Sometimes I need to clear my head and try not to think of anything at the moment. This is why adult coloring books are so popular. The new Zentangle drawing process is another way of just enjoying drawing nothing in particular and creating something spectacular in the process.
I often open my software program and choose a tool or two and just start doodling. Adding to the shapes by using the wreathmaker (my favorite) tool
and using the clone tool
can start to create something special. Using the other functions of flipping, rotating, re-sizing, and changing the background color all adds to the design. Sometimes I am so satisfied with the doodling that I actually stop and stitch it out to use in a project down the road. If I don’t have time to stitch it, I can always export the image and print it onto fabric to sew later.
What is your favorite tool and what experimenting have you done? The possibilities are endless.
02-21-2016
11:35 am
Funny you should mention the popularity of zentangles and coloring books for adults, as I’m currently escaping winter for a month (from Ottawa!) in Fla. and was having ‘withdrawal’ with no sewing, quilting or digitizing available to me right now, so picked up some coloring books, coloring pencils and markers plus blank paper and I can see how addictive and therapeutic both are! I can also see where “zentangling” can be a real inspiration for FM quilting patterns plus in ideas for digitizing! I haven’t touched my EQ Stitch in awhile but am now chomping at the bit to get back into it – your posts and ideas are always inspiring – thanks!
02-21-2016
12:28 pm
Pat–no matter where I travel, I always take my computer. Even though I can’t sew when traveling, I can design on the computer so I am ready to go at the machine when I get home. It is my best use of time while on the road. I get bored too if I don’t have something to work on.
02-21-2016
12:08 pm
I have tried to print a block from my EQ 7 to color with pencils rather than using the color and fabric tool, and was not successful, is there some way to print a block from the program in black and white?
02-21-2016
12:30 pm
Robin–Are you asking about a traditional quilt block? You can export the image of the artwork from the artwork tab and use the printed lines as your outline for coloring. If you are asking about embroidery designs, just apply a running stitch as the outline and skip the fabric fill for applique or the stitch fill for embroidery. Stitch just the outlines at he embroidery machine and color in between the lines with fabric markers or water color pencils. I do that all the time.
02-21-2016
4:32 pm
I too am playing with the coloring books for adults and I love zentangles I took a class in them once some years back. I use them in my free motion quilting. I love the quilt you have on this post Yvonne!!