Breathtaking Bales of Batik

 Back in late-September (how quickly time flies), our friend Ildica Boyd came to Singapore for a visit. Debbie, Susan, and I had a wonderful time taking her to various places of interest. Ildica was here for just two and a half days, but boy, did we pack in as much activities as we could!

One of the places we visited with her was the Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM). At that point in time, ACM was having a special exhibition titled, "Batik Kita". It was a beautiful exhibition that explored the history and culture of batik and batik making. The designs shown ranged from traditional ones and also modern designs that we see today.

There was much inspiration to be found, and I thought you'd enjoy seeing some photos that I took at Batik Kita...

At the start of the exhibition, we saw the tools used to make Batik prints, and different cloth cuttings. 

Doesn't this design remind you of Bales:

And this one resembles Pangea!

These were more traditional designs.

This one was a very large piece:

Here's a photo that shows the tiny and intricately drawn details of the cloth:

Modern batik featuring words! This reminded me of the tangle, Vermal.

I loved how dynamic this piece looked. The colours and patterns were a feast for the eyes, and I wanted to create a tile inspired by it.

It just so happened that Ildica had gifted to us her handy little guidebooks. They are foldable accordion-style pocket guides that contain different types of enhancement and shading techniques. They were so handy to have as I worked on my tile.

If you think they're absolutely adorable, too, you can buy Ildica's extendable pocket guides here!

On my tile, I used some stickers that I got from the Batik Kita exhibition to create a Whatz-Its, and then used some tangle enhancers and shading techniques that I found in Ildica's pocket guides. The colours were added using Derwen't Coloursoft coloured pencils. This was lots of fun.

If you'd like, you can also download some batik prints from ACM's website on this page. They're great fun if you'd like to learn more about the history of batik making, and also for getting tangling inspiration.

It was great fun having Ildica come to visit and we were sad when she left.

Team 7F5R also recently gifted Ildica this postcard:

Because, truly, we as Certified Zentangle Teachers, are better together. :)

Happy Chrismahanukwanzakah to you!

Warm Wishes,

Stephanie Jennifer, CZT 21

Singapore

Inktober Tangles 2022 Official List

October will soon be here, and that means Inktober will soon be starting.

Inktober is an online event where artists all over the world challenge themselves by doing one ink drawing a day the entire month. In 2015, I adapted the idea to fit with Zentangle art by making each day's prompts be a tangle. I call my list of tangles the Inktober Tangles challenge.

Here are some common questions that people have asked about Inktober Tangles:

Why is it called a "challenge"?
It is not a challenge against others, but a challenge to draw something every day for a whole month.

What are the requirements to join Inktober Tangles challenge?
Just draw something every day for the month of October. That's all there is to it. You can tangle on a tile, in your sketchbook, and use any shape or size or colour. The important thing is that you build the habit of tangling every day.

When does Inktober begin?
It begins on the 1st of October every year.

What if I miss a day?
Create one art work by combining today's tangle with the tangle that you've missed. Or just skip the tangle that you've missed and carry on. Always remember that the point of Inktober is to encourage you to draw more, so don't feel too badly if life happens and you had to skip a day or two.

Why are some tangles in your list non-official tangles?
I try to feature non-official tangles in order to introduce you to new tangles that you may not have seen or used before. Having other tanglers use a tangle you have deconstructed is always great fun, and it builds a community spirit while supporting other tanglers. If you want to swap out the non-official tangles, feel free to do so.

What if I don't like a particular tangle?
I encourage you to still try to create something with it. Pushing past your comfort zone is part of the spirit of Inktober. If you really dislike a tangle, you can always substitute it with another tangle.

What happens after Inktober ends? Will there be another challenge in November?
We do not have a daily challenge in November. However, Debbie and I host weekly and bi-monthly challenges in the 7F5R Challenge Facebook group. 7F5R Challenge is also the official Facebook group for Inktober Tangles.

