Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

September Life

On both a happy and sad note, Liam has returned to school. He was a little stressed about it the week or so beforehand however his clever teacher made sure that it was a fun and exciting time. I picked him up from his first day and he was full of happy stories.

He stayed with us for supper, and a visit and was having trouble staying awake on the drive to town. He has told everyone that he will be here on pa days and breaks. We feel so fortunate to have had so much time with Liam in the last year and a half.

First day of grade 5

Just before Liam went back to school, Erik came home with a new to us lawn tractor…Liams first words of course were can I drive it?

It won’t be long before we have a new lawn boy!

Erik and I enjoyed a fishing adventure on one of the boundary lakes, we really live in such a beautiful area with so many fresh lakes and forests. We had a good day and came home with a good catch.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Jeanettes North Star Quilt

These quilts are so much fun and always make me smile while I quilt them! This one was purchased as a kit though I believe that it was also offered as a block of the month.

We chose the pantograph Star Swirl.

There are such fun ways to grow backing and use up the scraps from the top as well.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

The Flower Block of The Month

This last year or so has afforded many quilters time to work on their ufo’s. This one went back a bit and my customer and I reminisced about how the quality of quilting fabric has improved since the 90’s along with the variety available. I recognized many of the fabrics from my early quilting days.

With all of the different flowers and also some embellishments already added I decided to add the pantograph butterfly charm to this flower garden.

I was tasked with finding the backing, this one was chosen as a closest match at the quilt shop Fuelled By Fabric in Pass Lake. It really shows off the design!

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

The Hockey Quilts

These two quilts will be so much fun for the young hockey players that this customer made them for.

She varied the colours on the two and I chose the windswept pantograph for both the density of the quilting and for the wonderful movement it brings to a quilt.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Margaret’s Tulips

What a fun and happy quilt! It was quilted with the pantograph ground cover. Margaret used fabrics from her stash to piece this quilt and like so many of us, she told me it didn’t make much of a dent in her stash.

I love the variety of fabrics in this quilt.
The backing was primarily the green but was grown using strips of some Kaffe
Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Summer 2021 Life

This has been the hottest and driest summer that I can remember. We had hoped to take a small trip somewhere however it just hasn’t worked out.

We thought about a trip to Grand Beach Manitoba but with record making temperatures we decided to stay at our own resort where we can use the pool anytime and enjoy the comforts of home and air conditioning.

I have been teaching Liam how to make Finnish pancakes and the other day he showed his Mom his special way of eating them! canned whipping cream is not something that I would normally buy however once in a while… he does have fun with it.

I have spent some time helping and visiting with my granddaughter and the cousin love is just so precious!

They are always so delighted to see each other!

In Texas news my eldest Grandson started Grade 6 this week. We are really hoping for a visit as it’s been way too long!

We visited with friends of ours, during covid lockdowns they decided to learn to use hula hoops so bought tubing from the hardware store and weighted them with water…and they both mastered them!

Erik has been busy with his new to him tool which the grandsons both asked if they could drive it as soon as they saw it!

I have been busy with family, gardening and of course quilting. My Longtime gone piecing has been a little slow this month though with Liam returning to school in a couple of weeks that should change.

I am almost halfway done making the little churn dash blocks, I love the small piecing.
Creative chaos!

Of course my summer has also involved my customer quilts…look for my next post soon.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Lucille’s Quilt

Lucille began this quilt for her Granddaughter it was originally meant to be smaller however as the last couple of years curtailed travel she decided to make the quilt larger.

It was a pleasure to quilt this pretty quilt with the sea turtle backing. I used the pantograph called Waterworld. It gives such great movement to a quilt.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Grandparenting

Liam and his Dad brought out Liams first dirt bike last week, he has been learning to drive it and yesterday he explained to me how the gears work and when you use the different ones.

Sometimes he and Pappa will go for rides through the trails they both look so happy as they play! Liam also drives around the yard and through the paths closer to the house…I can often hear him singing as he drives.

Making memories

We also hiked Rabbit Mountain this week. Erik and Liam climbed the straight up hike up the hydro line. I preferred the other path this time still a good hike but a little more relaxing for me.

The base of their hike

Many hours were spent in the pool this week along with Liam eating and picking many of Mummus raspberries and and a couple of bowls of ice cream there as well.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Life

The past couple weeks have been filled with life and one part of our lives involved saying goodbye.

Erik’s Dad passed away on Monday at the age of 87.

Martti and Hilkka

Martti had worked hard all of his life and as both Erik and his Mom put it he had alot of fun being a Dad. I knew Martti in his later years and I loved how his eyes always lit up when his family would come to visit him esp the grand and great grand children.

Martti and his wife also shared a love of fishing. The above picture is one I took one of the last times we were all at the same lake together. We enjoyed visiting by the campfire and later Erik commented that there would probably not be many more times at the lake together. We cherish these memories.

I will miss him, we always had our little jokes and laughs when I would see him he had a big heart and smiles to go with it.