Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Lorna’s Quilts

It’s been an interesting first week of November. Some mornings I have woken to a white world and this mornings temperature was 10C. Some days were so pretty with blue sky and sunshine and others were darker and a little gloomy.

Unfortunately when I took pictures of the quilt below the daylight was not working in my favour, so the quilt is not showing it’s true brightness. I still want to share it as it’s a pretty quilt and the quilting still shows in the picture. I used the pantograph Here and There.

Thankfully this one turned out better.

Oh and the butter yellow beautiful backing really shows the pretty stitches!

Both the above quilt and then next ones had been waiting for a while to be quilted. They were both a bit of a walk down memory lane as I recognized both their fabrics and patterns.

The first quilt shop in Thunder Bay was called Patchworks, Diana the owner ran fantastic classes, clubs and programs. I often still quilt tops that originated from that shop, I also often hear Quilter’s talk of how they miss that shop. Diana retired several years ago.

There also used to be a chain store called Fannys Fabrics, it was huge and had a fantastic corner of quilting fabrics, and so nice for me in those days they also had a corner that was set up for children to play. Some of the fabrics in the next quilt reminded me of that store. We Quilter’s still miss it even though it has been gone for many years.

Back to Lorna’s quilts.

Diana’s shop was well known for its warm earthy country colours. Thimbleberries was really big in that era of quilting. This isn’t one of them, it just brought it to mind.

The majority of my customers like to have me trim their quilts, which I offer as a free service. It is a lot easier to trim on the Pantograph side of my machine.

I chose the pantograph Bayside and loaded the quilt sideways in order to have the design flow in the right direction. I really love the result.

Lorna requested that I provide the backings for her quilts…a great excuse to visit Donna and her quilt shop in Pass Lake. I mentioned that in a recent blog post but wanted to share that is where these backings were purchased.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Mary’s Laundry Basket Mystery Quilt

Oh how I love blue quilts! This one made my heart sing the moment it arrived on my doorstep! I could hardly wait to quilt it however it had to wait its turn. Well that turn arrived and the quilt has gone home.

I love piecing and did check out the Laundry Basket Mystery Quilt and considered for a moment jumping in, however I had a couple projects on the go already and customer quilts in the que.

I chose the pantograph Feather Grande by Bethanne Nemesh and it just danced along on this beautiful quilt.
The quilting really shows on the back, again those blues!!
Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

The Color Collective

I have followed Tara Faughnan and Amy Newbolds program the Color Collective from when it originated however for many reasons hesitated to jump in. It always looked like a lot of fun.

Then last December I discovered Louisa Enright’s blog, https://louisaenright.com what a treat of years of quilting to read about and especially her adventures with the Collective. So after giving it a little thought I decided to jump in. I love the idea of learning new skills and especially receiving a different palette bundle of fabric each month to play with.

The program began November 1st, my fabric is on its way…it’s in Canada somewhere. The block pattern was revealed yesterday with a completely new to me paper piecing technique. I loved the videos of Tara teaching and after watching them I had to try the block! I like to make practice blocks often with a new pattern anyways.

The quilt is called Sunny and will be bright and happy.
Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

November

Just as I was getting used to October it has slipped away! I woke to a white world brrr! Thankfully for children the weather was nicer for their Halloween adventures.

We enjoyed visits with all but 2 of our grandchildren which made for a fun day and even had 2 groups of trick or treaters which we haven’t had out here in years.

I enjoyed Saturdays class with Jo Avery. I don’t have a lot of experience in improv piecing so it was a good exercise. I haven’t decided whether or not I will continue on with more blocks or just use what I made as a sample.

I had hoped to be a little further along with my Longtime Gone quilt and continue to work on that and budget some of my time for my newest quilting adventure.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

The Field Trip

Life has been very full and heavy at times lately. My friend Kim and I decided we needed a visit with Donna at her quilt shop.

I was needing some wide backs for customer quilts and Donna always has such great wide backs. I was able to find just the right ones and even one for my Moda Block head quilt.

Donna is always so friendly and fun to spend time with!
She enlarged her shop over the winter…how will she fit it all on her bus when she can finally get back on the road!

