Prayer Flags

I thought with all that is going on in the world these days, that this blog would be a good one to repost.  I am seeing a lot of people creating art with sunflowers (Ukraine’s national flower) or the colors blue and yellow which is the colors of their flag.  All this is being done to show support for Ukraine.  Prayer flags can do the same thing and if you believe the idea of a Prayer flag. The message of the flag will reach Ukraine.

I like the idea of Prayer flags or Peace flags, as they are sometimes called.  In Tibet, small squares of fabric with different symbols and words are hung on a long line of rope.  The idea is that the message of the flag is then carried by the wind to the rest of the world. The positive message could be for yourself, your family, community or the world.  It is a simple way to send out good wishes and thoughts.

Now you don’t have to go to Tibet to hang your prayer flag (although that would be a great trip).  You can make it and hang it outside your home, give it to someone or even hang it inside your home from a curtain rod, for example. 

I have made a couple of flags myself.  I did one when I was hearing a lot of criticism of my work but also just general negativity.  I did the design and wording free hand which was something new for me and did it with pigma ink pens.  I created a fringe at the bottom with some hearts drawn on each piece of fringe and added some purple yarn at the side as a simple tassel (the orange yarn was to hang it on the inside of my front door).

Then when the bombing occurred in Paris in November of 2015 and then a second one in Brussels in March of 2016, I made simple flags with a spool knitted peace sign for each of those events.  I tried to imitate their national flag as the base. I didn’t know what else to do. Prayer flags don’t have to be painted or drawn, you can also appliqué fabric or spoolknitting (or couched yarn) on them. 

 The first step is to decide what you want to say in your prayer.  Is it for you or a loved one?  Maybe healing from a disease or a break up.  Or is it for your community or the world.  Are you praying for peace or unity?   What symbol would work for what you want to say in your prayer?  I used a butterfly in my Speak Kind flag and a peace sign in my two little country flags.

Now a prayer flag can be any size you want.  The two flags for Paris and Brussels were about 6 by 7 inches.  The Speak Kind flag was closer to 9 inches.  Whatever size you make it make sure it is big enough to show your prayer and has enough fabric at the top or side to be able to hang it.  In other words, account for the hanging sleeve.

Your flag can be any color you wish it to be.  Do you have a favorite color or does the recipient of the flag?  Remember if you are using markers or colored pencil, the fabric needs to be a lighter color so the design can be seen.   Once the design is decided, now create your flag.  It helps if you meditate or pray your message while making the flag. 

Once it is created, hang your flag.  Put it somewhere outside (or inside, if you prefer) where the wind will catch it and start spreading the message around the world.  If you give it to someone, send a little note explaining the flag and what prayer flags are supposed to do.  You might also want to include a way to hang it like a small rod or string or yarn through the sleeve of the flag, so it is easier for the recipient to hang it. 

This is something you can do on your own or even get children involved if it is a prayer that they would understand.  If you are making a prayer for a friend who is ill, gather other friends and each create a flag.  Think of how loved that recipient friend will feel when she or he sees a whole string of flags wishing him or her well.  And think of how much better you will feel having sent your love and prayers in a creative way such as a prayer flag.

 

©2019, 2022 Cheryl Fillion

 

 

 

Community of Creatives

The pandemic disrupted a lot of things like work and school but also social groups like quilt guilds and artist groups.  For me it meant the end of some groups.  I recently joined 2 new groups and it has been wonderful to be active and social again.  It reminded me of a previous blog post that I thought I would share again.  If you have a chance to be part of a creative group, please join it.  It is wonderful to be surrounded by creatives.

Quilting bees were common in colonial days.  Groups of women getting together to sew and quilt bedding for each other.  It was a time of companionship but it was also a way for them to teach and encourage theirs and each other's creativity.

 These groups act as cheerleaders, pushing and encouraging the members to do what they want to do and, as with many dreams, what they need to do.  They help with brainstorming for solutions to problems such as where to get affordable supplies, how to barter work for training, where to display work, who to meet to achieve one’s goals.  They are there to cheer great successes and soothe the lesser successes (I don't like the word failure.).

You don't have to be working on the same type of creativity.  I can get just as much support from a painter or a writer as a quilter.  And you don't have to be at the same point in your creativity journey.  In fact, it is helpful if you're not.  The novice can see their future better with someone who has been creating their dreams for a longer time, and the experienced dreamer can be reminded of how far they have come.

You just need to meet once in a while and dream together.  Meet for coffee if there are just two of you or meet in a more formal setting if there is a group.  Allow each person to share their triumphs and disappointments, and allow the other members of the group to offer ideas.  Sometimes it is fun - if you can do it - to create together.  Plan a project together like a collage or just bring what you can work on and dream and create together. A recent memory I have of time with a fellow creative dreamer was the two of us finishing a baby quilt for a charity while talking through the snags in each of our very different dreams. 

 There is no reason to go at this creative journey alone.  Get together a group. You do want to make sure that the people you invite to your group are not the critics or just plain negative people.  That will just undermine what you are trying to do.  Make one rule of the group to be that even if you don't understand or enjoy another person's creative passion, it will still be treated with respect.

Don't miss the joy of a community of creatives - find or form a group.

 

© 2016, 2022 – Cheryl Fillion

 

Slow Stitch

 I have noticed on various internet platforms for embroidery the idea of Slow Stitching.  I looked it up and found it had a number of definitions.  One view is stitching by hand a piece where you make the design up a you go along; the idea of being improvisational.  Another view was stitching by hand any type of pattern or design including things you would normally do by machine like a doll or stuffed animal.  While the definitions seem to be different, the one thing in common is stitching by hand.  That is slow stitching.  You can’t go very fast when stitching by hand. 

And it doesn’t matter if you have a pattern in mind or you don’t.  What matters is to enjoy the process of stitching.  It can be very therapeutic to have the needle and thread go in and out of the fabric.  Just the fact that you need to be still when doing it is therapeutic in our fast-paced world.  Ever try stitching while on an exercise bike or while taking a walk; kind of hard.

This idea of slow stitching is based on the concept of mindfulness.  Mindfulness is concentrating on the act of doing something.  It can be anything.  Take washing the dishes.  How many of us really pay attention to what we are doing when washing the dishes? You just want the chore to be over.  Have you ever paid attention to how the water feels on your hands while doing the dishes, how the light reflects off the soap suds, or the wet dish or the flowing water?  Try it sometime and you will find that washing the dishes becomes a new experience.

That is how it is with slow stitching.  Pay attention to how the fabric looks in your hand? How does it feel in your hands?  Can you hear the thread sliding through the fabric?  Concentrate on the color of the thread against the fabric?  You are not looking at it to see if it contrasts or blends well but just simply how it looks.  Look at how interesting the piece looks with that one stitch that is just a little wonky.  Don’t rip it out.  You want that kind of wonky.  We are looking for contemplation in our stitching not perfection.  And you are not on a deadline so the piece you are working on could take a day, a week or even years.  That is all OK.  What you are involved in is the process of stitching, not the finished product.

Next time you want to try something new, just pick up a needle and thread and a piece of fabric and start stitching, slow and thoughtful.  You might find you come away feeling more relaxed, more inspired and maybe with something beautiful to look at.  Happy Stitching.

 

©2022 Cheryl Fillion