Prayer Flags A guest post

I am honored to be posting on my friend Kelley's blog today. I met Kelley at the Writer's Spa in Taos a few years ago.  I was so fortunate to have her as a roommate.  Although we went there as writers, we soon realized we were both art journaler's. We had both brought our journals and supplies so we had impromptu journaling sessions.  We've stayed in touch every since. This is one online friend that I met first and then continued the connection.

Kelley has been doing a series all week on prayer flags, in her first post she goes into the history of prayer flags and the post is full of information and great photos. On day 2 she has a video on gypsy prayer flags that she has made, you can see that here.

 For her third post, I am a guest poster, you can see that here. I share my experience with prayer flags when I was ill a few years ago. I have also included pictures of the flags when I got them and how they look now worn and faded.  Its a great story and Kelley has done a wonderful series all week.  Make sure to check it out.

There Be Crows and Ravens Here

 I found these videos online and loved them.  First you learn how to draw a crow and then to paint one in watercolor.






So I had to go and try this out. I so love crows and ravens so this tutorials were great for me. I have drawn and painted them before but they have not been very realistic.

 



 Here is my drawing I did while watching the video. It is pretty easy if you follow his directions.

 


 This is the painting, now there are a ton of things wrong with it but I like it anyways.  In fact it is the best bird I have ever done. So what has this exercise taught me? Well I think for one how to draw a bird and the courage to paint it in watercolor. Now I want to do some in paint. It was quite fun.

When I was in Oregon I saw these flags In a book store.  They were not selling them but they gave me the artists website.  So I looked up the artist and after some emails I was able to find a place to buy these. Cindy Shake from Alaska does some fantastic stuff. I may have to order some of her raven inspired fabrics.

These flags are all different and have been silkscreened onto cotton fabric.  I haven't figured out where I will hang them yet. So I just draped them to get some pictures.

I love how each one is different, they all have their own personalities. Have you ever seen something and knew you had to have it?  There was no question that I would have these, no matter what they cost. Things can be funny that way. These little flags give me such pleasure to look at them.

Prayer Flags For Friends

With two friends dealing with health crisis's I have been making prayer flags.  To make them I start with at least an 8 x8 piece of canvas and paint them with gesso. Then I made a simple drawing and started adding paint. My friend Connie has been dealing with a husbands illness so this flag was for the entire family.

After doing the first flag the second piece of canvas I had cut was just waiting for an idea. My friend Patty is fighting inflammatory breast cancer. She own a labyrinth and has prayer flags everywhere.  I don't know why I had not thought about making her a flag before.  She loves orange and this is a representation of her garage labyrinth. She also has a Chartes style labyrinth. If you are ever in Montana its a must to experience. Its called Red Sun Labyrinth.

Making prayer flags for friends is a simple thing that can make such a difference in someone's life.  They can add them to their yard or treat them like art and hang them in their home.  Its a great reminder that someone truly cares about them.

Do you know someone who could use a boost? Why not make them a prayer flag, I know they will love it.

A few more flags for the garden

Since I had my surgery I have gotten a few more flags that I thought I'd share with you.

This is Gari's and it feels wonderful. The fabrics are really great.  That is a goddess as you can tell, the two black  pieces symbolize Raven feathers.












This was done by my minister Lynn, with wishes of health and happiness.













My friend Celeste made this one and she used a runic alphabet for the symbols.  It says some wonderful things about health and good fortune.

I got a package from my friend Kim first there was this lovely card in her distinctive style,  I think its lovely.

She also sent this card which I really love. I truly do believe art is medicine for the soul. I love the way the artist captured this.















and here is the flag she sent. I just love it....

I am feeling a little better each day and did a little bit of art the other day which felt great, it wore me out but still I was happy I could do something.  I will show it soon.

I still have a long recovery ahead of me but I am seeing some progress so that is great.  I figured a way to be on the computer that isn't so taxing so little by little I will be back here more often.

A day at the Zoo

 









I headed to the Zoo yesterday to the so the drawing lab exercise that is done there. First I tried drawing the lions but they kept getting up and moving on me.











Then I tried the zebra's which are so fun but I had forgotten to take an eraser and my zebras look mutated. They have a new colt who was so cute but  he was hard to get a picture of since he was always behind  his mom.











Then there was this great tortoise that walked this long way right to me. Then it just stared at me for awhile, it was really cool.















My best drawing was of the camel, as camels don't move very much.  He was kind of cute in his own way. It was a fun day but next time I will go when its cooler.

Prayer Flags

I hung up the flags I received so far. I think they really look fantastic.

Here is another look at them. I am expecting some more and I will add another string of them then. Pretty soon my yard will be full of art.













I attached Olivia's flag over here with the glitter sister flags from last year.  I love the Goddess in the labyrinth that she drew.













Here is a close up of Olivia's flag, she wrote a beautiful letter that really is Art to me.

Sarah will post something tomorrow after my surgery.  The good news is they are going to do it laparascopicly so that should be easier on me.

Flags, Collage and More Goodies

I knew when I posted those flags I would get another the same day so I will post here as I get them.

This one came from Florida from my friend Judie.  I really love sunflowers so this was perfect. Thanks Judie














Awhile ago I saw a flag done in the Zentangle style so I thought I would make one for myself.  The prayer I just made up as I was writing and I think its fun. I used a faber-casteel brush pen to make it.










My friend Sophie sent me this postcard that I think is pretty awesome.  She also sent an envelope full of collage bits that will be fun to use.














Included in her package was this small journal.  It is full of all sorts of different papers. I just love the image on the front. Thanks Sophie.














