I had an idea of how I wanted to quilt Karen’s Sparrow quilt as soon as I saw it…which also gave me an excuse to add some new pantographs to my collection!
Nebula has movement galore, and as I had visioned turned out to be a perfect fit! Using a 60 weight thread in silver caused the quilting to take back stage from the piecing, it shows up clearly over the dark background fabric but not in an overpowering way that a 40 weight thread would have.
Karen’s choice of backing fabric was so perfect with the subtle addition of bird tracks over the robins egg blue colour.
Karen’s quilt left my studio trimmed and ready for binding and soon to be gifted!
It was pieced using the pattern Those Trees by Zen Chic.
We chose to use faux trapunto under the larger trees giving them a little more of a pop with the dense quilting in the background.
Have you done Faux Trapunto before? If not, it is really easy using the Longarm but also manageable with your sewing machine.
With the Longarm, I load the batting as I would the backing and then the top. I using water soluble thread to sew around the trees and stars and afterwards very carefully trimmed the batting away as close to the seam as I could. This technique adds an extra layer of batting under certain areas of your quilt and in this case was well worth the effort.
The runner left yesterday making its way home to Ottawa, ready for binding. More pictures will follow when it’s finished.
This king sized quilt is to be gifted soon and what a wonderful gift made by the brides Mom and Aunt!
I love the giant gingham affect these large blocks make.
The pantograph Forest Floor was chosen as it suits the couple who will receive this quilt it also compliments the backing. When you look closely at the backing fabric you can see the subtle addition of blue in the veins of the leaves and some of the designs.
The binding was made from the backing which will be just the right pop on the front and won’t detract from the print on the back.
This quilt left my studio trimmed and binding prepared.
Let me help you bring your quilting projects to completion!
I was contacted several months ago about quilting this quilt in May if the piecer had it ready…she did and this lovely quilt is trimmed and ready for binding. Well before the Wedding where it will be gifted to the bride and groom.
My quilting is hand guided and we chose the pantograph A Little Bit of This which added just the right density and flow for this very soft quilt.
I pieced the backing for this quilt this is a complimentary service that I provide and many of my customers really appreciate just bringing me the yardage.
Speaking of backings, some of my customers just want to piece the quilt top and request that I find the backing for them. This is another of the many services that I provide.
First of all, how exciting that the Superior Quilt Show returns next Month. This is the Thunder Bay Quilters Guild Quilt Show that is normally held every second year! Of course the last few years haven’t been business as usual so it is even more exciting to have the show return!
The response of the membership has been fantastic and while normally there has been a call for extra quilts over and above the limit of three quilts per member this year the number has been capped. So I will have 3 quilts in the show along with any of my customers who have chosen to enter their quilts.
If you are in the area I hope that you will not only come and check out some of the incredible quilts and quilting that are done locally!
I believe that most people who live in North Western Ontario are longing for spring as we do every April! However our reality it seems is that winter isn’t over until it’s over and spring storms dumping fresh large amounts of snow in April is not uncommon… but still!
I am ready to put our winter gear away, but I know better so will wait!
My morning view
I will be back to showing quilts regularly again, life has been busy and as usual so have I and my APQS Millenium Longarm.
Just before Easter and our trip to Cuba, I quilted this sweet little quilt with Minkie fabric for the backing. These digital panels are amazing and this one with the giraffes appears 3D.
When choosing a quilting design, I wanted something that would look like it was in the jungle but also would have enough stitching to hold this fun quilt together for the long run. This design was the perfect fit!
It was a little challenging as we really wanted to use this piece of backing and it was a little small…I had a half inch on both sides of extra backing fabric. Yes I do require 2” as that does seem to work best but I can and do make exceptions and in my 18 years of quilting professionally I have learnt a trick or two.
The best part of this particular quilting job is this!
The Instagram Quiltfest 2023 is nearing the end. It’s been a fun adventure and I hope to play again. Thank you to Amy at https://www.amyscreativeside.com
The prompt favourite finish had me reminisce a little and I chose my Flower Power wallhanging.
Now this is a project from over ten years ago…it taught me faux trapunto and raw edge appliqué on my Longarm. I used fabrics from a Kaffe Fassett charm pack and for the most part just allowed myself to play! the back ground fabrics had just enough dye lot difference to make the circle truly pop off of the first background.
At the time talk was that only quilt shop quality fabric should be used for backings and definitely not sheets…I never liked to be limited to “creative rules” and chose to use a vintage bed sheet from the 70’s for my backing. The bedsheets from my child hood were so much fun!!
I absolutely love this quilt! Yes I have made many others and for many reasons they are also favourite finishes however this one might just be the most fun!
In this case Cathy brought me her Nebula Quilt designed by Julie Herman of Jaybird Quilts and fabric by Tula Pink. Cathy made some changes to make it hers.
I really do love quilting for others! It’s so much fun to help other quilters bring their projects to completion.
Cathy chose the pantograph Nemesh Feather Grande which is such a pretty design and perfectly suited to this gorgeous quilt!
The backing really showcases the beautiful feathers, curls and swirls of this gorgeous pantograph!
Cathy also supplied the prepared binding, so not only was her quilt trimmed but the binding was attached and pressed and ready to be hand stitched when she picked it up.
Cathy will be entering her quilt in the Thunder Bay Quilters Guild Quilt Show May 26, 2023- May 28, 2023 if you would like to view this and many more beautiful quilts in person.
Well it’s a little past mid March and I woke up to snow…again. Thankfully my morning commute is only a short stairway away!
A peek at what’s under my needle…though it’s almost finished and will be done before lunch break. I am really enjoying the changing colours on this quilt with every advance.
Todays Instagram Quiltfest post prompt was favourite quilt which I can truthfully say that I don’t have one.
I love quilts and their stories some are so exciting such as for babies and weddings…some have brought me comfort the ones made for friends that are at the end of life or struggling.
This is a customer quilt from early in my Longarm career, I love the beautiful appliqué and the quilting added. I wish that I had better pictures of it!
Another custom quilting job that included a lot of freehand stitching, it really is a spectacular quilt!
This one was a Victory Quilt made to commemorate the end of the World War in 1945, it was brought to me top and backing and binding to complete.
Another long time ago quilt, made by Margaret Bliss for her Grandson, that shows my custom Quilting.
My friend Alva and I decided to play with the disappearing hour glass pattern shown on Missouri Star Quilts…mine was made with Kaffe Fassett fabrics and hers with Batiks.
My disappearing hourglass quilt
This was Alva’s last quilt, I quilted so many quilts for her and this final one was the only one that I put the last stitch in for her in the binding.
Many of my personal quilts have been made just for fun, playing with different ideas, patterns, fabrics and colours. Many quilts are my favourite while I am making them!
Oh one last picture…I was asked to be quilter of the month early on in my Longarm quilting career the memory came up this week on facebook
Wendy’s Quilting and Life 