Author: wendysquilting

Professional Longarm Machine Quilter in Thunder Bay Ontario.
Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

January Quilting and Life

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Another anniversary has just passed over the New Year of my APQS Millennium’s arrival December 31, 2004. I began Longarm quilting for others a few months later and continue to love and grow in this wonderful business.

After allowing myself a little down time and time to quilt one for myself, my machine is back to work…of course that means that I am as well.

Just a peek

And another peek

We had scheduled a fun day for Liam and two more grands before Christmas which had to be cancelled due to the gastro crud…so this week we had a redo… the epic nerf gun war, sledding and snowmobiling were in order and lots of fun and laughter!

Erik preparing the sliding hill also known as the snow mountain as the kids call it. This year the addition of the back hoe has helped to grow it.
The biggest kid!

Of course the big winter highlight is when Pappa gets out the snowmobiles. Liam has mastered his driving skills and loves to ride our trails.

Another highlight around here this winter has been the addition of the jumbo lego blocks…they have provided hours of fun! Liam has returned to virtual learning this week and really enjoys his forts for when he is off school.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

All is Calm

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The picture below was taken a year ago from our garage roof by Erik last winter. I have shared it on this blog before.

I have been pondering what to write about 2021…it sure was a year of blessings and challenges. The thing about this picture of our home is that it reflects the calm and peace that it brings. Regardless of the challenges that came my way over the year I have been so thankful for this safe sanctuary.

We have been immensely blessed with family and we will soon be adding a seventh grandchild into our lives. Together we have seven daughters who along with their families truly do enrich our lives.

One day in December we were able to have a Christmas celebration with some of our family and all but one grandchild and wow what a busy party that became! Our calm quiet house came to life with so much fun and laughter!

We were so busy living life we forgot pictures…we alway enjoy our tree into the new year.

When discussing Christmas plans with my Dad, I mentioned how I had been craving a prime rib roast dinner like the Sunday dinners that I grew up with. He took up that challenge…he has really become an amazing cook in the last few years! We enjoyed Christmas dinner at my Dads.

I took care of the Yorkshire pudding and gravy and made sure to have horseradish while my youngest and her husband took care of the veggies. I should have taken more pictures but was just enjoying the moments!

Dad cooked the roast in his Green Egg bbq and it was cooked to perfection and carved just right. What a treat!

2021 has taught me many lessons, most of which I had already learned but then life has a way of adding twists and turns and detours. We said goodbye to loved ones, had health scares in the family all along with riding the current seemingly at times never ending pandemic. This year tired me out at times making me realize how very crucial self care is.

Welcome 2022… I greet you with a resolve of more self care!

My January 1, 2022 morning view! Happy New Year!

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Quilting and Life

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We held a Christmas brunch for the grandkids and family on Sunday it was so fun to watch the kids enjoy each other’s company and open their gifts. The excitement of Christmas is alive and well with the children!

Unfortunately one of the families had had the gastro crud run through their house a week ago and we were sure they were in the clear….we were wrong. Almost everyone came down with it starting on Monday.

I was spared however Liam was not, he rarely gets sick and had never had this. We were both very glad that I could care for him through this. Much to our relief and after sleeping from late Monday night until Wednesday morning with a few wake points he is now back to his happy self. Others are recovering as well.

Liam and I really enjoyed fresh air yesterday

We also made some slime

While he slept I was able to quilt my Moda Blockheads quilt and will work on the binding later today. This is my first personal quilt to be quilted this year!

I first saw this sunshiny backing on a customer quilt and loved it!

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Grinch Quilts

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Lori has three grandchildren who will be snuggling under some very fun quilts this Christmas.

Our fantastic quilt shop owner Donna of Fuelled by Fabric brought in Grinch fabric which Lori used to make her quilts. She used a layer cake and some yardage.

Each one a little different and with very snuggly backings.

A minky backing always makes me want one for myself
This backing felt almost like a velvet
The fleece backing worked perfectly
Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Tree Table Runners

wendysquilting

With four table runners to quilt recently and all with different backings I decided to baste the backings together and also add leaders to both the top and bottom.

Having fabric devoted for the task of leaders has enabled me to quilt for customers who’s backs are not quite large enough to accommodate loading with the red snappers that I use. I find it a quick and easy solution.

My customer chose the same Pantograph for all 4 runners, however the design would not have worked as an edge to edge over all of the runners. Instead each runner was quilted individually arranging the snowflakes to be somewhat centred through each one.

Sometimes small projects take as much if not more time than larger ones. In this case the extra time was well worth the effort.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Baby Quilt

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This sweet little quilt was fun to quilt. I often choose the pantograph Waterworld for baby quilts as I think that the added stitching will add to the durability. Most quilters gift baby quilts with the hope that the quilts will be used.

I am sure that this will become a loved and cherished quilt.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

The Rubber Duck Quilt

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How adorable is this sweet baby quilt!

Not that I am counting but solstice is 5 days away and I will welcome each days added daylight minutes!! These pictures were taken during a very grey foggy afternoon.

I often choose a pantograph such as waterworld for baby quilts. I like this density of quilting as I feel that it will help the quilt to withstand a lot of use.

Update

Check out the binding and finished quilt! This really was such a fun project to work on.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Mid December

wendysquilting

December is always an interesting and busy month. I loved the result of the last snowfall, the whole world just looks so bright and clean esp when the sun comes out.

Yesterday however was a grey and foggy one and we had rain overnight and a forecast of snow later today. I do love a white Christmas so hopefully there will be more snow.

Quilting has been busy of course and the Christmas jobs are almost finished. One small one to go for later today.

Of course my machine had a hiccup as a Longarm sometimes does thankfully it was easily resolved, it was a worn out bobbin case…yes they wear out!

Our tree is up and when Liam arrived on Monday the lights and garland were on it and he saw the ornaments and went right to work hanging them while I made supper.

Liam did such a nice job and it was fun telling him the stories of the ornaments as I have collected special ones over the years. Many have been carved by my Dad and painted by my Mom. This year I bought a box of candy canes to add to the tree which Liam though was a fantastic idea.

Liam will spend more time here over the holidays and we have baking plans, his request as we have done so every year that he can remember. He also wants to build and sleep in his lego fort one night and like me he is hoping for a white Christmas. He wants the snow for another reason though, he and Pappa like to drive the snowmobiles!

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Effervescent Quilt

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This was such a fun quilt, so different from others that I have quilted, the chosen fabrics and design went so well together.

We chose the pantograph bubbles which really added more of the effervescent effect!

This photo captured the actual brightness of the quilt! 10 more days until the days start getting longer!