Summerland

Summer is friends, beaches, swimming pools, raspberries, sunshine, thunderstorms,

scout camp, snails, flowers, road trips, soccer, quiet moments and family.

 It is beautiful busyness. 

 It is playing all day and falling into our beds at night.

 It is almost over.

Summer in the Sawtooths

We recently returned home from a camping trip to Redfish Lake in the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho.  Camping (in a tent!) is always so much work, I wasn't sure if it would be worth it.  Amazingly, it was. On day 5, when it came time to pack up camp, I was sad.  I wished we were staying 2 more nights like some of the others in our big group.  Crazy! I don't know who was more surprised by this, my husband or myself.  I think the fact that we don't have a baby anymore - all of our kids are potty trained and sleep through the night - was a big part of it. Having flush toilets and showers nearby was a bonus.  Being with my favorite people, surrounded by beautiful scenery was the cherry on top.

  

This outlet river was located about 100 yards behind our campsite - it provided us nightly with the perfect Rocky Mountain lullaby.

And, the beach...

one of my all time favorites.

 The view might have something to do with that.

Read more about the Sawtooth Mountains here.

Rural Jardin Quilt

I finished the Rural Jardin quilt. 
It is nothing fancy - just 5" squares cut from the same layer cake as the American Flag pillow, but simplicity is what I wanted (& needed).

I love these prints and the colors are perfect in my home.

I also picked up a couple of heavenly, woven fat quarters from the same line for some toss pillows. 

Wish I could find more of this woven in yardage! 

American Flag Pillow

A crazy thing happened this week...I actually found a few spare minutes to dust off my sewing machine and crank out a little project or two. What a busy month it has been! Today is the last day of school for our kids  and we are more than ready for our summer break to begin.  Since we are kicking off summer with 4th of July celebrations, I was feeling a little patriotic.  I had a Rural Jardin layer cake that was just begging to be played with  - the perfect colors for Americana quilting.

I cut the 10 inch layer cake squares into 5 inch squares and, setting aside 9 red, 7 white/beige and 5 blue squares, sewed this charm squares quilt top.

I am still waiting for the binding fabric to come in the mail.  Rural Jardin is getting hard to find, even on eBay and Etsy. 

As for the pillow,  I cut the 21 squares I had set aside into 2 1/2" squares to make the flag. I framed the flag and backed the pillow in denim.

Now I have some good ol' Americana pillow action going on,

As well as British love.

Hmmm...which flag will be next?

I am off to enjoy my kids and celebrate freedom (from school)!

Happy Independence Day!

FYI: If you need Kona Solids, I found them here for $4.89 a yard, and basic shipping was fast - I ordered on a Tuesday and package arrived Thursday!