Hooked on Garden Tags ~

Through the magic of Typepad, this post will arrive on my blog while I am far, far, away from my home, nestled in the lovely state of Virginia for the week.   Ah, the history.... the antiques.  There is just not enough room in my luggage to bring hardly anything back, so I know I will have to be content with window shopping. 

One can tell from my last several posts that I'm seriously hooked on these pretty labels and tags for my 2009 Garden Journal.  I mean, before I hopped on the plane for an exciting 12+ hour trip, I just wanted to sit at my computer every free hour and make pretty things on PhotoShop.  I love these ivory and clay colored tags with dark blue, sepia or black graphic images, all shapes and sizes, some with a lacy edge.  Be still my heart.....

But in deference to my back, I'm trying to keep my computer time to something resembling sanity.  I have a thing for technology. Obviously.  DH complains...

But I feel like I'm really ready for the riot of growing things this year.  Plus, it keeps me occupied productively until I can actually plant anything.  Seriously, no one dares put a single shrub, tree, hanging basket, veggie or flower start out until Memorial Day.  It's such a rule around here that, if anything does fail to thrive one need only say "I planted just before Memorial Day", and everyone will understand perfectly. 

You will, however, get those looks, and you just KNOW they are thinking to themselves...."she should've waited until after Memorial Day..."  Ack.  Here in Virginia it's a riot of green everywhere.  My last trip it was Cherry Blossom Festival.  This trip, its azaleas and rhododendrons.  So beautiful. 

Our Alaska growing season is short, but incredibly intense.  We have about 22 hours of daylight during the summer months.  I love this.  If only I could bottle up enough sunshine to last the winter months, you know?  When we wake up, which around here is 4:30 am, the sun is streaming into the bedroom.  When we go to bed, somewhere around 9:00 pm, the sun is streaming into the bedroom.  If I were to wake up at midnight, still sunny.  It's only about 2:00 am that it will turn to this lovely twilight, and then 60 minutes later, the sun is on its way back up...!

Last year, our new cherry tree made 12 cherries.  Not quite enough for pie.  And the baby apple tree, only about 5 tiny apples.  Our Mountain Ash made bunches of red berries, food for flocks of Cedar Waxwings that live here all winter.  I had dried herbs, and rose hips, and pressed flowers saved for winter. 

I made 7 more labels and tags, 6 printed, and one delicious scalloped oval, all printed on an archival quality creamy white cover stock.  I am totally infatuated with those scalloped edge trimmers, and so added a lacy edge to one tag.  Best of all, I have this stash of vintage velvet ribbon.  They just don't make velvet ribbon like they used to, and this is wide, rich, in a beautiful raspberry shade.  I cut a 6" chunk to use as an embellishment.  A shot of rich, yummy color.

I can't wait to get started.  I mean, how many journal entries can you make where you say... "waiting for Memorial Day..." before you burst?  Hmmm..... maybe a trip to the greenhouse soon?  I bet it smells heavenly in there, warm dirt, tiny green plants.  Oh yes, I'm there.  Well, metaphorically speaking, 'cuz actually, I'm in Virginia until Saturday.  

Blessings ~

Eileen

Comments

[Spencer]

I so hope you're having a wonderful trip. I'm greeeeen with envy. I'd love to go.

Blessings,
Spencer

[Julie Bouésso]

Great collection idea! Be sure to get some rest while on vacation, have tons of fun & most of all: enjoy being away! I know, I did! Cheers, Julie

[Eileen@Star's fault]

Hi from Virginia! I have had a number of requests for PhotoShop tips, and I am a humble beginner also, but I will plan a post in the very near future to talk about what camera I use, how I work with light and my stumbling efforts on Photoshop! It's amazing what it can do to the quality of your pictures.

Blessings ~ Eileen

[Charlene]

Eileen you so deserve your trip to Virgina! I know that you are challenged but, yet rewarded with your unusual growing season. I SOOOOOOOOOOOOO WISH I had your skills on Photoshop. I am just starting to try (TRY is the KEY word here) to learn to use it. It can make a "good girl" say bad words with the learning curve. Any suggestions?

[Jeanne]

Loving all the tags. Have a fun and safe trip and bring back lots of goodies.

[ldh]

Eileen, these are all so beautiful. I can see why you like Photoshop so much! Are you a native Alaskan? I have and aunt and cousins who live in Anchorage and the Soldotna (sp?) area. Enjoy your Virginia trip!

Kindly, ldh

[Sharon A. Kyser]

Eileen, I absolutely adore allllll of your beautiful works of art! Do you sell cards? Are you on Etsy? I wanta' know more! Your work is so stunning, to say the least. How did you get to Alaska? You "sound" like a Southern girl...Have a wonderful trip to Virginia then come home & tell me ALL...sharon