For those who don’t know, her shop is called Fuelled by Fabric and is usually a mobile shop using a refurbished bus that her husband found online.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Colour or Color

Well I am Canadian so it is colour, though I am very much looking forward to taking part in the Color Collective (of course from the States).

I have never really been able to decide on one favourite colour as it seems to always change, though in the last years I do find a lot of comfort in blues.

In my early years of quilting I loved the softer colours and gravitated towards very soft colours probably because I found them to be soothing I needed the safety and comfort in those challenging years raising children as a single Mom working in a stressful office.

Seaside Rose was a favourite collection years ago it was a Moda collection by Three Sisters and I loved Carrie Nelson’s pattern Summer wind.
I made the same quilt a few years later with a Fig Tree collection a little brighter and bolder.
I also made quilts with the French General collections.

My friend Alva was always encouraging me to play with more colour to use real colours true reds for instance. She had such an eye for colour. She left me with with many lessons and colour wheels and fabric examples.

Over the years I became tired of the soft pastel quilts. Lately I am craving more, more colour, more contrast perhaps but maybe more wow in my choices! Maybe just change. Life should evolve and change, right?

Alva’s Crane quilt was pieced the year after her son Jeff passed away too young. It was a healing quilts for her, though I doubt a mother really completely heals from that pain. This quilt has colour and so much more to it. Cranes taught me to savour the piecing journey…life doesn’t have to be a race.

So now, I am ready to embrace Colour and learn more about it. I have the tools, colour wheels, books on colour theory and of course information on the web.

If your are at the how do I understand Colour and Quilts stage of your journey I recommend Karen Browns you tube videos she has some very good and easy to follow videos to help you understand Colour Theory.

https://www.justgetitdonequilts.com/blog/categories/colour

Her site and You Tube videos are a fantastic resource for not only new quilters but also seasoned quilters as there is always something new to learn.

Where are you on your Colour Journey?

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Scrap Quilts and Planning

I love this recent customer quilt, it was one of two, this one has such a fun colourful backing.

I chose the pantograph Waterworld as it continues to add the movement in the border fabric.
The fun fabric choice for the backing is delightful!!

I spent part of yesterday rearranging some of my fabrics and checking through my collection of solids…what a surprise to realize how much I have accumulated over the years. Some was gifted from a precious friend who has been along my journey for many years making the up coming plans even more fun.

2022 is coming and before I know it will be here, I am considering goals for myself. I not only plan to work with solids but hope to plan a few leader ender projects and see where that takes me. I have always loved scrappy quilts and I certainly have more than enough variety to play.

My quilting journey brings so much to my life!

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

A little More Life

I had such great hopes of hours of quilting time yesterday. Thankfully my neck and back are fine from Thursday’s accident.

I was on my way to report the accident as there are limited hours to do that due to Covid , when Eriks Mom called with abdominal pain. Long story short she had a bowel obstruction due to a hernia the good new is that she had surgery and is recovering. We are thankful that she called and has been so well cared for at our hospital.

One just never knows what a day will bring.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Life and a New Day

I love waking up early, while it’s still dark and while enjoying my coffee watching the day begin out of our picture window. My view is mostly trees…it seems every morning is a new view. It is a quiet and peaceful way to begin a new day.

Life seems to move so quickly and working from home I for the most part have the option of not having to drive during the busier hours that I did while in the work force.

My morning commute is a quick walk down the stairs to my Longarm or sewing room. Erik and I are in such a nice for the most part season of our lives.

Yesterday was not a quiet day but a full one that involved driving more than usual. Yesterday I was rear ended by an overwhelmed young Mom. She was so apologetic and we were both shocked…we were all ok thankfully.

She reminded me a little of myself 20 years ago. Life moves quickly and some things that I have observed …being a few minutes late is not the end of the world, being mindful and practicing being more in the moment is very beneficial especially while driving.

On other news, I have been looking for Reynolds Freezer paper for my up coming adventures with The Color Collective by Tara Faughnan and Sewtopia.

I finally ordered some on Amazon. It doesn’t seem to be available in Canada anymore. I sure miss our quick trips across the border.

I am looking forward to more relaxed mornings and quilting days. The coming season is so perfect for quilting.