Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Mom’s Quilt

I have several quilts waiting for pick up, not unusual with this time of year and unfavourable driving conditions of winter. As I write this morning more snow is falling. I prefer to have my customers see their quilts before I share them here.

While I wait I decided to share the story of the last quilt my Mom made.

Years ago my Mom decided to use up some of her stash…do most quilters ever ever actually use it all up?

She and my Dad decided that they wanted an extra large queen size quilt and after the top was finished I quilted it for them, I offered to add the binding however Mom wanted to do it herself.

After my Mom passed away, I found the quilt tucked away in their basement and brought it home to complete the binding. It took 3 years and a little help from a dear friend. Thank you Florence!

My Mom died February 15, 2019, I was sitting by her side holding her hand as she took her last breath. She had had a massive heart attack 5 days prior and one of my daughters and I made sure that she wasn’t alone during those days or nights. I am so thankful that I was with her, not everyone understands what a gift that can be.

Still, last week my Mom was very much on my mind, grief does come in waves. I shared this with a very wise friend of mine who pointed out that the loss of a Mom causes “a still-fresh sadness and a deep hole in your life. The loss of the mother…is so hard…and includes suddenly being thrown on the front line of existence without a parent buffer in front of you.” Thank you Louisa. Yes, thankfully I still have my Dad!

I decided to bring the quilt to my Dad, on the 15th. To say he was tickled pink would be a mild way to describe his reaction. He wanted it on his bed right away and so we removed the thimble berries quilt he uses for the winter. The scrap quilt immediately brightened his room!

I checked with my Dad the next morning and he said he had the best sleep under his new quilt.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Fatquarter Shop 2011 Designer Mystery

This long ago project was started and the blocks all completed, the finishing kit purchased only to be stored in a boot box for ten years.

Nicole has been writing about hers on her blog at https://sisterschoice.typepad.com/sisters_choice_quilts/2022/02/can-you-see-where-i-am-going-with-this.html#comments

She has taken hers in a totally different direction, which I really like. Mine has been completed by my friend Florence and will one day be finished and hopefully loved by one of our daughters or granddaughters.

It is a pretty quilt, though I have clearly moved on from such a soft palette. Actually I am really enjoying working with the solid palettes.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Play time!

My mornings begin with coffee and often reading blogs…these days they are much more relaxing than the news!

Yesterday’s reading led to some new ideas from a new to me blog.

https://www.piecefulthoughts.com/improv-wavy-strips-tutorial/

I have really enjoyed curved piecing lately and have been a little intrigued by improv piecing. After reading Wendy’s above tutorial, I decided that I would play with some scraps after I finished longarming for the day.

The scraps are from a bundle of 6” strips of ombré that came from Craftsy back when it was a great site. I used many of the 40 strips in my flying geese quilt.

One of my goals for this year is to quilt using my domestic machine.

The fabric for the 3rd quilt in Season 4 of the Color Collective arrived this past week and oh are they pretty!! As I still have the design wall full with flock blocks, and a baby quilt to make Stellar is going to have to wait her turn. I may just make a practice block while I wait though.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Bernice’s Quilt

It always amazes me how many different quilts there are, I so rarely see duplicates.

This week one of the quilts that I quilted was this queen size quilt, there was a backing challenge in that the maker sewed the backing with the selvages intact to stretch the fabric and also added side pieces (as in leader, enders only on the sides) in order for the backing to be big enough.

As the backing really wasn’t big enough to load with the seams horizontally it was very challenging to load and keep even with three seams rolled onto the bar. However, it worked!

The tension was perfect, on the perfect backing for this quilt!

There are times when by mere coincidence the same pantograph is chosen for a few customer quilts which I had also chosen for My Sunny quilt. I have been happily quilting with different ones once again.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Florence’s Paper Pieced Quilt

Florence told me that she really hasn’t enjoyed paper piecing, though she do a fantastic job on this quilt!

The original backing that she and I chose became a puzzle as it just did not want to cooperate, different size needles, bobbins, tension settings nothing seemed to prevent it from snagging and popping white threads through it. The backing was a very dark gray with black swirls. The only thing we didn’t try was washing it, which we discussed however Florence decided to try another backing.

The second backing had absolutely no issues and the stitches returned to the normal perfect ones on both top and back. It is very unusual for a backing to be so uncooperative!!

The second choice is actually was actually prettier on this quilt so maybe it was just meant to be.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Sunny Days!!!

Well we have had some sunshiny days in January, of course those are usually our coldest days of winter!

My Sunny quilt has made for many hours of fun piecing with a new to me paper piecing technique along with the fun of a palette put together by Tara Faughnan of the Color collective. It’s been a welcome adventure.

While making it an old and favourite song from my childhood kept coming to mind…Sunny Days by Lighthouse. It actually came on the radio yesterday!

This weekend after finishing up a customer quilt, I gifted myself time on the Longarm for Sunny. The backing reminds me of tie dye a bit and also carried many of the tops colours. I love finding just the right backs for my quilts!

Sunny is ready for binding…I am leaning towards the orange! What would you choose?

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

January and Florence’s Quilt

January has always felt like a long slow month to me, the weather is usually the coldest we get and it’s typically the quietest month.

It’s been a fun month of quilting both for customers as well as relaxed piecing for myself. I have the backing for my Sunny quilt and a quilting plan…

This quilt that Florence made is so pretty and called for more blossoms.

The backing is a solid Kona in black. I chose to use a silver thread which really popped against the back, however I was unable to capture a good picture of it. So unless you happen to see the quilt live, you will have to take my word for it. The stitches were so pretty!

We spent yesterday, the last Friday of this January with three of our grandchildren. It was a fun filled and very busy day! Snow play and snowmobiling, fort building.

My personal favourite was when Grayson (5yrs) asked what my sewing machine and serger were for so I let him try them…later he said he wished that he lived here…I asked why and he said it was because I have sewing machines!!! He was so excited to show his Dad his new skills when he picked him up!

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Flock Block

Over the last week or so I have been making the units for the Flock Block quilt when I have a little time to play.

Yesterday was one of those days that I felt like playing and made a few of the blocks, which turned into a few more….

Flock is the second block from Season 4 of the Color Collective. From Sewtopia aka Amy Newbold and Tara Faughnan . This program has added so much fun during these chilly winter months.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Double Sided Quilts

The digitally printed panels available lately are so beautiful and this quilt features them on both the top and the backing.

Actually Pat pieced two tops however one was for the backing. This is not the first time I have had this request and although it can be challenging to keep both centred it can be done.

The front

The back

Pat chose the pantograph star swirl, this design fits perfectly!

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Joan’s Scrap Quilt….

I have been quilting for Joan for several years now and am always delighted when I see her latest creation. Her colour and pattern choices are not only fun to see but also to quilt!

As most quilters, she has found that the scraps are taking over so she has begun the scrap piecing journey. This quilt is one and was a fun walk down memory lane!

It was loaded and quilted on a gray snowy day! I share this picture to give a glimpse of how I load most quilts. I like to load the top as I find it gives me more control and enables me to keep the quilts square and flat. It’s an extra step but one that I find worthwhile.

I used the Pantograph Flying Paisley, with just enough flowers and leaves to compliment this very pretty quilt.