slow sunday stitching ~ August 11, 2013

 

 


i've been thinking
about my hexie project a lot lately and wondered if i could get it out and figure out where i was quickly enough to make it my slow sunday stitching project. it was surprisingly organized. i had a pin in it where i felt the next flower unit should go and i even had it all picked out. everything was ready in a matter of minutes so i sat down and began stitching. 


and now the piece is just a bit bigger than it was.

i think that this might be the next hexie sewn in . . .







  i'm once again linking up with Kathy at Slow Sunday Stitching. it's always fun to see who else has linked up and what they are working on.


i'm also linking up with Our Beautiful World. i like the friendly atmosphere there and i can share my world as seen through my lens with others who want to learn, share and inspire each other.
there is a prompt each week and this week it is "wonder".
when i look that word up in the dictionary one of the definitions is "exciting amazement or admiration".
that's exactly how i feel when i see things through the world of macro photography.

 

last week i was asked about the way that i hang my prayer flags and so i thought i would share the backside of this one and talk about it a little.

i follow the basic instructions on making a prayer flag from the prayer flag project blog.
i should say loosely follow those instructions. sometimes my flags are a slightly different size depending on what i find to make the flag out of. i enjoy making this an intuitive process so i keep my rules minimal.
 i do make the flag longer than necessary as i fold the top down in the back to form a little sleeve. i invisibly stitched this one and then embroidered a feather stitch over the top of the seam.

i like to add a patch onto the back that has the prayer of serenity printed on it.
stitching a bell onto the bottom of my prayer flags makes it an auditory reminder as well as a visual  one. 
btw: if you know where i can find more bells similar to this please let me know. i just happened to have a few and a they are nearly all gone.

i add my initials and the number of the flag on the back. the capital T that you see after the number indicates that this flag has a twin. i'm not sure why i do it this way . . . but it seems right.

currently i hang mine at the entrance of our home. i have a sort of clothes line thing going on there right now and i fill it with a variety of things that i enjoy. sometimes seasonal. i created this for the prayer flags in particular but until it's full of prayer flags i'll continue to add other bits.
i have also seen the prayer flags hung using a branch from the garden. i think that's a great idea too.



 
recent gifts include:

• breathing fresh air
• clean running water. hot or cold or anything in between!
• seeing colors 

 

prayer flags

did you know that Mother Teresa had this message written on cards that she handed out to those she came in contact with who were seeking answers to questions and sometimes feeling conflicted in their faith? she referred to them as "business cards".
i've been reading about her and finding that she was quite an amazing woman~! so strong. so focused. so faithful.

i occasionally find a quilt or a piece of a quilt that is advertised for sale as a "cutter" that i think i may be able to work with. this particular piece was purchased quite a while back just as you see it here (minus those grey outlines in the lower right hand corner). it's quite thin in places, the top has  worn through to the batting here and there and within the batting there is the occasional tiny brown  cotton seed. it has some seams that are damaged and the  maker didn't seem to mind that many of the seams didn't match up just right.
for whatever reason it had the one square removed from the lower left hand corner when i purchased it. old pieces like this one whisper stories of their previous lives and invite me to love them. 
invitation excepted~! 

when i acquire these types of pieces i think about  the limited time, energy and resources that were available to the quilter who created them.
if he/she were to see what i create from his/her work would that maker feel that the newly created piece continues to whisper it's own history while at the same time carrying on a new purpose? i hope so.
my thoughts focus on what my own skills and materials should bring to this history and how i can carefully morph the work into something greater than the sum of it's parts.
i consider whether i am showing the proper respect with the choices that i am making.
those first cuts are always a little bit stressful as i think about what my responsibilities are towards the original maker, the worn textile itself and my own creative vision.

notice the two separate smaller squares that have been outlined in grey in the above photo. those two squares have become my second set of prayer flags.

 

this one is for a friend who will be moving along to a new life in a new community soon. i will miss her and i'm wishing her all the best as she moves forward in her own personal journey.

i liked the way that the arcs formed of triangles within the blocks from the old quilt looked like wee banners when set on point within the prayer flags.                

 

and this next one is mine to keep as a reminder of our friendship. i will see (as well as hear) it and be faithful in my prayers for her.

 

the bell sewn to the bottom of the flags ring when caught by the breeze.

i enjoy the gentle auditory reminder even if i don't happen to be able to actually see the flag.

 

 

 

 

if you would like more information about prayer flags as well as a chance to see many more it's worth a visit to The Prayer Flag Project Blog.




you probably also noticed a larger grey outline in that previously mentioned photo . . . those were the cutting lines i used for an additional project: a doll quilt.

