In this occasional series on TanglePatterns, readers describe in their own words how Zentangle® has changed their lives. For more accounts in this series, click on the “STORIES” link in the alphabetical listing above.
Visit this post for the stories that inspired this series.
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“I have entertained and delighted myself with various forms of creative avenues for ‘oh so many’ years. Fabric collage, oil, acrylic and watercolor paintings, silversmithing, sketching, gourds (growing, cleaning and embellishing) and so much more.
My husband and I chose to live full-time in our motorcoach after selling the ‘big’ house. Even a coach of 45′ didn’t leave much room for my creativity ~ and in 2011 I discovered Zentangle! Wow… so portable, fulfilling, meditative and just what the restless artist needed.
This spring I had a stroke and lost total vision in my right eye. After several hospitalizations for complications which caused the loss of vision, I was faced with a garden that needed planting, hens and baby chicks that needed my attention and only one eye, topped off with extreme vertigo.
I mourned and grieved for my lost vision, unable to thread a needle, draw a non-wobbly line and unable to tend to the chickens without a walker (that was constantly caked in mud).
Feeling ever sorry for myself, I became determined to accomplish SOMETHING, and recently took up my pens and a cleaned gourd. I sat down in my favorite chair, with a down pillow on my lap. This is what happened:
Tangled gourd by Carol Jansen Greene
Unfortunately the second photo shows a big ‘bleed’ of an inferior pen when I sprayed it with varnish.
Reverse side of the tangled gourd by Carol Jansen Greene
I will continue to explore and create.
Thank you all for your inspiration!
That is my story! (for now)”
~ Carol Jansen Greene
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If you would like to share your own experience for this series, please email me (linda [at] tanglepatterns [dot] com). You can make your story as long as or short as you like and if you wish your personal details to remain private, I will certainly honor that.
By publishing your “testimonials”, I’m hoping it will help spread the word about Zentangle to many others who can REALLY benefit from it. As the Zentangle founders say, “Anything is possible, one stroke at a time.”™
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July 27, 2014 | 
More like this: 
Carol, I am so sorry about the loss of your eye. That has to be so very hard to cope with, and I don’t know if I could be as gracious about it as you seem to be.
It’s wonderful that you found Zentangle. From the looks of that stunning gourd, it’s easy to see that you really enjoy it, as well as do it very, very well. Keep on tangling!!
Thank so much for your kind words. Bless you!
Wow what a fantastic job you have done with that Gourd. You are an inspiration and I wish you all the best of everything in your health. I have also ‘tangled’ a gourd, not quite as big as yours though but get great pleasure in thinking up new designs while I can’t sleep at night then trying them out the next day. I live in South Australia and don’t know of any Zentangle teachers nearby so I have virtually taught myself and get great enjoyment from it. Good luck, Cecelia
I truly appreciate your kindness. Keep Tangling!
Wow, you GO girl! How inspiring, THANK YOU!!
Awesomely gorgeous gourds! You’ve taken zentangling to new heights. I’ve yet to take the leap from flat paper to a three dimensional piece. You are an inspiration in how you’ve overcome a great obstacle with grace.
Very impressive. Thank you for sharing…
Beautiful gourds! You have accomplished so much. Don’t be discouraged you do more with one eye than I do with do with two, you give me hope.
You are most welcome!
WOW Carol your gourd is SO beautiful. Even through the hardest times in life it is possible to find things that feed our souls. You are so inspiring, keep right on tangling! Thank you.
Thank you so very much.
What an inspiring story. The gourd is beautiful! Don’t loose the faith. Your work will get easier as you continue to explore new way to do things!
Again another beautiful, inspiring story, thank you very much for telling us this and of cours I love these gourds!!!