Four Season Blog Hop – City Culture 2

The Quilt Rambler and Island Batik

I hope you have been keeping up with the Island Batik Ambassador Four Seasons Blog Hop this month. Personally, I have enjoyed the parade of new fabrics that are arriving in our local quilt shops this month as well as the creativity of the ambassadors!

Technically this blog hop ends the 2017 Island Batik Ambassador program. It’s been a wonderful journey! Seems like yesterday I was waiting on my first ambassador box! So many adventures, so many blessings. Thank you, Island Batik for the opportunity! And thank you for the gift of the fabrics to be able to participate in this program!

Ah! But this rambler is just getting started! It’s not about farewells, it’s about endless summer  – as this is the week of “summer” for the hop! So let’s hop right to it!

Presenting City Cultures 2

I received two boxes from Island Batik this year, the first one in February and the second one in July/August   Each of my boxes had an abundance of fabrics and threads for our monthly challenges. Included was a bundle of “secret fabric” – fabrics that would preview at the Fall Market in Houston and be our focus for this blog hop.

My fabric bundle included 20 fat quarters from the line City Cultures 2.

City Culture 2 fabric from Island Batik Fall 2017
20 fat quarters to inspire the imagination

I have to add that these are just 20 out of 40 in the line. While at Fall Market I picked up the catalog and a brochure to learn that the line is divided into four divisions, sorta like a city (duh) and my collection included the waterfront and industrial district. I thought it was sorta interesting as in my local area I am both close to the waterfront of the Houston Ship Channel, Galveston Bay, and of course the Gulf Coast itself, not to mention many oil refineries – this is Texas after all!  Who knew fabric could so represent your life!

City Culture 2 by Island Batik

While at Fall Market I was able to meet Jaynne Crow, of Bella Nonna Design Studio, who is the signature collection designer for City Culture 2.

Jaynne Crow of Bella Nonna Quilt with Karen Overton, The Quilt Rambler

Planning for My City Culture 2 Quilt

Moving right along…I had this plan…and then I changed my mind…women are entitled to that don’t you know! Just a few weeks ago I decided I needed a pattern that was a little more modern and I chose Love Links from Studio 180 Design.

I actually met the gals of Running With Scissors at Fall Market who designed this quilt pattern –  they are also fellow Studio 180 Design Certified Instructors! After making this quilt I am eager to try more of their designs. And yes, they are as fun as this photo reflects!

Running With Scissors, Ellen, Kathy, and Heidi with The Quilt Rambler, Karen

City Culture 2 in Progress

And sew it began…deciding which 10 fabrics I wanted to use for the pattern.  I love that there are several sizes included from a mini 13″ x 14″ up to a kingsize. I chose the 39″ x 42″ and quickly pulled out my Wing Clipper tool to make the flying geese.

using Deb Tucker's method of making flying gees
Making flying geese units the Deb Tucker way

As I was trimming the units I realized that there would be duplicate “links” in the pattern and that’s when I had an inspiration – why use 10 fabrics when you can use all twenty! It was a stretch as Island Batik had provided a limited amount of background fabric and I’d already cut up and used most of it.  Ah, but it was meant to be! (More in a moment about the “extra” units).

Sorting my chevron blocks made from flying geese

I don’t know what I enjoy most, the picking out of the fabric, the hum of the sewing machine, the quilting process or the peacefulness of hand binding…it’s all good! Just enjoying the process – all of it!

Adding a personal touch to the quilt top with hand-guided custom longarm quilting
My vote for Endless Summer – Love Links featuring City Culture 2 fabric by Island Batik

What About Those Extra Units?

Glad you asked! As an ambassador, I made a commitment to use the fabrics provided to me for monthly challenge projects. Well, we all know, sometimes life gets in the way and the home office is very good to understand a few delays every now and then…that said, and without much ado, I’d like to introduce to you Miss October, my belated Creative Borders and Binding quilt made from the leftover parts and pieces from this month’s challenge. I guess you could say “two for one” with this bundle of fat quarters!

City Geese by The Quilt Rambler
What do you do with spare parts? Make a little quilt of course!
Introducing, Miss October, City Geese made using City Culture 2 fabric from Island Batik

I really had a lot of fun putting this one together – who knew you could get so many different looks from combining flying geese units! I think I’m going to call this City Geese or Geese in the City…I don’t know. Maybe I just call it finished is good!

Close up of the binding – experimenting with machine binding and decorative stitching

That’s Not All Folks!

Did I neglect to mention that there are multiple giveaways with this blog hop? If you haven’t done so already you need to visit each ambassador for their individual giveaway (links below) as well as the grand prize from Island Batik.

Not to be outdone I will be giving away the pattern Love Links (goodness, not my copy – I want to make a big one!) as well as a 5″ stamp precuts of Island Batik fabrics. Keep reading to find the entry form. Good things come to those who wait!

