Moda Blockheads 3, Wendy's Quilting, Winter

My Very Fresh Start to the Day

This is what I woke up to just before 7am

So I checked this…

Which made me so happy that I have a car starter! Which cycled twice today! Because….

This was the temperature while driving this morning…this is not unusual to have weather like this in Thunder Bay in the winter, we do however like to complain about it! I call it perfect quilting weather!

This quilt was pressed and loaded onto the longarm last night and will be quilted today. I always go over my customers quilts, press them and make sure everything is good to go.

My next Moda Blockhead block is almost ready to be sewn together. I made the flying geese units before calling it a day last night. I have a few methods and rulers for making these units and always seem to come back to Deb Tuckers Wing Clippers.

I love the accuracy of trimming down the blocks along with all of the different sizes on each ruler. I especially love the tiny ones!
Wendy's Quilting

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 January 2021

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.

Jitterbug Pantograph
Lorraine December 2020
Wendy's Quilting

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.

Audrey’s Quilt

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.

It looks like some of the blocks were paper pieced however they were made using templates that she made herself. The centre was pieced then appliquéd onto the pieced top.
It’s always a pleasure and privilege to be entrusted with someone’s work and allowed to add my touch to the quilt!

Towards the end of February I began planning a very special quilt for my Granddaughter to be.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Proud to be a Canadian Quilt

In 2012 I quilted this quilt for a customer who had pieced the top for her daughter who is an RCMP officer. I have had so many comments and messages regarding this quilt that I thought that I would re visit it.

Unfortunately I have never been able to find the pattern and any leads led to information that said that it was out of print.

I used a combination of a Pantograph for the background and freehand custom quilting for the rest of this beautiful quilt.

Customer Quilts, Friends, Thunder Bay Quilters Guild, Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Wendy's Quilting

Do You Quilt With Friends?

I first started attending our local quilt guild when I was in my late twenties. I had been interested in quilting in my early teens but had no idea where to start, not knowing anyone who quilted.

Then I attended Quilt Canada when it was held here in Thunder Bay in 1992 and attended some classes. That is where I met my friend Alva who became my mentor.

I recently had the privilege to quilt a round robin style of quilt for a friend Bobbie who was in a group of quilters that were a very big part of quilt Guild for many years and helped to bring Quilt Canada to Thunder Bay.

It was a very interesting looking quilt and with permission I shared her quilt with a couple of groups that I belong to and was asked how it was made. So I questioned Bobbie and she shared pictures of her sisters quilt and progress. The rule was that each person started with a fat quarter and passed to the next Quilter who was to cut it horizontally and vertically and insert six inch rows of piecing:

Starting with Aileen’s fabric choice

Next Jean Tozer added her strips

Then Marjorie Hosegoods addition

Alva being Alva wasn’t one to follow the rules and decided to make two vertical cuts really changing the look.

Elaine Pond was next:

followed by Val:

And finished by Bobbie:

I loved spending time with these ladies and learnt so much about quilting and life from them. I remember the group of them liked to sit in the front row at guild and often would get the giggles like young school girls they really had fun!

Customer Quilts, Quilting, Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Heather’s Quilt

Heather’s quilt really showcased her fabric choices which are bright and fun to look at. I chose to quilt it using the Hearts and Bloom Pantograph.

My customers will often ask me to choose the quilting design which is fun for me and maybe a little overwhelming for newer quilters. I carry many different designs and am always more than happy to add to my collection when a customer would like something that isn’t in my collection.

Customer Quilts, Quilting, Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Becky’s Quilt

Becky used the Basic X Block Ruler and gorgeous Batik fabrics to make her quilt. It was quilted with the Pantograph Swirl of Thorns And Glide thread.

Customer Quilts, Quilting, Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Millie’s Quilts

Millie has been entrusting her quilts to me for several years now and it’s always a pleasure to quilt for her. These recent two quilts were a lot of fun to quilt.

This first one was quilted using the Pantograph Shasta Daisy, it always makes me smile when I see it.

Her second quilt also perfectly pieced called for a floral Pantograph so I chose Rhapsody. I have customers that like to choose the designs for their quilts and I will order new Pantographs for them if I don’t have what they have in mind, however many people tell me to choose and enjoy being surprised when the receive their quilts back. I have recently added to my Pantograph collection and am looking forward to trying them soon.

Millie’s backing for this quilt was so soft and vintage looking a perfect fit for this sweet quilt.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Wendy's Quilting

The Fire Moth Quilt

This summer my friend Betty was making the Fire Moth quilt and we spent time together working on this paper piecing pattern.

Once the top was completed Betty had me quilt it and I chose the Star Swirl pattern to compliment background starry night look. once this project was complete Betty gifted me the scraps left over from the quilt…more about in my next post.

Customer Quilts, Quilting, Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Wendy's Quilting

Forest Friends

My friend Betty constantly amazes me with her piecing and quilts. I had the privilege of quilting her Forest Friends quilt recently.