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

Regain Your Appetite

This is for my friend Deryn as she's struggling with her chemotherapy treatment. She's lost alot of weight and needs to eat and drink more, but just doesn't feel like it. She's also lost her creative appetite and I'd love her to regain that too so that she can make more of her wonderful embroideries and dolls. I'm hoping that the winds will blow this prayer around the world touching everyone who's in need.

Juliet Ayer

In Memory

In memory of Maggie... a courageous warrior... a colorful, spirited young girl... a faithful child of God. I pray that this prayer flag brings comfort to her Mom.

Linda Arandas
http://www.dandelioninkstudio.blogspot.com

Welcome Sunshine!

Ever since pinning these to my Prayer Flag board on Pinterest. I have been wanting to do something similar.
Yesterday , while some lovely but rare Winter sunshine gave us a much needed reprieve from all the rain and gloom that has been with us for what seems like forever, I finally managed make some similar flags.

Gratitude

This one is to express my gratitude that my coastal home has come through unscathed from the huge storms that have been battering the British coast. We are high up, away from the danger of flooding and thankfully the roof tiles are all still in place. Many others have not been so fortunate.

Springtime Dreaming

I am sure that I am not the only one willing Spring to arrive. A gift from across the ocean did all the work for me with this one, as the threads and silks just fitted the bill for this wild flag. For now these are safe from winds and back inside, but I look forward to giving them a spot in the garden once conditions improve.

...and while I have your attention :D ...
I want to thank those of you who continue to send us your prayer flags. If you are looking at this via a Reader come take a look at the new header that I have put together, and for those who have been asking for a blog button with code, there is now one done.
Keep those flags coming. All kinds are welcome, whether you have spent hours or simply thrown them together in a lot less time!!
Stay warm and safe, Deborah

Gratitude

Michele Bilyeu shares her newest prayer flags as she writes:

My prayer flags of blessings are flying high in the winds of gratitude.  Blessings of gratitude for all of the many miracles in all of our lives, gratitude for patriotism that unites rather than divides us, and love for the good that is done in this world by so many.

And my heart filled with blessings as my brother was brought back and out of his medically induced coma, on Valentine's Day!!!.

Read more at:

My Heart Filled With Blessings

"My Valentine of Love"

From Michele Bilyeu...
Oregon is facing the challenges of a huge snowstorm. We live down a long, long country road driveway and we haven't been able to leave the house since Friday.
And on Thursday, I learned that my brother Doug, of Eagle River, Alaska was put on a ventilator and into a medially induced coma.
This is the second time in just 2 years that my brother has been rushed by paramedics to Providence Hospital in Anchorage unable to breathe from severe cases of pneumonia. 
What is a worried sister, whose heart is filled to bursting with love and prayers to do?...


Read more at:http://www.with-heart-and-hands.com/2014/02/my-valentine-of-love.html

All You Need Is Love

Michele Bilyeu here

All You Need is Love

 It's February, and our thoughts all go to Valentines Day, hearts, and love, love, love.
Are you singing the Beatles's song? I know that I am!  But then I grew up with long hair, skinny suits, mini-dresses, dangly earrings, tie dye, rainbow colors, graffiti, and hoping and praying for love and peace everywhere!

Oh, wait...those are all still here... and yet back "in" again!  They might have a new name or a slightly new look, but it's all part of how patterns all repeat in our lives. All we need is love..and somehow, that never, ever, changes.

So, I'm hoping and praying for peace and love...here, there, and everywhere. Peace for the Super Bowl, Peace for the Winter Olympics, Peace for our homes and in our hearts!

And what have I been doing?......making peace and prayer flags...it's all about love!
Read more at:
http://www.with-heart-and-hands.com/2014/02/all-you-need-is-love.html

My Word for 2014

My word for 2014 is 'Clarity'  ----Jamie Fingal

Season's Greetings

Hello!  I wanted to share a photo of a few of the prayer flags I've been making to share with friends and family this Christmas. They are hand painted in acrylic on canvas. I make the crowns from paper scraps, permanent markers and swarovski crystals. On the back of each one I write a message of hope for the new year.
Linda Arandas
http://www.dandelioninkstudio.blogspot.com

Joy, Love, Family

Making prayer flags has become quite a healing journey for me, as an artist.  Working on a smaller scale enables me to create works, without feeling overwhelmed.  As I pause to remember what is special to me at Christmas time, I see joy, love and family all around me.   ~ Jamie Fingal

Joy

Love

Family

A Few of My Favorite Things

Prayer Flags made by Jamie Fingal  "Hope" for the world we live in

"Love" for family and friends

"Art" for making my world more beautiful

"Dream" the big dreams

Fly Your Own Flags!

Jamie Fingal - I created these three flags for the Havel's Sewing blog, for a step-by-step tutorial on how to make them. "Beauty"

"Artist"

"Fall"

Fly Your Own Flags - Havel's Sewing Blog link is here

Collection of Flags

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Today is a collection of flags made by Frances Bertles. She is 77 and has Parkinson's and has put these together using glue, found objects and paint.
Thank you or sharing these Frances.

Flower Prayer Flag

Yvonne Moxen has sent us this flag

"I have added 5 flags to the group album but this one is very special to me, I made it for my Mother in law when she was very ill in hospital. Made from recycled denim jeans and other bits and bobs with hand embroidery."