Made In England

"Welcoming the World"

'Welcoming the World' is part of Lakes Alive, a season of outdoor arts and performance events throughout Cumbria.

The flag project seen here aims to bring local people together to create a visual spectacle which is "Inspired by the Landscape".

The flag makers seen in these pictures are from Barrow Spinning Yarns group.

The project explores what kind of images and messages participants want to portray to the wider world in the run-up to the Olympics in 2012.

The designs will be made into a series of 100 stunning, large-scale flags for the outdoors display.

The flags will be featured in increasing numbers at the events across the County from mid-August with a final full "exhibition" and world premiere of all 100 flags at Mintfest at the end of August.

Sylvia Quirk is from Barrow Spinning Yarns group in Barrow.

Spinning Yarns offers arts and crafts activities to older people throughout Cumbria.

Here is Sylvia's personal account of a day of activity spent at Forum 28 in Barrow.

How did the day go?

I thoroughly enjoyed it, very interesting and relaxing!

In my group, working on our flag, there was myself and my friend, Anne. 

Just the two of us in our group but we are part of the Barrow Spinning Yarns group and for this Lakes Alive project there were 13 of us.

Why did you get involved? 

I like doing artistic things. 

I thought it was something different. 

I’ve never actually done a flag or banner before.

I’ve made a small banner but not one this size so it’s been quite good.

What ideas did you come up with?

My friend picked the church because she’s got a faith and she’s goes to that church.

So she picked that to begin with and then she said the castle’s near by in Dalton-in-Furness. 

We just wanted to portray our town of Dalton really.

I just love walking through the woods.

The bluebells really touch me, the perfume and they come up every year.

So the walks of Dalton I put into it.

What did you think of the day?

I think it’s gone really well and quite a relaxing atmosphere.

My friend was a bit nervous but she’s really got relaxed because I prayed for her!