Tell us a bit about yourself.
Cathy: I’m a recent retiree who has become a “Domestic Diva” to the delight of my husband. I have two children, eight grandchildren and I am the oldest of eight with a large extended family.
I was born, raised and still reside in Cleveland’s inner city and I love every minute of it.
Patricia: I’m an average Baby Boomer who’s longing for those extra hours that will come with retirement so that I can fill them up by doing the things I love – like drawing tangles. Until then, I’m a technical writer putting in my 40 hours a week.
My only child has a son in the US Marines, and so I’m also an empty nester. At heart, I’m a small town girl who loves the lush beauty of Ohio where I explore winding roads that lead to antique shops, bake until I run out of ingredients, or linger far too late into the night with a good book.
Apart from creating things what do you do?
Cathy: I roller skate 2-3 times a week and participate in an aquasize class twice a week. I am a “fair weather sailor” and I scuba dive. Most days, you’ll find me with a hard hat on, tool belt around my waist, assisting my husband with household repairs. 
Patricia: I create other things! I’m also a member of the Audubon Society, actively involved in my church, volunteer with the local park system; and, I’ve just joined a pinochle club.Where do you get your creativity from?
Cathy: Mine is a God given gift. I watched my Dad and other talented family members produce the loveliest things made with their own hands. They were aware of my interest and encouraged me to create art. I’m still creating.
Patricia: My creativity is a gift from God passed to me through my Father. Of course, that’s where everyone’s creativity comes from.What got you into the craft hobby?
Cathy: I’ll give it to you in one word “Christmas.” With my large family handcrafted gifts became the norm which led to my experimenting with other art media. I’ve been crafting for more than 40 years.Patricia: I designed a Web site for a friend who happens to be an art teacher. She spent one evening a week for several months teaching me different media such as watercolors, pastels, acrylics, and colored pencils, and I dabbled with mixing my drawings with photographs to create computer art. I enjoyed them all, but it was the following Spring when I attended a workshop sponsored by our local Art League that I discovered Zentangle®. I fell totally and madly in love before the afternoon ended. 
How would you describe your creative process?
Cathy: I get a glimpse or idea and run with it.Patricia: My process is simple. I don’t think: I do.
What is your most favorite item that you have ever produced?
Patricia: My most favorite item is a tangle I named “Flower.” I love that it’s both simple and complex.
How did you get your business off the ground?
Cathy: My friend Pat started TangledNotes.com. She was showcasing her tangled designs. She introduced me to the new art form Zentangle. I’ve tangled people and the alphabet. I shared my creations with Pat and before I knew it I was added to the web site.
Patricia: There was a perfect storm of things happening. For one, people were telling me how much they love my tangled designs so I decided to put a few online. That’s how my company ended up being named TangledNotes.com.
And while all of that was happening, my friend Cathy fell in love with drawing tangles too. It made sense to share her Tangled People and Tangled Alphabet with the world too.
What are the goals with your business?
Cathy: It is a creative outlet for me. My friend Pat is in charge of the business. I’m just going to continue to create my art with Pat and we hope the general public enjoys it.
Because my designs were online, I was able to share them with friends in other cities, and that’s what let to my getting TangledNotes.com off the ground. I was asked to participate in an art show in Seattle, Washington. I held my breath, waiting to see if the public would like them as much as my friends liked them, and they did! The cards sold out the first day of the show!
Cathy: It is a creative outlet for me. My friend Pat is in charge of the business. I’m just going to continue to create my art with Pat and we hope the general public enjoys it.
Patricia: The goal of my business is to bring a smile to the people who see my tangled designs. I want them to look at the many patterns in each design, and then to turn the design in every direction to see if they see something new. For example, one lady looked at the design I call Raspberries and she told me she saw a poodle! And there’s a man who looked at what I thought was a lighthouse, and he saw a bedpost! That’s what I call wicked good fun!
Patricia: Work. Housework. Yard work. Go to church. Eat out with friends. Play Internet games. Read. Mow the lawn or shovel snow, but only when necessary.
What is the message behind your work?
Cathy: Do what you love! Come visit us at www.TangledNotes.com
Patricia: Slow down. Take a deep breath. Focus. Relax. Enjoy. Smile. Many TangledNote.com designs are also available as 8 x 10-inch matted art prints.
Check out Tangled Notes this fall at the Avant-Garde Fall Art & Craft Show. This eclectic show will feature 67 of the areas most talented artisans and crafters. A portion of the show's proceeds will be donated to the North East Ohio Make-a-Wish Foundation.
Avant-Garde Fall Art & Craft Show
Sunday, October 23, 2011, 10:00am-5:00pm
Holy Spirit Byzantine Catholic Church
5500 West 54th St.
Parma, OH 44129.
For more information, contact Becki Cooper, at info@avantgardeshows.com.
