A guest blogger and sweet little garden banners

Hello again!

I have so many projects I want to share with you, that I wasn't sure which one to share this week! Wonderful "problem" to have, isn't it?

So this week I decided to share this amazing project that my friend Colleen dreamt up! She was kind enough to share all the instructions and I'm so happy she did because I think you are going to love this project just as much as I did!

What project am I talking about? Well, let me show you what I received in the mail from Colleen for my birthday...

I may have squealed when I opened up the envelope and saw this sweet banner! All the details, from the gingham ribbon, to the lace, to the buttons, to the center panel are adorable! 

I of course had to ask her for all the details right away and then I thought it might be fun to have her be a guest blogger today! 

Colleen and I have been friends for about 25 years now ( wow, that makes me feel really old!). We first met when our daughters were in the same preschool class together.  Colleen was also the first quilter I ever knew and it was she that taught me how to make my very first quilt project! So I am super excited to "feature" her this week in my blog post! 

GARDEN FLAGS by Colleen Brester.

This summer, my creative adventure with garden flags began with making prayer flag sets. It was so satisfying to make them as gifts for my parents whom I couldn’t visit during Covid-19 restrictions; a grieving friend; and a friend moving away. Just when I had everything ready to make my own prayer flag set, I was suddenly inspired to make garden flags (think banners) in a similar way! I hope you’ll make your own garden flags with my simple Garden Flag Instructions.  

 Here are a few tips: 

Finding & Using Images/Texts: I wanted to feature garden images and a quote or poem on my garden flags to add a personal touch for each of my flag recipients. I’m not a copyright expert by any means, but there are some simple things we must do to respect creators’ copyrighted materials. I carefully searched online for only public domain copyright-free content and found so many beautiful old images (illustrations, clipart, etc.) and texts (poems, quotes) that are available! Always choose websites that ensure they feature bona fide public domain copyright-free images or texts. So often copyrighted materials are posted on the internet as “free.” As these garden flags were gifts, not items to be sold, I was comfortable using public domain copyright-free content and giving credit to the sources. A word to the wise, if you’re interested in using someone else’s images and/or texts, you must respect creators’ copyrights. It’s as simple as sending them a written request (email or letter), including how you intend to use their specific content, and then receiving their permission. When permission’s received, you must credit the source on your garden flag. You can have even more fun by creating your own original artwork or text, using your choice of art mediums and styles (markers, paints, embellishments, collage, calligraphy, poetry, etc.). (This is a good option to avoid potential copyright infringement issues.) The sky’s the limit! I encourage you to take credit for your original artwork by signing the front of the flag!

 Formatting & Crediting Images/Texts: To prepare the content for printing on fabric, simply create a document with your computer software and copy/paste the content. At this point, you will credit the content’s source. For example, I typed the following credit (creator unknown) below the image to indicate where I found the content: Public domain source: freevintageillustrations.com. If using a permitted, copyrighted image and/or text, type in that source’s particular credit information. Then you’ll customize the content size, layout, font, font size, etc. to fit the size of your flag’s center. 

Printing on Fabric: If you have an inkjet printer, there are two printing options. The first is to use a product such as “Dritz© Printed Treasures® Inkjet Printable Fabric Sew-on.” If you don’t have something similar on hand, the second option is to heat-set muslin fabric (8 ½” x 11”) to the shiny side of freezer paper (8 ½” x 11”), trim loose fibers from edges, and run the sheet through your printer. Based on experience, I highly recommend using a product like Dritz© printable fabric sheets because the edges are very clean and smooth so that fibers don’t get stuck in your printer. Another option is to print your image on paper and take it with a printable fabric sheet to a copy service for printing. 

I hope you become creatively immersed in making lovely garden flags. Once you’ve made one, you’re sure to make many more – and one for yourself, too! Your gift recipients will be so delighted to receive their garden flags! Thanks so much, Monique, for this opportunity to share with your readers. 

