EARLY SUMMER IN THE GARDEN

Summer is finally here!  

With all that's going on in the world right now, I am so grateful for my time spent in the garden - a retreat right in my own backyard!  This blog has been pretty silent for awhile, but it's time to bring it back to life.

When I moved into my home almost 4 years ago, it came with a pretty big yard.  There's an area in the back at the bottom of a little slope that is flat and in full sun.  A perfect place for a vegetable garden.  Nothing huge, just big enough for some of my favorite vegetables.  So I built this twig fence adding a little something new each summer.  The plank entrance came along soon after due to the mud.

 The posts, raised beds, and plank entrance are made with cedar.  All year long I save the branches and twigs that fall from my trees, along with longer branch trimmings from the shrubs.  When I get a nice big pile I head down to the garden and add them to the fence.  

Last summer I added the gate, and this summer I designed a sign for the entrance out of a piece of plywood that has been in the garage since I moved in.  This garden has become a place of quiet, peace, and solace for me.  I hope you'll check back, and watch my garden grow throughout the summer!

-Nan

A sign for the garden, and a new toy!

It all started with this really beautiful "Rose Hair Oil" label from the Graphics Fairy . . .  The label itself is such a pretty shape, and I love the two-tone coloring.  Her great dictionary page showing the "Hare" would have to be included too.

So the idea for a garden sign was born!  

 

From this . . .                                            to this! 

Here's the process -

First of all - here she is!  

One of my latest acquisitions!  As classrooms move to Promethean and Smart Boards, old faithful (the overhead projector) is getting its pink slip.  Well, this one was gathering dust in the boiler room and it came home with me on my last day in the classroom!   It's still very useful in my world.  Yes, there are things that an overhead projector can do, that a Promethean Board could not begin to accomplish!

 Then a trip to Habitat for Humanity's Re-Store!  These cupboard doors came to a grand total of $4!  For this sign I used the white door, second from the right.

Proof!

So I grabbed a bunch of label graphics from the Graphics Fairy and printed them out on an overhead transparency.  The transparencies aren't cheap, so I wanted to cram as many graphics on there as possible.

Then I roughly traced on the Rose Oil label, omitting the original words and replacing it with the dictionary page "Hare", and the french words "le Jardin" (the garden). 

I needed to paint over the lines and cover my work with a durable, weather-worthy protective coating.  I painted it in blues instead of the pinks on the original label.  Pinks are easy colors to grow, but blue is harder to come by, and it's my favorite in the garden.

There are some things I'd do differently next time, like have a little less going on.  It's pretty busy, the scrollwork, the rabbit, bouquet, and words - but it's not bad for a buck!!!!

Sharing this on Miss Mustard Seed's
Furniture Feature Friday
and
Transformation Thursday
at the Shabby Chic Cottage
and
Funky Junk's
Saturday Night Special
and
Frugalicious Friday

The Graphics Fairy - DIY Projects Feature and plans for a new GIVEAWAY!

Thank you to Karen, at her Graphics Fairy DIY blog, for featuring my table transfer!   What a fun surprise!  I used one of her great french graphics for this one.  Here is her post . . .

Prettiest Table Ever!

Swoon!!! I'm so in love with this gorgeous table painted by Nan at You Could Make That!



Nan transferred the French Wreath image onto the table, after enlarging it, and then hand painted over the all the lines. Stunning!!! Swing by her site to find out what paint colors she used, and which wax. You'll definitely want to have a look around while you're there, she's truly amazing!
Thank you, Karen!

I cruise through Karen's site daily, and I recently saw a graphic I have to use! I think I could do nothing but wander through the Graphics Fairy and just plan things to do with all those beautiful graphics!  Right now, I'm planning a garden sign using this one from her site:

                     

Of course, the words "Rose Hair Oil" wouldn't work for a garden sign, so I'm going to substitute Le Jardin de Fleurs (the flower garden), below the bouquet, and use the "hare" picture below for above the bouquet.  Can't wait to get started!  I think the "tombstone" shape of the graphic will look nice leaning against the picket fence in my garden!

Also, my followers are fast approaching 200!!!!  So I'm starting to think about a good GIVEAWAY!   I'll need one when I hit that milestone.  I think a garden sign would be appropriate!  Any other suggestions???