Butterscotch Baskets Continued

 Hello Everyone,

After reading all of the comments from yesterdays post, I see that we have a common bond, our love of Thimbleberries and Lynette Jensen.

 

I'm making great headway on the Block of the Month (BOM) for RJR fabrics using Autumn Landscape designed by Lynette Jensen.  I have 32 blocks completed.  During the BOM, you will be making 4 of each block.

 

At my cutting station (my kitchen island), I'm cutting enough fabrics to make each block four times.  Once that is done, I'm doing some power sewing.  Before I know it, I have four blocks completed.
In this case, I have enough cut for sixteen blocks.  Sometimes I feel like I'm herding cats trying to keep everything organized.  So far no major mistakes.....that I know of!

Each set of blocks is then assembled into a grouping of four.  Take a good look at this picture that I took before the blocks were stitched together.

See the little dot of red in the center?  Yes, it takes a bit of time to stitch and flip a little square on the corner of each block before they are sewn together.  To me, that little elements adds so much to the overall design. It looks like a little bow tie. It's just stinkin' cute!

 

All of my little red squares are attached and the empty spots will soon be filled with little baskets and pinwheels around the outside.  I also like the look of the four, little off-white squares in the center of the cluster.  Another fun and unexpected little "bit" in the design to add interest.

 



At first I was concerned the large scale prints wouldn't work well in my small pieces.  I was so WRONG!  The diversity of scale and color is working beautifully in my design.  Stepping outside your box is so worth it! 

Click here for the link to Lynette Jensen's blog.  You can add this one to your morning blog reading.  I know I did!

Thank you all so much for your wonderful comments yesterday.  I'll try to personally respond to each of you today.  Company is coming for dinner tonight, so I have to clear off the dining room table so we can eat.  I won't be doing quite as much power sewing today.  We've been enjoying the snow up here at the cabin.  The water doesn't look too inviting this time of the year.

We tried to convince Mazey to walk out on the dock, but she wasn't having any part of our planned picture.  The other evening when we took Mazey out for the last walk of the day, I slipped and fell on my patoot on the icy road.  It's a good thing I have a lot of padding!  I know where your mind is going.......I was wearing a heavy jacket....wink!

Enjoy the big game this weekend.  I'm cheering for the Clydesdales!

Soon,
Lynn

Thimbleberries Meets Sewn Wild Oaks

Hello Everyone,

 

Everyone has their favorite designer.  Mine is Lynette Jensen of Thimbleberries fame.  Her sense of style is the reason I became a quilter and then a designer.

 

Before I ever started to quilt, I started collecting Thimbleberrie books and patterns.  I loved her style and wanted my home to look just like Lynette's.  I read her books from cover to cover like a novel.  I loved her sense of warmth, her use of plaids, and the incorporation of antiques into her home.  I remember reading about how she decorates, and she said, use what you have.  Those words have rung true for years and I use what I have.  I don't go out and buy something new, I go shopping in my own home, move things around, and make my rooms look new, even though some of the items are older than dirt.

 



I own every book, manual and a lot of Thimbleberrie patterns and fabrics. 

Here is one of the Thimbleberrie quilts I made and notice I hand quilted it!  That was back in the day when I had time to hand quilt. 

 

 

Here are my Thimbleberrie books.  I was so sad when I heard the news a couple of years ago that Lynette retired.  RETIRED!!!! She can't do that.  Is this going to mean the end of collecting Thimbleberries books? 



So let me set the stage.  I received a call from RJR fabrics last July. They told me Lynette Jensen was coming out of retirement and would I be interested in re-creating my Butterscotch Baskets pattern in Thimbleberrie fabrics for a Block of the Month.  WOULD I!!!!!!  I remember asking the VP of sales on the other end of the phone line if she could hear my heart beat outside my chest! I was beyond over the moon. I was speechless. Ask Mr. Joe, that doesn't happen often.....if ever.

Here is my original Butterscotch Baskets.

Here she is again hanging on the wall in one of the guest rooms at the cabin.  The throw pillows on the bed are from a Thimbleberries pattern and fabrics.

 

I went straight to work creating with the digital swatches RJR sent me from the Autumn Landscape line.  Here is a digital version of the New and Improved Butterscotch Baskets.

 



 

 

Here is an alternate border idea.

 



 

The boxes started to arrive on my doorstep.  I starched, ironed and folded all of the fabrics and put them in my little basket.

 



 

I cut strips the size I knew I needed and loaded up my Strip 'N Sew that Mr. Joe makes.

 



I'm ready to create!  Stayed tuned to see what I made this week with the strips. I think you will be surprised.

Soon,
Lynn