 

In the meantime, I thought I’d share a few more photos of City Culture 2 “in the wild” – can you tell by the settings that I am truly wishing it was summer!

Oh! and I almost forgot! Yours truly is so excited to be joining the ranks of the 2018 Island Batik Ambassadors and I’m eagerly awaiting my new box of fabrics!  It’s going to be another fabulous year so you will want to be sure to subscribe to The Quilt Rambler blog if you haven’t already done so!

Miss October in the wild
Let’s Talk Quilts – I’ll save you a hanging chair under the tiki hut!
City Culture 2 – look for it at your local quilt shop!

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

Giveaway Time

SaveSave

SaveSave

Do you sew left to right or right to left? Inquiring minds want to know!

I’m giving away a 5″ Island Stamps in the Caribbean Splash fabric to remind you of endless summer plus the pattern Love Links. Due to postage, I regret that only US residents can register for my giveaway. Multiple ways to enter including a fun question….you can’t win if you don’t play!

 

 

Contest open to US residents only

 

SaveSave

a Rafflecopter giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

* Please note you have to scroll all the way to the bottom to leave a comment!

 

WINTER

January 8Blue Moon
Inquiring QuilterCheryl Lynch Quilts

January 9Mountain’s Majesty
FunThreads DesignsLittle Bunny QuiltsQuilting Affection Designs

January 10Alpine Ice
Freemotion by the RiverSlice of Pi Quilts
Seams Like a DreamKISSed Quilts

January 11Alpine Jingle
Purrfect Spots DesignsBejeweled Quilts

SPRING

January 15Elementz
Den syende himmelInspired Layers

January 16Southern Blooms
Yellow Cat Quilt DesignsQuiltologist Treasures

January 17Morning Sunshine
Quilt’n PartyDesert Bloom Quilting

January 18Season’s Shades
Inchworm FabricsKauffman Designs

SUMMER

January 22Paisley Dot
Pamela QuiltsSeams Like a DreamMary Make Made Mine

January 23Sunflower Serenade
Kathys Kwilts and MoreWhispers of Yore

January 24City Culture 2
Mary Mack Made MineheARTs Creations

January 25City Culture 2
The Quilt RamblerLizard Creek QuiltsKISSed Quilts

FALL

January 29Pumpkin Patch
Seams to be SewKISSed Quilts
Ark Angel CreationsAdventurous Appliqué and Quilting

January 30Autumn’s Grace
KISSed QuiltsBeaquilter

January 31Plum Delicious
Masterpiece QuiltingAdventurous Appliqué and Quilting

February 1Northern Woods
Moosestash QuiltingVicki’s Crafts and Quilting

 

This is Karen Overton, The Quilt Rambler, celebrating Endless Summer with the beautiful fabrics from Island Batik

Be sure and visit the other ambassadors and leave a comment through the rafflecopter to be eligible to win my giveaway!

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSaveSaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

114 thoughts on “Four Season Blog Hop – City Culture 2

  1. Natasha says:

    I really like the way the love links quilt came out and the way you photographed it with the tiki hut!
    i could not figure out an answer to the question at first, i realized its because i stitch both ways without any thought to it. I am ambidextrous and while usually hold needle in right, sometimes i find it in my left lol. Maybe just confused hehe

    • thequiltrambler says:

      Not confused at all Natasha, I find that very convenient- keeps things flowing without the boredom. And thanks for the photography compliment – I love time under my tiki hut and I love quilting so they kinda went together with the theme of “summer” ????

  2. Allison Evrard says:

    Your Love Links quilt is Gorgeous! Oh so many flying geese! Interesting question about sewing on binding–I always go right to left.

    • thequiltrambler says:

      Thanks Allison, it was a fun quilt to make – best wishes in the giveaway perhaps I will be sending you the pattern ???? The binding question came from posting that photo on the Ambassador FB group – a couple of the girls commented that they did theirs different – mainly they flipped where the binding was on the bottom not the top ???? so I thought it would be fun to see what others do and which direction they sewed. Thanks for playing along!

  3. LJ says:

    Wow, finding how to make a comment was a bit of a challenge on your blog, but I was persistent. 🙂 Love “Love Links” and the colors on this quilt are gorgeous. Usually, I sew right to left but occasionally, especially when doing embroidery, I do reverse the direction.

    • thequiltrambler says:

      Sorry for the confusion- thanks for being persistent! Glad you were as now you are in the running for your own Love Links Pattern ???? of course both the pattern and fabrics can be purchased through your local quilt shop in case you don’t win ☺️ thanks for reading my post and playing along!

