) for Ott Lites. An Ott Lite provides a precise balance of contrast and brightness that allows you to see details clearly and colors accurately. Other light sources can create harsh glares, distortions, and eye fatigue. An Ott Lite is like having natural daylight indoors!
Most importantly, make your studio space your own! I like to be surrounded by things that are important to me, which is why I have a cozy spot on the floor for Sophie, my fur baby!! Also visible in my studio are mementos, photos, artwork, quotations, etc. that inspire me or hold a special meaning. In terms of time of day, process, place when I am most creative, I don’t have specific ones. If I have a deadline for something, well, that obviously helps! :-).My MO is to go into my studio every day to do something… and if the creative juices just aren’t flowing I go and do something completely different. I’ve learned not to angst over it. Rather, I will make the most of whatever else I decide to do… whether it’s: take a walk, physical activity, read a book, cook, whatever. And I will enjoy what I’ve chosen to do!
I’ve discovered that making sure you put joy into your life is important to me as an artist.
D. Where can our readers follow your progress? Any upcoming art shows or plans to that effect?
A. I’m just getting started and have plans to turn my current Zentangle blog into one that will showcase my art as well as any shows, etc. I plan to exhibit a couple of my pieces at the next judged show being held on January 1 at the Nevada Artists Association in Carson City.
D. Thank you so much for visiting with me, Audrey! Do you have any parting advice for our readers who want to pursue their creative passions, art, or Zentangle?
A. Just do it! Jump in! It’s easy to find distractions and reasons not to pursue your passions. Taking action will help you get started. Making that first brushstroke will help you begin to paint away and remove those blocks that are getting in the way.
The most important thing: LOVE what you do! And remember what Rumi said,
“Inside you is an artist you don’t know about.”
So, go discover her or him!
All artwork by Audrey Markowitz. If you share, please give credit to the artist.
Below are examples of Audrey’s traditional Zentangle tiles, using the Zentangle method of creating corner dots on a square tile and connecting them into a frame or border divided by “strings” that you can fill in with repeated tangles (doodles).
The Zentangle® method was created by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas. Zentangle® is a registered trademark of Zentangle, Inc. Learn more at: www.zentangle.com
By D. L. Lewellyn 