Prayer Flag One

Welcome to the first week of my prayer flag series.

I am making prayer flags for a few reasons.  One, because I love the way they look!  I think they are really beautiful.  Two, I am treating them all like little canvases, which gives me an opportunity to experiment with different techniques.  Last, I want to be more intentional in my prayers.

Below is a picture of the first one I made.  The theme this week is Gratitude.  I think that all prayer should begin with gratefulness.

If you are playing along, please don't get too caught up in the instructions.  Feel free to follow your artistic instinct.  You don't have to create exactly what I'm doing.  My instructions are just a guide and to act as a sort of inspiration. 

Let's get rolling with the tutorial!

I am using canvas paper for my flags.  I decided to go with 4.5 x 6", but of course go with any size you desire.

Make sure you brush all the salt off, and then you will the grainy texture left behind!

If you don't have a free motion foot on your sewing machine, there are so many other options for the word gratitude.  You could paint it on, use scrapbooking letter stickers, collage it with magazine cut-outs, etc.

You can use any fabric you'd like for the back.  Think about whether you will want each one to be different, or the same.  I found this colorful bedskirt at Goodwill and I love the colors.

Don't sew down the top or you won't be able to put anything in your pocket!

Do this when you have some quiet time.  Be intentional in your time.  Thank God for everything that you can think of.

Yay!  That was really fun.  I worked when I was all alone today so I could really reflect on my gratitude. It was a nice time.

 I can't wait to start on the next one.  Next week's theme will be Family.

If you have any questions at all leave a comment, and I will answer you in the comments as well.

Maybe when we're all done we can have a prayer-flag party and show each other what we made!:)

It's a Lovely Monday

I am doing one little craft show this year and I started making these fabric flowers last week.

They are attached to barrettes.  Once I started making them, I couldn't stop!  I have made 40 so far and they are just, so , lovely, that I can't stop!

I love playing with the colors and different fabrics.  I even had fun setting them up today for a little photo op!:)

I am so excited that some of you will be joining me in my prayer flag series.  I used my 50% off coupon today to buy a pad of canvas paper at Michaels.  I will be using that for the front of all my flags.  We'll start on Wednesday...can't wait!  See you then!

I'm linking up to Heather's Lovely Monday series.

xo,

Chrissie

Do you want to make some prayer flags with me?

I love the work of Karen Michel.  I am so inspired by her prayer flags that I've been planning on making a set for our home.

Do you want to make some with me?  If anyone is interested, I'm going to use this opportunity to explore and experiment with lots of different techniques that I've been wanting to try.  We'll do embroidery, painting, collage, sewing, and the use of photos.  If anyone else wants to do it, I'll post a tutorial every week for 6 weeks.  My plan is to make six panels for my prayer flags.  Every week will have a different theme and a different technique to share.

In the words of Liz Lameroux, "Each flag represents a prayer to be sent out into the world. The pockets on the flags are intended to carry your burdens, hopes, dreams, worries, and so on that are then released into the world as the flags blow in the breeze."

If you want me to share what I'm doing, will you leave me a comment?  It would be fun to do it with my bloggy friends.

1. prayer flags : in progress, 2. prayer flags, 3. http://flickr.com/photos/45797155@N00/4829388356/, 4. mixed media wood collage, 5. Prayer Flags (workshop), 6. prayer flags: seek series

An Etsy Update and Painting Rainbows

I didn't get to finish up everything I wanted to, but that's okay.  There is always next week!

  I finally listed about 10-15 pieces in my etsy shop if you want to check it out.  Free shipping in the good ol' US of A :)

I wanted to surprize my kiddies today so I set up an art project for them.  Nothing fancy.  Just some good old fashioned paint and paper.

There is something about rainbows that I L.O.V.E...

We ended up with three of my kids and two friends. 

Fun...:)

Only one of them attempted to do what I did.  I always find it interesting to see who wants to copy and who wants to do their own thing.

It's almost Friday and I'm ready for a three day weekend.  If I don't pop in before Monday, Happy Labor Day to everyone!

xo,

Chrissie

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Dear Secret Partner,

I hope you like the hanging wall quilt I made you for the Urban Home Goods Swap.

You said you liked color,

and Amy Butler fabric.

I spent a lot of time hand embroidering the words...

and had a good time with the free motion quilting.

I really hope you like it!

Love,

Chrissie

A Doodle

I made this little doodle today and I thought I'd share it with you.
It's been a nice weekend.  We are all back into the normalcy of a busy school schedule and really relaxing into the weekends.
I hope you have beautiful week!
xo,
Chrissie

ChChChChanges...

After embroidering off and on all weekend, I got a bug to change up my blog a little.
We'll see if it stays this way...:)