wendysquilting

More Summer Days…..

July 18, 2011 wendysquilting

We spent Canada Day weekend in Fort Frances visiting friends, normally I go a bit overboard on the picture taking but the evening before we left I missed a step and as a result spent the weekend hobbling around thankfully it wasn’t too serious. I was still able to go fishing..thanks Ken for taking us.

I love our lakes in Northern Ontario, we still have so much unspoiled beauty. Many of the lakes in the north haven’t been built on but are crown land, so people can use them just not own them. The above picture though is at Rainy Lake which has many cabins and homes built on it.

Our friends neighbour Carol is also a quilter so I did have a little quilting talk on our trip. We were talking about our little Janome Jems and she mentioned her thread holder that she bought years ago at Fanny’s Fabrics and said it was the perfect size for travel etc.. but hasn’t seen them sold for years. If anyone reading this knows where one can be found I’d sure like to know.

Yesterday our temperature soared up to a Feels like 45C which is about 113F which is crazy hot for here esp when you don’t have AC in your house. Thankfully my studio is in the basement where it usually stays pretty cool. We also grilled some Lake Superior Salmon that was extremely yummy!

I also spent the day at Erik’s making full use of his pool, some shade and a good book! I’m reading the series by Marie Bostwick, I’m on the third in the series or four. (Thanks Luci)

and I’ve been playing in my studio as well turning a couple charm packs into a baby quilt, I can hardly wait to see this little one finished.

Life really is good!!

Christmas, Family, Uncategorized

Challenges and Change

June 7, 2011June 8, 2011 wendysquilting

Once upon a time, my girls were happy to drive this and I was ok with it

now my youngest drove off in her new

All bought and paid for and now insured…..and most importantly to her licenced to drive without her Mom. Congratulations Katie for reaching such a big milestone in your life…but please be careful you are driving my baby around in that car!

The weather was lovely this morning but the rainclouds came out this afternoon, so my friend Alva and I decided to play inside and work on this

A group of quilters from our guild recently attended a Ricky Tim’s conference and after borrowing Alva’s book from the conference I am determined to play with many of his techniques. Thank you Alva for a fun afternoon and for sharing your batiks with me!! I’m not finished with this piece yet.

After I finished piecing my convergence piece I decided to finish up an applique piece that I started with my small group. I’m not really finished with it yet so it’s still a work in progress but its been fun…

(Alva also gave me a hand with fabrics on this one, I haven’t gotten started collecting Batiks because I know what will happen…)

I also asked Alva for advice on my Schnibble and she suggested a change that I quite like

I will have to change some of my 4 patches but I do like this layout better. What do you think?

Christmas, Family, Schnibble, Uncategorized

Decisions

June 3, 2011September 25, 2012 wendysquilting

Another little Schnibble (Plan C) I’ve been working on. It’s been living on the design wall like this but today started changing it around

and right now it looks like this

I think I like the second version best but I’m still playing any suggestions or opinions?

and on to really important news

Its Graduation season and my Daughter Emma had graduated with her degree in Psychology and is continuing on working towards her Masters. Emily has always loved school and is an excellent student! I’m so proud of you Emily!!

Erik has 2 daughters graduating this year, his oldest is now an RN!! way to go Shilo and his second daughter Ashton graduated today with a diploma in Dental Hygiene but like Emily she is continuing her education and will be entering the Education Program University.

We attended Ashton’s grad this morning.

birthday, Family, Grandson, Longarm Quilting, Uncategorized

Quietly Busy

May 26, 2011May 26, 2011 wendysquilting

Its been extremely quiet here this last week, all of my girls have been away. Of course Sarah is always away now that she lives in Texas. Emily, Dave and Katie drove down for Jerry’s first birthday. I’m waiting for more birthday pictures…

This was one of Jerry’s first pictures as a cowboy

and a year later at his party!

Yesterday I finally re-quilted my original Summer Wind quilt. I really wish I’d taken some pictures of it to show why I decided to re-quilt it. I had used a panto that wasn’t as dense as I like and also used a wool batting, when it was washed it just did not like it. It is my summer quilt for my bed so I use it and I still love it so it was worth re doing. Thankfully I have a friend who offered to un-quilt it for me. I had been a bit concerned about the stitch holes from before but they have all but disappeared.

I used a Robyn Pandolph backing that I absolutely love and suits this quilt perfectly.

a little sneak peak of some quilting for the Circle of Friends Quilt Shoppe (opening soon)

more to come…

Bloggers Quilt Festival, Blogroll, Family, Fig Tree Quilts, Moda, Summer, Summer Gypsy

Bloggers Quilt Festival

May 14, 2011October 24, 2023 wendysquilting

I made this quilt using a pattern called Summer Wind, I had originally made it with a different fabric collection and in a different season of my life. The first quilt was pieced in a 3 day marathon session, when I needed something to completely take my mind of some challenges that life was throwing my way. I had always intended to use the pattern again and when I found myself with a stash of Gypsy Rose from Fig Tree Quilts I knew I had my next Summer Wind Quilt.

When I first posted pictures of this quilt that I made for Erik’s Daughter Megan, the pattern designer Carrie Nelson commented that she thought its name should be Summer Gypsy, which I really liked and renamed the quilt.

One of the things I really love about this pattern is that you start in the centre and work your way out border after pieced border.

Megan has decorated her room about this quilt. She really has great taste in colours and has done an amazing job (I’ll see if she’ll let me share a peek)

I used a pantograph called here and there to quilt it. I think this design flows beautifully across the quilt and I personally think it looks like hearts which is another reason I chose it.

I’m adding this last picture to show you the quilt I made for Megan to go with her older bedroom, she chose the colours for that room herself too. It’s interesting how our tastes change over the years isn’t it.