  4. Anita Jackson says:

    All of my quilts have been machine stitched so I am not sure I know which way I would hand sew. ??? good question! I may have to try out a baby sized to find out! I love you photo settings BTW

    • thequiltrambler says:

      Machine binding works for me too! Especially when I’ve run out of time or I know it’s a quilt that will be used a lot. Hand sewing is soothing though ???? give it a try – always fun to try a new technique- you learn sometimes and sometimes you learn that you never want to do that technique again ☺️

  5. J. Warner says:

    I hand sew right to left. You quilt was very nice. I liked your pattern, and the Island Batiks are just beautiful!!

  6. Linda Brashear says:

    I love the way you quilted the flying geese in “Miss October” and is that a flange binding? So forgiving on machine stitching it.
    As for the question, I don’t hand bind. So, left or right, I don’t know.

    • thequiltrambler says:

      Hi Linda, in a way it’s a flange binding – I used the Shortcut Binding Tool and sewed the two fabrics together. Normally you would leave the flange flapping in the wind, but I decided it needed an extra punch with the decorative stitching. I reviewed the tool in a previous blog post…click below to see my non-affiliate review

      Shortcut Binding Tool

  7. Dawn F. says:

    I sew left to right, holding the needle in my left hand. I guess I never really thought about it before! I love your designs. It is amazing how many different patterns flying geese can make!

  8. Angela J Short says:

    Beautiful projects and fabrics! I sew from right to left. Have a fun day!! angielovesgary2 atgmail dotcom

  9. Maryellen McAuliffe says:

    Both quilts are gorgeous! I love how the geese look in your larger quilt, and yes, I would love that pattern, too. I mostly do machine binding (sew to front, stitch to back) but when doing hand binding, my way looks like yours. You are not alone, despite what the other Ambassadors think, lol

    • thequiltrambler says:

      So funny MaryEllen – as the other ambassadors said I was backwards ????. I would encourage you to try the pattern – it is very well written and of course I love using the Tucker tools and techniques

  10. Cecilia says:

    Your quilts are beautiful! I love using the Wing Clipper, its my favorite tool for flying geese. I usually sew right to left when I’m attaching the binding. Thanks for the great giveaway.

  11. Diantha Howard says:

    I hand sew right to left.
    I like your quilts, especially the small one — These fabrics are so nice!

  12. Kathleen McCormick says:

    This is one beautiful quilt! I love your use of the fabrics and then the use of the extras for the border quilt. So much fun.

  13. Jennifer @ Inquiring Quilter says:

    The City Culture collection is so fascinating because each “district” is so different and distinct. Love your quilts. Both of them are so pretty and really show off the collection. I love the idea that you make an extra quilt from the leftovers. I need to do that!

  14. Christi says:

    I love the pattern choice and the quilt is outstanding. Great colors. I sew to the left usually. Who knows why.

  15. Susan Spiers says:

    I love the dark colors of this collection – amazing! Your quilts are wonderful! I sew my binding from left to right most times, but for whatever reason, I find myself sewing from right to left – I don’t know, something in the pattern I think! Thank you for sharing!

  16. Becky says:

    I love your quilts. I especially like the decorative quilting you did on the second quilt. I’m going to keep that in mind next time I FMQ. Thanks for the giveaway. 🙂

  17. Kathy E. says:

    Oh my, your work is gorgeous! In my dreams, I’ll produce something as beautiful! I stitch right to left, I think. I guess I’d need to put a needle in my hand to see for sure! I’m a new follower of yours on Bloglovin’!

  18. Pam says:

    Both of your quilts are gorgeous! The colors in the Love Links quilt positively dance against the background, and I love the free form piecing and punch of green in City Geese. Thanks for sharing these!

  19. VickiT says:

    Your quilt is very pretty. I really do like it.
    As far as binding, I’m one who does that on my machine, but if I were to do it by hand, I’d most likely go from left to right.

  20. RsIslandCrafts (Robin) says:

    I love your quilt!

    I am right handed and when I hand sew binding I stitch from right to left. I have the majority of the quilt in my lap and the binding at the top. I’ve seen many quilters who are also right handed do everything opposite of me. It doesn’t look comfortable to me but I’m guessing my way looks weird to some also.

    • TheQuiltRambler says:

      If I understand you correctly Robin I think you hold the quilt just like I do in the photo above – and I was told that was backward…I guess the real issue is that we are all putting our binding on (grin)

  21. Brenda A says:

    Hi! I love this pattern and especially with these batiks! Beautiful job! I guess I’m backwards from the “correct” way?? I sew binding on right to left. I feel I have a better handle on my quilt and it’s more comfortable for me to stitch this way. Well…I’ve never been accused of being ‘normal!’ LOL Thanks for the opportunity to win your great prizes! I’m going to have to check out the binding tool you mentioned earlier!

  22. Pingback: Down For The Finish - January One Monthly Goal - The Quilt Rambler

  23. Pingback: Monday Musings: City Culture 2 - The Quilt Rambler

Comments are closed.

This site uses cookies to offer you a better browsing experience. By browsing this website, you agree to our use of cookies.