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Wednesday, May 18, 2011

CZT Weekend

I took a break from coloring my latest book and headed down to Whitinsville, MA for round 6 of "Who Wants to Be a CZT?" I've been putting off posting about the experience because I find it so hard to put into words! When I attended a few years ago- in the very beginning of this tangled web - there were 50 of us and the whole experience was shiney and new. And kind of terrifying. No one really knew what they were doing... including Rick and Maria. A lot has changed. This training workshop is now a well-tuned machine!


The past two times that I have been here, it was winter and dark, so I never really noticed the outside of  Rick and Maria's house. The pillars have tangles on them, but check out the great cherub above the door. How cool is that? This house is filled with amazing art and funny touches. I think that not being able to see Maria's studio will be the biggest drawback to having the future training workshops at The Hotel Providence. (Although staying at a five-star hotel might make up for it...)

This session had something like 67 students! Even the window seats were filled. I met ladies from South Africa, Tasmania, and some of those square states in the middle of our country. All good news for folks outside New England who want to learn to tangle. I was rather floored by how many of the attendees had taken classes with me, including one from Virginia and one from Quebec, or had found Zentangle® through my books. A few even admitted that they had found the books accidentally while surfing Amazon. It made me blush every time someone said, "You're Sandy?! You wrote those books?!" and I got to sign lots of autographs. Someone suggested I should get a commission from R&M for sending so many people to become CZTs. Interesting idea.... ;-D  Being famous for a few days certainly does wonders for one's confidence and is helping me get over my shyness/introversion. Although I still feel like I could sleep for a week! I talked to so many people I barely got a chance to eat and on Sunday, I actually missed both breakfast and lunch.

I was really impressed with all the new products and innovations that the Zentangle folks have designed. A few new items are round tiles for Zendalas, trading cards (with the Fabriano Tiepolo paper!) and all the tiles in different colors. A set of nine coasters that form a ZT puzzle... stickers and tattoos, t-shirts, and most ingenius for the CZTS, a square demo pad of newsprint that is glued along two edges. This makes it possible to turn the pad while working on an easel. I got to try it out... and purchased two for my studio. Nice!


 This collage of tiles is displayed on boards covered in canvas (with a tangled border). Straight pins under and over each tile hold them in place without piercing the paper. More genius. Maria "whipped it up" at the Gel conference. The art brought by the attendees was incredible too - gourds, ATCs, and embroidery... wowza. Quite an amazing group of people. I look forward to seeing what they bring forth. As I was leaving (or trying to leave!), people kept thanking me for sharing my experiences and expertise with them. For signing books and giving advice... I was laughing when I said, "Thank YOU for listening! Once I get home, it will be very hard to find anyone the slightest bit impressed by me!" :-)

So, now, it's back to the books. Or "book". Which was technically due last week.... This book is turning out to be my favorite so far. I decided to do it with the ZTs all just B&W with a smidge of red in the instructions and the usual shading. The kids and their accessories are cartoon color with shading. The "minions" (Lilah Beans) are treated as tangles, despite their helpfulness. OH! And speaking of books - this is very exciting... at least it is to me... Design Original's parent company is exhibiting at Book Expo next week in NYC. And guess what book they chose from ALL the DO books to act as representative at the show?! YES, you are right!! "Yoga for Your Brain!" Mine, mine, mine! Whoo-eee! Wouldn't it be cool if some magazines wrote reviews and stuff? I would SO love to be there... Yes, I know, calm down and go to bed and then get up and scan and color and finish this book...

17 comments:

  1. Congratulations Sandy !! You so deserve all the praise and celebrity you receive !! I so hope to get to CZT one of these days. I am still studying art so maybe next year !!! So excited about your new Book... can't wait... of course !! Hugs... Kristy

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  2. What an interesting post! I was in Whitinsville, MA in October 2010 in order to get my certification. I live in Italy and it is not easy to meet other CZTs as you do and to repeat the wonderful experience I had there.
    I read about the new products: where is it possible to see or to buy them?
    By the way: I see you are writing a book for kids! WOW! I am looking forward to have it!
    Ciao!
    Tina

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  3. Sandy, congratulations on having your "Yoga for the Brain" selected by D.O. as THE book of honor to represent them at the Book Expo in NYC! Your work is wonderful, your books are entertaining and educational, and you are a wonderfully talented artist and Zentangle motivator! I hope you can call upon your post-seminar euphoria whenever you have doubts about 'who you are' and 'what you do'. You go, girl!!

