Thursday

Swing into summer with Play Ball!

Hey there! Welcome back to another day of FULL-ON AWESOMENESS

Exaggeration? Not if you’re Finn Hawley, age 8, baseball player and superfan. When he found out I was doing a stamp set with a baseball theme, iterations of the word “awesome” were flying at me like balls hit off the bat of Stan Musial.

Finn loves baseball. He loves playing, he loves watching, he loves stats, he loves players, and quite simply, he loves The Game. This snapshot of Finn playing third base was taken last year, when the Red Hot Fireballs (don’t you dig those smokin’ hot red jerseys and caps?) were in the midst of a local rec league game.


I’m a born and bred St. Louis Cardinals fan, and the same goes for my family (I mean, what’s not to love? GO CARDS! Woooooo!!!). Finn’s dad’s side of the family—ESPECIALLY his dear Grandma Mary—are crazy for the Chicago Cubs. I don’t know if you follow the majors, but the Cubs and Cards have one of the biggest rivalries in baseball. Usually it’s a good-natured ribbing, but man, the fans can get a bit, well, colorful in their support or disdain for their chosen team. My kiddos are big supporters of BOTH teams, and often can be found wearing Cubs and Cards gear at the same time. A recent example, we went to the first Cubs-Cards match-up this season (pic below). Finn is wearing a retro-style Stan Musial (“Stan the Man”) jersey that I sewed for him (with a red Yadier Molina Cards t-shirt underneath!), paired with a bright blue Cubs ball cap. When asked by folks sitting near us how he could be a fan of BOTH teams, he said with confidence, “I really just love the game.”

That kid. Don’t you want to hug him?


So, I’ve designed a set in honor of this beloved game and my snuggable little baseball fan: Play Ball!


My set is a bit different from other sporty sets, as I’ve chosen to celebrate the vintage look and feel of baseball: the old felt pennants with exuberant one-of-a-kind lettering, the well-worn woodgrain and colorful stripes on the old bats, the trusty ball cap (which can be personalized with your team colors, how do you like them apples?)—it’s the little details that make something feel special, and I hope you and the sports fans in your life will think this one’s a big hit! 

I know some folks who have decidedly smashed this one out of the park—the Bloom Brigade! Hope you’ll go run ’round the bases to see what they’ve created with Play Ball!

Allison Cope
Christine Okken
Cindy Lawrence
Danielle Kennedy
Dawn Burnworth
Julie Koerber
Kathy Jones
Leslie Miller
Stacy Morgan
Tosha Leyendekker

Thank you so much for coming by... and please pop back in tomorrow, as I have something sassy to share for our next set sneak!

6 comments:

Katherine said...

My favorite team is also the St. Louis Cardinals! My mother grew up in St. Louis so even though I grew up in Utah I loved "her" team. Baseball is my favorite sport because of the Cards...I remember watching the World Series at school every year...so fun!
Your son is quite the handsome young man!

Tosha Leyendekker said...

This has to be one of my all-time favorite sports sets Marce!! I adore the vintage feel! Loved reading about your charming young baseball fan too!! My very first professional baseball game experience was at Wrigley Field at the age of 10! However, since living in Cali for over 25 years now, I have to say I'm a Giants fan. "Go Giants"!! ;)

Stacy Morgan said...

Love love the picture of you and your son. Awesome that you guys get to watch the game together and enjoy it all. Ignore Tosh and her Giants... She always picks the wrong teams. ;-) this is a great set and I like the vintage flair you added to it!

Katie Sims said...

What a handsome boy you have! It sounds like he has a true appreciation of the sport and you couldn't have honored him any better than how you illustrated this incredible set! I love the vintage style....so nostalgic and completely wonderful! :)

Conniecrafter said...

that is so neat you designed something your son loves too, I like his answer on how he can wear gear from both teams, hope he keeps those thoughts through adulthood :) I am from Michigan but now live in Belleville IL so I know all about the Cards and Cubs fans :)

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