Once upon a time i wrote blog posts...

if you're looking for this week's challenge, it can be found here.

Inspired by Kit @ Dreamscribe Designs and Mel @ Lone Creature's posts regarding their coffee cups i thought i'd take this opportunity to show mine!

When my 2nd son, Artoo, was born almost 2 months early in October, i spent it a lot of time going back and forth to the hospital while he was in Neo-Natal Intensive Care.

Oct 16, 2010 - Artoo's birthday!

Then i lived there 24/7 for the ten days he spent in Pediatric Care.  He spent a total of 40 days in the hospital before he came home.

As i spent a lot of time just being present, i started bringing my Zentangle® kit to the hospital and did a few tiles.  Here are two that i made for Artoo's isolette and for his little neighbour Erik's isolette.

"e" is for "Erik"

"o" is for Artoo's real name ;)

I really embraced Zentangle during this period, as it helped me to find a space of calm during such a crazy time in my life.

I also spent a LOT of time (and money) at the Starbucks Kiosk in the Hospital Mall.  i loooooves me some Starbucks - and i bought a really great red travel mug in support of Project (RED).  it's great.

a few days later, Starbucks started putting out their Christmas stuff and i came so close to buying a travel mug  with the photo insert to tangle....but i couldn't justify the purchase seeing as i'd just bought the (RED) one.

i kept going back to the kiosk, and kept almost buying it.

then i saw this great mug and immediately dreamed of tangles!  A great mug to use at home!

it took me a while to find the time to sit down and tangle it - and it sat on my counter until just before New Year's.

then i sat down, tangled, let it cure for 24 hours, then baked it in the oven to set it...

at 18 ozs, i call it my Big Mug.  i use it everyday, and it holds almost half my coffee pot.  mmmm.

So Awesome, even Jessie loves it.

So there you have it!

My Zentangle Inspired Art Mug.