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10.22.2012

CLAIRE'S FLAG


Have you heard about the Prayer Flag Project?



I'm not sure if I was on the way back from the States or in the middle of my move this summer or if I simply don't read my digital version of Cloth Paper Scissors as carefully as I did the hard copy...


but I somehow missed Jane LaFazio's article in the March/April issue which explains how the project began with Vivika Hansen DeNegre.


Thankfully...some of my blogging friends began to show their flags...so I did a little research and fell in love with the idea.


It's a very old tradition from India to hang these flags outside - in the elements - with the thought that as they disintegrate...the sentiments in the flag will dissolve into the Universe and touch others as the breeze carries their essence.


I love that thought. 


I found out about all this the night before my 2nd granddaughter was born in August and so got to work  - pronto - to make one for her.


My daughter's labor was induced...so I knew the time was short to get this flag finished...and because of that, it's not quite as wonderful in a way, as I'd like for it to be...but it hangs proudly in the hall outside her apartment door. 


We don't have a place outdoors to hang a flag...but there are windows above where I put it, that don't close, so Claire's flag is exposed to the very considerable wind and rain of Barranquilla.


I free motion stitched her name and then the words...


Live long...
Laugh often...
Love with abandon.


I used a piece of fabric that my mother-in-law gave me when my daughter was a toddler for the front...and pink felt for the back.


Both are sturdy fabrics, so it may take awhile for it to 'spread'...but for now, we enjoy looking at it...and praying for our Claire Bear. 


And who knows?...maybe it'll be there when she's old enough to read.


Create Your Life,


annie!




16 comments:

  1. Claire Bear! Love it! Both the nickname and the flag!

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    1. Hillary came up with the name a few weeks before Claire was born. It really is perfect since she looks SO much like our son...whom we nicknamed and still call Bear. :)

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  2. Love the idea of these flags and Claire's flag is so special. Hope she is doing well for a very new person in this world.

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    1. Oh she is WONderful. I am so happy to be back with her. She's 2 months old today and thriving. Thanks Ann. :)

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  3. Ah, so that's what these prayer flags are all about. Claire's is so cute!

    Those topless palms in your last photo are very strange looking.

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    1. Thanks Annie. I gave the briefest of descriptions of the project so you might want to look into the Prayer Flag Project where lots of people are posting them...there and Flickr too. The palms were dead and I couldn't resist the picture with the stormy sky and ocean in the background.

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  4. "It's a very old tradition from India to hang these flags outside - in the elements - with the thought that as they disintegrate...the sentiments in the flag will dissolve into the Universe and touch others as the breeze carries their essence." OMG I Love that Thought as well... what a great Project... I will have to make some... they should dissintegrate quite rapidly in the fierce Desert Elements.

    Thanks for stopping by for a Blog Visit with such sweet Words and yes, that was me with the Boho Jamaican Bag. Quite a few of the Jamaican Vendors sell them around Town and I just Love them too when I'm shopping, I use them as a Green Bag. I Create Bohemian Carpetbags, but sometimes mine are too impractical for my Junquing Adventures and these are perfect and so inexpensive to purchase, usually under $20.

    Dawn... The Bohemian

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    1. I don't know if my description is exactly right...so research probably wouldn't hurt. :) I'm always looking for something to do with my scraps...so I see lots of these in my future. I'll look forward to seeing what you make.

      I enjoyed browsing your amazing photos because, I too, LOVE all things vintage, old, antique, etc. I'm surprised those bags aren't available in Colombia...where I live...because we're somewhat close to Jamaica...but next time I go to the States, you can bet I'll be looking for one!! Are the bags you make on your website? I didn't scroll down far enough to see any if they are but I'll bet they're wonderful.

      Thanks for visiting!

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  5. What a wonderful sentiment! Bucket list- learn to sew. It would be great if it were still around when Claire begins to read. It's beautiful!

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    1. Thanks Adriann! You don't really have to sew them I guess. Glue would probably work just fine and might make the disentegration a bit more interesting. :)

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  6. I like the idea of the textile changing in the weather and still being there several years later. Our annual Loch Lomond Quilt show http://www.lochlomondquiltshow.com/content/competitions.html has, as one of its exhibits, textiles which hang outdoors. Your prayer flag is very pretty.

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    1. Thanks Sheila! I can see that it's gotten dirty in the last couple months...but I guess that's part of city living!

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  7. WHAT A WONDERFUL IDEA! Jacqueline jmzfmdse1@aol.com

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    1. I agree, it is a wonderful idea. :) Viveka and Jane are receiving all kinds of accolades for their project. Thanks Jacqueline.

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  8. The most beautiful, yet simple explanation! LOVE!

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Yuckola. More than half of my email has been from anonymous, so.....