When Paula sent her flag she also sent this lovely post card.  It definitely speaks serenity to me. I just love this card.

I have never showed this so I thought I would throw it in the mix. Mystele had sent me this a thank you and it now adorns my studio wall.  I just love it.











Here is the front of the suitcase I had been working on. I used several ocean inspired papers.  I think the big area to the right could have an image or something but I will do that at another time.










and here is the back of it, At some later date I may add some images on this side too.  It was fun to do but I really had a glue issue.  I started using spray adhesive which worked only part of the time and then used YES glue and then glossy accents for some trouble spots.  In some areas I had thicker paper so it was hard to use on the curves. I learned a lot doing this I know if I do another suitcase it will be so much easier. I do like the soft calming look of this one. I plan to use it to haul art supplies when I go to a friends house or to any future retreats.

Prayer Flags

 





I worked on this page last night and decided to try a technique I saw Mystele use. This figure started out as a mannequin stamp and I just painted on the rest of the body. Then I tried to make it into something which is where my struggle began. It seems that even though I turned the page into a discourse on loneliness I still feel that it needs something else. I think the figure is too small for the page without something else going on. Sometimes page don't go the way you had planned but that is Art Journaling for you. At thesee moments I think you have to let them go and just move on to the next page.

Prayer Flags

I have gotten several flags in the mail from blogger friends and they are all wonderful.  This one is from Lee.














This one from Janet shows a heart connecting two blogging friends.












I love the angel on this one and the wonderful words.  Its from Paula










This one is from Lisa I like to think I will emerge in a new way after this.















This one is from my friend
Kelley  I really love the prayer she wrote.

These are all fantastic, thank you ladies. I am expecting a few more and when they are all strung and hanging I will take another picture.

I started work on my mailbox, painted on the address and a Raven and then realized where the flag sits might be a  problem and it was.  It completely covered the address  So back to spray painting over the address, this is the second time I have had to do that.  Its going to take several coats before I can begin again.  Rats, I hate when that happens.

What a fun day

It is so exciting to find that there is another blogger who does mixed media right in your own town.   I have wanted some local Art friends but just didn't know how to find them and then one found me, I think that is pretty cool.

The lovely and sweet Jolene came to visit today. We planned to get to know each another a little more and work on our journals. You can see her blog here














She brought along this  prayer flag that she made for me to hang in my garden. I just love it.














This Is Jolenes's page, it is in the shape of a question mark. How cool is that. She is doing pages for a journal following the book  Creative Awakenings: Envisioning the Life of Your Dreams Through Art. In addition she has really taken with Ingrid Dijikers article in the latest Art Journaling Magazine. Its all about not having a rectangular shape to your page.












Here is my page, I took her example and made a page with differente edges. I actually did it to all three sides. I started with the pennants by painting them all yellow and then more paint and stamping. Oh what to do next, I thought circles and then I drew the circles and painted them and then I drew some more. They sort of reminded me of river rocks. I cut around the rocks to make that edge different. I had drawn these scallop on the other side and then decided to cut the paper away too. I love how this page turned out.










Here we are after an afternoon of art. Thanks to Sarah for taking our picture. Wow this is fun to sit and journal with someone else. I did this once with my friend Kate but its been a long time. There was an exchange of techniques that was fantastic. Jolene showed me how to draw on metal with a stylus.  Now I have no excuse I may just have to make that journal for Creative Awakenings and begin that book too. I shared a tip for StazOn Ink pads and enticed Jolene with my Tim Holtz ruler. She had a chance to look at all my collaborative books.  We really had a fun afternoon. It is great to have someone to share your mixed media passion with.

Prayer Flag Request

I am sending out a call for prayer flags, so let me explain.  As some of you know I am having surgery in July, A hysterctomy to take care of uterine cancer.  You also know I really worked in my garden to make it a healing place. Its where I plan to spend most of the summer, especially when I am convalescing.

Last summer my glitters sisters; a group of artists I met online all made prayer flags for one of us who was dealing with cancer. They were fun to make and something one could do to offer support so far away.  So I thought it would be wonderful to have more flags from my friends.  I have asked a few friends locally to make me one so I thought I would open this up to anyone who reads my blog who might like to do this. If you do leave a comment with contact infomation and I will send you my address.  My surgery is July 30th so I would like them before that, but if its later than that is ok too. I will just get Dave to hang them.

So if you want to do this you may be asking what do I do.  Most of my flags are 9 x 9 made from fabric,  you can make that size or any size you want but square works best.  You can decorate in anyway you want, even just write a word or phrase with a sharpie pen. You don't have to hem them or anything I will put them together when I receive them.










These are the prayer flags in my yard. The set closest were made by my glitter sisters and the others are traditional Tibetan Prayer Flags. If you go to this post you can see the glitter sister flags close up.


Some views from my garden










I invited my friend Kate over for lunch to see the garden.  Doesn't our food look lovely. We had Fettuccine Alfredo, a wonderful salad, ice tea and Mountain Huckleberry ice cream for dessert










Here is a plaque of the moon that I have added to a fence post.  I am so in tune with the moon that she had to have a place in my garden. It is comforting to see her there.

These are some pink daisy like flowers that I planted a couple years ago in honor of my friend Daisy Lupin.
 











These are yellow daisy and were planted last week.

This Dahlia is so gorgeous I am thinking of getting some more. Right now as we speak a mourning dove is walking through the garden just pecking away. Its like I am creating this space for me but all of nature is enjoying it.

Another cool thing that happened is I have discovered I can take my laptop outside and still access the Internet.  I couldn't do that with the old service we had.