Is there an official hashtag for Inktober Tangles?
Yes. This year, we are using #InktoberTangles2022

Where can I find the step-outs to all of the prompts for Inktober Tangles 2022?
I have created a handout that contains the list of tangles that you can print on A4 or US letter sized paper. It also contains links to all of the tangles' step-outs, and example tiles that I have created for each day's prompt to inspire you. Here's a link to the handout: https://bit.ly/InktoberTangles2022Prompts-2

Without further ado, here are the prompts for Inktober Tangles 2022:

Please feel free to share the list in your Facebook group or with your friends and students. I have also created a square version of this list if you'd like to post it on Instagram:

I hope that you have fun with this year’s list.  If you have any questions, leave a comment below. I can also be reached at stephanie@7f5r.com or on Instagram @havepen_willdraw. If you’d like to support my work, you can buy me a coffee at https://ko-fi.com/stephaniej

I can’t wait to see what you create for this year’s Inktober Tangles.

Warmest Wishes,

Stephanie Jennifer, CZT 21

Singapore

Flowering Faybio

Our Tangle Travelog: Singapore Gardens by the Bay series is still currently being sold at a promotional launch price on 7f5r.thinkific.com/courses/gbtb! 

We found a bunch of beautiful tangles at Gardens by the Bay! The second one that I'd like to introduce you is one that I've named, "Faybio". The inspiration for it was the Fabio tulip!

Here are the step-outs to "Faybio", and some photos that I took at Gardens by the Bay that inspired the tangle:

You can use Faybio as a stand-alone tangle, a cluster, a fun embellishment, or even a border!

Here are some tiles that I created featuring it:

And here's a page from my sketchbook:

I’d love to see the art you create using Faybio! If you’re posting on Instagram, tag us ( @7forests5rivers ) and use the hashtag "#faybio". I hope you have fun playing around with this adorable tangle.

Warmest Wishes,

Stephanie Jennifer, CZT 21

Singapore

Inktober Tangles 2021 Official List

 October will soon be here, and that means Inktober will soon be starting.

Inktober is an online event where artists all over the world challenge themselves by doing one ink drawing a day the entire month. In 2015, I adapted the idea to fit with Zentangle art by making each day's prompts be a tangle. I call my list of tangles the Inktober Tangles challenge.

Here are some common questions that people have asked about Inktober Tangles:

Why is it called a "challenge"?
It is not a challenge against others, but a challenge to draw something every day for a whole month.

What are the requirements to join Inktober Tangles challenge?
Just draw something every day for the month of October. That's all there is to it. You can tangle on a tile, in your sketchbook, and use any shape or size or colour. The important thing is that you build the habit of tangling every day.

When does Inktober begin?
It begins on the 1st of October every year.

What if I miss a day?
Create one art work by combining today's tangle with the tangle that you've missed. Or just skip the tangle that you've missed and carry on. Always remember that the point of Inktober is to encourage you to draw more, so don't feel too badly if life happens and you had to skip a day or two.

Why are some tangles in your list non-official tangles?
I try to feature non-official tangles in order to introduce you to new tangles that you may not have seen or used before. Having other tanglers use a tangle you have deconstructed is always great fun, and it builds a community spirit while supporting other tanglers. If you want to swap out the non-official tangles, feel free to do so.

What if I don't like a particular tangle?
I encourage you to still try to create something with it. Pushing past your comfort zone is part of the spirit of Inktober. If you really dislike a tangle, you can always substitute it with another tangle.

What happens after Inktober ends? Will there be another challenge in November?
We do not have a daily challenge in November. However, Debbie and I host weekly and bi-monthly challenges in the 7F5R Challenge Facebook group. 7F5R Challenge is also the official Facebook group for Inktober Tangles.

Is there an official hashtag for Inktober Tangles?
Yes. This year, we are using #InktoberTangles2021

Where can I find the step-outs to all of the prompts for Inktober Tangles 2021? 
I have created a handout that contains the list of tangles that you can print on A4 or US letter sized paper. It also contains links to all of the tangles' step-outs, and example tiles that I have created for each day's prompt to inspire you. Here's a link to the handout: https://bit.ly/InktoberTangles2021Prompts

Without further ado, here are the prompts for Inktober Tangles 2021:

Please feel free to share the list in your Facebook group or with your friends and students. I have also created a square version of this list if you’d like to post it on Instagram:

I hope that you have fun with this year’s list.  If you have any questions, leave a comment below. I can also be reached at stephanie@7f5r.com or on Instagram @havepen_willdraw. If you’d like to support my work, you can buy me a coffee at https://ko-fi.com/stephaniej

I can’t wait to see what you create for this year’s Inktober Tangles.

Warmest Wishes,

Stephanie Jennifer, CZT21

Singapore

Inktober Tangles 2020 Official List

 October will soon be here, and that means Inktober will soon be starting.

