Tag: Customer Quilts

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Quilting and Life…

wendysquilting

I read an article yesterday about why it sometimes feels like the days and time just flies by. The article suggested making some changes such as challenges and learning new things instead of always following the same routines. Something to ponder for sure.

My Longarm and I have been busy finishing quilts for my customers of course. I am so thankful for my APQS Millennium and that the company is so true to its word about service. Using a longarm as much as I do there are times where parts wear out and need to be replaced or just readjusted. My experience has always been excellent over the years as in twenty years…just saying 😊

I have been watching art meditation reels on Instagram lately. I find them relaxing and inspiring. I am always in the lookout for fun activities with our grandchildren.

One meditation used Paint Sticks which were new to me and I found a box of 36 colours and took the chance and ordered them. When Minka popped over with her Mom the other day, I shared a plan I had and she went right to work testing them out!

I have always loved art and playing with creating and now I have little people in my life that love to join me!

Along that line Tara Faughnans block studies continue to inspire me and although Garnish didn’t initially excite me as much as others once I got going on it I fell in love with making the blocks and playing with the dusty colours!

My personal piecing time has been a little more limited lately than I would like. Over the holidays I plan to gift myself with some play days just for me. I will also have some play days with Grands as well.

On one last life note my Dad ended up with a short admit to the hospital due to a post scope infection a couple of weeks ago. His care from the moment we entered the Emergency department to discharge a few days later was absolutely outstanding!

He even had a good view from his bed once he was admitted. Most importantly he recovered very quickly, no doubt in part to his focus on healthy lifestyle!

Something else that we Canadians perhaps take for granted at times but that I am extremely grateful for is that the bill Dad will receive for all of that care is $0. We do pay taxes for sure but no one here has to stress and worry about money when they or their loved ones need medical care.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Northern Quilts

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There are so many amazing Panels available now and this one is no exception. I absolutely love my customers borders and colour choices that she used to grow the panels and add her person touch to them.

She is a longtime quilter and at 86 yrs she is still going strong! A fantastic role model.

When choosing the quilting design I was considering one pantograph that really adds to the movement and look of the Northern lights however feel it didn’t do anything for the lake.

When the design Ripples came to mind I knew that it would perfectly fit the bill.

Thread weight and colour make a big difference in the final outcome. When I don’t want the thread to steal the show I choose a 60 weight which sits beautifully in the background for the most part. I chose a very soft blue that does show up minimally where it contrasts.

Her quilts were trimmed and ready for binding when I delivered them to her…(both complementary services)

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Life and Quilting

wendysquilting

My days do seem to fly by, I spend several hours most days working on customer quilts. As much as I love that I also really love piecing quilts.

Joining Tara Faughnans block studies this season has been a fantastic addition to my quilting practice with both learning a new block and playing with a palette of her choosing it really does make for great fun in my life.

I will share more but for now these are a couple of my blocks from the first month that I plan to mount on canvas.

Other samples that I have made are earmarked for some other fun ideas.

My Small world quilt blocks almost fill my design wall and my postage stamp quilt continues to have a few blocks pieced and is slowly being completed.

A friend of mine suggested trying an eye pillow at bedtime made with flax seed and lavender…so I did make myself one and a few more for others…

With the winter months approaching there should be more time for studio play.

We are so wealthy in Grandchildren and have had the pleasure of their company and all the fun and joy that they bring with them!

On a personal note and adding to what I have written in previous posts…. A year ago tomorrow I made a decision to remove certain things from my diet. Alcohol was one and following that dispite for the most part eating a healthy diet I have made changes and tweaked it to better match my health and wellbeing goals.

There is so much to learn about food and it’s not always easy to navigate away from ultra processed foods but it is worth the effort. The Yuka app has been very helpful.

Adding more exercise and learning more about what we women need at my stage of life for bone,muscle and heart health has been enlightening as well! I have so much fabric and so many ideas that healthy longevity is a big time personal goal.

So to that some personal progress gifts!

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Autumn Quilting

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We have enjoyed an amazing long autumn, this picture of course was taken a month or so again as the leaves have all fallen now.

