"It's a String Thing" #242

It's Tuesday, your good news day!

Last week we celebrated Spring, this week we are celebrating mothers.  Mother's Day in many countries, including the U.S., is this Sunday, May 13. 

In 2014, on my first Mother's Day post, I wrote this brief history of the celebration ~

Mother's Day originated in the small town of Grafton, West Virginia. Anna Jarvis, a school teacher there in the early 1900's, began a campaign in memory of her own mother whose prayer was that "someone would someday create a special day to honor mothers." In 1914, her efforts prevailed when President Woodrow Wilson designated Mother's Day to be celebrated on the second Sunday of May every year.

 (Click here to view the entire write-up.)

That same post features a picture of a special gift from my son, John.  So much has happened in the four years since -  John met and married his ever lovely wife, Melissa, and just last month announced that they are expecting their first child.  Now that is one special Mother's Day gift for this Grandmother!

Let's give three cheers for the gift of motherhood and begin with this string ~

IAST #242 String by Adele Bruno, CZT

(This string was sparked by the idea of a loopy letter 'M' for mom. With one side smaller than the other, it could be a mother and child, couldn't it?)


The tangles we will use include ~

4Mom by Jane Eileen Malone, CZT
This is a sweet play on the word MOM, fitting for the occasion. 

Pots-N-Pans by Sayantika Ray
Truly a treat for mom, these pots and pans don't need to be washed 😉

Pixioze by Margaret Bremner, CZT
Not overtly flowery, this pretty tangle is still reminiscent of posies.

Use as many or as few of these as you wish.

As with all our IAST adventures, simply pencil in the string keeping in mind that it is a suggestion, and let the tangles lead the way.

Enjoy!

Here are the (Not so) Official Guidelines: 
* Challenges are posted on Tuesdays.
*Use the string posted for the week and some or all of the suggested patterns
* Submit a photo of your tile saved as jpg or scan your tile (300 dpi or higher) and save as a jpg
*Email your jpg file as an attachment to - brunoadelem@gmail.com
*Entries for IAST are to be submitted by Saturday evening of the week issued
*Photos, notes, and the 'Tile for Honors' are (usually) posted on the following Monday 

Send in your photos - you will encourage and inspire fellow Zentangle® enthusiasts all over the world. WHEN YOU SIGN YOUR NAME, PLEASE INCLUDE WHERE YOU LIVE. 
FOR EXAMPLE: ADELE BRUNO (FLORIDA)

PLEASE NOTE: It is not necessary for you to have a blog or website to participate. 

If you do have a blog or website, I will add a link upon request. 
Please include the site specific URL. 

I look forward to your emails.

Happy Mother's Day!

There are celebrations to honor mothers all over the world.  Here in the United States, we have officially been celebrating Mother's Day for one hundred years.  I have a very special ZIA piece to post, but first a little history lesson...

Mother's Day originated in the small town of Grafton, West Virginia.  Anna Jarvis, a school teacher there in the early 1900's, began a campaign in memory of her own mother whose prayer was that "someone would someday create a special day to honor mothers."  In 1914, her efforts prevailed when President Woodrow Wilson designated Mother's Day to be celebrated on the second Sunday of May every year.

Of all things, dear friends of ours, Mark and Kelley, grew up in the small town of Grafton, West Virginia, where Anna Jarvis lived and where the International Mother's Day Shrine is located today.  Mark's sister, Erin Hefferin, wrote and illustrated  a beautiful coloring/activity book entitled Anna Jarvis and the Story of Mother's Day.  (You can click here for the book's direct link on Amazon and even take a peek inside.)  The drawings are wonderful and the history lesson is invaluable.

As for me  - my husband and children have always made me feel special, especially on Mother's Day.  For that, I am most grateful and am very blessed.   They inspire me - my tangles are named for them :) - and their love and support as I pursue "all things tangled" is invaluable.

Last Mother's Day, I received a huge package in the mail from our oldest son, John.  This is what I unwrapped ~

ZIA for  Mother's Day by John D. Bruno

Talk about making a mother cry!  Happy tears, of course.  No, that is not a misspelling.  John calls me 'Momther' - an affectionate morphing of 'mom' and 'mother' - and the family refers to me by the other nicknames he listed (among others!).  Isn't it fabulous? (She asks with motherly pride;)

When John was home the Christmas before, we sat at the kitchen table for his first - and only - Zentangle lesson.  Here he is, my handsome son...

When I teach I usually take John's ZIA with me to show students what he created after just one lesson. More proof positive that "Anything is possible one stroke at a time."

Along the same lines, here  is another special Mother's Day ZIA.  Vicky Brison, a regular contributor to "It's a String Thing", sent this photo of the Mother's Day card she made for her mother -

Mother's Day card by Vicky Brison

Thank you, Vicky.

Happy Mother's Day to my very special mother, Nancy, and to mothers everywhere.

Have a wonderful weekend.