Author: wendysquilting

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

Thunder Bay Quilters Guild Sisterhood Quilt Swap

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Many of our local guild members are participating in a Sisterhood Quilt Swap.

The pattern designer Berene Campbell Happy Sew Lucky She originally designed this block as an international swap and fundraiser with all profits going to Beautiful World Canada this is an organization that not only works to provide scholarships for girls across sub-Saharan Africa but their mission and purpose is to empower children with education so that they can realize their greatness.

The original swap was held in 2019 and from what I have read it was a resounding success.

That said, I decided to shop my stash starting with my low volumes or ideas for the background. Oh and I have found more tucked away here and there in my stash which was a fun endeavour.

Each member of the group are to make 8 units for the 16” block which I will be doing however I think I will have to give the 12” block a try.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Summer Blossoms Quilt

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Joan’s quilt brightened up the room as soon as I opened it up. I always press quilt tops before loading them onto the Longarm.

I also prepare quilt backs. Many of my customers bring yardage as I offer free piecing…I use a lot of pins which always give me nice even and flat seams.

How bright is this back!
It’s hard to see the stitching on the back.

Trimmed and ready for pick up. The majority of my customers choose to have me trim their quilts. I use the table on the back of my Longarm which is 12’ long making the process much easier.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Water Quilt

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One of my friends recently commented that it must be a good feeling when I unwind the quilt on the frame. It is! I always like to see how the back as well as the front turned out.

Susan M’s quilt

Instead of taking the risk of the backing being too short …I added. Ten inch leader to the top . I very rarely need to do this but it’s a good trick to keep in mind when there is just enough backing.

It was my Grandson who decided the name of this quilt because it reminded him of lakes and water. He is presently doing his schooling virtually so is spending his days with me while his parents work.

I chose the pantograph bubbles as not only are their circles in some of the squares but the background is full of circles.

Quilting, Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Welcome to March

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Our days are getting brighter…so they feel longer which is very welcome. February seems to have flown by. I was busy with customer quilts, family and a little of my own projects. Our area began another lockdown today due to rising covid cases which feels discouraging. I will have my grandson with me as the schools are back to virtual learning. I plan to start planting some seeds with him this week.

So many of my friends and customers have told me how thankful that they are for their quilting as many of us get lost in our work which makes the days pass more easily.

Laura’s Care-bears.
Care-bear quilt back

Laura’s Care-bear quilt was a pleasant surprise as most quilts arrive to the door these days and the quilting decisions are left to me. I raised my daughters during the Care-bear era and I couldn’t help but think how much the world could use those bears these days 😊

It was a fun cheerful quilt and it was quilted using a tried an true pantograph called popcorn which gives a cloud like appearance.

This tulip quilt is also a reminder that spring will arrive.

The reason that we no longer grow tulips
Customer Quilts, Longarm quilting Thunder Bay, Quilting, Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Susan’s Alaska Quilt

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I have been quilting for Susan for several years now and her quilts never cease to amaze me. Her piecing is spectacular and this quilt was no exception! I think the best part of quilting for customers are the friendships that begin with our love of quilting.

When she first saw Edita Sitar’s pattern Alaska, she knew that she wanted to make it! She had begun piecing it pre covid lock downs and delivered it to my deck and left the quilting decisions to me.

Susan’s Version of Edita Sitar’s Alaska Quilt

I used Bethanne Nemesh’s pantograph grande feather.

Susan’s Alaska Quilt back.
Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Inspiration, Quilt Backs and Fuelled by Fabric

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Have you ever come across someone’s quilt that not only the top caught your eye but the back as well?

Early this winter my brain really needed a break from all of the world happenings and so I started reading new to me blogs. There were some that I ended up reading from their start to their most recent posts…oh the inspiration out there!

One blog that caught my eye and interest is this one https://louisaenright.com

Louisas design wall when I found her held two scrap quilts that looked like a lot of fun to piece. One was her gaggle of geese, she has a tutorial on her blog to make these geese one at a time which is very helpful when using scraps.

Gaggle of Geese by Louisa Enright

“A Gaggle of Geese” Quilt

I really love the top and those who know me know that I love piecing flying geese and have a wonderful collection of scraps…so this style quilt is on my to do list. I also couldn’t help myself but to source the backing that she used.

I started by checking with my friend Donna who owns and runs a Quilt Bus that she named Fuelled by Fabric.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/fuelled-by-fabric-quilt-bus-1.4759406

Donna normally travels with her bus/quilt shop all over North Western Ontario with her wonderful bus full of fabric and goodies! She found the fabric and ordered a bolt which led to a trip to her shop in Pass Lake…

While ordering backings, Donnas husband wanted to choose one and below is the result…it is interesting I can’t wait to see the quilts it ends up on!

Longarm quilting Thunder Bay, Quilting, Thunder Bay Quilters Guild, Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Wolves and Quilts

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One morning while sitting quietly having my coffee something caught my eye out the window…a wolf sauntered out of the bush and for a short time stood in the yard before me…all I could do was sit and look, it didn’t occur to me to take a picture. I was just in awe.

I recently finished this customer quilt. I loved the colours in the panel along with the piecing. It called for northern light type of quilting which is why I chose the pantograph, Kindling.

This quilt that I pieced and quilted in 2013 was a gift for one of Eriks daughters who loves wolves. It was a kit that I found online from a shop in Alaska. I remember that it was fun to make and that I entered it into our guilds quilt show that year.

Moda Blockheads 3, Wendy's Quilting

Moda Blockheads (block 23)

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For those who know me well, they know that I love precision piecing! I often tell people it’s one of the few things in life that have total control over, not really true but in some ways yes.

This block called luck penny had some challenges which were met by pressing directionally. It ended up being fun little block.

Customer Quilts, Longarm quilting Thunder Bay, Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

North and Star Swirl

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I have always loved Betty’s quilts, her piecing is amazing! Her quilts are usually challenging projects sent to her from her family and she always proves that she is more than up to the task.

When she started piecing her North Star Quilt by Elizabeth Hartman she also reminded me of her integrity that I also really respect about her. She understands the hard work that designers put into their work and encourages others to purchase their own copies of patterns.

This quilt was such a joy to quilt and I chose the pantograph Star Swirl as it added movement and reminds me of the night sky.

Betty chose a soft solid grey for her backing which really shows the quilting. I pieced the back from her yardage as I do for many of my customers.

Customer Quilts, Quilting, Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Winter 2021

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This winter some of my customers who normally head south for the winter have made the choice to stay put. Jeanette also decided to get some of her projects from the past completed.

Jeanettes Stars.
I chose the pantograph called Here and There, the hearts on the backing played a part in that decision. I love the perfect density in the quilting.

Another Block of the Month quilt of Jeanettes from years ago. She commented how much nicer today’s cottons are for quilting. Still this quilted up beautifully and will be used instead of just blocks in a box.

Jeanettes Block of the Month
Rhapsody is one of my most popular pantographs

I always offer to trim my customers quilts at no extra charge. Using my 12’ table on my Longarm makes this task a quick and efficient task.