Doll Quilts

These little doll quilts with matching pillows are the size of a piece of paper! The small ones are 9 X 12" and the larger ones are 12 X 16". Using scraps, they take very little time to make and they are great gifts for little girls!

Coexistence Quilts

It took me a long time to get the right inspiration for the pieced part of this quilt that would frame the Palestinian embroidery in the center. In all modesty, I must say that I am very pleased with the results!

This is meant to be a TV quilt or a lap quilt -- a decorative element on your couch.

Changing Pads

I was recently in Bad Ratz on Rivka St. in the Talpiyot Industrial Zone, and a woman criticized me for buying the already-quilted ski jacket material. She said I was taking the easy way out! She must have been assuming that I was using this as pre-quilted material for my blankets. Not so!! I'm using it for diaper pads!!

We wanted to share with you how wonderful a backing this makes for changing pads or decorative pads for lying an infant on the floor or on your couch. The ski jacket material is water-proof, already quilted, and comes in a full array of colors (including orange, gray, greens, and blues).

Pictured here are 3 recently completed diaper pads. They make wonderful gifts and are all 20" X 28".

Coexistence Quilts

For a long time, I have been feeling that I would like to combine two parts of my life -- my quilting and my belief in and dedication to peaceful coexistence between Palestinians and Israelis.

Out of that feeling came this quilt -- which combines Palestinian embroidery and my own creative elements. I used stacked bricks because I thought they go nicely with the embroidery and also because of the appropriate symbolism -- the building blocks of a future together. This is a decorative quilt, meant to be a bed spread or to decorate a guest room.

This quilt represents an enormous investment of time and energy in both the creative work of embroidering and quilting.

Stars

Browsing the web, I came across this pattern, which has a star-like center. It's so cute and easy! The block pattern, called the Handy Andy Quilt Block Pattern, is by Janet Wickell at www.quilting.about.com.

The finished quilt block size is 20" by 20", which is quite large. It would make a good center motif for a larger quilt.

And here is the one that I made using this pattern!

For the complete pattern:

http://quilting.about.com/od/quiltpatternsprojects/ig/Free-Quilt-Block-Patterns/Handy-Andy-Quilt-Blocks.htm

Pinwheels

We were recently asked to prepare a number of diaper pads for a friend who wants to try to sell them.

Isn't this pinwheel design cute?

The diaper pad uses the already quilted ski jacket polyester material as the waterproof backing.

These pinwheels are made by cutting 7" squares of each fabric. Each square is cut in half and the resulting triangles are sewn together, each to the other fabric. So cute and so easy!

We Changed the Clock!

It's hard to imagine that we changed the clock last night to "winter time", so early in September. But this is a crazy country!

Last night, I couldn't get to sleep because I had had a long shabbat nap, so I stayed up late and made this baby quilt from a variety of fabrics with dots! Do you like the combination of orange and green? The size is for a baby carriage or stroller.

Click on the image to see it more clearly!

A Healthy, Creative and Peaceful New Year to All My Friends

I had a traumatic week -- my sewing machine was in for repairs and I was having a serious case of withdrawal! Two days ago I got the word from the technician that all is now well and I was able to get back into the groove of sewing and quilting.

Here is my latest quilt, based on an idea from my sister-in-law, Ann, that I add some letters and words and symbols to the baby quilts. This one has letters (in Hebrew and English), numbers, and pomegranates for the new year!

Our best wishes to all our quilting friends!

Global Quilt Project

Global Quilt Project

Helping our neighbors in Central Africa Republic

I received an e-mail asking me to participate in a Global Quilt Project in order to raise funds for toilet facilities in a village in the Central Africa Republic. If you are interested in participating, please take a look at the website of Global Change.

They are requesting one completed square from each participant -- either a 12" square or a 9 1/2" square. Donated squares should be mailed by the end of August to:
Amy Allen
Global Change, Inc
854 Blue Sage Street #102
Celebration, Florida 34747
USA

Pictured here is the square that I created as my contribution. I took the idea of stacked bricks from The Border Workbook, by Janet Kime, 2006.

It's Wedding Time

The summer is wedding time and I want to share this chuppah that was made by my friend Judy Kupchan in Chicago for her son's wedding in 2 weeks.

I especially love the pomegranates in the four corners. Pomegranates are a unique symbol of fertility (because of all those little seeds) and this is their season, right at the beginning of the new year!

