Bless Friends

At one time or another each of us is Challenged in life, by a BIG challenge.  This is for a friend that is facing her challenge. Most days we are busy in our own worlds, other days, we know something takes priority and as artists we answer that call.

Thank you Jamie Fingal for the creative way with wool felting to complete this prayer flag.

Blessings for each of you.

Spring is in the Air!

 With all of the cold weather all over the country, I thought some people might need some cheering up, to know that Spring is in the Air!  Happy Spring!   by Jamie Fingal

Happiness

In honor of the "International Day of Happiness", Michele Bilyeu shares her thoughts,  and her "Happy" prayer flag garland at: http://www.with-heart-and-hands.com/2014/03/international-day-of-happiness.html

With Heart and Hands
Michele Bilyeu

Sending Wishes

Today we hear from Maryly Matthewman

"Well our Prayer Flag Project is taking a turn now, a detour so to speak. We started out by calling our Prayer Flags, Wish Flags as they were for a little boy of 5 years diagnosed with an inoperable rare Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma brain tumor last May. DIPG they called it. Devastating news to his family. I watched on his blog as people sent prayers and wishes his way while he was undergoing radiation and chemotherapy at St. Judes Hospital in Memphis. Then I remembered reading about The Prayer Flag Project and I approached the family with this idea. How about sending wishes in a flag?  It was something his friends could grasp and understand, a Wish Flag. John would sit in his hospital bed with a fishing net and catch the wishes coming his way. There were  many other events in our community for this little boy. Fund raisers, Make a Wish Events, a dinner which was an evening of strength and hope in honor of John Bradley Thompson. An art show, so many things. There are so many things that have come out of this whole event but one thing that is so strong is the strength and hope of a family and the whole community.  I have sent a pic of some of the Wish Flags surrounding a center logo for The Cure Starts Now.  So many signatures and wishes on this quilt, it radiates positive energy.  John Bradley Thompson is not doing very well now. He is in a wheelchair now and tomorrow I will bring this quilt to his family so he can be surrounded by the love and warmth of his friends.  Please check out The Cure Starts Now, THINKJOHNBRADLEY.COM, and help in any way you can to fight childhood cancer. Support St Jude's Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.   

Very Sincerely Yours, Maryly Matthewman, Meredith, NH." 

Bloom.Shine.Love

I made these flags for my dear friend Kate as she faces major surgery.  Thank you so much for sharing the flags of hope, love and care - they are so special to everyone.

Ellen Wery       ellengetscrafty.blogspot.com

Hope and Healing

Earlier in the week here in New Zealand a little 7year old Japanese girl, named Sakurako, was attacked by four dogs. She had more than 100 bites to her face and body. We were told that 90% of her face had been destroyed. I dare not begin to imagine what this little one is facing in the days, months and years ahead, nor what her parents are going through.

 After watching an interview with members of the surgical and reconstructive team on TV last evening and reading the latest report in the newspaper this morning I had to leave the detailed Prayer Flag which I was working on for a friend with cancer and  made a very simple one for Sakurako. I have not written any words on the Flag, words failed me, but I hope all who read this will think of her and her parents and hope for peace and courage for them all in the years ahead.

The design and stitching is basic but I wanted it that way, showing ragged edges and stitches, just a heart symbolising love.

I have hung the Flag onto the rose trellis outside our lounge window on the verandah, others will join it there.

This is my first post as a direct contributor so if I have "strayed" in any way please do let me know.

Finding Peace

If any of you have followed the art and quilting journey of MaryLou Weidman, then you might know that her husband, Mark, was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer.

Mark has been fighting a valiant and courageous battle, and with many rounds of chemotherapy, his tumors had been shrinking. Recently, however, MaryLou shared that his brain cancer has returned and it has been very hard on all of them.

She asked us, if we believed in prayer, to send prayers for peace as they have all had a most unsettling time with this hard, and most challenging of news.

To read more about the prayer flag that I made for Mark and MaryLou go to:
 http://www.with-heart-and-hands.com/2014/03/finding-peace.html

With Heart and Hands

Michele Bilyeu