Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Smoke Stacks my City Culture with Island Batik


Welcome to my day on the Four Seasons Blog Hop with Island Batik. City Culture--Waterfront and Industrial were the collections I was given by Island Batik to work with for the Hop. This collection should be arriving to your quilt shops in April--ask for them!! 


Though my suggested week is summer--it was really hard to focus on that when the temperatures  outside while I was making the quilt were dangerously below zero!!


During my design process I find it extremely helpful to have a "story" in mind. For this quilt I asked myself--what is the City Culture I live in?  This is the view looking out my kitchen window to the east.
The full moon is rising over my little town. The grain elevators glisten in the early twilight. Bare trees line the rivers' bend. All these things rolled through my mind while trying to come up with a quilt plan.


Just look at the gorgeous range of colors in this collection--I see the corregated metal of the grain elevators, the bare trees that line the river bank, and the soft colors of the early evening sky.


I used my 2 1/2" strip die from AccuQuilt to cut strips from all the colors. Layered up to six layers on the die...


..and ran the strip die through my GO! Big electric cutting machine!!


And just look at all those perfectly cut 2 1/2" strips!!




Sewed the strips together while the wind howled outside!!


A helpful tip when piecing scrap type quilts is to use either your floor or design wall to lay out the blocks--then take a photo of the lay out. It is sometimes easier to see if any colors need to be moved when looking at the quilt on a photo.


And there you have it--my quilt made with City Culture by Island Batik--I am calling it Smoke Stack.


Smoke Stack--answer to my question--what kind of City Culture do I live in?  An agriculture area where the Smoke Stacks of tractors plant and harvest grain in the fields. Smoke Stacks on the semi trucks that travel the black top road in front of my house. 

Smoke Stacks--check back for the pattern soon!!


Turquoise Love!!


So I leave you with a photo looking to a neighbor to the west--taken right after the full moon photo to the east!! 

Now for the giveaway--I have an almost full strip set called Mountains Majesty that I used in Frosty Times Four that I will send to one lucky winner!! Click to the left to see the fabric. Comment below--what is the view from your kitchen window and how might it inspire a quilt!!  Winner will be drawn on the last day of the hop.

Also don't forget to sign up for the giveaway on Island Batiks' blog and the other participating blogs!!



59 comments:

teachpany said...

That's a great quilt design for those fabrics. Your colors were a little different from the group I got, of City Culture 2. View from my kitchen window? Backyard and neighbor's deck and house, and a few trees. Not inspiring. Thanks for making me think. though.

Mania said...

I liked the quilt as well as I liked your story Terri.

Anna brown said...

Great quilt idea. .Hmmm my kitchen doest have a window .But out my living room window its full of long horn African cows. .So a nice farmers table topper would be cool..

Anita said...

My view from the kitchen window is the neighbor's house, not very inspiring for quilt making... But sometimes the sky presents gorgeous colors, and those are inspiring!

Your quilt is gorgeous!

Angie said...

I don't have a window over the sink but the nearest window is trees for inspiration. Your quilt is beautiful! Have a fun day!! angielovesgary2 atgmail dotcom

Allison said...

Love your quilt! When I look out of my kitchen window I see my garden (not much to see this time of year) and the woods of eastern Pennsylvania. Lots of birds at our feeders, some unusual woodpeckers this year.

Kathy H said...

Great quilt and the smokestack name was perfect. Out my kitchen window I can see all sorts of brightly colored riding toys and climbing toys for when my grandkids visit. Great colors to work with.

Barb said...

Once again awesome fabrics.... love your quilt

Joyce Carter said...

Beautiful quilt. I love the name you gave it.It is just perfect for it.
My kitchen window faces the back part of my house. I can see our lake and the beautiful trees surrounding it. Thank you for the giveaway.

VA said...

What a beautiful quilt! I see trees and an occasional deer out my kitchen window.

Linda Williamson said...

I live in the mountains in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. We're surrounds by mountains and forests and we're lucky to get all four seasons here. It's actually been pretty cold this January for our area but we haven't had any snow to speak of. Thanks for sharing your quilt. grinnie1961 at gmail dot com

LJ said...

Oh, my. I'm city-bound so my kitchen window faces the street and the houses across the street. Perhaps, the quilt I'm working on now is perfect for the inspiration of houses - need I say, the quilt has lots of houses on it? Great quilt and great colors. Loved that pic of the 2 1/2" strips. I live in eastern Iowa and while you guys had snow and cold temps, we had lots of rain and it was fairly warm - by Iowa standards. Sure glad we didn't get the 25+" that Minneapolis had. Phew!

Anita Jackson @ Domestic Felicity said...

From my kitchen window I enjoy seeing the mountain side full of brambles and small trees full of birds~ birds are fun!

Dale said...

From my kitchen windows, I see woods. Lots and lots of trees, and lot and lots of birds at our bird feeders. Both things would inspire me to make a quilt - one with trees, or one with birds. Thank you for sharing your quilt! Island Batiks has such beautiful fabrics!
warner.dale@gmail.com

Dawn F said...

