Now for something completely different...


This is a first for me. I am taking part in a blog hop! 
I am presently the head administrator over at The Prayer Flag Project blog which basically means that if you email a photo of your flags to the blog, I am the one who posts it.
If you are unaware of the blog and how it came about then please take a moment to read about how and why Vivika DeNegre first began this project
In order to further the Prayer Flag movement over at Quilting Arts, Vivika and her team have put together an eBook. It has over 550 miniature flags which were submitted by readers of Quilting Arts that are beautifully photographed with many heartfelt messages. 
In order to celebrate the release of this, I, along with the other chosen "hoppers" were sent a banner of flags to decorate and display.


My first instincts were to saturate these flags with colour in keeping with all of my previous ones, seen here in my Prayer Flag Flickr set.
However I decided that the cotton/linen blend had a very sun bleached, coastal vibe to them and decided to stick with that. I do live on the coast after all!


I began by adding texture to each flag with a Gelli plate print and then freezer paper stenciled birds/seagulls in flight, on to five of the eight flags.
Hand embroidered lines of sea and sand, along with some added colour from Inktense pencils completed the effect.


Furthering the seaside theme I added a pebble along with a glass bead to the bottom of each flag.


On the remaining three flags I decided to add some text.
Over at The Prayer Flag Project blog you can see from the tags the themes and sentiments of each of the flags that people contribute to the blog. It has been arranged so that the most popular themes appear at the top. Before you have a look see if you can guess which is the most prominent theme?


Of course sometimes the flags are tinged with sorrow but more often than not they are inspirational and uplifting.and it has been my privilege to be a part of this life affirming project.

Want to see more?
Vivika first blogged and shared her flags over on the Quilting Daily blog
and here are all the other blogs to visit.

April 14:               Jane LaFazio
April 15:               Meg Cox
April 16:               Deborah O’Hare: That's Me!
April 17:               Jamie Fingal
                              Susan Brubaker Knapp
April 18:               Carrie Bloomston

And if you fancy getting your hands on the flags that I have used in this post you can do that here.

Couldn't quite stretch to get all eight flags into one shot!!
If you have a flag that you would like to share then please email theprayerflagproject@gmail.com
or visit the blog and do so from there.

Comments

  1. Deborah, I just wanted to say that the beauty of your flags is stunning. I'm tempted to see if I can get Helen to make some as she embraced some of the Buddhist teachings this autumn when she struggled to come to grips with some (minor) health issues I had. If you draw my name for the prize please do draw again. I am useless at using any of the books and such that I purchase.

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  2. I love your flags Deborah - I'm off to check out the prayer flag blog. I'd love to make some flags in memory of my beautiful son.

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  3. My question being...."Is this where I enter my question for a chance to win Candy's DVD?" Really, its....Does she incorporate fabric scraps to create images too? or is it all thread sketching?
    Thank you for a chance to win,
    Emily H.

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  4. I love the idea of making a prayer flag or a banner style like this for my daughter. She tends to get down in her moods, so I would like something that is inspirational for her so I was thinking of inspirational quotes as a possibility. I love how you did yours, really beautiful fabrics and theme for a prayer flag.

    Debbie

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  5. I use peace as a word on most of my prayer flags... but I put diffefent intent into each one.

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  6. I love that the blog hops introduce me to a whole world of artists that are new to me. I really like your art! Catherine

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  7. absolutely love how you added the beads and pebbles to your flags... I've been making them for my niece, who is undergoing chemo for bone cancer. she is very appreciative. I send her HOPE, PEACE, and DREAMS.... and I recently sent her a prayer flag made using a stencil of a child blowing bubbles - she liked that one so much, I also sent her a t-shirt using the same stencil.
    I love the way these prayer flags join together with the buttons.

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  8. I haven't made a Prayer Flag yet but have ideas coming to mind as I type this. My first will use the word "Worship" because I try to truly worship my Lord and Savior every day and will "Praise" His mighty name along with all He has created.

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  9. These are lovely! Very simple and beautiful, and I love the rocks at the bottom! :-) What a great addition to this hop!

    Candy

    p.s. no need to enter me in the giveaway..... ;-)

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  10. I love your beachy prayer flags. Breath is the word I'd put on a flag because a reminder to be calm and breath can apply to any of us.

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  11. What lovely work..."GRATITUDE" will be on my first flag!

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  12. I love how the flags button together, have never made them but these have I noticed me to try. Beleive would be one I would choose

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  13. Beautiful work! I think that if I made flags I would put quotes from the Psalms on them. Thanks for the giveaway! sarah@forrussia.org

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  14. What a lovely idea -I'm off to follow the link! will you be at FoQ this year?

