Spreading peace and goodwill across the universe

 I've always been fascinated with prayer flags.  In pictures of the Himalayas in Tibet  - beautifully colored prayer flags are whipping in the wind off the peaks of mountains.  So a few years ago I decided to research more about these prayer flags and who made them and what was their purpose.

After reading about prayer flags and the Buddhist monks who make them I decided to conquer flags of my own. About six years ago I made about 50 flags and strung them around my vegetable garden.  Traditionally prayer flags are used to promote peace, compassion, strength and wisdom.  Although I did write blessings of peace, compassion, strength and wisdom on each flag I also added some flags for protecting the bees, butterflies, bats - rain, sun, wind - protect our planet, etc.  My messages are short and positive.  As the flags whip in the wind the wind horse, Lung-ta, sends the blessings to all.  Those flags flopped in the wind and eventually have shredded their blessing across the universe.  So it was tie to make new flags.

This time I made over 200 flags.  I love their beautiful colors whipping in the wind around my garden.  There are five special color fabric that make these flags: blue which represents sky/universe; white represents air/wind; red represents fire; green represents water; and yellow represents earth.  The flags are to be hung in that order starting with the blue on the left.  They are also supposed to be hung on special days and today being a Monday with a slight wind was perfect.

Here is my vegetable garden with the flags flying high.   An awesome thing happened to me while I was hanging my flags - a butterfly landed on my ladder.  When I got off the ladder to move it the butterfly followed.  A few of my flags ask for protection for the butterflies.   Seems like good karma.

 I hope my blessings reach you and your family. Peace to all.

Hey Mickey

 My little grandson loves Mickey Mouse.  When he comes to my house I put on the Disney channel and he loves watching Mickey Mouse Club House.  And when the Hot Dog Dance come son at the end of each episode he is laughing and bouncing.  Since he's not walking yet I hold him up to help him jump.  Hot Dog it is fun.

While I was shopping at the fabric store I came across some fun Mickey Mouse knit material and decided that I would make him overalls.

Since they are red, white and blue his mother decided that they had to be his Fourth of July outfit.

It's fun to make clothes for my little ones.  I do find it hard to use the required  5/8" seam allowance since I've been quilting and not garment sewing for some time.  And with these small clothes the seam allowance is almost wider than the actual garment piece.  I purchased an inexpensive serger which makes seam finishes a breeze.  Although, I do have a sewing machine that will finish the seam edges,  I love that the serger trims and finishes the seams all in one step.  I have a couple more garment pieces I'm working on.  Pattern sizing is a little bit of an issue.  Trying to measure a little one vs using the size of store bought garments can be challenging.

Let's get crafting

 I have two special little friends that come to my house each week.  I watch them for the day while their mom is at work.  I like to have special things for them to do such as cooking, gardening and crafting.  When they arrive they always ask what craft will we do.  They are only three and four years old, but crafts occupy them for an hour or so.  Besides crafting we also bake cookies, pizza, Rice Krispies squares, muffins, etc.  and work in the gardens.  They love going to my garden and picking strawberries, flowers and wild blueberries (huckleberries).

It seems like I'm constantly chirping at them to be careful not to get stuff on their clothes.  In fact, a couple times I took off their tops and had them wear one of my husbands t-shirts.  Well, that didn't work the best because the shirts were too big and got in the way.  So finally I decided to make them their own crafting/baking aprons.

When they came to my house this past week I showed them their new aprons.  Boy were they excited and couldn't wait to start creating.

First we went out in my backyard in the woods and picked wild huckleberries.  Once they got about one cup full we made blueberry muffins.  The kids said they were the best blueberry muffins ever.  Next, with the Fourth of July holiday, we made cupcakes and decorated them with red, white and blue sprinkles and little American flags.  The kids were excited to bring their creations home to share.

Not only were the bake goods a hit, but the aprons worked great.  I can't believe I didn't think of them sooner.