Butterscotch Progress

Hello Everyone,

 

I'm making good progress on Butterscotch Baskets. 

 



 

I made four of each block for a total of 80 Ohio Star blocks.  Put all 80 blocks in the finished column.

 



They I sewed them together with the little red "button" in the middle. I can put all twenty of these in the finished column.

I just need to make five more basket blocks.

Then I'll make a few more pinwheels and start sewing it together.

Then it should look like this!  All of the fabrics I'm using are from the Autumn Landscape line by Lynette Jensen for RJR Fabrics. Throw in a few fabrics from Sand and Stone too. This is a large quilt, but the task is much easier when it's broken down into manageable sections.  The quilt will be offered as a block of the month through RJR fabrics and local quilt shops.  She will make her debut into society while on display in RJR's booth at Spring Quilt Market in Salt Lake City in May.  How exciting is that!!! 

I'm going to put this all aside today while I prepare for my booth at the Manteca Quilters show at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds this weekend, March 5th and 6th. Gail and I hope to see a lot of you local quilters at the show.  Come on by to see us and our adorable booth this Saturday or Sunday.

Soon,
Lynn

Basket Weaving

Hello Everyone,

 



I decided to work on Butterscotch Baskets this week.  The large scale prints are working up nicely in my little 6" blocks.

 



This quilt is going to have a feel of summer and fall combined.  The fabrics are called Autumn Landscape by Lynette Jensen for RJR. 

 

My design wall is starting to get full.  I'm working on three more basket blocks today to fill the gap.  I also have 16 more blocks cut out, just waiting for some power piecing. 

My sister Gail gave me this portable quilt design wall for my birthday.  I LOVE it!  Click here to find out more about it.

I have plenty of space to put it when I'm at the cabin.  Since I sew in the great room, I set it up close to where I am.  When I'm home, it's a different story.  My sewing room is upstairs in one of the smaller bedrooms.  So the dilemma is finding a spot to put the design wall somewhat out of the way upstairs where I have easy access to it.  I decided to put it up in our master bedroom, after I moved Mazey's bed and rearranged a couple of other things. 

I started to assemble it myself so I could learn to do this quickly and easily when I take it to a workshop.  What started out as a piece of cake, quickly deteriorated into a Lucille Ball-like skit.  I assembled the entire design wall on our bed, (first major mistake)  then tried to move it to a standing position (second huge mistake) since I have a four-poster bed and had to lift the entire wall up and over the posters.  Keep in mind it is 6' x 6'.  Before long, parts and pieces were flinging themselves around the room with Mazey in hot pursuit thinking she had a new chew toy.

To make a long story short, the next time, I will begin to assemble it on the floor, then tilt it to a standing position.  Easy peasy when you follow the directions.  I really do love it......once I get it upright. 

Have a great weekend!

Soon,
Lynn




 

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