Category: Thunder Bay Quilters Guild

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.

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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.

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Do You Quilt With Friends?

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I first started attending our local quilt guild when I was in my late twenties. I had been interested in quilting in my early teens but had no idea where to start, not knowing anyone who quilted.

Then I attended Quilt Canada when it was held here in Thunder Bay in 1992 and attended some classes. That is where I met my friend Alva who became my mentor.

I recently had the privilege to quilt a round robin style of quilt for a friend Bobbie who was in a group of quilters that were a very big part of quilt Guild for many years and helped to bring Quilt Canada to Thunder Bay.

It was a very interesting looking quilt and with permission I shared her quilt with a couple of groups that I belong to and was asked how it was made. So I questioned Bobbie and she shared pictures of her sisters quilt and progress. The rule was that each person started with a fat quarter and passed to the next Quilter who was to cut it horizontally and vertically and insert six inch rows of piecing:

Starting with Aileen’s fabric choice

Next Jean Tozer added her strips

Then Marjorie Hosegoods addition

Alva being Alva wasn’t one to follow the rules and decided to make two vertical cuts really changing the look.

Elaine Pond was next:

followed by Val:

And finished by Bobbie:

I loved spending time with these ladies and learnt so much about quilting and life from them. I remember the group of them liked to sit in the front row at guild and often would get the giggles like young school girls they really had fun!

Blogroll, Friends, Quilting, Thunder Bay Quilters Guild

Cheryl Arkison Workshop

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As April begins to wind down, I sit here with my coffee (I just woke up after a wonderful sleep following a midnight shift that I went into with far too little sleep but amazed myself with the second, third and fourth wind that I found!) wow what a month!

The last weekend was definitely a highlight of fun, friendship, eye candy, inspiration and not enough hours in the day.

I woke this afternoon trying to figure out how I could squeeze a little time on my longarm, there’s just no way, so I’ve made a date with it tomorrow morning!

One of the major highlights of the weekend was the workshop that I took with Cheryl Arkison I’ve followed her blog for ages and remember being drawn to her blog, not only for her quilting but her real ness. She is a wife, Busy mom of three little ones and a passionate quilter with an amazing imagination that I so admire.

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Her class was fun and so inspiring for me. She taught me to look at my scraps and stash in a whole new way…and I gave myself permission to just play and see where my scraps and imagination lead me!

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I had finished all of the all green section in class and the carried on overnight which really helped me to stay awake!

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Alva’s Flannel Quilt–Block Tutorial

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I’ve had several people ask me for this pattern. My friend Alva has demonstrated the block at Thunder Bay Quilters Guild.

One note about her quilt is that the fabrics came from a fatquarter bundle of flannels.

Each block consists of:

  • 4 different 7 1/2”x3 1/2” rectangles
  • 4 solid 7 1/2”x 1 1/2” strips
  • 1 3 1/2” square

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1. Sew on black strip to each of the rectangle prints

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2. Choose your layout for the block and one of the rectangles with the black (or your solid) to the square. HERE IS THE IMPORTANT STEP: only sew half way from the bottom edge.

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3. Press this section. (Press all seams to the black strip) and sew your next rectangle as shown:

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4. Continue with the next 2 rectangles:

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5. and finally finish the first seam. Alva added black sashing’s to her quilt when joining her blocks.

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Now that I’ve made a block I am going to have to add this to my quilts to make list.

I’d love to see other versions, so if you make a quilt using this tutorial and would like me to quilt it this winter I will supply your batting! Just mention this tutorial. (This offer applies only to January and February 2013.)

Also note that I now have several wide quilt backs for sale to my quilting customers all backs sell for $15. a yard. You will only buy what your quilt requires.

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Thunder Bay Quilters Guild Teddy Bear Quilts

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Every November during one of the hockey games in town there is what is called a Teddy Bear drop when the audience throws stuffed animals on the ice after the first goal is made.

Later these critters and many more end up donated and received by the the guild. Members choose one or more and take them home to make them a little quilt. They are all brought back to the November meeting and will be given to children for Christmas through our local Christmas Cheer!

This is just some of them!

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My little bear was very outdoorsy so his quilt  was made as if it was going to be in a fishing/hunting type of camp. (don’t ask me why I didn’t take a picture of the quilt, because I really don’t know)

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Alva was able to finally finish up her flannel fatquarter bundle for her bear, what a wonderful snuggly quilt for a little one to enjoy! (this picture was taken before the meeting when Alva always offers a tutorial on a different technique.)

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The most fun and artistic one and my personal favourite was the one that Joyce McKinnon made for her Bunny. She made Cabbage Leaves and added a crocheted carrot!

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Autumn and Flannels

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I love to visit these falls, they are tucked behind a short paved trail just south of the border. We often stop in the spring and again later in the summer, Marlene and I stopped for a short walk when we went to the border a couple weeks ago. Although it was a very misty grey day we were rewarded with beautiful colours and of course the view of the falls.

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and don’t the colours of the above picture go along with these two quilts by Alva.

This is the quilt that Alva demonstrated the blocks for, at Thunder Bay Quilters Guild October meeting.

It is quilted using the Bayside Pantograph (by Lorien Quilting)

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and another, also by Alva who bought a Fat Quarter Bundle of these Flannels and has been getting incredible mileage from it. I quilted this sweet lap quilt with the Waterworld Pantograph (by Jodi Beamish)

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Friends, Quilting, Thunder Bay Quilters Guild

November Guild Meeting

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The meeting last night as always was a lot of fun, Norma (our guilds president) always does her best to keep the business side of the meeting short and sweet and informative. She and the rest of our executive really do an awesome job!!

The show and tell at our guild is always great and last night, when it was finished said oh is that the end? She wasn’t finished looking a quilts Smile but then are quilters ever finished?

After show and tell last nights program was a demo night.

Louise showed the teacup pincushions she’s been making

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Peggy showed us how to make book covers, I really like the bookmark!

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Cindy had a fun snowman wall-hanging to show us and had some other fun ideas to share as well.

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and Joyce shared some of her ideas and techniques for making..hmm I didn’t get the name of this one but it sure was fun and interesting and I plan to play with this in the near future!

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Joyce is planning to hang some of the leaves that she’s made in a tree outside for the winter, I think it’s a great idea to bring such a fun colourful as well as whimsical art to the long winter days!