Prayer Flag Swap

The final prayer flag arrived this afternoon.  I participated in a 3 for 3 swap through Lenna's Creative Swaps.  Such fun making the flags and then the anticipation of receiving them.  It was definitely worth the wait! And such a beautiful, breezy fall day to display them on my garden gate.  I took many pictures, because the wind was blowing and the chickadees were flying past wondering what I was doing.  I was hoping to have one perch on the top of the gate, but no luck.  I couldn't resist putting the flags against my pole barn.  I thought it made a great picture. 

Oh, such creative flags!  First, a soft, sweet flag made from an old quilt.  Lace, and tatting, buttons and embroidery with a sweet message to match..."Friendship Gardens Always Blooming.  Lovely pastel vintage colors..from my Mailart buddy, Jewels (we swapped flags this month instead of mail).  Many thanks.  

Next, a striking black flag, batik fabrics, hand-dyed thread and lace, beads, buttons, hand stitching and stamping.  This eye-catching flag is from Shirley with one of my favorite ideas ..."Random Acts of Kindness".  Shirley sent a story about just this very act that happened to her on the way to work one day.  Thank you Shirley, a good idea to practice everyday.  

In the middle is a bright flag from Tina.  Batik fabric, cone flower photo, with the message "believe".  Tucked inside is a little blue heart and the word "love".  She also stamped "We all have our own kind of dream".  All wonderful prayers to send to the universe.  Thank you so much, Tina.  

Next, from Leslie, my Mailart bud in California, is a serene flag.  Dyed linen and lace.  Old lace, beaded, stamped and hand-stitched.  Love the muted colors.  Beautiful!  Message: "confidence".  WOW,  thank you L.  The photo doesn't do it justice.  

Finally, a cool flag from Gretchen.  "Take Time".  Nicely stitched,  colorful, and whimsical.  I love the little pink birds at the top with a little bling.  Fitting message, thank you Gretchen.  


With that final message, thank you all.  And, thank you Lenna for organizing this swap. You have connected me to Leslie and Jewels and now Shirley, Tina, and Gretchen.  I am blessed.
Hugs.

Graffiti: "Read My Lips"

"Best of Show Award" Thank you!

"Read My Lips" 18" x18" Collage on canvas

My entry for Graffiti: Art Crimes & Deviant Scribbles.  Stenciled my letters and added layers of stamping, paper letters and magazine images.  Had great fun with dress maker pattern pieces...again.  All this on a yellow brick paper wall.  An interesting art form.  Luckily, I didn't have to climb a building in the middle of the night. 

AAWA Show in Ann Arbor

"Spirit Crow"  12" x 14"
" Used as publicity at Ann Arbor District Library's website for 2012 AAWA Exhibition"

"Kin" 12" x 12"
Honorable Mention AAWA
Sold- Thank you! 

Entries for the upcoming Ann Arbor Women Artists show.  Having great fun using dress maker patterns.  Both pieces are on canvas.  Always something new to learn in the collage world.  Enjoy!

Prayer Flag Swap-Lenna's Creative Swaps

I joined Lenna's Prayer Flag Swap.  My three flags are ready to be sent.  Here is what I did.

First, the prayer flags didn't need to be a religious statement, but they needed a word of encouragement or thought.  The first thing that came to my mind was Sadako of  A Thousand Paper Cranes.  We read this book each year in my 5th grade reading class.  Sadako is dying from radiation poisoning from the bombs dropped on Hiroshima.  One year we made paper cranes and sent 1,000 to the Sadako shrine in Japan.  Read more about it here:  http://www.fantasticjapan.com/sadako-sasaki.html   I knew this saying from Sadako was perfect for my flags.

 Cut up a white linen napkin, taped to regular white computer paper and ran it though my printer.  This was new for me, so I was happy to learn the process.

 Red  (a power color) cotton fabric cut slightly bigger than necessary.  Had fun making swirls and stars using Lumiere paints by Jacquard.

Stamped with StazOn.  Stamped on red cloth and the white napkin.  Used separate letters to stamp PEACE and FLY.  Positioned white table napkin and turned over flap.  Used blue ribbon and sewed across the top.  Added torn pieces from side pieces I had to cut off because the back piece was too big ( suppose to be 5" x 8"). I wanted it to catch the wind.   Added pony beads, shell, and feathers.

Each one is a little bit different.

 One more for Lenna with a little guardian angel pin that belonged to my mother and a feather some bird gifted me today..  Had to pass them on.  Now I have to finish my two flags that go to my MailArt buds, Leslie and Jewels.  Great swap!  Can't wait to see what flags I get in return.  To see the beautiful flags go to:

http://creativeswaps.blogspot.com/  Enjoy!