Prayer Flag Practice...

Making these little textile banners certainly has become popular. And it's no wonder... they're just the right size for exploring some fabric and technique fun while expressing a positive thought. Right at the same time as my quilting friend Joanne shared an article with me on making prayer flags (if you believe in coincidence), Lenna at Creative Swaps opened her latest trade with... what else?.. prayer flags. So of course I signed up. Swap participants will be making three 5" x 8" prayer flags using their choice of supplies, materials, and sentiments. My first effort is the one above. It's made using a base of hand-dyed fabric given to me by Robbie of Robbie's Paw Prints. I did some reverse applique, to which I added embroidery and paint. The message, "friendship and peace, may they bloom and grow" is from a song of blessing we sing during Kairos Prison Ministry weekends. And just to give the banner some flutter-in-the-breeze elements, I also added fabric beads made in a previous Creative Swap. I think this will look bright and lively in someone's garden or on their porch.

This is my second effort, and it includes a stamped message from Scripture, "peace, peace, far and near". I made it using insertion strips of fabric, and couched twine and yarn. The backing is a piece from a fabric sample book. And the garden print is just a scrap I love. Another handmade bead tops the flag. It feels very creative to pore through my fabrics and supplies and come up with ideas for these flags. I have one more to make for the swap, but I'll likely made several and then choose which ones to send.