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Beads of Courage

Beads of Courage

By on June 8, 2015 in Zentangle

This week’s challenge from Laura Harms (I am the Diva) is inspired by her family’s participation in Beads of Courage, a program that supports kids with chronic or life threatening illnesses and their families. Kids get beads to support their courage for each needle stick, hospital stays, doctor appointments, surgeries and more.

Normally I check the challenge on Monday mornings and then work on it in the evenings after work. This particular challenge inspired me so much–I had chills reading Laura’s story of this year’s run–that I couldn’t wait. Now, bear in mind, I’m at work and listening to conference calls (I swear), and limited in materials to copier paper, a Pentel liquid ink pen and a standard #2 pencil…

I used Abacus as a string, because of it’s beads, and Beadlines…because…beads. Then I focused on HEART because these kids have such strong hearts full of courage as they battle their conditions. So the heart-related tangles include Heartvine, Heartfully, and Heart Box.

I may give this one another shot with better materials later.

Beads of Courage

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few other updates:

I taught my first class this weekend (just one on one, but that’s really a nice way to teach the first time, I think). My student was a lovely woman named Glenda who was most interested in learning how to use Zentangle to reduce stress and anxiety. I hope she enjoyed it; she seemed to! I’m inspired now and desperately wanting to find venues to teach more (and larger) classes, so I’m actively working on that.

Whole30-wise, I have finished my reintroduction and really haven’t changed much. I might eat some rice (non-gluten grain) now and then, but dairy is definitely out and I’m not even trying gluten. Still trying to limit sugars, too. I like how I feel and I definitely like the weight I’m losing (I won’t weigh in until June 20–limiting myself to once a month–but the change in the jeans that fit me is all the confirmation I need).

I hope everyone has a great week.

I encourage and appreciate sharing!:
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27 Responses to Beads of Courage

  1. Maggibee June 8, 2015 at 11:02 am #

    This is lovely, both the drawing and the thinking behind it.

  2. Diane Clancy June 8, 2015 at 3:07 pm #

    Your drawing is beautiful!! Glad you posted it early and I love all the hearts!! How fun you have had your first class now 🙂 Congrats!!

    ~ Diane Clancy
    http://www.dianeclancy.com/blog/2015/06/my-diva-beads-of-courage-challenge-entry/

    • Cari Sultanik June 8, 2015 at 5:37 pm #

      Thanks, Diane! Love your Jetties and the colors you used!

  3. Suzanne Fluhr June 8, 2015 at 10:16 pm #

    Cari—excellent use of your conference call and remember, there was that study that says people who are “doodling” while listening, retain 30% more. (Still, hopefully, none of your colleagues do the Diva challenge and we’ll never tell). The beauty of Zentangle is that you can actually do it with whatever, whenever. I think your tile perfectly captures the spirit of the challenge and all of the tangles you used are new to me!!!

    • Cari Sultanik June 9, 2015 at 8:25 am #

      Thanks, Suzanne! Those calls can be painfully boring and I probably was actually listening better than usual!

  4. Annemarie June 9, 2015 at 2:11 am #

    Your tile is lovely!

  5. Debbie June 9, 2015 at 5:18 am #

    Hello Cari!
    I just wanted to pop in to say HI and admire your beautiful work <3 I do love this week's challenge (SO meaningful) and just got around to posting mine up too… and wow already I see you are #2 on the list 😉 😉

    • Cari Sultanik June 9, 2015 at 8:26 am #

      Hey friend! Thank you and I will check yours out too! I am usually like #48 or 55 or 80!

  6. Lucy June 9, 2015 at 8:12 am #

    Love your story. Love your tile.

  7. Ilse June 9, 2015 at 3:14 pm #

    Lovely tile – and story!

  8. Jay June 9, 2015 at 4:31 pm #

    Beautiful tangles and I love the shading

  9. Kat June 9, 2015 at 4:50 pm #

    I loved your lovely tile! I’m brand new- is it ok to submit more than one? I think your pattern choices were great!

    • Cari Sultanik June 9, 2015 at 5:09 pm #

      Usually if you do more than one you’d post them in the same blog post, Kat. Can’t wait to see what you do!

  10. Donald W June 9, 2015 at 10:06 pm #

    Your beads remind me of balloons. Nice shading and

  11. Deb Myers June 10, 2015 at 8:19 am #

    Love it, Cari! And congrats on the weight loss… but I found it. I’m UP a size! Oops!

  12. Antonine June 10, 2015 at 1:36 pm #

    Oh, Cari, I wish I had had Zentangle all those years I spent on conference calls. Instead, I had chocolate and coffee! Not good (but tasted good!) Your hearts and beads are beautiful – it’s like they are lifting up and away. Good imagery for a courage theme!

    • Cari Sultanik June 10, 2015 at 2:10 pm #

      Thanks Antonine! I have to kind of work half hidden under my desk calendar for fear of being accused of “doodling.”

  13. Sue Sharp CZT12 June 10, 2015 at 7:44 pm #

    Great blog, and really nice tile! Very heart-warming and thoughtful.

  14. LonettA June 11, 2015 at 1:58 am #

    Lovely tile with a great choice of tangles!

  15. HeidiSue June 13, 2015 at 12:48 pm #

    Look what you did with printer paper and a pen! awesome! that heart theme throughout, and your heart, behind it! Wonderful!

    • Cari Sultanik June 13, 2015 at 1:17 pm #

      HeidiSue thank you so much! You made me smile!!