Summer 2013 Part 1

I can't believe the summer is almost over and the kids are back in school (plus my birthday is only a few days away and I will be 38 this year). We have had a super busy summer - mainly watching our boys play baseball, playing with our new chickens and a few weekend getaways.

 

 Love it when they are in full catchers gear and waddle out to home plate :)

 

Our oldest got to pitch this year and his whole game improved immensely from the beginning of the season. This was his last game of the year and three kids hit off him, but he got them out at first, so no runs scored.

 

In May we got 6 chickens. It is amazing how fast they grow and they are so fun to watch. We let them wander around the yard at night and they chase each other fluffing up the neck feathers to battle.

May

Early July

 



We also had a summer project of installing a fire pit and patio in the backyard. It was supposed to be a 2 or 3 weekend project but due to weather and ball games it ended up being almost 2 months. We have enjoyed many nights cooking hotdogs and roasting marshmellows!

Before

After

 

4th of July sparklers by the fire.

 

 

Now for some quilts!!! I did a photo shoot earlier this summer of my finishes from late 2012 and early 2013. I have shown these quilts before but some where taken indoors in bad lighting.

 

Youngest sons twin quilt. I also made him a matching pillow case and oversized floor pillow. He wanted red, black and white. Last fall my husband and I went away for the weekend and stopped at a few quilt shops on the drive and picked out about 12 different prints.

Oldest sons twin quilt, along with matching pillowcase and oversized floor pillow. He picked out a fabric line with puzzle pieces. I am sad to say that this quilt is now in his toy chest being used as the bed of his stuffed animals. All that work to be stuffed away hidden :(
Both boys quilts were quilted in a squared off meandering stitch.

 

King swoon quilt. After a long process of sewing the blocks together and having it sit for months while deciding how to quilt it. It is completed and on my bed. I have such a love hate relationship with this quilt. I know that I will never attempt to make one this size again (120x120).

 

Here is my Lonestar paper pieced quilt. This is my first attempt at paper piecing, once I got the hang of it I rather enjoyed it. I have a sampler quilt that I also did paper piecing on but have yet to quilt it. I used DS Quilts Meadowlark in Orange and Blue colorways with the four center diagonal stars half and half. The backing is also half and half of orange and blue.

More to come in the next post!

Blogs I am linking up to:
Made By Me
http://www.jaqsstudio.com/2013/08/made-by-me-93-linky-party-and-features.html
Fabric Tuesday
http://www.quiltstory.blogspot.com/2013/08/fabric-tuesdayshare-your-projects.html
We Did It Wednesday
http://www.sew-much-ado.com/2013/08/we-did-it-wednesday_28.html
WIP Wednesday
http://www.freshlypieced.com/2013/08/wip-wednesday-better-late-than-never.html
Really Random Thursdays
http://www.liveacolorfullife.net/2013/08/really-random-thursday-82913.html
Needle and Thread Thursdays
http://www.myquiltinfatuation.blogspot.com/2013/08/needle-and-thread-thursday-and-dash-of.html