We had snow yesterday, which made for a pretty walk late yesterday. I do love the crisper air for walks. The forecasted temperature today will quickly melt what was left behind yesterday.

Of course since my last post I have been busy in my studio working on customer quilts. I will share more about the last month or so in my next post.

This post I am sharing a quilt that its maker really wasn’t sure how she felt about it, it’s an early one of hers and like she said if she was doing it again she would have chosen some of the fabrics differently.

That said, it’s a perfect Autumn quilt!

Most of my customers leave the decision of quilting design to me and this quilt called for the design Leaf Pile! I love the density of stitching along with the various leaves adding more visual appeal to an already great quilt!

Her quilt was trimmed and ready for binding at pick up!

This next picture shows how it looked just before coming off the leaders. I am often asked why my quilts have a smoother finish front and back. I do not float quilt tops unless there is a reason that it’s necessary. That way I have more control over the tension of both top and backing while I am quilting.

It’s a personal preference for sure.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Design Board…and Block Studies

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I have often thought about making myself a design board. Tara showed us how to make easy ones as part of the introduction to her block studies and I had planned to make simple and fast ones like that.

Then…the other night I came across a YouTube video by Gina Tell and I just couldn’t resist giving it a try!

https://youtu.be/lfmrpN_vHfg?si=1lqEwisZwXgvuh9g

I already had some foam board, and oh so many batting scraps and left over bindings.

Gluing the batting to the board and sewing on the binding was easy. I did use a glue stick to hold the binding onto the back as I used the duct tape to finish the board. The white duct tape came from the dollar store as did the foam board.

Yes I am having fun playing! After spending my day working on the longarm and preparing today’s quilt for loading, the evening was mine!

I had initially only cut a couple of strips from each colour that I am working on, so had to start with some prep work!

Then…

Yes I am having fun!!

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

A Whale of a Quilt!

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My customer made this quilt for her newest Grandchild and his name is Jonah! How perfect!

We chose the quilting design Bayside to add the look of waves, which it surely did!

The backing couldn’t be more perfect!

The quilt was trimmed and ready for binding at pick up!

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Quilting and Fun!!

wendysquilting

First a peek …more to come!

Next Kudos to https://www.madaboutpatchwork.com as I joined Tara Faughnans Block Studies this season later than some and her palette for this month had sold out and I wanted them. I have been ordering from Mad About Patchwork for a while and their service is outstanding!! The package is always like getting a present…they often include a little gift as well! I do love to use Kona for my solids and this shop reliably carries all of their colours!

Also added a totally impulsive purchase just for fun!!

So last night, when my work for the day was finished, I gifted myself the evening to press and cut into the palette and begin playing! More on that soon.

My friend Louisa posted more of her work this morning that keeps inspiring me to gift myself playtime.

https://louisaenright.com/2025/10/04/a-night-away/

And now a new day begins!

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Happy Halloween…Quilt

wendysquilting

This fun quilt recently left my studio quilted,trimmed and ready for binding in plenty of time to hang for Halloween!

The quilt did present a challenge in that the witches legs hang freely. Using the quilting design Frite-nite I carefully worked around the legs not loosing any of the fun design.

How perfect is this backing fabric!!

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

A Block of the Month Quilt

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A quilt that was pieced as a Block of the Month turned out beautifully! It’s full of different designs and colours and was a delight to quilt!

I quilted it using the quilting design Nocturne Feathers by Bethanne Nemesh. I love the flow and density of her designs and as a result offer several of hers.

I have been professionally quilting for others for over 20 years and have collected many designs and am always adding more for my customers to choose from. If you have a design in mind and I don’t have it I will help you to find it and add it to my collection.

This quilt was trimmed and ready for binding at pick up!!

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Disappearing Nine Patch Baby quilt

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With a request for a baby quilt this one began with a cute but older baby print with baby blocks, rattles and such. Adding the read solid prints to the mix that played nicely with the print resulted in a super cute baby quilt! With the added bonus for my customer of using up fabrics from her stash!

She also pieced the backing from her stash adding more sweetness and fun!

Her quilt was trimmed and ready for binding at pick up!