AHAVA means LOVE

The December challenge for Island Batik is Table Scraps, Quilty Table Toppers.  Finally, I am not behind and have my project finished! I was motivated to have it available as a free pattern for Chanukah.  I love blue and white.  Blue had disappeared from quilting and Home Dec for a while, so you can imagine my delight when I found out that this is a new fabric line from Island Batik, coming to your local quilt shop soon.  

I was so excited to get started on the project.  I have had this idea in my head for almost a year.  One year ago, I designed my Philly Love wallhanging. 

 I made a few of them and the pattern is now available as an inexpensive download. 

 You can get the pattern HERE.  I had so much fun doing the spiral quilting.

At the time someone asked me if I could make the same pattern, but in Hebrew.  The Hebrew word for love is AHAVA.  It is read from right to left.  It looks like this:

To stack it like the Philly Love quilt

and I quilted it just like the original:

The challenge was for a table topper, not a wallhanging, so I added border triangles, 

beads and sequins.

It's the perfect time of year to share AHAVA.   Although it would be perfect any time of the year , it Chanukah starts Tuesday night.  

If you want to make your own, you can download the pattern HERE .  It does assume knowledge of paper piecing.  You can add any border that you would like. It's a table topper and is a great twist on the LOVE statue in Philadelphia.

I've been enjoying this fabric line, getting ready for the Island Batik Blog Hop in January, creating a few blocks a week.  If you'd like to see my progress, I've been posting the blocks on IG (CherylLynchQuilts) and Facebook (Cheryl Lynch Fiber Arts).

If you would like to receive my monthly newsletter full of quilty goodness, including ideas for road trips, free patterns, inspiration and great recipes, click HERE.

An Eclectic Life

Being a quilter and a designer is pretty much a solitary life. Don't get me wrong, I have friends, but most of the time I'm in my studio. I'm either at my sewing machine or on my computer. I love to go out and visit quilt guilds to share what I know with other quilters and I try to make lunch/coffee dates with friends to get out of the house. My daily walk is so important to me.
This all changes when I head to Key West. We live in a small place around a plant filled courtyard with a eleven other units. I create and sew while I'm here, but there isn't a day that goes by that I'm not socializing. Just taking Bailey out to do her business, results in multiple conversations. My weekly painting class immerses me in the art community. The quilt shop, The Seam Shoppe, is a 20 minute walk. I'm there at least 3 times a week. We eat out a bunch and my favorite places to eat are located on the water. Here we are at Geiger Key Marina, with my favorite company and a food I only eat down here, blackened fish tacos.

How about Bingo at The Green Parrot, the southernmost bar, to benefit The Studios of Key West?

And instead of walking, Bailey and I head out on a bicycle ride, where we often circumnavigate the island. That sounds far, but it's about 10 miles! This is one of my favorite sights on our ride.

The bicycle becomes my means of transportation. Riding my bike to buy drawing supplies, or groceries or miscellaneous items at the dollar store makes it a very healthy lifestyle.

I'm still sewing and designing and staying active on social media. I'll be vending at QuiltCon in February and need to add some new items to my booth. I found this cute little toddler sundress DIY on a blog called Blooms and Bugs. I added a cute scalloped border using fabric from The Seam Shoppe. Isn't it adorable?

I'm hoping to include a video of how I add scalloped hems with Curvalicious, which will work for skirts, dresses and even pillowcases in my next monthly newsletter. If you haven't received one yet, you can sign up for my newsletter HERE, so you don't miss it.
I was asked to review a Craftsy class presented by Christa Watson on machine quilting. It's called The Quilter's Path: Plan It, Stitch It, Quilt It. It's a basic class packed with a lot of information. Christa talks about thread, walking foot and free motion quilting. I like her attitude that her "quilting is perfectly imperfect!"

While watching the video, I thought about this little paper pieced mini quilt I had just designed and made called "Philly Love".

It was inspired by a Philadelphia iconic sculpture.

I'm in a pink mini swap on Instagram (@CherylLynchQuilts) and this will go to my swapmate. I had some ideas about how I was going to quilt it. It's only 12" square. In the Craftsy class, Christa shared how she quilted a spiral circle with her walking foot. I decided to try her technique. It was easy peasy and I just loved the result.

Here's the good news. You can get Christa Watson's machine quilting Craftsy class for half price by clicking on this link, CRAFTSY.
It's certainly nice to be living outside of my comfort zone, and the beautiful weather sure does help. When you spend a morning videoing roosters walking about town, to send to your grandson, you know it's not Pennsylvania.

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Au Revoir Mes Amis

Good Bye?  Where am I going? Where have I been?

Let's start with where have I been.  I have been in my studio sewing my little heart out.  I'm working on a hush hush project, so I can't share.  I'm not even sure when I can share, but if you love Curvalicious , you will be very interested.  I promise to let you know as soon as I can. 

In the meantime, I have been getting ready for a trip to France.  Oh I can't wait.  It's to celebrate my 40th wedding anniversary.  I don't know how life rushes past, but it does somehow.  So I'm going with my best friend and my son and DIL on a river cruise. The first item in my carry on is my hand stitching and then I loaded a couple of books onto my ipad for the flight. I'm ready! 

I promise to post photos, lots of them.

In the meantime, I had an idea in my brain and some free time, while the clothes were in the washer, so this is what I made:

 It's a wine carrier that I used Curvalicious to create.  If  you live in the PA/NJ/DE area, the shore/beach is the place to be during Memorial Day, the unofficial beginning of summer. 

So I chose this cool beachy print, called Barnegat Bay, that I bought last summer. 

The batting is insulated to keep drinks cold.

Here's a quick tutorial.

