A Prayer Flag Surprise for Christmas!

I have been missing my fiber art group in Florida since I have moved away, but they are the BEST group of ladies anyone could hope for.  Case in Point:  I received  a package in the mail with hand crafted prayer flags from each of the members of the group!  I was totally BLOWN AWAY.  I had issued a challenge to them after I made my prayer flags, but in my wildest dreams, I never expected to be the recipient of flags made by them.  Here are the flags I received ( I have their permission to share them with you). 

This first one is made by Jill Bunker.  She is a great one for using silk screened designs, so her pieces are always original and one of a kind.  And I love her use of black and white.  She has added some dimension to her piece with small, plastic-like bubbles (not beads) on the circles in the flower head.  Her messages are:  Believe, Patience, Love, Peace, Wisdom, Inspiration, Happiness and Serenity.

The flag above is made by Linda Geiger, a new member to the group and a wonderful doll maker.  Her message is to Follow Your Bliss, and she has fabric beads plus gold beads to embellish her flag, with metallic gold thread stitching down the word, Create.  (I would guess the background has been ice-dyed)?

Gabriele diTota made the flag above, with her message of Peace.  A gold painted candle lights the way.  The background fabric is alive with vibrant colors!  A tiny taste of the talent of this new fiber art quilter, who has recently had works in SAQA exhibits traveling the globe.

This next flag is made by Marlyn Foell, and it calls for Peace on Earth.  Marlyn has used yarn, papers, glitter paint, and palm tree charms on her piece to make it uniquely her style.  I am amazed at the definitive styles evident in each of the flags, which makes them all the more precious to me. 

Ann Lorelle sent this offering which calls for you to Listen and Hear.  Written in smaller letters on the flag are:  Clarity, Value, Healing, Unity, Peace and Understanding.  That about says it all, eh? 

This very colorful flag is made by Lynn Greenberg, and consists of pinked commercial fabrics laid down on a marine-blue background.  The message on the back is:  Florida Memory for you, which is exactly what it evokes.  Beautifully done.

Mindy Marik is another new addition to the group, and she sent along this prayer flag, in vibrant yellows, oranges and reds.  Her message is: Protect Us From Evil.  You can check out some of her imaginative and talented work on her website, www.mindymarik.com

Pam Chamberlain, another wonderful doll maker as well as accomplished art quilter made the above flag which states, Peace on Earth, Goodwill to all Women!  (And all fiber artists, no doubt!)  Pam placed her sentiment on the back of a commercial fabric, folding the right side over to the "back" side: very clever. 

I have included two photos of the last, but certainly not least, flag, made by Susan Rienzo, (of www.susanrienzodesigns.com),  because it needs to be seen in its entirety.  Susan's signature style is to sew colorful strips of fabric onto a background fabric.  She has recently started doing marvelous landscape scenes of a tropical nature.  Here she has curved the strips onto the background and let them hang over the edge, and has placed all sorts of round objects, including washers and plastic rings tied to the ends.  Her message is: Dance, Dream, Sing, Believe, Peace and Celebrate....

I can't tell you how very much these offerings have meant to me, and I will add them to the prayer flags flying on my property.  Each flag exhibits the talents and imagination of the person who made it, making it an extremely personal and treasured memory for me.  I hope you enjoy seeing them and that perhaps it might spur your creativity to make prayer flags for your space.  Let the wind blow over the flag to carry the sentiment to all corners of the earth.  A small, meaningful gesture to add to the whole of humanities' dreams and hopes in this new year!  Blessings and creativity to all!!