Sadly, I don't have a kitchen window!! :( Haha, but if I could cut one out of the wall, I would see our back yard and little garden bed. I love your quilt and how it reflects your city culture. What a great story.

Vicki H said...

Out my kitchen window I see my husbands garage, but I do have a wonderful flower garden along the side of it.

Beth said...

The view from our kitchen window is our barn, and behind it is a pasture, and then a hill of green pine trees with some firs and alders and other miscellaneous colorful trees dotting here and there. A beautiful landscape quilt is waiting to be made. So different from the view I used to have, when I lived in Southern California, which was an ocean view!

@lutzcats said...

I see my grass covered backyard with a tree...and a garden at the back for my vegetables... Growth inspires me.

Lori said...

wow your quilt is lovely. sadly I don't have a kitchen window. But I have a window out my sewing room that looks into the back yard. In the winter I see all the birds and squirrels at the feeders and my neighbors dogs. In the summer I see the birds and squirrels and neighbors dogs and our garden growing as well as my butterfly garden with lots of butterflies.
quilting dash lady at Comcast dot net

Marybeth said...

Love the design, the fabrics and the story behind it all

Quilting Tangent said...

View from window is woods and wildlife, lots of inspiration. 24Tangent@gmail.com

Connie Kresin Campbell said...

Beautiful fabrics and what a neat quilt!!

Farm Quilter said...

Love your quilt!! The view from my kitchen window is my garden, horse pasture and hay fields below the "hill", looking east to the rising sun.

Deb B. said...

The view from my eat-in kitchen is quite lovely. There is the big back yard that is green most of the year. Then right outside the window are two Crepe Myrtle bushes, pink roses, and white daisies (they are in bloom most of the summer and into the fall). Daily we see deer and foxes out back. So, I would say the view out my window inspires bright cheery patterns.

barbtaz said...

Unfortunately the view from my kitchen window will not inspire a quilt, but the view out my front window is better! The sun is shining which makes everything better!

Love these fabrics and your quilt!
Barb

OhioLori said...

The view from my sink window, is our garden area...and a bit past it..our peach orchard!! Love the blooms in Spring!! :) We can watch the squirrels running up & down the 2 huge Maples at side of house too..& assorted birds as well. Lots of deer ramble round now & then too. Guess Lots of inspiration for colors &themes out that window...giggle

LOVE your Quilt! & your views are beautiful too! Thank you for chance to win your give-a-way :)

Cecilia said...

I don't have a window in my kitchen, instead I look through glass sliding doors out onto my lanai and pool area. I can also see the airstrip and can watch the airplanes landing and taking off during the day. This inspires me to use bright blues and greens along with the bright colors of the airplanes. Your quilt is beautiful and I love your photo of your view! Thank you for the chance to win the beautiful fabric.

QuiltE said...

My kitchen view is out into a bush. Always something to watch and inspire, no matter the time of year. Right now, it's the evergreens, often dusted with snow. Or the sun shining on them, and the snow melting. Year round, there are always birds, squirrels and chipmunks for entertainment. I guess the inspiration comes with green, that often makes it into my quilts. Too, I find I spend a lot of time looking at the different colours/hues, not just of the greenery, but the bark too and now snow. Green, Brown and White are not always green, brown and white, but so many different colours! :)

Lee said...

When I look out my kitchen window I see my bird feeders! Inspires me to applique some bird cushions for my family room!

Diantha said...

My view from kitchen window is my Maple Tree - bare branches in the snow now. It reminds me of a quilt I made - with a tree in each of 4 seasons.
I enjoyed seeing your photos Nice fabrics too.

Bec said...

I can see my cats from my kitchen window. I'd like to make a quilt with cats on it. :)

Audrey said...

From my kitchen window I see evergreens, birches and the lake. Add in the reds of bunchberries and moss berries in the fall and you have the inspiration for a quilt of greens, gray whites, blues and a touch of red or rust. I am glad you are planning to write the pattern for your Smoke Stacks quilt. Thanks for sharing.

Jennifer Fulton Inquiring Quilter said...

Hmmm. My kitchen window looks out on my street. But in the way is a lovely tall grasses that wave in the wind. I love them in the winter time when they dry out but retain their tall fluffy "feathers" that make a soft rustling sound whenever the Winter wind comes blowing. I think that would inspire a great quilting design!

Sewgirl said...

My kitchen window looks out on my side yard. There is a lovely flowering Princess plant that is just about to bloom. The colors are pink with green leaves and brown trunk. There's also a metal turtle my son made in shop class. Not sure where that would lead...something to contemplate!! Your quilt turned out great. Thanks for sharing the great giveaway!

GranChris said...

I look out on acres of forest and birds galore. Quilts would be everywhere if I had the time.

Anonymous said...

The view from my kitchen window is my neighbor's spruce trees, which look stunning when the moonlight is shining through them at night. This view has inspired me to make a wall quilt with a winter moon shining and the trees done in silhouette. Thanks!

Please click on the delaineelliott above for my email link.

Nancy said...