Inktober is an online event where artists all over the world challenge themselves by doing one ink drawing a day the entire month. In 2015, I adapted the idea to fit with Zentangle art by making each day's prompts be a tangle. I call my list of tangles the Inktober Tangles challenge.

Here are some common questions that people have asked about Inktober Tangles:

Why is it called a "challenge"? It is not a challenge against others, but a challenge to draw something every day for a whole month.

What are the requirements to join Inktober Tangles challenge? Just draw something every day for the month of October. That's all there is to it. You can tangle on a tile, in your sketchbook, and use any shape or size or colour. The important thing is that you build the habit of tangling every day.

When does Inktober begin? It begins on the 1st of October every year.

What if I miss a day? Create one art work by combining today's tangle with the tangle that you've missed. Or just skip the tangle that you've missed and carry on. Always remember that the point of Inktober is to encourage you to draw more, so don't feel too badly if life happens and you had to skip a day or two.

Why are some tangles in your list non-official tangles? I try to feature non-official tangles in order to introduce you to new tangles that you may not have seen or used before. Having other tanglers use a tangle you have deconstructed is always great fun, and it builds a community spirit while supporting other tanglers. If you want to swap out the non-official tangles, feel free to do so.

What if I don't like a particular tangle? I encourage you to still try to create something with it. Pushing past your comfort zone is part of the spirit of Inktober. If you really dislike a tangle, you can always substitute it with another tangle.

What happens after Inktober ends? Will there be another challenge in November? We do not have a daily challenge in November. However, Debbie and I host weekly and bi-monthly challenges in the 7F5R Challenge Facebook group. 7F5R Challenge is also the official Facebook group for Inktober Tangles.

Is there an official hashtag for Inktober Tangles? Yes. This year, we are using #InktoberTangles2020

Where can I find the step-outs to all of the prompts for Inktober Tangles 2020? I have created a handout that contains the list of tangles that you can print on A4 or US letter sized paper. It also contains links to all of the tangles' step-outs, and example tiles that I have created for each day's prompt to inspire you. Here's a link to the handout: http://bit.ly/InktoberTangles2020Handout

Without further ado, here are the prompts for Inktober Tangles 2020:

Please feel free to share the list in your Facebook group or with your friends and students. I have also created a square version of this list if you'd like to post it on Instagram:

I hope that you have fun with this year's list.  If you have any questions, leave a comment below. I can also be reached at stephanie@7f5r.com or on Instagram @havepen_willdraw. If you'd like to support my work, you can buy me a coffee at https://ko-fi.com/stephaniej

I can't wait to see what you create for this year's Inktober Tangles.

Timeless Tangled Facets – An Online Series

Tangle outside the border and expand your creative horizons with Team 7F5R’s newest tangle technique – Tangled Facets! Discover how to turn your tangled art into 3D masterpieces.

One of the great ways to incorporate the Tangled Facets technique with your daily tangling practice is to repurpose old tiles into something fresh, or take tiles that didn’t quite go according to plan and utilise them in a new and unexpected way.

We’ve also created printable content specially for this series, so that you can create colourful tangled art similar to those you see on this page.

Watch a complimentary preview of the course and download a set of tinted tiles here: 7f5r.thinkific.com/courses/tangledfacets

Pairing Tangled Facets with Techniques You Know and Love

The introduction video starts off by introducing you to terminology that we will be using throughout the series. We then show you many wonderful examples of tiles that we’ve created using the Tangled Facets technique. Lastly, we run through the list of materials you will need to draw alongside our tutorials.

You will then be brought through four full-length projects. The videos show us drawing in real-time so you can tangle along, just as you would in an in-person class. The tutorials slowly increase in complexity to end with a beautiful postcard-sized tile that has three layers.

Love the gorgeous tinted tiles that we offered with our preview video?

We’ve included many more printable tinted tiles in our paid course! These printable pages are exclusive to this series, and we’re looking forward to seeing what you create with them.

On our Thinkific page, there are discussion boards available for you to ask any questions you might have. You may also reach us via email 7f5r.thinkific@gmail.com, if you have any queries for us, even before you purchase the course.

We hope all that inspiration has got you excited to learn more about this marvellous technique. Visit https://7f5r.thinkific.com/courses/tangledfacets to purchase the course and get started on a new tangling adventure today.

