Wednesday, August 26, 2009

city quiltin'



Hello, City Quilt. I love you.

I have been wanting to work on a city quilt for years. I thought it would be a cathartic experience. I thought it would be good for me to spend some creative time and energy processing my urban home. And I love building and house shapes. They are just adorable and fun to work with.

This seed was planted years ago, but I kept putting it off. There were other projects I wanted to work on. Things I wanted to make for other people. And I wanted my city quilt to be just right. So I wanted some more concrete ideas before I began.

Last fall, I don't remember why, but I found myself in a fabric store wooed by fabrics that would be perfect for my city quilt. So, I bought them. And then I went back and bought more. And last Spring I sat down and started cutting out some buildings. And I hated them.

I packed up my fabrics and thought I'd give it more time to percolate. I had a list going of the buildings and vehicles and other details I wanted to include. And I had a final size in mind. And I really wanted fabric with text for the windows.

Then, last week, while I was working on a baby quilt for my friend, I got bit by the sewing bug and thought I would try again. I thought I would try sewing paper on the buildings for windows. And I decided to not worry about my final size until later. I just wanted to start.

This was my first building. I was experimenting with my process. With sewing paper on the fabric. And I liked it.


So this was my second building:

I wanted to make a school that represented the school I taught at. The school I taught at looks nothing like this, this is way cuter. But, I gave myself permission to take lots of artistic liberties.

This is our church:


And a row of stores.


I plan on embroidering names and whatnot on these cuties, so these are not finished pieces. But, you get the idea...

15 comments:

Cat said...

wow! these are amazing! I can't wait to see the end result!

Mama V said...

They're even better than I could have imagined! (Your work is ALWAYS better than my imagination can come up with!)

I love the stained glass window on the church!

And is that paper from a Spanish-language Bible you used for windows?! Excellent!!

Love them all. I'm so glad you're having fun making your beautiful quilt. I too can't wait to see it all come together.

Dave said...

Good eye, Mama V! That is a Spanish Bible.

Kirsten said...

So cute!

Susan said...

You cut up a Bible! This is a serious quilt. Not the colors I envisioned but I love it. Can't wait to see more.

JIW said...

wow, Robyn..that is great. I can't wait to see the final product. The buildings really look like what they are..super cool!

firefly said...

Susan, you crack me up.

Robyn, I think you should put a Tree of Heaven in your city quilt.

Goes On Runs said...

super fun, super cute!

MandiCrocker said...

if the point is that your talented? then YES. :)

Stacey and Jayson Lavers said...

I want to take sewing lessons so I can be as cool as you. Seriously. I LOVE the stores!

firefly said...

I think Go Yoga should be in your city quilt. What do you think?

Loralee said...

So amazing! I love the school. You are so talented, Robyn.

Mama V said...

Okay, I was just looking over these again (to think about ideas for that Advent Calendar!) and I just love those awnings you've added to the storefronts! And the way you've used the batik fabric! I'm just loving this quilt along with you, Robyn!

EliseBlaha said...

this is fantastic. wow.

Joanne Brown said...

Wow! Love what you have done so far. Really really lovely! Great fabrics and colours. Very creative :) joanne xx