My kitchen window faces the street. I live in the country, and I have timber company property across the street. It used to be really pretty, until they cut it 3 years ago. They were supposed to re-plant but never did.🙁 Now it's just scrub and dirt! So not very inspiring, but I still have my memories! LOL!

mumbird3 said...

Great quilt - love your cutting machine!!! very envious!!! The view from my kitchen window is a board fence - bare in the winter but the Spring brings gorgeous flowers!!! mumbird3(at)gmail(dot)com

JANET said...

My window faces the street, so there isn't much of a view. Once in a while we get a beautiful streak of colors from the sunset above the rooftops.

rosemaryschild said...

Your quilt is amazing & I love your quilting, what wonderful colors this collection has! I live on one & 1/2 acres of woodlands, the view from my kitchen window (and pretty much all my windows) show trees and woodland undergrowth! This time of year, the hardwoods are bare & the large pine trees are green on top(you have to look up) & the vines are still green that climb up the tree trunks. I can see a thread painted forest quilt, at dusk - this fabric collection would fit! Thank you, Susan

Kathy E. said...

I am so lucky to have a beautiful view out my kitchen window. It overlooks a nature park with a pond and trail going around it. During the warmer months, there are geese and ducks on the water. During the winter, it freezes over and people ice skate on it! It is so peaceful and I don't mind washing dishes at all! Love your quilt!

Pamela said...

I love your idea of having a story in mind when you design a quilt. The view outside my kitchen window would make a good story - deer tracks in a big field of snow, big bare trees, and the remnants of a cornfield in the distance.

Jayne said...

I look straight out into my garden. Lots of green. Is that why green features so much in my quilts I wonder?

VickiT said...

Oh gosh, looking out my kitchen window isn't very exciting at all normally. Although, even with living inside city/town limits, I was super excited when I was in there reading a recipe I was about to make for supper. I looked up and saw a deer in the neighbor's yard, and then there were two of them. I ran to my sewing room to get my cell phone to take pictures, and by the time I returned, there were 3 deer. And then oh my gosh, 4 of them and then 5 total. I was shocked and wondered if there were any more coming behind all those. We've had one or two in the past in our yard in the fall because they'd come eat the apples off my apple tree. Never in all the years I've lived here, (since 1994) have I seen more than 2 of them.

Anyway, normally my view out that window all I see is the neighbor's house and our apple tree and very large near dead tree in their yard. Very boring, but I suppose if I stretched the imagination just a bit, I could make a house quilt. Honestly, however, house quilts are not near the top of my most favorite, so maybe a nice red (apples) and white (their house) quilt. (?)

Robin (RsIslandCrafts) said...

My kitchen window looks out over my backyard. We don't have any house directly behind ours...yet. I can see gorgeous Florida sunsets over the trees and roof tops of my backyard neighbors.

Your view is beautiful and I can see that in your quilt. I like the stacks.

Brenda @ Songbird Designs said...

I have two windows in my kitchen - one over my sink which looks towards my former neighbor's empty house and the other in the dining area of my kitchen - a 6x6 foot window that looks into the woods. You can sit at the table and watch birds, squirrels, and (my mom's favorite) deer strolling through foraging for food. In the winter, you can watch the beautiful colors of the sun setting behind the hill through the trees. Those colors would make an awesome quilt!

Sabrina said...

I have a nice tree view from my window.

Sharon Aurora said...

Your quilt is eye catching! The colors and design work well together.

Camille said...

My kitchen window view is the neighbor's screen porch and their back yard. They have a globe on a tree stump that is iridescent colors and glows at night. I can see an abstract interpretation of the globe and the nighttime glow in a quilt.

Tu-Na Quilts said...

Beautiful quilt. The colors looks so rich! I live in ND and it's sure been cold there. Fortunately, I only spent two weeks over the holidays there and am now enjoying the AZ sun and warmth.
kthurn(at)bektel(dot)com

Emily C said...

I have apartment buildings, trees and a road. I could make a quilts with blues, greens and sashing..

Deb M said...

The view from my kitchen window looks out over treetops, over the river valley to rolling hills which are frequently shrouded in fog.
deb(dot)rick(at)live(dot)com

Bonnie58 said...

Beautiful quilt. Thanks for sharing. I see lots of snow out my window as well!!

Sewbig said...

Beautiful quilt with wonderful fabrics.
My view from the kitchen window is the bamboo growing in out backyard.

Linda said...

View from my kitchen window is my shed. Not a pretty view at all.

Laura said...

This quilt feels soft and wintry! Thanks for sharing. My window shows my backyard which often has urban deer.

ShirleyC said...

I can't imagine that type of cold!

My view from my kitchen window is my patio and back yard. I can see the birds feeding too!

ikkinlala said...

The view from my kitchen window is our patch of backyard, the alley, and the wall that separates us from the freeway. They’ve washed the wall recently, but I’d like to make a quilt to commemorate the graffiti that used to be there.

BarefootThunder said...

My window view is a tangerine tree, and the neighbors sheep. Could make for an interesting southern farm scene on a quilt.... Hmmmm, new baby due in the family in May, he might get a farm quilt. :)