I don’t know if it was the warm sun, being out in the quiet backyard, the chaos of my life and impending prom, but something about this blanket brought out nostalgic thoughts. (Lots of photos in this post – continue reading way below.)
My youngest child, my 13-year-old son, is close to graduating from elementary school. It is hard for me to believe I am closing the door on the grade school years. Walking in the backyard, I noticed the graveyard of trucks in the sandbox.
My son is playing baseball this summer and hoping to play in high school. My thoughts are filled with how quickly those years pass by. And then they are off, finding their own way.
In the mean time, I’m going to enjoy the sun, the warmth, the baseball games, the relaxed pace of summer, having all the kids home, the teens in and out of the house, the late-night talks,….life, because all too soon I will be making another blanket for one of my kids….
PS. I would love your comments/criticism/advice on staging my quilts for photos. I photograph every quilt I make because I want a record. I don’t always have the time, weather, or energy to take good shots. I like the folded blanket on the bench. Those types of photos I can use on my website down the road. But, most of the time, it is hard for me to get the right kind of photos that look good on Etsy or on my website. I don’t have good lighting in the house so it’s hard to find simple backgrounds. Anyway, let me have it. I want to improve! I would love to have a pro photographer come to the house to help me with my product photography!
You and I are in the same place right now my friend, one of my girls is graduating from 8th grade and one is graduating from high school but they will all be home this summer, including my college girl! Probably our last summer with all three so I will enjoy it too! I love the title of your post…thinking it would be a great country song. And the photos….if I did all that work, I would be taking tons of photos too!
Your photos are beautiful Jane! And I love that blanket-I love how you placed each shirt-something about the colors-even so different-make it all come together…I like how you placed some sideways too-gives a nice patchwork sort of feel to it. And I love watching baseball-no one plays here right now-maybe Patrick in a few years. It’s my favorite sport-evening games, the snack stand, kids playing everywhere, I just love it.
This is my son’s quilt and I am so thrilled with the pictures, I absolutely cannot wait to get it in the mail!! He will be so surprised. Sarah, you don’t know me but I follow your blog everyday. I love it, love your approach to mothering, family, simple living, and just life in general. You are an inspiration to me. I started looking last year for a person to make my son a quilt for graduation and actually came across Jane through your blog! So….maybe a commission for you is in order or something 😉
Actually about half the shirts on the quilt are basketball. My son played baseball and basketball from age 5 on. He will graduate in a couple of weeks and will actually be going on to play basketball in college. 4 hours from home though so my days of never missing a single game he has played in are over. We will make as many as we can but I am trying to wrap my brain around the fact that he will be playing some without us in the stands. So, Jane….enjoy every single minute of those baseball games. People say all the time how fast those years go by but it’s so true and no matter how many times you hear it, I think you still don’t believe it until it is your child.
In addition to his high school graduation, my oldest daughter graduates the next week from college, gets married a month later then moves 7 hours away to go to medical school. So many big changes so quickly…hoping I survive the next few months without requiring medication or lots of wine or something 😉
Thank goodness we had a little surprise arrive 5 years ago…..Yes I have a senior and Pre-K student in the same school 🙂 My empty nest syndrome is saved for awhile!!
Thank you Jane for doing such an incredible job on this quilt and taking such loving care with what to our family are precious memories in the form of old t-shirts. You better be ready for lots of new customers because I plan to display this at our graduation party and I am certain that everyone will want your contact information!!
Thank you Pam! That quilt looks like a multi-seasoned sports quilt for sure-I know the memories are so bittersweet but you are right-for me the saving grace with Isaac leaving for college was Janey being born that very same night. Be ready to burst into tears when you open the box-we did for sure. It’s still on the end of his bed waiting for him to come home for the summer.
I think your photos always look great! From this set, I like the one draped over the bench, the one where it is spread out on the ground, and the straight on one hanging from the swing set. I think these provide a good balance of blanket in use and blanket dimensions.
Love the straight on photo on the bench with the folded quilt. Also love the fence ones. I get nostalgic and wish I could remember that feeling when I am crabby and in the moment with a sharp tongue and little patience!!! They grow up so fast.
I read a memoir recently and a quote she repeats is this one from Dr Seuss – “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” Life perspective shifting isn’t it??