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  15. I've only made 4 prayer flags thus far and am totally addicted ! Yours are very calming and I love the rock you attached....crochet? Great idea ! I would love a chance to win Candy's DVD ! Answer to your question...scripture.

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  16. Peace. Thanks for the chance to win the dvd!

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  17. Such a striking banner with heart felt hopes and thoughts - love them!

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  18. I would probably go with Peace, too, peace for my kids :) So they aren't so wild!

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  19. I would like hearts on my prayer flags. -- soparkaveataoldotcom

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  20. I have become OBSESSED with prayer flags lately... but as yet have not made any. I'm hoping to get a set up on Easter Sunday... so I had better get moving'!!! Thanks for sharing this post!

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  21. Candy's dvd is on my wish list. I'd love a chance to win a copy.

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  22. I love the idea of Prayer Flags and just recently heard about them. I can see Prayer Flags for our US Armed Forces as I sit here in our RV at Mayport Naval Station. Tomorrow the USS Gettysburg comes into port after being on deployment. Happy times for many!

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  23. Your flags are very moving. Thanks so much for sharing this. I would make a flag "for the children"

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  24. ¡Que bien las banderas! Hay tantas cosas para poder poner en ellas...

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  25. I've been taking part in an Art's Council funded project up here in Northumberland. We did a weekend workshop with Stella Adams-Schofield, creating a story through textiles, based on the mining industry that once sustained this area. I chose to create 4 small banners, inspired by prayer flags. I'll send you photographs when they are completed. To me prayer flags symbolise creativity.

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  26. I feel good about this project since the flags have lovely intentions behind them.

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  27. "Together" would be my tag--speaking to my desire for unity, and reunion.

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  28. I love your beautiful flags! Thanks for the hop!

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  29. I'm always looking for new dvds and books for learning free-motion quilting/threadplay. Definitely interested in checking out this book. I also added it to a list I maintain which shares insights on DVDs about FMQ/Threadplay at: http://sewcalgal.blogspot.com/2011/12/free-motion-quilting-dvds.html

    SewCalGal
    www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com

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  30. I love your flags and especially the creative way you weighted them. Thanks for a chance to win that great book.

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  31. i've never heard of this concept before! maybe quilt on some national flags of countries that you want to pray for, or print some fabric with faces of people to pray for (e.g., women and children in the DRC), and then applique those on!

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  32. "Family" "Love" "Service" is what I'd start with on a prayer flag. I've never made one but I love hanging things like garlands and mobiles. I would love to win the dvd and learn how to "sew" those words onto a flag. Thank you.

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  33. I am not often surprised by my newsletters and bog reading, but today I was about making prayer flags. While I never thought to do that, it is actually perfect for so many occasions, and especially to heal. They are a happy reminder to self to think about the thoughts infused in their making. Wonderful idea.

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  34. I appreciate your flags because they have a picture! And a multimedia one! I really must try using Gelli plate prints. I'd love the book your giving away...have always loved "drawing" with thread, and have made fabric postcards, a small quilt project that is a good application for doing this. scotthoughtonatverizondotnet

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  35. I think my first flag needs to say "Be kind."

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  36. Your Prayer flags are beautiful, it's something I've been thinking about making for some time now. I think mine would focus on the Fruits of the Spirit from the book of Galatians.

    ukcitycrafter@live.co.uk

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  37. love your flags . Thanks for a chance to win that great book.

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  38. I love the idea of prayer flags. So beautiful flying in the wind. yours are lovely - I like the pebbles and beads at the bottom.

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  39. I watched a program last night about the Tibetan prayer flags. It was very interesting! The flags are great!

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  40. It has been an honor to be part of The Prayer Flag Project and I loved seeing my three little submission flags at the Quilting Arts website, eve tough they didn't make the cut for the magazine. I spend a great deal of time making prayer flags and will be teaching them at a nearby county this week and am delighted by the open mindedness of more and more traditional quilters or artists are becoming to what is often seen as a less artsy art form. Your flags prove otherwise. You've been a wonderful and incredibly prompt administrator, so thank you, truly!, for all that you do at our website. And yes, if I do win this wonderful DVD, I will love owning it and put it to very good use!

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  41. Absolutely love the wrapped rock accent on the flags!

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  42. Your prayer flags are beautiful , I only recently heard of the prayer flags but did an exchange of one with the theme unity . I would love to win this book , thanks so much for the chance !

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