New Beginnings Cloth Banner by Lori Portka

A note from Liz: Lori Portka is one of my favorite humans and I am lucky enough to call her my friend. She is wise and we are lucky to live in a world where she shares her stories through her art. We are so happy to carry some of her beautiful creations at Three Bird Layne.

A note from the artist: To me, butterflies are gentle, delicate reminders to pause and notice the magic that surrounds us. They represent the start of something beautiful. Your future is bright! Our banners are inspired by Tibetan prayer flags that are traditionally used to bless your surroundings and promote peace and compassion. I love the idea that even the slightest bit of air will spread good wishes out and into your space.

Size: The spread of the entire banner is about 5ft long and each flag is 5 x 5.5 inches Uses: Inspiration for your creative space. Perfect for someone starting something new! Decorate a crib for a newborn. Unique college student dorm room decor. Good energy for family or friends suffering from injury or illness. Can be used indoors and outdoors. Our banners are printed in the USA and hand sewn by a team of seamstresses in Asheville. When you see the banners, you can feel the love and care that has been put into each one of them.

More about Lori (in her words): When I was a child, I loved drawing so much that I did it nearly every day. You could find me huddled over a sketchbook with colored pencils, pencil shavings, and crayons spread all around the table. I loved to pretend that I worked for Hallmark and made cards for my family, complete with a logo on the back. When I graduated from high school, I decided to pursue a safe and more traditional career and worked as a teacher and counselor for many years.

But after going through a painful time, I found my way back to my art as a way to heal. I wanted to keep gratitude front and center in my life, even through the hard times, so I started a gratitude project I called, 100 Thank Yous. I made 100 paintings for 100 people who had a positive influence on my life and held a gallery show with all the art. After the show, I delivered the paintings to each person I was grateful for.

Lori lives in Asheville, NC where she continues to share her life affirming messages through her artwork.