Latest Prayer Flag

Having become involved with the Sew Powerful Purse Project, it seemed only fitting that I hang a prayer flag in the garden to remind me to offer prayer for the young girls in Zambia and for the team that works tirelessly to keep them in school.

I like using the prayer flags as a way to try out new techniques and products. Hanging out in the elements where they will eventually decompose and where no one will see all my little boo-boos makes for pretty much a stress free effort. Having read about using Terial Magic as a fabric stabilizer before cutting with the Silhouette Cameo, I gave it a try. I like it!  The fabric was very much like paper and didn’t fray with the cutting. According to the bottle it also works to stiffen fabric before printing fabric with the computer; I haven’t tried that yet but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work. According to the instructions, the stabilizer washes out leaving a soft fabric. (Since this will be hanging in the garden, I saw no need to wash it.) 

Following the directions from the Silhouette School Blog, I ironed Heat ‘N Bond to the fabric before cutting the letters with the Cameo. There was one little glitch, the letters did not adhere to the black fabric. Hmm….I bet that is because I didn’t prewash the fabric as instructed. So fabric glue to the rescue. This stuff works really well; again it gets tested in the elements quite often.

I will post more about the Sew Powerful Purse project after I have more purses to show. In the meantime, I have found what I think will be an excellent resource for improving my sewing skills; and it is free! More about that later.

If you would like to see more of the prayer flags that are currently in my garden as well as those that have been retired, there is a link at the top of this page. More information about the Prayer Flag Project and directions for making prayer flags can be found here.

And my 2019 One Word is

I know, it is about six months late, but there is a reason for that.

In case you don’t know, One Word or Word of the Year is a concept where one chooses a word on which to focus or inspire throughout the year. It kind of replaces the New Year’s resolution. I put my word on a sign and hang it on the steps that lead to the studio where I will see it every day (at least on the days I am home.)

I actually chose my word earlier in the year, but am just now getting my sign made. If you have been following our retirement blog, you know we were on the road the first three months of the year, home in April to host for Quilt Week and on the road again for three weeks in May. Handy Randy (aka Captain) says there is not enough room in our little RV for the craft supplies I might need, (actually there could be enough room if we removed the wine cellar, but we won’t go there) so the sign had to wait.

I chose “fearless” as my word for 2019 because, well I am going to die. Yep, no way out of it. I don’t know when or how, but I am certain this body will die. While it is a non-negotiable fact, I do have some control as how to live until that appointed time.

I can make myself comfortable in our little bungalow, waiting for a cancer diagnosis or heart attack. With Google, I can research what could be a devastating symptom. I could put my doctor’s phone number on quick dial just in case Google isn’t conclusive. I could insist we move into a one level house to avoid the risk of falling down the stairs (or more likely, have a heart attack climbing up the stairs.) I could avoid making left turns when driving. Regardless of all the precautions I could take, it doesn’t change the fact; I am going to die.

So, do I want to spend so much of my allotted time obsessing over dying that I forget to live? Nah, I don’t think so. I want this “fearless” sign to remind me to go on an adventure, hike a mountain trail, push Handy Randy around on the tandem, dig in the garden and be free from fear and worry.

“Can any of you live a bit longer by worrying about it?” Matt.6:27

Now, what to do with all these signs from years past? 

Recycle? Maybe. Or perhaps I should hang them on the back fence to create a little curiosity conversation piece. 

This is what I use to make the signs:

Scrap wood

Silhouette Cameo

Dollar Store contact paper for stencil

Craft Paint