GARDEN FLAG INSTRUCTIONS ©2020 by Colleen Brester

 Instructions may be copied and shared for personal use only. Instructions may not be sold.

 Supplies:

 - 2 fat-quarter fabrics (cut 8 ½” x 11”) for 1 front and 1 back for flag base. 

- 1 double-sided fusible adhesive paper (cut 8 ½” x 11”) for flag base.

 - 1 fat-quarter fabric (cut 7 ½” x 10”) for 1 middle flag base. 

-* 1 inkjet printable (sew-on) fabric sheet for flag center. 

- Inkjet printer (pigma-based ink) and computer (word processing software).

 - An inspirational image and/or text, including creator’s name and source of public domain, copyright-free content or your own artwork. Important: If you want to use someone else’s image and/or text, you must get the creator’s permission first! 

- 1 (12”-15” L) ribbon, jute, rickrack, or other for hanger.

 - Embellishments (rickrack, buttons, ribbon, lace, fringe, bells, beads, etc). 

-*Option: 1 muslin fabric (cut 8 ½” x 11”) and 1 freezer paper (cut 8 ½” x 11”) for flag center.

 Directions:

 1. Text & Image Document: 

On computer, format an 8 ½’ x 11” document with 1” margins. For one 8 ½” x 11” center (for one image and text), format in portrait orientation. For two 5 ½” x 8 ½” centers (for two sets of images and texts), format in landscape orientation and format with two columns each 4.5” wide with 1” spacing between columns. Choose font style and type in text; copy and paste in the image. Adjust font size and image size to fit, as needed. Important: If using a public domain or a permitted-use image or text, type in the creator’s name and source. (I type that information below the image in a reduced, readable font size.) Save your document; leave document open to be ready for printing.

 2. Bond the Fabric Base: 

Press the two base fabrics with dry iron. Bond fusible paper onto wrong side of one base fabric and let cool; peel fusible paper off of fabric. Place other base fabric wrong side on top of exposed fusible side; bond and let cool. Set aside. 

3. *Bond the Center Fabric: 

*If using inkjet printable fabric sheet, skip this step. If using muslin and freezer paper, press muslin with dry iron; place shiny side of freezer paper onto one side of muslin; press freezer paper with dry iron for about five seconds, one section at a time; trim any loose fibers. 

4. Print on the Center Fabric: 

Refer to your printer manual to determine how to feed fabric sheet into printer, so that text is printed on fabric side. (You may want to test this first by printing on a piece of paper.) Feed one fabric sheet at a time into printer. Set print quality to draft; print text/image. (Draft setting will save ink and still provide good print quality.) 

5. Set the Ink: Let printed fabric sheet sit for a few minutes before pressing with dry iron. Place a protective cloth over the printed side of fabric sheet; press with dry iron for about five seconds one section at a time; let cool. If fabric sheet is printed with two columns of texts/images, cut fabric sheet in half now. Carefully peel fusible paper away from fabric.

 6. Sew & Finish: Trim edges of the printed flag center to 6 ½” x 9”. Place the 8 ½” x 11” fabric base on your work surface; next place the 7 ½” x 10” middle flag base on top; and lastly, place printed flag center on top. Temporarily adhere layers with a little fabric glue or pins. Add hanger and embellishments before or after next step. Set stitch length as desired (I use 3.0) and begin stitching ¼”, at the inside edge of a bottom corner, on the printed fabric center. Pull front threads to back of base fabric; tie off and clip threads. Sign and date the back of the flag. Hang outdoors or indoors. Enjoy!

For your convenience I am providing  a link to the PDF instructions as well! Just click here!

Thank you Colleen for providing us with instructions on how to make these darling banners/garden flags! I am excited to make some of my own!

Next week I will be sharing about another sweet project that I am currently working on so please be on the lookout for that blog post. ;)

Until next time~happy creating!

Monique