Tag: Family

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Grand parenting and Quilting!

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I remember while raising my four daughters being told to enjoy those years because they pass quickly and I did, they brought me so much joy!!!

Those were also head spinningly busy days that felt like they would never end…they did eventually change and get easier.

I ran both my home daycare and beginning of my sewing business while my girls were small.

Though when I think back at everything that I used to accomplish in a day!!

We have had our youngest Granddaughter with us for a few days this week and I have been reminded how valuable those nap time hours are!

First though, knowing now how very quickly little ones grow up I love to spend their wake times doing what they love…

So the first morning after a night of rain and needing to go to the mailbox we set out for the walk! Where adults see potholes in our dirt road she saw puddles! She jumped in each and everyone oh the fun and laughter!!! My normal short walk took 45 minutes.

Yes her boots were full of water. And her rain suit needed a wash and she was falling asleep in her lunch…the giggles and memories will stay with me!

I have often reflected back wondering how I used to manage to accomplish so much! Yes I was younger that played a part for sure, I also knew how valuable those nap hours were and made full use of them.

So this week, We played outside and inside. She loves to jump up and down and when I joined her in jumping her reaction was priceless and so we have been jumping together. She loves to sing and so we sing and play together. After her nap time we invite Ms. Racheal over for a little bit while I finish making supper…

Because during naptime Grandma was quilting…

And binding.

Tomorrow our house will return to quiet and our routines…

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

A Double Sided Fun Quilt

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Monday was what is called a PA day here (professional activity day) which means no school. I have requested that all of our school aged children spend those days here with us. We had 5 this week.

A sweet moment when my 4 yr old was quietly playing on her own… she was singing and talking to the toys she was playing with, joyful imaginary play!

This is the third quilt from my customer who also made the previous two that I have written about.

This one was just so joyful to work on, imagining a little one who is a Paw Patrol fan playing on and with it!

The backing is equally full of joy, all those lovely dolls. It was a fun backing fabric to spend a little time with to match the pattern and imagine a child’s fun looking at them all.

I chose the quilting design Rhododendron to soften the angular piecing on the top and so sweet with the dolls! Of course this quilt was trimmed and ready for binding.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

A Scrappy Four Patch Quilt!!

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This is the second of three great examples of using up stash to make quilts by my customer Marilyn! I always marvel at her colour sense!

While I am working on her quilts I like to try to figure out her approach. The first thing that I noticed were that her four patches were each part of their own colour family in one way or another they coordinated. All of her blocks were different.

The four patches became square in a square using the same background fabric which added unity.

Each block was individually framed or sashed, adding more colour and interest to her quilt. finishing her quilt top with the darker green batik border framed it all beautifully.

I chose the quilting design Tickle Too… this design came to mind looking at the border and the petals like shapes of the flowers reminded me of quilted feather shapes. I really like adding curves to angular or straight piecing.

The backing was pieced for her using yardage.

Her quilt was trimmed and ready for binding when she picked up her quilts…

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Hearts and Bloom Quilt

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Hearts and Bloom is a sweet quilting design for a quilt made with so much love for a newborn granddaughter!

It added another layer of love to this beautifully pieced quilt that has enough density of stitches to ensure that it will survive years of use!

The solid backing really showcases the quilting design!

This adorable quilt was trimmed and ready for binding at pick up.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

A First Quilt … Happy Anniversary!!!

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When my friend Linda’s husband saw a post that I did about some quilts a year ago he told her that he wanted a quilt like that!

Well my friend Linda wasn’t a quilter, however she has friends that do. She was determined to learn enough to make him his quilt herself and set their 47th wedding anniversary as her deadline!

She more than met her challenge! Our mutual friend started teaching Linda sewing lessons and it was always fun to hear how it was going! She was always so pleased with her progress and then she began the quilt!

At first there were comments about needing the stitch ripper more often than not in the process and that she had no idea how much was involved in making a quilt! Still she persevered and asked me to quilt it for her.

She chose the quilting design Kindling, for both the texture and movement. It was an excellent choice and using a dark grey thread called sterling perfectly played over all of the colours of the quilt!

Linda has three boys that are all interested in her making them quilts as well…they all are outdoor guys who love fishing and hunting.

The silver grey wide back was a fantastic choice for the backing and really shows off the quilting design.

Her quilt was trimmed and ready for her lessons on binding with Irene.

The quilt was gifted this week and her husband suggested hanging it on the wall and absolutely loves it!

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

A Quilt from Great Grandma!!!

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It is no secret that I love quilting! Not only did I make my first quilt over 40 years ago…I made longarm quilting for others into a business just over 22 years ago.

I also have a stash of fabric that will keep me happily making quilts for years to come along with new projects that catch my eye. Thankfully I have people in my life who claim my quilts before I even finish them!