Notice the use of the image of the Tree of Life. So meaningful and made with love and joy by the mother of the groom!

Good luck and many years of happiness to Noey Kupchan and Shuli Miller!!!

A Spurt of Energy

I don't know how to explain it, but I've had a spurt of energy lately and am working on about 5 different crib-size quilts concurrently! None of these are quilted yet, but I couldn't resist the temptation to share with you!

Here are two pieced tops --

one is made from 4" squares

and the other from rectangles.

After I made my first jellyroll quilt last month, I searched through my stash and came up with tons of already cut 2 1/2 inch strips left over from previous projects. These two pieced tops are made from those strips arranged creatively in small blocks and then all fitted together.

Diaper Pads

Today, I want to share a diaper pad that I just finished as a gift to bring to a brit tomorrow. I used the nylon quilted material that they sell for ski jackets as the waterproof backing! It was the brilliant idea of the manager at BadRatz on Rehov Rivka in the Talpiyot industrial zone in Jerusalem.

Click on the photo to see the image up close. There are cute little animals peeking out at you!

Jelly Rolls

On a recent visit to the States, I purchased a book on Jelly rolls and a roll of 2 1/2" strips of batik fabrics for making a jelly roll quilt. The book I bought is called Jelly Roll Quilts by Pam and Nicky Lintott.










My first jelly roll quilt is pictured here.








The essential block (close-up) is made up of strips sewn together,
cut into large squares, cut in half,
and then the triangles are put together into these large 12" blocks.

This is a surprisingly easy way to make use of all those
2 1/2" strips that you have in your stash!

Pinwheels

A few months ago, I ordered on-line a kit for making a pin wheel quilt from Fabric Cafe. The quilt came with fabric and instruction. Depicted here is a crib quilt that I made with this simple design.

Fun with Four-inch squares

Two more quilts with four-inch squares.

The one on the left was made for my niece.

The one on the right has a motif of teddy bears!

Wedding Canopy

The chuppah or wedding canopy is an extraordinarily meaningful part of the Jewish wedding ceremony. It was a labor of love to design and create this chuppah.

The verse is "Enjoy Happiness with the One You Love all the Days of Your Life" from Ecclesiastes (9:9).

With many blessings for a long life together!

More bags

Hana has been making bags as gifts for friends and family.

As a special addition the names of co-workers were added to 2 of the bags for

friends who were moving on to different jobs.

Jewish Star Quilt

I am very proud of this double bed quilt which was made on order for a friend who chose the design and most of the fabrics. It is based on a design called "Six-pointed Stars" by Ann Feitelson of Montague, Massachusetts and appeared in QNM, November 2005. The striking fabrics are Damascus silks that were purchased in the Christian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem.

Each Jewish star is made up of 6 diamonds, pieced together into larger diamonds creating an effect of smaller stars within larger stars. The quilt measures 77 inches wide by 86 inches long.

Springtime in Jerusalem

We have found ourselves in an unseasonably warm period. Not only the Tu B'shvat almond trees are in bloom, but the plum tree in our backyard is filled with blossoms. For some reason, as result of having the windows flung open and a gentle breeze blowing, I have found myself finishing a lot of projects that I began during the cold and rainy winter.

Here are two recently completed projects.

The quilt on the left is a quilt in purples and turquoise for my niece's daughter in Forest Hills. This is a take-off on the traditional 9-patch quilt. Instead, I have created 16-patch squares, all placed on an angle. Click on the image to enlargen and see more detail. The quilt is 50 X 66 inches.

The baby quilt on the right is a scrappy quilt made "on order" for my niece in Manhattan who wanted this as a gift for her friend's new baby. Click on the image to see it larger and then you can read the baby's name embroidered on the bottom. The quilt is 42 X 56 inches.

Check out these tote bags!

We have been creating tote bags as gifts for our friends and family!

Chuppot

Together, we made this chuppah for one of our daughters. At the moment, we are working on two more chuppot! Sewing can be a truly creative and meaningful way to express yourself.

Tree of Life

Recently, I was visiting friends in Kentucky and we went for a drive to see a restored Shaker Village in the town of Pleasant Hill, which is in a rural area of Kentucky. They had a wonderful exhibition of modern-day quilts -- based on themes from the Shaker art.

If you are familiar with the Shaker furniture, you know that they lived simple and utilitarian lives, as can be seen in these 2 quilts.

I wanted to share these quilts, which I find quite compelling because they remind me of "the tree of life" in our own tradition.