My Blog List

Saturday, May 6, 2017

I'VE BEEN WORKING ON MY LETTERS

You'll probably spot right away that this has something to do with gardening.


And you would be right. I have been making a stencil to use on a sign for the garden. The idea for the first sign came from a garden visit in England. It was in the garden shop and I decided it would be a good winter project.


Time-wise it didn't quite work out that way, partly because the piece of wood I needed to use was still part of the old compost bins and I needed to wait for David to disassemble it.


 The lower pieces of wood were pretty rotten but there were enough good pieces for me to complete a few planned projects, all involving stencil. I liked the weathered look of the wood.

I printed the letters out and cut them out with an exacto knife. After the board was sanded to remove the dirt I laid on the letters and painted with black craft paint. Then two coats of satin-finish varnish.


I haven't quite decided whether to mount it on the tree or maybe raise it a little off the ground. Either way it will point the way into the garden by the side gate.

Stencil project number two was my own idea. I always felt that the entrance to my sun and moon archway was lacking something. Although it was my plan to put the large colorful sun and and moon  over the entrance I wasn't sure that it was quite right. I'll find a home for them somewhere.


Another sign with another stencil seemed like the perfect answer. And this is what I did. Cutting out those letters was a labor of love but I could never have painted it freehand. In the center is a little sun I bought in Mexico. Surprisingly it was the only one I could find there and it was really too small to join the others on the wall. Just perfect for the center of the plaque.


And the two new sun-sticks in the planters were a perfectly chosen gift from my friend Linda Peterson, who lives in San Antonio. To begin with I thought they were twins!

                               

And as I turned away I couldn't help but notice the moon shining down on the garden. Both the sun and moon were there for the hanging of the new plaque.


You can bet I will be on the lookout for some new suns and moons for my collection. I might even include the wind.

14 comments:

  1. Awesome. The signs are terrific. Your artistry and your garden are beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Love them, Jenny. You are inspiring me to make signs.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Lovely! The sun-and-moon gate quote does seem like a lot of work, but what a great result!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Well done! I love your sun and moon collection too.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Excellent! Your first is so much nicer than the one that inspired it, and the second — with the sun and moon quote — wow! Perfect size and placement. Nice work!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hmmm, your lettering and words do the trick.

    ReplyDelete
  7. wonderful signs, and so glad the sun stakes proved worthy of a spot in your glorious gardens!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Wow, cool stuff. I love the big wall entranceway to your sun/moon garden--so dramatic!

    For a garden tour almost 10 years ago I printed a poem on a clear sticky backed sheet and stuck it on the wall next to one of the gates. Now it's deteriorating a little and looks even better. Your signs may acquire even more character given a little time. :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Nice! If you ever want pallet wood for projects, just let me know. I'm always getting rid of pallets, and it just seems like such a waste.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Lori. I'll certainly bear that in mind. The weathered wood always looks so much nicer.

      Delete
  10. What a perfect group of projects! Not sure if I understand the process: did you glue the letters on and varnish over them or did you outline them and paint them in? The sun and moon plaque is just lovely as is the quote you used. I have a pair of earrings with a gold sun and a silver sliver of moon. Now I will think of your garden when I wear them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I cut out the letters and then used the remainder as a stencil. I would really have liked to have had some stronger card to print on then I could have saved the stencil, but it was only good for one time. As to sun and moon earrings-now there's an idea.

      Delete

I love your comments unless they are spam comments which will always be removed in comment moderation.