I have quilted three quilts in the last couple of months made by Great Grandmas!!! It’s so encouraging to see how beautifully made these quilts are and how much fun these quilters are still having making quilts!

This quilt made with all flannels will be so wonderful for tummy time and snuggles too! The quilting design Popcorn is so light and fluffy looking it reminds me of clouds which is why it was chosen.

I have made many quilts for babies that have ended up thread bare due to love and use and that is always my hope when I quilt these quilts for others!

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

Something that I saw this week and feel that’s it’s worth sharing …

I often laugh with friends that we are just having fun playing with our sewing toys…however maybe our personal sewing time isn’t merely an indulgence, it may also be part of a healthy, mentally stimulating life!

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

September….

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It’s Apple season again and this year the tree was loaded, much to the grandchildren’s delight! Can you spot Erik?

And also this visitor the other day, we saw each other just as I was heading out the door for my walk, I was just going to sit on the step to put my shoes on when we noticed each other…with it being a cub, I decided to put my shoes on in the house.

Once I was sure the mama was no where clear I stepped out told the cup to enjoy the picnic and off I went. I knew that once Erik spotted it that it would soon be scared off. He also removed all of the apples to remove temptation and to save them for juice making.

We had a couple of grands overnight last weekend and we all went for a walk to the pond in the back of the property. The girls tell us that we have the best backyard. They were excited to discover that we have minnows!

I am enjoying a visit with Liam this weekend….he wanted to try a recipe that he found…

Pancake spaghetti…

Of course along with all of this fun there is customer quilting going on!!

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Great Grands and Quilts

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This summer some of my jobs were very special quilts to work on! Great Grandbaby quilts! (though they are all special of course)

I always consider it an honour to quilt for my customers. As a long time quilter both piecing and long arming I am well aware of the time, love and cost of creating a quilt.

One of my Granddaughters (the one who made her first quilt last week) told me that I have the best job ever! She said that I get to help people finish their quilts and that I get to help people like her how to make quilts!! I do love being a Mom!! Being Grandma is over the top fun! 💗

This is one of the great grand baby quilts that I quilted…

We chose the quilting design Tickle Two with its fun swirls and feathers. It’s a design that offers a great density for a quilt that we hope will be enjoyed for years to come.

My customer is a long time piecer and it’s always exciting to see what she has made and this visit she told me what she is up to now!! I am pretty excited to see this one too.

Her quilt was not only trimmed it had the binding attached so that it was ready for her to stitch it down by hand!!

My Granddaughter is correct!! I do have the best job ever!!

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Heart and Home Quilt

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There is something about September that many of us begin thinking more about being cozy and warm at home…

Well living in Thunder Bay we begin to wake up to chilly mornings and have less day light than the last two months so it’s a little hard to ignore the new season arriving!

This recent quilt job was made as a wedding gift and was a true pleasure to work on.

We chose the quilting design Two of Hearts which perfectly added a touch of more Love to this beautiful quilt!

This quilt will no doubt add warmth and coziness to the newlyweds home!

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

It’s always my pleasure to help you bring your quilts to completion! Contact me for more information.

wendysquilting@gmail.com or 807-251-4261

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Summer, September and Quilting

wendysquilting

Well I honestly am not a person who loves the beginning of the “ber” months!

I love summertime, extra time with family and especially grandchildren. I love our long daylight hours…I know that the shorter days are coming and I know that means cooler temps and putting summer clothes away again.

It’s been a fun and good summer in most respects. I however do not recall a worse fire season so close to home and with it people who lost their communities of homes along with summer homes. We had a long stretch of smoke in the air which was a clear reminder of the destruction and devastation.

I have given myself a gift of less social media this summer and more time truly enjoying being outside enjoying nature, walking, biking and hiking.

And, of course time in the studio working on customer quilts!

This one, a temperature quilt was a fun project that I completed with both quilting and binding. as I mentioned, it’s been a busy summer and I neglected to get my usual pictures of this quilt. I chose the binding for it and really loved the finished look. As did my happy customer 😊

She chose the quilting design Bayside. It is such a popular design and works with so many quilts!

I will be sharing more of my summer quilting jobs in the coming days.

So now that the “ber” months as I often hear them referred to as are here. I want to remind you that if you need a quilt completed for Christmas or a quilt you would like to display in this years quilt show that it’s a good idea to let me know soon even if you are still working on it as I will add you into my queue.

I haven’t had very much time to play with my own personal piecing projects though one finished project was truly so much fun that I have to share!

The project was started and completed this last Monday when my 6 yr old granddaughter dove into one of my scrap bins! We set up a sewing station. I did all of the cutting, she did all of the pressing and sewing and after I loaded her quilt onto the longarm she did all of the quilting!

It was so much fun sharing my love of quilting with her!

Let’s talk about finishing your quilting projects! wendysquilting@gmail.com or 807-251-4261