 

this is something that i try to do from each of the cutter pieces that i acquire. doll quilts are a favorite of mine and often the other newly made pieces go to another home. the doll quilt stays with me and becomes part of my growing collection. it's a fun way for me to remember and pay respect towards those (and their beautiful work) who have come before me.

i've just barely begun to work on the repairs that are needed for this smaller quilt. it's going to be a time consuming project and for an example of some of the mending being done you can click on the photos of the prayer flags above.
i'm excited about how i think that it's going to work out. i'll be posting more about the doll quilt in a future post.

recent gifts include:

• sunrises full of intense colors
• fly traps (~!!~)
• fabulous finds at the thrift store
• bright red geranium blossoms

the june giveaway and a prayer flag

i promised to share where the more intuitive approach/participation in needlework is now taking me . . .

i've been considering making a prayer flag for some time now and recently there was one of those 'perfect storm' of events and it's just what i needed to catapult me forward. i think i've waited for so long because i knew that it could very well turn into a full out project and not just an experiment. i was right.  

i've done various searches for both prayer and prayer flags over the past couple of years. i've read and re-read information, pondered my time and energy restraints, and done a lot of thinking about it . . . recently it was brought up by a friend during a conversation without provocation from me, which felt like yet another little tug. i've seen the subjects pop up as articles in various magazines and briefly discussed within both books and blogs: more tugs.

once again i was back to the 'lots of thinking' stage . . .
do i have enough time and energy for this? exactly what will it involve? will my own spiritual beliefs (which are not the mainstream) 'fit' into the spirit (no pun originally intended) of the project? what is prayer exactly? am i any good at it?
and most importantly, how can i possibly turn all of this confusion into a gentle physical symbol of love? 

this is some of what i discovered while i researched prayer flags:

• in Buddhism, a flag on which prayers are inscribed.
• tibetan prayer flags in tibet are called lung ta (wind horse)
• Traditionally, prayer flags are used to promote peace, compassion, strength, and wisdom. The flags do not carry prayers to gods, a common misconception; rather, the Tibetans believe the prayers and mantras will be blown by the wind to spread the good will and compassion into all pervading space. Therefore, prayer flags are thought to bring benefit to all.

this is some of what i discovered while i researched prayer:

• prayer is intended to train a person to focus on the recipient through philosophy and intellectual contemplation
• prayer is a catalyst for change in oneself and/or one's circumstances, or likewise those of third party beneficiaries
• There are many different forms of prayer
• Prayer may be directed towards a deity, spirit, deceased person, or lofty idea, for the purpose of worshipping, requesting guidance, requesting assistance, confessing sins or to express one's thoughts and emotions.

this is some of what i personally discovered as i created my first prayer flag:

• i must be mindful of every single thought, action and personal perception of devine guidance as i move forward (aka: an intuitive approach/participation)
• i am beginning and continuing a dialogue of (mostly) silent prayers which become unexpected blessings within my own life as i create as well as within the life of others as they receive and use what i have created.
• the prayer flag itself is a process not a product. it is very personal, very beautiful, and is entitled to my respect regardless of where or how it may end up.
• my understanding and empathy are greatly deepened as i work/stitch/pray
• my own personal sense of faith is enhanced tremendously throughout the process.
• the prayer of serenity is a perfect addition to any prayer flag  that i may make.

the list goes on but you get the idea: it was a continual series of "aha moments" for me.
there will be more prayer flags as the guiding powers within my life make me aware of the need(s) and i'm willing to bet that every prayer flag i make will add more discoveries.
this process has already become a welcome part of my life that i want to expand upon and yes, i'm now completely committed to my very own prayer flag project.
a journey that i am anticipating with a happy heart.

i'm interested in your thoughts and experiences in regards to prayer flags if you would like to share them with me.
if you would like to investigate more in regards to this subject you might also be interested in the prayer flag project blog as a starting point.

i once again met my own personal goals within a challenge framework. so i'm doing a quick dance of joy as well as celebrating by offering three of my photo note cards (of my choice) as well as a few extra surprise goodies. if you are interested in winning, please leave a comment on this post telling me what you think my theme/challenge for may was. 
i think this last month was a huge challenge for myself as i didn't take a single floral shot and i think it's going to be a tougher challenge for all of you who are participating. it will be interesting to see your guesses but you don't have to get it right, you just have to take a guess within your comment. if you happen to have an idea for a future theme, feel free to share that as well.
i'll draw a name/winner on june 8th.
btw: i don't know whether you all missed those flowers or not but it was absolutely painful for me not to be shooting and sharing them with you. i'm looking forward to getting back to them~!!~


 
the cards were made by a company called snapfish. i'm not being paid by them but i happen to think they're pretty nice cards.

recent gifts include:

• the discovery of a birds nest within my favorite tree (the one that grows tiny crab apples that the robins like to eat during the fall and winter). this tree grows right by my front door and the nest is inhabited by . . . yep, you guessed it. robins~!
• being able to observe the parent birds as they built the nest and continue to faithfully lay and guard the eggs
• the dappling of light near the pond as it falls through the aspen's whispering leaves
• time spent reworking the area around the pond
• seeing the fish become friendlier as the season progresses