Challenge #58 – Four Diamonds

This week’s Diva Challenge comes from guest challenger Diana Hirsch, who asked us to use diamonds in our tangles in honor of a wonderful non-profit organization called the Four Diamonds Fund.

About the Four Diamonds Fund

The Four Diamonds Fund was started by Charles and Irma Millard in order to help the families of children with cancer offset the costs of treatment.  The four diamonds in the funds logo represent the virtues of courage, wisdom, honesty and strength, which the Millard’s young son Christopher, felt were necessary to overcome cancer.

This challenge, and the message behind it, was incredibly well received in my house.  It was decided that these virtues are not just needed to overcome cancer, but are needed by everyone, every single day of their lives.  They are the core elements found in a person of strong moral character and in a world where strength of character is becoming harder to find, a challenge that celebrates these fundamental virtues is one that must be taken up with an open heart.

Water Below, Stone Above

The title for my official entry was loosely inspired from how the I Ching, or The Book of Changes, presents its “readings”.   It just seemed to fit with the overall concept that I was playing with by the time I got to final piece.

For me, water and stone, especially the ocean shores of the Oregon coast which are very rocky, have always somehow embodied the four core virtues.  The fact that we are called to build our house upon strong stone and that it is the water beneath that strong stone that sustains us is probably another reason that I am drawn to these two images when I think of courage, wisdom, honesty and strength.

By the way, can you spot where I messed up?  It’s not nearly as obvious on the actual tile, being that it’s only 2.5″ x 3.5″, so I missed it completely until I scanned it into the computer.

The Ones That Didn’t Make It

My first two attempts at the challenge, as usual, were not nearly as successful and probably shouldn’t see the light of day.  They are embarrassing!

The first one would have been fine, though I hadn’t found my footing yet, except that I just had to try out my new red shimmer ink!  How was I suppose to know it would obscure all my hard work?

The second is starting to move along the right lines.  You can see the concept finally showing up as I let go of the idea of what I should be doing and let myself feel what I needed to be doing.

More Zentangle Play

This has been a very productive week!  In addition to the challenge piece, I finished a couple of other small pieces, mostly just playing around.  I did the little tree for my husband because he loves trees, especially mathematical trees, and because he’s particularly fond of simple designs.

Collaboration

My son, Ryan, even joined in and created a piece called camouflage.  He likes to draw monsters, and as far as monsters go this one’s pretty cute!

The piece ended up becoming a collaboration, with both of us adding little bits and ideas.  We’ve decided to call it “Camouflaged” as the little guy will eventually be hidden among leaves.  I have to say that I’m really enjoying working with him, he’s so uninhibited about what he’s doing and willing to try anything.

Another thing nice about working with him is that our initials are the same, making it really easy to sign collaborative works!

It’s still not finished, but I was so excited that he’s joining me in these little projects that I just had to share.  I’ll upload the finished card when it’s done, I promise!