Cheering up a Winter Yard

The holidays are gone and so are the dazzling light displays, lovely wreaths and eclectic decorative Christmas flags.  The winter yard is not usually a cheery one and unless you are an avid gardener that has planned ahead with camellias and other winter friendly shrubs, a winter yard can often times use some help. 


Winter garden flags are an easy solution.  Winter yard flags come in many designs and their color and subject matter will draw your eyes to them and away from the drabness of the flower beds.   Snowmen garden flags are always a fun choice like this Snow Couple Garden Flag that can also be a personalized flag.


 There is also this Let it Snow Garden Flag that is a high quality double applique flag that will hold up to the wicked winter weather.

For something totally unique there are Custom Winter Flags.  This is a Snowflake Monogram Flag but there are many available from a variety of companies.

For those that prefer, there are also Winter House Flags which are the larger size of the decorative flags like this Cardinal and Holly House Flag that can also become a personalized flag.

Along with the decorative winter flags, depending on where you live there are also great amazingly hearty plants and evergreens that can add beauty to your yard during the cold weather.  I found this great site for the United States National Arboretum and it has a handy zone map that will help you find what plants are winter hardy for your area.  In our area, pansies are used a lot this time of year. It always amazes me that for such a pretty and delicate looking flower they are really very tough.

These are just a few ideas to liven your winter landscape.  There are so many things you can do.  If you have any ideas you would like to share, please do.  We may come up with a few more ourselves in a future post.

Happy New Year to you all.
Josie and Marilee
Custom Flags and Gifts

Personalized Flags make the Perfect Christmas Gift

It is the time of year when everyone starts racking their brain trying to decide what to buy everyone on their Christmas list.  Gifts mean so much more when you receive something you know the person put some thought and effort into.  When you receive something personalized such as a personalized flag, you know the giver did just that. Personalized garden flags and house flags make the perfect Christmas gift.  For a flag lover its the perfect addition to their collection and also a keepsake to keep for years to come.  Almost any decorative flag can be personalized although there are some that work better than others.

 A lot of what makes a flag a good personalized flag is its design and theme and if there is even an area on the flag where a personalization will fit.  Some flags, as my daughter and I say, "Scream for a personalization".  Dog Breed Garden Flags are a good example of that and one of the most popular

types of decorative flags to get personalized.  They almost always have a nice blank area where the pet's name can be added.  A really special idea is to do a Custom Photo Pet Flag, these are truly unique.  For the pet lover on your list, you cannot go wrong with a personalized pet flag.

There are also flags for firefighters along with garden flags and house flags for all five active branches of the military that are great for personalizing.  To add someone's name to a military garden flag or firefighter flag and display that flag or give as a gift, shows that loved one the pride you feel. A personalized military makes a great gift any time of year.

In addition to the flags mentioned above we have a great variety of  Custom Monogram Flags

and Personalized Welcome Decorative flags all of which could make great gifts and keepsakes. Some of our most popular flags is our line of RV Camper Garden Flags.   These personalized Camper Flags make a fun and unique gift that can be used all year long.
Custom

So while doing your shopping for Christmas browse the decorative flags at Custom Flags and Gifts and explore all the possibilities.

Thanks for reading.
Josie and Marilee
Custom Flags and Gifts

Flags that support Earth Day

This year Earth Day is Tuesday April 22nd.  First celebrated in 1970, the goal of this day is to create  support for environmental protection through events and informational campaigns that take place throughout the world.  By participating in the events you can gain valuable insight on how you can help by doing your part. Here is a website I found that listed 50 small things everyone can do to help, many of these, I never thought of.  http://www.50waystohelp.com/

 You can also help with awareness simply by displaying one of our environmental garden flags in your yard.  A decorative flag can be a small billboard letting friends and neighbors know that you support Mother Earth.  Here are a couple of our environmental flags that would be perfect for Earth Day.  These yard flags were designed in our shop and you won't see them anywhere else.  Their design  also has a playful charm that will interest children.  Teaching children and getting them interested in conservation and environmental issues is more important now than it has ever been.

We also have the personalized We Recycle Monogram Flag.

 

 

So let's celebrate Earth Day next Tuesday and all do our best to help protect and clean up our environment.

 



Thanks for reading.

Marilee and Josie
Custom Flags and Gifts

The Miracle of Snowflakes

As I was trying to come up with some new winter garden flags and had decided I wanted to design a snowflake monogram flag I started scanning the web for inspiration.  I came across a website about a most incredible man whom I am surprised is not more widely known.  His name is Wilson A Bentley otherwise known as "Snowflake Bentley"  This wonderful quote by him from his website http://snowflakebentley.com/index.htm got my attention. 

"Under the microscope, I found that snowflakes were miracles of beauty; and it seemed a shame that this beauty should not be seen and appreciated by others. Every crystal was a masterpiece of design and no one design was ever repeated., When a snowflake melted, that design was forever lost. Just that much beauty was gone, without leaving any record behind."
Wilson "Snowflake" Bentley 1925




He captured over 5000 snowflakes and photographed them.  It was he who came to the conclusion that no two snowflakes are alike.  Do check out the website for lots of wonderful information and gifts pertaining to snowflakes.

 

I can remember as a child catching snow on my mittens and trying to study an individual flake.  They are truly very magical.  This decorative yard flag is in honor of all those little miracles. 

Garden Flags for In Between

Although Labor Day marks the end of summer in so many ways REALLY summer is not over till the Autumnal Equinox sings, which this year is Monday September 23rd.  So its not quite time for fall flags yet.  Maybe you are ready for a change though, maybe that summer garden flag has been up for a while.  You are ready for a new In Between decorative flag.  A flag to fly between the holidays and between when a season is in full swing.  There are many to choose from at Custom Flags and Gifts.

Most of our Custom Monogram Flags would work except for perhaps our Flip Flop Monogram Flag.  There are several bird flags good for this time of year and several Pineapple Welcome Flags.  Plus I always tell people, there are no Flag Police.  If you want to hang a summer flag in the middle of a snow storm, then do it!  Garden Flags are a way for you to express yourself to fly what you want.

When shopping at www.flagsandgifts.com be sure and create an account so you can receive your points from our new Customer Rewards Point System.

Birchtree Song Birds

Welcome Pineapple FlagsPineapple Welcome Flag

 

 

As always, thank you for reading.

Marilee & Josie

Custom Flags and Gifts

Monogram Garden Flags

A monogram in its strictest terms is two or more letters, usually someone's initials, that are interwoven in a way to create one design.  Most of us also include any display of initials used for decorative or labeling uses.  Initials that are listed in any way interwoven or not and even just one letter that represents a first or last name initial. 

As an embroiderer for many years I have monogrammed purses, shirts, baby clothes and over the last few years have been introduced to monogram decorative yard flags.  These garden flags come in many themes and designs and are available for all the different seasons.  Most monogram flags display a single initial.  Some also spell out the name that initial represents and works it into the design.  I have also seen some decorative monogram flags that use the traditional 3-letter intertwined monogram.  In these monograms the initial of the last name is larger and in the middle.

At Custom Flags and Gifts, all our monogram flags are ones we have designed ourselves and print in our shop.  This gives us the freedom to offer unique products that are not offered anywhere else.  Here is a sampling of what we have:



Animal Print Monogram Flag
 



Flip Flop Welcome Garden Flag

Thank you for reading.
Marilee and Josie
Custom Flags and Gifts