Team 7F5R
Debbie & Stephanie
Certified Zentangle Teachers
Singapore

A Very Merry Unbirthday

I wanted to gift this tangle to my best friend, Debbie. I really like the tangle, and I thought it’d act like a physical representation of our friendship.

But the issue with every new tangle that we deconstruct is… What will we name it?

“Debbie” means “bee”. So my initial thought was to name it “abeille” which means bee in French. But I’m quite sure people wouldn’t pronounce it the French way… I tested it on my husband and he did pronounce it phonetically.

Then I thought about the root word for “Debbie”.. which is “D’vora”. I thought that was cute so I asked Debbie what she thought.

She asked if the tangle was her un-birthday, post-birthday present. I said, no. That it was a just-because gift. She laughed and said, “Un birthday. There you have a tangle name.”.

So this is Debbie’s Unbirthday. hahaha

Here’s another version of the same tangle. Double Unbirthday:

I’ve used it in my art recently. Here it is as a duotangle in my sketchbook:

Hidden amongst these gems:

And here it is featured in a Tangled Facets tile. The blue fascinator is from the printable that comes with our Tangled Facets course. If you have not watched the free preview of the course, do pop over to our Thinkific to do so: https://7f5r.thinkific.com/courses/tangledfacets

 I hope you enjoy using Unbirthday in your art as much as I do, and that the little story that came with it made you smile.

If you would like us to feature your work on social media, tag us on Instagram @7forests5rivers or use the hashtag #unbirthdaytangle

Until next time, keep tangling!

Stephanie Jennifer, CZT21
Singapore

Playful Purkbit

Sometimes, you mesh two tangles together, and it ends up looking great. This was one of those times. Purkbit is a tanglelation of Purk by Zentangle, and Cabbit by Debbie New.

It was near the end of 2018 that Debbie and I started playing with with Purkbit. We joked about its name and we would use it in our tiles every now and again. We’ve finally gotten around to publishing its step-outs. It really is such a cute tangle, and we hope you enjoy playing with it just as much as we have.

Here’s a tile featuring some Purkbits wrapped in ribbon.

I’ve even taught an Embedded Letter class that featured Purkbit. The tangle adds a bit of whimsical charm to the tiles.

This is a card that Debbie created, featuring a cat version of Purkbit.

Here’s another tile with the kitty version of Purkbit.

If you would like us to feature your work on social media, tag us on Instagram @7forests5rivers or use the hashtag #purkbit.

Until next time, keep tangling!

Stephanie Jennifer, CZT21
Singapore

Cabbits In a Pod

Debbie and I hope you had fun with our previous tangle, Purkbit. Here’s another tangle that we created. This tangle is a mashup between Cabbit by Debbie New and Inapod by Carole Ohl.

Here are the step-outs to “Cabbit Inapod”:

Here are some of my tiles that feature the tangle:

Here’s a tile by Debbie that features Cabbit Inapod:

Debbie was fostering three kittens at that point in time. One of the kittens ended up nibbling on this tile. Debbie joked that it had become Cabbitenapod.

We would love to see what you create with this tangle. Tag us on Instagram @7forests5rivers or use the hashtag #CabbitInapod to be featured.

Until next time, keep tangling!

Stephanie Jennifer, CZT21
Singapore

Infinite Iugo

I have a small hand-made sketchbook that I use to jot down quick ideas, or for when I want to try out a new tangle. It's a sketchbook that's a little less precious so I don't worry about making things look nice. A couple of weeks ago, I came up with this little blob shape that I liked. I showed it to Debbie and she said that I should fiddle with it a bit more before making it into a tangle. I took her advice, and today, I finally feel ready to show you my newest tangle: Iugo.

"Iugo" is Latin for "connect" or "to bind together". I think it'd work great as a string, too. Here are the step-outs to Iugo, done in a nicer sketchbook:

In this black sketchbook, I explored drawing Iugo in different shapes. Shading was done with a silver Albrecht Durer coloured pencil.

Here's a traditional black and white tile featuring Iugo:

And a more abstract watercolour tile with a simple gemstone:

If you would like to share your art pieces with us, Debbie and I would like to invite you to post your art in our Facebook group: 7F5R Challenge.

Thanks for popping by our blog. Until next time... Keep tangling!

Stephanie Jennifer CZT21
Singapore