Such a fun way to play with fabric or to make something that is fast and easy to finish are table runners. Every so often I am asked to help finish these projects. Fay sent me these pictures of her completed runners.
Table Runners
Category: Wendy’s Quilting
Joan’s Kaffe Quilt
Joan’s quilt was the first customer quilt of the year. I quilted it during a very grey cloudy week. The brightness of the Kaffe Fassett fabrics with the white background and oh the backing was just the ticket to light things up a bit.
I chose the pantograph by Bethanne Nemesh, called Nemesh Feather Grande which to me really suited the quilt. I also love stitching this out and that particular week I needed some relaxing stitching which it provided.
Unfortunately, the sunlight did not reappear before the quilt was picked up and the only picture of the finished quilt was before it was trimmed. Joan will bind it with the solid green that is in the top.
Oh and check out the backing!
Lorraines Quilts
As a Longarm quilter I have met many quilters, some are brand new at this art and others have being making quilts long before I knew about them. I have always loved my friendships with women who are ahead of me on this life Journey. Lorraine is a true treasure she is now well into her 80’s and many times has said that this is her last quilt…not long after she will call with just one or two more.
Lorraine moved into a retirement home a couple of years ago, she had told me then she was finished quilting. Not long after she called and said that all the people there talk about is their age and health troubles. So she set up her utility closet as her sewing room and got busy. While she has been a wonderful customer she has also blessed me with so much of her wisdom. Despite many health issues she continues to be a very bright light and her friendship a true gift.
January 2021 piecing and life
I hesitated to share the following picture on my blog but in many ways it helps describe January 2021!
We are once again in lockdown in Ontario, though this one seems a little easier for some and more challenging for others. Winter here is not always easy, thankfully for the most part we have had surprisingly mild weather.
I am blessed with family and also the ability to help as needed. It has been a busy month but also a rewarding month. We had a health scare in the family and this week received good news such a huge relief for us all.
So one day a week or so ago I was tired, and feeling like I hadn’t had any me time…I also had a whole day to myself! I made the most of it and played with my toys and made a mess. I rarely do any paper piecing but I did enjoy making the love block and it inspired me to keep going on the Moda Blockheads quilt that I began a year ago.
2012 Designer Mystery Block of the Month 2021 First Finish!
When My Longarm quilting adventure first began I joined a club through the Fatquarter Shop called Moda University. I really enjoy piecing and it was fun to receive the kits to play with during a period of my life that was already so busy.
I did finish and gifted many of those quilts and they were great for practicing my quilting.
I also started their Designer Mystery Block of the Month programs. One is ready to be quilted, one is still in the finished stage and the latest one as of yesterday is ready for binding
I chose the Pantograph Be Mine by Patricia E. Ritter and Leisha Farnsworth. I love not only the density but the very pretty Lacey like look it adds to this very pretty quilt.
For some reason I didn’t buy the backing that I wanted at the time and as with most fabric collections if you don’t buy it when it comes out you take your chances. Thankfully I was able to find the perfect backing from https://road17n.ca
Sixteen Years…
My Longarm quilting machine is an APQS Millenium and was delivered 16 years ago today. That New Years Eve my youngest daughter and I set my Longarm up in the Living room she was 9 at the time. It amazes me that we did that considering that the manual was not exactly clear or easy to follow!
I had never actually touched a Longarm before it arrived and knew very little about machine quilting. It’s been an adventure ever since. I used to chat very regularly with a group called lachat… we were all learning at the time and at different levels but everyone helped everyone it was fantastic!
I really wish that I had kept better records of exactly how many quilts I have quilted. The early years were so busy, I was raising my four daughters and working outside of the house as well as my small business.
My Longarm helped keep the bills paid and food on the table but the best part of course have been all of the friends that I have made and the creativity that I have witnessed and been inspired by!
Happy Birthday Millie!!
New Years Eve
Last December 31st I spent the day working on my Winter Village quilt adding the Silhouettes. With the plan to quilt the top New Year’s Day. I actually met that goal. 2020 was off to a great quilting start!
Like most years I had some ideas of what I wanted to work on over the coming year and was looking forward to a couple of retreats I had planned to attend.
do hope 2021 will once again allow for retreats!
The best part of course is spending time with other quilters and hours upon hours of sewing and being inspired and encouraged by like minded friends!
Due to heavy duty mask making, a machine a friend had mentioned she wanted to sell was added to my collection
As a treat this machine also joined in!
Most of my 2020 sewing/quilting was spent on baby quilts and masks some Moda blockheads 3 which I will continue to putter on and see where that takes me.
My Longarm has been busy this year. As always I have been so thankful for the ability to help others finish their quilts!
March …….2020
My grandsons wish of a longer March break was granted…what a strange time of the unknown and life as we knew it coming to a halt with constant news of non essential services to be closed.
I was and am so thankful to have my quilting to keep me busy.
While watching you tube tutorials I came across one by Edita Sitar of Laundry Basket Quilts for her Shining Star Block. It looked like a good challenge and so it was. I have added a few borders and now it’s ready for quilting.
Minka’s Quilt
Do you use a design wall? I am fortunate to have space for a couple of them and they are never empty. My daughter chose the pattern and fabric that she wanted for her soon to be baby and we worked together on the design process.
The pattern that my daughter chose is Delight by Zen Chic, the fabrics were a combination of Zen Chics Spotted and Paper collections along with some pulled from my stash. A big thank you to Shari at Road17n quilt shop in Winkler Manitoba for her help and fantastic service. I have now ordered many times from her shop, the orders always go out the same day and are here before I know it!
The backing fabric is just to cute. It was ordered from the Fat Quarter Shop thankfully before the border was closed. I live fairly close to the Minnesota border and we do miss our quick trips to pick up packages.
Life was still pretty normal, I was busy with quilting, work and family…I had my Grandson Liam a lot over the March Break and he kept telling me that he wished that March Break was longer….be careful what you wish for 😊
Winter 2020
January and February continued on as the winter months here do with perfect quilting weather and many opportunities to shovel snow and to drive in less than ideal conditions.
I was able to keep up with the Moda Blockheads 3, though this project really pointed out how quickly a week flies by! I have a quilting group that meets at our local Recreation Centre every Thursday which allows me hours of relaxed piecing time, so my plan had been to work on a block every Thursday.
This beautiful quilt was Audrey’s own design. It was so perfectly pieced and a pleasure to help her bring her vision to completion. The size made it difficult to capture in one picture.
Towards the end of February I began planning a very special quilt for my Granddaughter to be.
Wendy’s Quilting and Life 