 To start with, you will need:
                    * Fabric for the applique (4"x 20") with fusible on the back
                    * Fabric for the background (6" x 20")
                    * Fabric for the lining (6" x 20")
                    * Fabric for the handle  (4" x 20")
                    * Fusible fleece (2" x 20")
                    * Insulbrite  (6" x 20")

The first step is to cut out the Curvalicious applique.  After applying the fusible web, remove the paper and fold the 4" strip in half, fusible web side out.

Place one edge of the ruler on the fold and cut out with a 28mm rotary cutter.

Center the applique on the background fabric. 

 Press in place, following the directions for the fusible web.

Stitch using a blanket stitch.

Add 3 fusible circles using the ruler for placement and stitch in place. 

Place the fabric on top of the Insulbrite(an insulated batting) and quilt.

Fold in half, right sides together and stitch each side from the fold up with a 1/4" seam allowance.

Form a gusset on each side by aligning the seam line with the center bottom line.

Stitch across 3/4" from the tip.

  Turn right side out.

Here you can see the gusset.

Create the lining from the 6" x 20" blue fabric.

Fold the lining in half, right sides together.

Stitch with a 1/4" seam allowance and sew the gusset the same way as for the outside.

 Use the 4" x 20" piece of fabric and fusible fleece to make the handle.

Lay the fleece down the center of the wrong side of the fabric, fusible side down.

Using a hot iron and steam, iron the fabric over the fleece so that it meets in the middle.

Then fold it in half again. 

Stitch along the edges and down the middle.

Place one side of the handle over the seam on the right side.

Repeat for the other side.

Cut a slit 4" long along the bottom edge of the lining.

Slip the lining onto the wine carrier right sides together, matching the seams.

Stitch around the top edge with 1/4" seam allowance.  

You will need to use the free arm of your sewing machine and a walking foot.

Turn the bag right sides out using the slit in the lining.

Stitch the opening in the lining closed.

Push the lining into the bag and stitch along the top edge, a scant 1/4" from the edge, through both the bag and the lining.

And it's done!

Use it to transport wine to a party, 

or to carry and keep your water cold.

It's a keeper- and what a great hostess gift.

I'm Sewing Again - With A Free Pattern Option

It feels so good to be back at the sewing machine.  I have been working on a few projects.  Today I wanted to share a  project that was my table runner that i made as a test for a mystery quilt get together.  I did it twice, once for my guild and the other was for a  group that I am a member of on-line. The unfinished top has been sitting on my shelf for 8 months.  Since I didn't want to start a new project, this was a good choice for quick!

This is my quilted table runner:

In the body of it, I ignored the seams and did swirly quilting along the diagonal sections.

When I looked at the borders on the sides, I decided that a more geometric design was needed for balance, so I quilted a continuous line triangle inside of the triangles.

I put the binding on by machine.  This is my new favorite method.  Besides being quicker, I think it is sturdier than stitching it on by hand, especially if it is going to be used and washed.  It is a different look - a bit flatter. I do make sure I stitch into the corner - and then back out again.

Here's a LINK for the table runners that were made with my on-line group.  I was very proud of this Mystery project.  I think everyone's top looked so different but very pleasing to the eye.

If you would like a copy of the Mystery Project , e-mail me.  

Made In America Giveaway

Road Trip!

There is exciting news in the quilting world.  As many of you know almost all of our quilting fabric is manufactured overseas.  Now, there is a company called American Made Brands, that is manufacturing cotton quilting fabric right here in the United States.  They are even growing the cotton here.  I am so happy to be able to help share this news.  

To promote this line of solid cotton fabric and spread the news, AMB came up with the idea of celebrating America with a road trip from sate to state.  They have invited one blogger from each state to make a block in the shape of a license plate that is representative of their state. 

 And guess who is Miss Pennsylvania?

The road trip will visit the blog representing each state in the order  in which it joined the Union (for the most part) over the course of 25 days.  If you know your history, you would know that Pennsylvania was the second state. (Delaware is the first state and you can see it on the sign on the highway whenever you cross the state line.)

This is a bit scary to be kicking off the tour, but here we go.

Welcome to PENNSYLVANIA!

I used all American Made Brand fabric to create it.  My design inspiration was all of the history that started right here - from the house where Betsy Ross made our first flag to the Liberty Bell. The solid fabrics were just perfect for this design.  If you want to download the pattern, click HERE.  If you want to read more about how I made the curved strips, click HERE.

I shared my license plate at my quilt guild last week, and several people thought they would make a quilt using the patterns for the license plates of each state that they have visited. 

 Sounds very kid friendly.

Each blogger will be giving away a fat quarter bundle of American Made Brand fabric.
To follow the road trip, visit AMB's blog.
There is the entire list of the states, the bloggers with their links and the dates.
 Make sure you read the post to determine how to enter.

I live near Philadelphia and it is definitely an eating town.   There is always a battle as to who has the best cheesesteak and you can find hot pretzels everywhere, including the ubiquitous convenience store that started here, called WAWA. Tastykakes makes a big range of favorite treats that we love.

So in addition to giving away a fabric bundle from AMB that will include 8 fat quarters, I will choose a second winner to receive  a box of Tastykakes and a stack of 5" squares of solids. 

 For both giveaways, you must have a U.S.mailing address

 and make sure you leave an email address where I can contact you.

I will choose the winner on Wednesday, May 21 at 9:00 PM est.

Comments are closed.

The winner of the 8 fat quarters is Carmen N.

The winner of the Tastykakes annd the 6 " squares is suz.

Congratulations!

Don't forget to check out the other very cool license plates that the other bloggers/designers have created.

ENJOY THE TRIP!

and thanks for stopping by.