Uncategorized

Strawberry Hot Cross Buns

May 13, 2011 wendysquilting

Yesterday we had summer weather, today we were back to jackets and chilly weather. I think we’ve skipped spring this year.

I’ve been piecing this little Schnibble called Hot Cross Buns by Carrie of Miss Rosie’s Quilt Co. this pattern is in her book Schnibbles Times Two.

Schnibbles Times Two: Quilts from 5" or 10" Squares

something that helped in planning this little top was choosing the centre squares, I placed them on my design wall in the order I thought I’d like then I took a picture and referred to it as I chose the crosses.

Both the book and fabric will be available at our new quilt shop “The Circle of Friends Quilt Shoppe” ( The shop will be opening in June)

I’m also working on some little quilts as in baby quilts.

Uncategorized

Quilt Show Weekend

April 30, 2011August 2, 2013 wendysquilting

This quilt was made by my friend Leila, she embroidered the blocks, pieced the quilt and had me quilt it for her. I added crosshatching and lots of feathers.

this is another quilt by Leila, she had me quilt it with a Butterfly pantograph.

Terri’s quilt has a very special story. Her daughter started this quilt as a teenager and then life got busy for her and it ended up as an unfinished project. Terri decided to finish it and give it to her daughter at her bridal shower. I quilted it for Terri using a pantograph called Shasta.

Alva’s Colourful Cranes, there are 98 paper pieced cranes in this quilt. Alva’s use of colour always amazes and inspires me. (I promise Alva I will jump out of my comfort zone and use real reds one day!) We chose a Pantograph called Bayside which gives this quilt added movement but doesn’t distract from the piecing.

Alva made this quilt for her granddaughter Kara. The pattern is called Wind Blown Blossoms and was found in Quilt Maker Magazine Spring 2010, it is a total deviation from the quilt in the Magazine but these colours are so Alva. Alva chose a Pantograph called Vortex for this one which really complements it.

Summer Gypsy is a quilt I made a couple of years ago for Erik’s daughter Megan. I wish the colour was more true in the picture, I’m going to try to get better shots of it today. It was made with Carrie Nelsons Pattern Summer Wind and Gypsy Rose Fabric by Fig Tree Quilts.

Elizabeth will be given to her owner Shauna after this show. This quilt is a wedding gift that my daughter Sarah asked me to make for her very dear and close friend. Shauna has been patiently waiting for her quilt. They were married last summer. Elizabeth is another Carrie Nelson pattern (Miss Rosie’s Quilt Co) and the fabric is Rouenneries by French General.

Finally, Katie has long awaited her quilt! (she is in pink) Sunday night I’m sure this quilt will be on her bed.

Opening Day is a pattern by Carrie Nelson (Miss Rosie’s Quilt Co) and the Fabric is Aster Manor by 3 sisters. Katie chose the fabric and pattern.

Hmm kinda looks like I’m a Carrie Nelson fan and I’m love Moda fabrics!

Quilting, Schnibble, Vintage Sewing Machines

Newest Addition

April 10, 2011December 6, 2021 wendysquilting

To my machine family that is.

I’d been watching this machine on Kijiji for months now and when I noticed that the price had come down to $55. I decided to check it out and if it was in good shape I would pick it up. I really needed a new table for a corner in the living room so it will have a home.

It has a lovely stitch too. Its a Singer 99K (1956) that makes 4 vintage sewing machines in my collection, one for each of my girls someday if they so desire. (I wonder if that will prevent me from giving a good home to future finds?

My Little Schnibble “Happy Day” is coming along too. I have a spot in my living room above my Treddle that it will hang. For those of you who are not familiar with Schnibbles have a visit at Miss Rosie’s Quilt Co.

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

Quiet but Busy and Half Square Triangle Tutorial

April 8, 2011March 6, 2021 wendysquilting

This week seems to have flown by, I was able to accomplish a few things in my studio as well as some very welcome walks out in the sunshine.

I finally have all 30 blocks completed for Emily’s quilt. Now I have to decide on sashing. I would probably use a muslin if I’d had enough but I don’t and I can’t find a perfect match. So my next idea is to use one of the prints beside the blocks. I’ll lay it out next week and share some pictures and hopefully get some opinions.

I’ve been quilting a custom job on my longarm that is taking longer than I like, so for a little diversion I started another project using my Beach House Layer Cake.

I’m ready to piece these 25 blocks which will be part on my next Schnibble.

While trimming my half square triangles, I was thinking that some people might not be aware of the Quilt in a Day Ruler that I use. This is a tool that makes trimming these a breeze:

in this example I used two 5” charm squares right sides together, and drew a diagonal line.

I sew a very scant 1/4 inch seam on both sides of the line and then cut along drawn line.

Using the ruler, in this case I’m making 3 1/2” squares so I line up the stitched line with the 3 1/2” line and trim

Press open and trim the dog ears if you desire.

In my opinion this ruler is worth more than its weight in gold!! I hope that it helps you too.

Quilting

Time to finish what I start

April 2, 2011 wendysquilting

I’ve spent several hours in the last two days stitching down bindings. I was so close to finishing this one last night but I was just too tired. I have learnt that things go so much better when I’m well rested.

I’m also almost finished binding Opening Day the rest are finished. (From top to bottom: Sunny Trails, Aviary Quilt (pattern from Heather Heather Mulder Peterson’s book Livin’ Large), Opening Day, and Finally Elizabeth is finished.

Well actually I have some sleeves to sew on some of these quilts as well as Megan’s Gypsy Rose as they will all be displayed at our upcoming Quilt Show.

I’m still working on Emily’s quilt, it’s taking more time than I’m used to and I’m constantly fighting the urge to start something else but I’m determined to complete this quilt before summer.