Flags for Boston

Today we are joined by Shari.   

"I took a day off from my usual painting to make some prayer flags to send love, peace, and healing to all those involved in the recent Boston bombings.  All I could use was my supplies that I already had (I don't have a car) so I had to use what was on hand.  I sewed, stamped and embroidered 12 flags, measuring about 9 x 11.  Using hemp twine to hang them on my porch, I sent hope and love into the wind to travel all over the world.  

I have family and friends in Boston, so it really makes my heart ache to see it all on TV.  Maybe my little effort will ease someone else's pain.

Thank you for letting me share this with you."

If you feel like making flags for Boston, the Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild have launched a project 

To Boston With Love. Follow the link for all the details.

Peace

Jamie Fingal; In light of recent events in the USA, my prayer flag is for peace in the homeland

My collection of prayer flags in my studio is growing

Sew Happy

Monica Dennis has recently been introduced to the delights of making Prayer Flags.

This is her first contribution!

Love is...Looking in the Same Direction

Michele Bilyeu dedicates this flag to the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing. 

She eloquently explains her thought processes over on this blog post.

Student Collection

Julie Hernandez, an art teacher in North Texas, who first shared a flag with us here, has now sent us these flags that she has made with her students.

Enjoy!

A collection of Six Flags from Liz Pearce

Hi
Liz Pearce from New Zealand here.
I have completed my prayer flags for the season of Lent.
 
I always used donated or recycled materials for my prayer flags. 
I have even used clear plastic bags and these proved quite effective.
I would encourage readers to make a prayer flag using whatever is at hand ... don't make excuses. 
Use found materials - paper, plastic, fabric, weed-matting ... go wild!
Use a glue stick or glue gun, if you can't find a needle and thread.
Use a felt pen and simply draw or write.
Let the prayer flag be messy ... loose threads can add texture and meaning.
Don't wait for 'good ideas' ... any piece of art that considers others makes the world a better place for each of us.
Don't judge or compare your flag with others ... you are a wonderful and unique you ... let it shine through your creation.
 
And enjoy the process!!!!
 
Liz

Perspective

Annie, who is very busy moving country at the moment, has still found the time to make this flag!

Read all about it here

Prayer Flags from Norway

 Veronique is a teacher in Norway who shares with us some of the flags created by her pupils.

It is an ongoing project that she has been doing for the last 2 to 3 years.

The themes have included Peace, and a look at attitudes that create a good atmosphere in and out of the classroom.

The Circle Project

Today, Emi shares some photos from a project she is working on in India.

"The Circle Project was started by Sankalp Khanna from New Delhi, India and aims at moving towards establishing a holistic society by connecting the youth from rural and urban spaces through the creation of a shared platform beyond the classroom in which children participate in core-life skills based workshops in yoga, art, theatre, sports, and so on that will enable them to arrive at a better understanding of themselves and their surroundings. 
"I am co-facilitating with Sankalp the art + observation workshop in Ramgarh, a rural small mountain town in Northern India with local youth and would love to share our prayers flags in your project blog"

Thanks to Emi for sharing this with us.

Blessings in the Wind

Hi
Liz Pearce in New Zealand.
 
I am coming to the end of my year-long one-prayer-flag-a -day project.
I thought I would finish with a series of prayer flags, reflecting the Christian season of Lent.
This means extending my commitment for a few weeks but it seems a fitting conclusion.
I have learnt much about myself and my creativity during this year 
but, most of all, I have come to love this world and those who inhabit it a little bit more.
Making a daily prayer flag, rich in blessing, is a powerful tool for growing compassion.

Cheers
Liz Pearce

Find out more about Liz's year long commitment, and see all the flags she made here.

from the Heart

Blog land has been awash with hearts today. Mine included :)
Thinking that it would be nice to have a heart here, I have quickly made this, showing that the flags do not always have to be intricate, beautifully stitched pieces. This was done in well under an hour, using textile pens and some very simple stitching.

It is already dark here in the U.K. so not the best photo, but I would like to wish all our readers and contributors, the Valentine's day they wish for.

Inspiring others

Today we hear from Meg Glasgow

I was so inspired by your project, I brought it to our community in Eagle (just outside Boise, Idaho).The attached photos show the installation of 30+ flags created by artists of all ages outside my gallery.  I hosted a flag-making workshop and invited people to bring in their own creations to be displayed through the month of February. The response was wonderful! People were teary telling me stories about the inspiration for their flags.  It was such a hit, we my make this an annual event.

This is the link to my webpage and the project http://finerframes.com/the-eagle-prayer-flag-project/

Thank you for idea and inspiration! It has touched so many people in my community and brought many smiles and warm memories.

Blessings,

Meg Glasgow

Healing

Jamie Fingal - gearing up for surgery, and thought it would be nice to have this in the room where I am going to recover at home.  Saying a meditation everyday for healing.

Thanks Mum

Today my friend Joy Morgan shares this flag with us.

"I just finished this Prayer flag. It's called Thanks Mum. It's to send thanks to my mum for giving me my love of stitch, be it with needle, needles or hook. I've heard it's best if Prayer flags fly from the highest point (to carry the prayer in the wind) so mine is flying from my attic window which is also my stitching space.
Quite unintentionally my Prayer flag ended up the shape of the little pinnies/aprons my mum often wore. So Thanks mum." Joy

Never Forget

Today Julie Hernandez shares her flags with us.

" I am an artist and art teacher in North Texas. My students and I are starting off the New Year by making prayer flags. First, I wanted to send this one I just finished.  It is a prayer flag for Sandy Hook Elementary, which is still deeply on my heart.  The decorative skulls reference the Dia de los Muertos tradition of remembering and celebrating the lives of those who have passed.  And the way they are cropped and positioned created a perfect area of negative space for the names of the 26 victims to fit.  This flag is a tribute to them, and a prayer for their friends and family left behind.  In fact, it is a prayer for all of us."

More about Julie and the work she is doing can be found at jaeartworks.blogspot.com

B r e a t h e

Jamie Fingal - prayer flag to remind myself to just b r e a t h e.  Stop and relax.

Peace Garden

Peace Garden I

Peace Garden II

Peace Garden III

Thank you to Nancy Smeltzer for sharing her beautifully beaded  banners with us.

LOVE, HOPE, PEACE

Today we have a contributor from Wales in the U.K.
Ros Morgan has chosen Love, Hope and Peace for her prayer flags.
Thanks Ros.

Courage

Made for a dear friend