The June 12, 2016 tragedy in Orlando, Florida inspired me to create a print-on-demand fabric at www.spoonflower.com called Love is Love. Once I received my fabric, this Love is Love quilt unexpectedly emerged. I posted images on Facebook and received many requests for a pattern. I've created the patten in lightning speed and it's available now. All proceeds from the Love is Love fabric will go to human rights charities.
It Started With Fabric
It was Lin-Manuel Miranda (creator of the musical, Hamilton, and my newest idol) who, during his acceptance speech at the 2016 Tony Awards (the night of the Orlando tragedy) said, "Love is love is love is love is love..." It was a phrase that stuck with me. I had the idea to create a Love is Love fabric using the pride colors and Lin-Manuel's phrase. Spoonflower.com allows anyone to create a design and have it printed-on-demand. Spoonflower.com shares profits from fabric with the designer so I decided that ALL proceeds I get from the fabric will go to human rights charities. Here's what the fabric looks like.
Here's a swatch showing just one band of all colors.
Here is what the fabric looks like across the goods. Each stripe is just a bit wider than 1".
The Unexpected Quilt
Once I had my Love is Love fabric and was in the studio, I decided to make a small quilt that would allow me to personally remember those who perished in the Pulse nightclub in Orlando. I thought something modest and simple would do. I imagined how the stripes would look as blades in a lone star quilt - so that was the direction I took. Here is what the quilt looked like initially.
This option was going to turn out small - and I had more fabric - so I decided to go bigger and make a Broken Star version.
I began to explore options for filling in the gaps. I had the idea to write the words "Love is Love" in appliqué" and mirror it where it turned the corners. This softened the edges of the piecing and gave a new look to the quilt which I liked very much.
Here is a detail of the "Love Is" appliqué. The hearts were added after the words, but I liked the effect.
I then decided to treat the outer border blocks the same way. I think anyone wanting to make the quilt can add as little or as much appliqué as they wish. Here is how the design ended up and the quilt measures 81" x 81".
GET THE PATTERN HERE
If you wish to make the quilt, you can order the pattern only. It is full-size and available for $19.98.
GET LOVE IS LOVE FABRIC HERE
If you wish to use Love is Love fabric in the quilt, you will need 5 yards for this quilt. You must get the LOVE IS LOVE fabric from Spoonflower.com. Be sure to order 5 yards and not 5 fat quarters. Because it is print-on-demand I cannot stock it or provide it. Remember ALL proceeds that I receive from the Love is Love fabric will go to charity.
GET THE KIT HERE
If you wish to get the kit using my hand-dyed fabric, the kit contains the pattern plus 7 yards of hand-dyed fabric for $139.95. The kits are also 'made-on-demand' so please allow 2-4 weeks for delivery. You still must order the Love is Love fabric separately.
You may also make this quilt using a different fabric other than the Love is Love fabric for the blades of the broken star.
May God bless the families of those who were so closely and tragically effected by the senseless tragedy in Orlando. As with so many similar tragedies, may we not forget the innocent ones. Let us remember them and do our part to make change in our world so that they will not have died in vain. As of this writing, my own Love is Love quilt is still in progress. I have chosen to finish it and show it as a reminder that Love always triumphs over hate.
Here is Lin-Manuel Miranda's acceptance speech in full:
My wife’s the reason anything gets done
She nudges me towards promise by degrees
She is a perfect symphony of one
Our son is her most beautiful reprise.
We chase the melodies that seem to find us
Until they’re finished songs and start to play
When senseless acts of tragedy remind us
That nothing here is promised, not one day.
This show is proof that history remembers
We lived through times when hate and fear seemed stronger;
We rise and fall and light from dying embers, remembrances that hope and love last longer
And love is love is love is love is love is love is love is love cannot be killed or swept aside.
I sing Vanessa’s symphony, Eliza tells her story
Now fill the world with music, love and pride.
