Prayer Flags

Prayer flags are a centuries-old tradition among Tibetan Buddhists.  My first exposure to the flags came in the mail, when the Free Tibet organization sent me a string of flags while asking for my support. 

When I learned more about the tradition of prayer flags, I found it delightful.  The flags, containing all sorts of symbols, prayers, and mantras are placed outside homes for the wind to carry the prayers out into the open air.  The flags, moving in the wind, are said to generate natural positive energy and bring harmony.  There is significance to the symbols, colors, and materials beyond my knowledge and understanding.

I was recently directed to the Prayer Flag Project (unfortunately, I cannot remember the person who first provided me the link), which seeks to spread peace, goodwill, and kindness, one flag at a time.  The originator of the project, Vivika Hansen DeNegre, invites people to create a flag (she includes a tutorial on her site), hang it outside to spread the words and sentiments on the wind, and then submit a photo for inclusion on her site.

Shortly after I saw that site, Donnalee Nichols sent me a mini-zine about prayer flags, which she calls "living kinetic words of hope."  Further, it says, "It is believed that the prayerful words on the flags are lifted up to God and spread thru out the universe as they soar in the wind.  Everyone who encouners that wind is touched by that prayer that extends blessings of good will & peace...a reverent reminder that our prayers are heard and answered."  Beautiful!

With all of these "nudges," I was inspired to do my first (but certainly not my last) prayer flag project.  I decided to work with paper--a more familiar, comfortable, and "easy" medium for me--before tackling something with fabric.  I chose the size of an ATC for each of my flags to make my initial project manageable. 

I then created a list of qualities that I find myself praying for frequently, or know that I need to be praying for regularly.  I came up with:  peace, love/tenderness, wisdom, satisfaction, nature, innocence/purity, joy, faithfulness, and new beginnings.

For each quality, I created a collaged ATC/prayer flag.  On the backs of each, I wrote a Bible verse that reflected that quality.  The verse serves as a reminder of the quality, or as a prayer in itself.

I punched two small holes in each card and strung them together on hemp twine.  Then I hung the prayer flags above the closet in Studio 791, spreading their positive energy among my art supplies.

Here are some close ups of each of the flags:

innocence/purity, love/tenderness, satisfaction

the verses on the back (in reverse order from the images above)

joy, new beginnings, wisdom

again, the verses on the back, in reverse order from the images

nature, peace, faithfulness

again, the verses on the back, in reverse order from the images

While it's not particularly realistic that I would stand in my closet to read the Bible verses on the back, I thought the photos captured from inside, looking out into my workspace looked pretty cool:

I continue to be interested in the concept of prayer flags, and for the ways in which they connect with my Christian faith.  There are sure to be more prayer flag projects in my future!

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Please take a moment to enter my giveaway, if you haven't already. 

I will be announcing the winner of the book and stationery set

on Saturday, May 5!

Finding Poems on the Spines of Books

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If you haven't entered my giveaway celebrating my 200th post milestone,

it's not too late!  Enter here.

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Are you familiar with Found Poetry?

When I was a high school English teacher, my students would "find poetry" in the pages of the books we were reading, identifying themes by highlighting select words on a few pages within a chapter.  In one class that needed LOTS of opportunities for movement and talking, I wrote large words on paper and scattered them around the classroom floor for the students to arrange, kind of like magnetic poetry on the fridge.

Quinn McDonald proposed a fun version of Found Poetry, which she discovered while organizing the books on her shelves.  She realized that the book titles sometimes sit together in fun, poetic ways.  She calls it Book Spine Poetry. 

Quinn invited her readers to try some Book Spine Poetry and link up to her blog, so I thought I would give it a try.  What do you think?

1.

Certain girls--summer people--specimen days, the barefoot believers, feeling good.

(Hard to figure out the punctuation for that one!  It sounds best read out loud, slowly.)

2.

She's come undone In the middle.  I can say a prayer...a separate peace.

3.  This one shows there's still fun to be had with our hubbies even after we have our kids (heehee):

The incredible truth about mothers?  Oh My stars!  Good in bed...little earthquakes...wild gratitude!

4. 

The rhythm of family:  Laugh & tickle, hug & pray.  The source:  Can you find it inside?  Good faith!

5.

The wanderer, daughter of fortune...prodigal summer, baptism by fire...I know why the caged bird sings.

It was kind of fun to scour the book shelves, looking for titles that might lend themselves to found poetry and relate to one another.  Though Quinn did it while organizing her shelves, I had to be careful not to get mine in total disarray as I pulled titles from three different rooms and a hallway! 

If you decide to give Book Spine Poetry a try too, let me know; I would love to read your Found Poems!

Giveaway Time!

I've been wanting to do a giveaway on my blog for quite some time, and the big day has finally arrived!  In celebration of this, my 200th blog post, I want to thank one lucky blogging friend with something fun in the mail.

Here is a completely unstaged look at my work table this evening....can you spot the giveaway items?

...there down in the front??  Yeah, it's pretty tough to pick them out of the mess.  Here's a closer look:

I will be giving away one of the Studio 791 "Colorful Journey" Stationery Sets.  As you might recall from an earlier blog post, this set includes six "Journey" gift tags, which are shipping labels embellished with a piece of map and a sentiment created with a Dymo label maker.  They also contain an Airmail Envelope Notebook, a paper tape bookmark, and a stitched card with an envelope, as well as one of my handmade envelopes with a stamped card insert and a red "To/From" label to use with the envelope.

But, wait...there's more!

I am also giving away my copy of Visual Chronicles:  The No-Fear Guide to Creating Art Journals, Creative Manifestos & Altered Books, by Linda Woods and Karen Dinino. 

Every chapter deals with one potential excuse for not getting started with art journaling, such as "I have no time," "I'm just not artistic," and (my favorite for a smile) "I don't have any ephemera and I don't know what it is."

There are even a few spreads about mail art!

(Don't worry if you already have this book.  Go ahead and enter the giveaway, and I have two other titles you can choose from, if you would like!)

So how can you win the stationery set and the book?  Well, each person has up to three chances to win:

1.  For one chance to win, write a comment on this post.  Because I am always happily looking for new art, craft, writing, creativity, and inspirational books, I would like you to include a book title/author that you think we should all check out.

2.  For a second chance to win, please become a Follower of this blog, and write a second comment telling me that you did.  If you are already a Follower, just leave a comment telling me that you are.

3.  For a third chance to win, share the news of this giveaway in some way.  You might blog about it, with a link to this post.  You might share it on Facebook, in an email message or a phone conversation to a friend, or in (gasp!) a handwritten snail mail letter.  Then leave a comment letting me know how you chose to share this giveaway.

Please note that only comments on this blog post will be considered for the giveaway.  I'm not ready to figure out any fancy computer sites or programs, so my Random Number Generator is likely to be my husband!  :-)

Comments should be left by midnight (EST) on Friday, May 4, and I'll announce the winner on Saturday, May 5.

I can't wait to hear from you!!