Tibetan Prayer Flags

Flag # 19: Grounded   by Jane LaFazio

Jane LaFazio here. Recently, I was doing some research on prayer flags, and learned that the commercial prayer flags I'd purchased and hung outside were always in the same 5 colors, hung in the same sequence. A little more research informed me that the colors represent the 5 basic elements and should be hung in order. From left to right: blue signifies space, white air, red fire, green water, and yellow earth.

commercial prayer flags

This inspired me to use to create new flags from the old. 

I stitched the flags to a muslin 5x11" (allowing for the 3" hem in the back)

I machine-stitched the traditional meaning on each flag.

Now, like I did with the 'grounded' flag, I'll create a flag based on the traditional element, but that speaks to me. I'll keep you posted!

Please, join the Prayer Flag Project. Click "How to Participate" to find out how.

Rebirth

Loralei Walker here, with another prayer flag, number four for me. This one I call "Rebirth":

A new year is soon to be rung in; for many of us, this is a time of reflection and planning. Like a phoenix is reborn from the ashes of its old self, come January 1st many of us also feel reborn, recharged - we are full of ideas, dreams, and plans. May your year ahead be one of discovery and joy :-)

Memories

"Memories", December 25th, 2011

Martha Wolfe here. As I embrace the holidays this year I am faced with sorting through boxes of old photos and all of the memories of bygone Christmases.  Children now grown, relatives no longer with us.....sweet memories, bittersweet memories.  What makes each day so precious.  I am grateful for memories....

"Memories", detail

My "Memories" were created with a photo transfer using an inkjet print and gel medium, hand-stamped lettering, organza magic escaping the handbag with beads and crystals, machine and hand-stitched.  Details include antique lace and crystal buttons.  Enjoying the time to reflect as I sew......

Light

Jane LaFazio here. Flag number 18 for me. Thirty flags are my goal. This one is for light. Spreading the light, the light within all of us.  .honoring that light.

Wishing you a Peaceful Christmas.

Deborah O'Hare here. If you are like me, around about now you are feeling totally frazzled by all the preparations.

So with that in mind I wish you all a Peaceful and Restful Christmas, and Happy and Fruiful New Year.

Karen Musgrave

Welcome Karen Musgrave. Karen began making prayer flags in June.  Her  first prayer flag, Honoring the Light, was made on June 23, the day her youngest son Nathaniel was born and in his honor. 

The women in Las puntadas del alma/Stitches of the Soul have been a part of Karen's  life for more than three years and she also wanted to honor them.

Jamie Fingal

Hope For me, Hope for a brighter day.

From Jamie Fingal.

Peace. For my sister, to give her peace and calmness in the face of trauma. God's sweet peace when every day is done.

Sonja's flags

New contributor, Sonja Hagemann, started created her first prayer flag on September 11, 2011.  

She continues to make them as time allows and has made them into a take-along project after painting the background fabric.

Sonja loves to paint on fabric and here are some of her first efforts. The backgrounds are old sheets colored with paints and inks and sometimes shiny glitter that catches the light. The flags are strung on torn selvages of her hand painted fabrics and knotted together. Sonja states "Hope seems to be the word that  surfaces first for me." 

 "what a great way to start a new year!"

Jamie Fingal

Jamie Fingal joins us, in The Prayer Flag project. 

She created this flag for her father who passed away the end of November. 


Smooth sailing. He loved the ocean and sailing.



And this flag, for her mom. Prayer for love, kindness and compassion.

Last Rose of Summer

Today was warm and humid, and a rare find in Connecticut in late November. On the back fence a floribunda rose was still blooming. Who ever suggested that roses were not a tough, beautiful flower!

I am inspired to think once again of summer, ice cream and italian ice, sunshine and seashells.

Flag For Hope: Letizia Loffi

A new participant has joined the project all the way from Italy.  Letizia Loffi's first flag is for Hope.

In her words...

"Hope is the most powerful fuel in life.  Without hope, there are no projects, therefor no future".

"My flags pray for the forces that guide our steps in life...  This one is made of tapestry cotton, lace, and organza ribbon.  Little glass beads and silver rattles hang from the ribbons to give hope a cheerful note..."

Cheers to all!

Group Prayer Flag Project

Friends making prayer flags.

Jane LaFazio here. This weekend, Thanksgiving weekend, my friends and I spent the weekend at  J&J Ranch for our annual get-together. Our hosts have a fabulous studio, and were happy to let me lead the project. Everyone participated, and it took less than 2 hours.




I did some pre-preparation at home, beforehand. 

I torn a long strip of fabric, 13" high , then pinned a 3 inch hem.

I sewed the hem on the whole strip.

Using a rotary cutter, I cut the flags into 5" panels

Quickly created 17 flags, each finished to 5x8"

 

 






We had acrylic paint, brushes, stencils and fabric markers for everyone to use.
   
Once the flags were finished, we took turns sharing the meaning, affirmation, wish that our flag was meant to  convey, then strung them together on heavy string.


 The guys hung the flags.

Jill, our host, stands at the door of her studio.
You can see all the finished flags in the prayer flag project flickr group here.

Thanks

Happy Thanksgiving. I am a day late (and probably a dollar short) but it I've been busy between the turkey and the stuffing and the trip to the ER with my neighbors.

We were planning on turkey for 15 when Jane, my 92-year-old neighbor telephoned.  Rome, her 94-year-old husband,  a retired lieutenant colonel, veteran of WWII, had had a episode of gastrointestinal bleeding.  We called the ambulance and she and I followed in my car.

Two days later he is in the intensive care unit of a large teaching hospital but acting spunking and silly with the nursing staff despite continued bleeding, transfusions and acute renal failure.

I am thankful for Rome and Jane. They have served as our surrogate parents (and we as there surrogate children) for 17 years. We love them and they love us... and isn't that what true friends are all about.

Wish us luck in the days ahead!

Babies and Hope

Hope is a theme that goes well with new babies. I think we are all filled with love and hope for our children.....that their lives will be rich with experiences and relationships that bring them joy and happiness. Hope for a bright future, both in their lives and the world around them. My heart is filled with hope.

My hope flag is a collage of bits and pieces from the past. Trimmings from my first art quilt, some suminagashi I did with the 6th graders last year, painted dryer sheet and hand-stamped fabric garnished with couched hand-dyed chainette and French knots.