When I was working on the baby’s nursery I knew I wanted something personalized in the wall art. I didn’t want something as obvious as a giant monogram, but something that was more subtle and would blend in with the ‘nautical’ theme.
I knew that ships use standard International Maritime signal flags that represent letters of the alphabet. I thought that would be the perfect solution.
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![](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9dxZVyXh_Ik/Uy9AWdxKJ8I/AAAAAAAA0A4/C7QDOHVnuJo/clothesline-style-photo-frame.jpg?imgmax=800)
Because the frame was so long I decided to write out the baby’s name, JOSH, instead of just his initials. When I sat down and drew out the actual signal flags this is what I came up with:
![Nautical-Flag-JOSH.jpg Nautical Flag JOSH](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-x-j3KFYevNE/U04qs4S_t_I/AAAAAAAA1fg/D4OAUUTKiwY/Nautical-Flag-JOSH.jpg?imgmax=800)
Juliet-Oscar-Sierra-Hotel
I wanted the flags to hang down, more like real flags so I stretched the design so they were more clearly
directional. The flags in the diagram are displayed hanging from the right, so I had to rotate them 90 degrees so they would look like this when hanging in the frame:
directional. The flags in the diagram are displayed hanging from the right, so I had to rotate them 90 degrees so they would look like this when hanging in the frame:
![josh-nautical-flags.jpg Josh nautical flags](http://lh4.ggpht.com/-P6o2UobG310/U04qtxpmuTI/AAAAAAAA1fo/B3IZ6AAjh4Q/josh-nautical-flags.jpg?imgmax=800)
I used some solid cotton fabric from my stash and cut out simple shapes (taking into account a 1/4 inch seam allowance) that made up the flags:
![assembling-maritime-flags.jpg Assembling maritime flags](http://lh4.ggpht.com/-3hb-dYVWb90/U04qukrXmaI/AAAAAAAA1fw/eRwGkoQExnQ/assembling-maritime-flags.jpg?imgmax=800)
I sewed them together and I was left with little flags that had unfinished edges.
![fabric-maritime-alphabet-flags.jpg Fabric maritime alphabet flags](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-5D9dXvLcvYI/U04qvWp6ABI/AAAAAAAA1f4/fKLqZamc8DM/fabric-maritime-alphabet-flags.jpg?imgmax=800)
I sandwiched the flags (right sides together) with a square of white fabric exactly the same side and sewed around the edges leaving a 3/4 inch space on the bottom.
![sewing-right-sides-together.jpg Sewing right sides together](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ufWUUDRBO8M/U04qwBzyKHI/AAAAAAAA1gA/dY7_YwkB7ys/sewing-right-sides-together.jpg?imgmax=800)
I turned the flags right side out and used a chop stick to get the corners nice and square. I pressed them with my iron (including pressing closed the opening I used to turn the flags right side out. (You could hand stitch the opening closed but since they are only hanging on the wall and won’t really get touched I decided not to.)
![turning-flag-right-side-out.jpg Turning flag right side out](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-frFnmyWg0dg/U04qxKiapMI/AAAAAAAA1gI/qUlicBEcLZ4/turning-flag-right-side-out.jpg?imgmax=800)
I hung them on the twine frame using alligator clips making sure I had them correctly oriented.
![nautical-flags-hung-on-line.jpg Nautical flags hung on line](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ODDEx1KFNBU/U04qxwGQmmI/AAAAAAAA1gM/t1Q3SiVvi3k/nautical-flags-hung-on-line.jpg?imgmax=800)
I hung the finished piece between my crackle finished oars:
![signal-flags-art.jpg Signal flags art](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_7A0SXddmR8/U04q0SiyYjI/AAAAAAAA1go/MOw-HboUq4g/signal-flags-art.jpg?imgmax=800)
Here is what they look like displayed in the nautical nursery:
![nautical-flags-in-bedroom.jpg Nautical flags in bedroom](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-l9MWjfKIFiI/U04qzhClkeI/AAAAAAAA1gg/HDHHLRJB-fc/nautical-flags-in-bedroom.jpg?imgmax=800)
Right above Josh’s crib. I love how personal it is, but unless you are a boat captain you may never know it!
![nautical-flags-in-nursery.jpg Nautical flags in nursery](http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Dsxk6HWpfco/U04qygnTIEI/AAAAAAAA1gY/KzJ_jgNw2ew/nautical-flags-in-nursery.jpg?imgmax=800)
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This is a very cute project, Kim! I had no idea a flag alphabet existed. I love the whole room!
ReplyDeleteThanks Cristina!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely adorable!! You are so creative.
ReplyDeleteHow cute!! What a great idea and I love how the room looks!
ReplyDeleteSuch a cute idea. I love the nautical look and the flags make a great touch.
ReplyDelete