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  4. And you DESERVE all good things! I'm glad the seminar was a chance to get some confirmation and validation; feels good, eh? Your work is lovely and you are a prolific artist and author with a wealth of interest for sharing. Despite your all-too-human difficulties of the past year you have provided a wonderful inspiration to many. Kudos to you!!!

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  5. Great post Sandy - it sounds like you've had a wonderful week with lots of, much deserved, attention for your contributions to the world of Zentangle! We are all looking forward to your next book. And if I may take some of your blog space to say hello to Tina, a fellow CZT #4!

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  6. Thanks everyone! And Tina - the new products will be available soon from zentangle.com. As for meeting other CZTs, you may have to create your posse online for now. But Melissa (above) says "hi" and that's a start! If the ladies from Tasmania can form a tangling group, I imagine Italy can pull something together too! I'd love to be part of the Ohio clan! They seem to have lots of fun...

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  7. Although... how cool would it be to have next summer's Master Class be in Italy! Oooooo! What do you say, Tina!? ;-D

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  8. Congratulations...for all of it! I know you get lots of email praising your efforts, but I'm glad you were able to get some of it face to face. I think it's more real that way, and you deserve to know how real the praise is. Congrats too, on having the featured book at the Book Expo. Two thumbs up for your CZT training experience!

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  9. Wow! Wow, wow!
    Glad you got to meet lots of your fans!
    Can't wait for those new products. I heard a little about some of them a couple of months ago and thought they'd probably be launched at the CZT training.
    --Margaret

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  10. Sandy, thanks for sharing the photos, and congratulations on all your book successes!!!

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  11. @SandyB
    I think that to have a Master class in Italy in the future will be great! People from Europe are closer, the people from other Countries can have the opportunity to visit Italy (my town is an Unesco Site -search Matera in Google images )and I think Zentangle will expand in this part of the world too.

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  12. Sandy, Thanks for sharing. Wish I'd have known you were going to the training. I would have tried extra hard to attend :-). J

    Just so you know, I also got my start tangling from your book Totally Tangled. I was at CZT-V. My 12-year-old will not tangle without your book. I try to tangle without it because I feel like I shouldn't need a "crutch" after attending the training, but I do like my work better when I have your book open.

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  13. Sandy, Thanks so much for taking the time to share the Seminar experience. I'ts a treat for me to hear about it and have my own Seminar memories triggered. And what a treat for those attending to get to meet you in person - I hope to someday myself. The first time I ever saw your logo self-portrait, I thought: I like this woman.... You creativity and inspiration is amazing and beyond that, you are one great lady!

    bajeanne48

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  14. Sandy,
    It was wonderful to meet you at the seminar. I too find your Totally Tangled book to be a great inspiration. I just ordered several copies of your books to have in my store and on hand for my first Zentangle class. I'm looking forward to the next one.

    Debby Riendeau, CZT
    The Inspiration Station, CT

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  15. Sandy, we all had such a wonderful time at the CZT seminar last weekend.

    It was a special treat for me to meet you and to share my experience of how I got there. I am one of the people who found Zentangle because of a recommendation for your book on Amazon.com.

    Please know that even if you don't have any people at home that are impressed with you, know that we, out here, love you and are very impressed!

    Grace Mendez, CZT

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  16. You ladies are amazing! Thanks for saying such nice things, too. I've spent the last two days (since finishing the new book) sitting on my bed catching up on email (trying!) and an online business class I'm taking. Your words keep echoing around in my head as I try to do my "homework" and redesign my life and career. :-) Tomorrow I start doing the edits on the book.

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  17. Hi Sandy
    I was at the last seminar and it was so enlightening. I brought all the books by you and had you sign them. What a thrill to meet you and also to take this wonderful seminar. Rick & Maria are so sharing and I am so glad I was able to see their home and share in their fantastic artwork. I wish I were half as talented as they are & you too. I enjoy your books and the designs in there give me inspiration. I too open your book as I am tangling and your books make it easier to decide what to tangle next and where to put it.I am looking forward to your next book and I hope to see you again someday.

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