Tag: Life

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

My Dad and Quilting!

wendysquilting

When I first was curious about quilts and quilting my Moms first reaction wasn’t positive…though not too long after I began she caught the bug as well.

My Mom sewed many things during my childhood and loved to decorate our homes but it was not until after her family had grown and flown did her true creative self emerge! She was an amazing painter and weaver and had an incredible sense of colour.

My Dads creativity really flourished after retiring from his longtime career and amazed us all when the suits and ties disappeared and his garage became a workshop! He is an amazing woodcarver.

My Parents have encouraged my creative gifts as well and when I found myself at a desk job in a little grey cubicle while raising my 4 girls on my own…I received a call from my Dad…while at work with some very life changing news!!

Wendy, he said…I have ordered an APQS Millennium and it will be delivered in 2 weeks can you get a room ready for it!!!

Visiting with Ana Paula

So on Sunday, I invited my Dad on a date to view the quilt show! It was so much fun showing him all of the different quilts and how quilting has changed and yet remained the same in many ways.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Jo Anne’s Quilt Story

wendysquilting

My first quilt was made about 38 years ago, I was 22.

Quilting was on my mind though for many years before that! I loved making things as a child and my Mother and other sewers provided me with scraps of fabric to play with!

It was when Quilt Canada was held in Thunder Bay in 1992 that I discovered there was a local Quilting Guild! I was really excited that I could meet like minded friends…though the first time I went to a meeting and saw that everyone appeared to be much older than I was I chickened out and didn’t attend!

Thankfully I met my new friend Alva at the fabric store and told her and she convinced me that those ladies would be more than happy to welcome me, and welcome me they did! They mentored me and my skills and love of quilting grew!

Jo Anne is one of the founding members of our guild and one of the women I remember welcoming me. It has been my absolute pleasure to quilt for her over the years!

Here we are in front of her quilt at this years show.

On a fun note, that day I attended the show with my friend Betty Maki…the two of them chatted and Jo Anne commented that she is the younger one by a year! My friend Betty is 88 1/2 and isn’t afraid to admit it 🥰

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

What a Weekend!!

wendysquilting

Well that was a fantastic quilt show weekend! So many people put so much work into making it happen! So many quilts to see!

I shared in my previous blog a post about micro scribbling because of a quilt at the show that was absolutely amazing!

Joyce designed her quilt herself and followed her vision, I cannot imagine the hours that went into this quilt! I know for myself the hours of planning and dreaming often aren’t recorded along with the actual physical effort that goes into a quilt or work of art such as this.

First her story about her quilt!

Her borders and use of embellishments were absolutely stunning!

I hope that this won’t be this quilts only show!

I worked as a hostess Friday evening and show many people this amazing quilt as a hostess is allowed to touch the quilts as we wear gloves.

I used both of my votes for her quilt and clearly others did as well as Joyce and her quilt won a very deserved first place!!

Congratulations Joyce Gilmore!

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Welcome Ana Paula!

wendysquilting

I have been following Ana Paula for a little while on social media and this weekend we met in person at her amazing studio!

Thunder Bay is incredibly blessed to have her choose our city to live in and not only to share her incredible quilts and art but also her beautiful kind and vibrant self!

Her shop will be opening next month and is located on Frederica St. She will be a vender in this coming weekends quilt show.

http://www.canadapaulabrasil.ca

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Longtime Gone Quilting….

wendysquilting

There is a “promise” of some sunshine later today! It seems so long ago that our sky was blue….yes I know it’s blue above the clouds!! I am more than ready for some sunshine, less wind and oh some green grass, leaves and flowers.

Spring will come!!!

In the meantime, life has been so full and busy with both quilting and with life!

I am so blessed in both departments, I am so fortunate to be entrusted to quilt so many quilts for others which is a true passion for me!

Every once in a while though… it’s time to quilt one of my own! If you have been following my blog for a while you will know about my Longtime Gone Quilt (pattern by Jen Kingwell) and the fun journey it has been!

Well I finally slipped it into my Que and it’s quilted and trimmed. It will hanging in our upcoming quilt show if you are interested in a close up and personal look. I hope that it inspires other quilters to challenge themselves with a scrappy sampler!

I am waiting for brighter days for more pictures and will share more about this quilt soon.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Life and Quilting and Health

wendysquilting

I woke to rain this morning! We have woken to snow several mornings this month and I think that I speak for almost everyone I know in Thunder Bay…enough with the snow already!!

It may be our stage of life, but on the life side of things several friends have either passed away or had serious diagnosis this year. It does cause one to take stock and in my case rethink a few things.

Life can get so busy or so routine that it can be easy to overlook taking the best care of our most valuable possession…ourselves, our health and wellness. I have always for the most part been mindful of self care and as I age the value of diet and exercise becomes even more invaluable!

I love meal prepping and all of the amazing information and ideas that are at our fingertips!!!

Long gone is the mindset of exercise equals fitting in those blue jeans haha now it’s so much more about muscle tone, balance, flexibility and of course health!

I am sharing the link below only because I enjoy doing many of her work outs, maybe you might as well.

Long ago when I first started Longarm quilting for others, I was working in an office where I learnt the importance of ergonomics and applied what I learnt to my quilting life as well!

My Dad who is an amazing wood carver, pointed out years ago the importance of breaks, exercise and diet in order to keep quilting…crafting long term! Such excellent advice! Thanks Dad!! By the way my Dad will be 86 this summer, while he is still busy carving…he is active walking daily, exercising mind and body and enjoying life!

I can easily become so engrossed in a quilting project that hours can go by without taking breaks, I am however very mindful of the need to move and stretch! I encourage you to consider it as well.

It’s been a very full month, with quilts coming and going as usual. April means taxes of course…nice to have that one checked off the list!

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Quilting and Life

wendysquilting

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!

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Mid March

wendysquilting

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 Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Spring Break and Life

wendysquilting

No actual quilting happened here yesterday!

It’s spring break here, and with that My daughter and family are here from Texas! I had been hoping that we would still have good snow for their visit and my wish was granted!

Jerry is almost 13 and hadn’t been here in the winter since he was a little guy. He and Liam made fast friends again and made the absolute most of yesterday,

The most quilty thing that happened was that I picked up my two rolls of batting from http://bordergiant and having both Liam and Jerry with me they each carried a roll into my studio for me.

The rest of my day involved food…and watching boys have fun!

Jerry is a fast learner and after a few runs through the trails with Liam driving he was off on his own machine. They snowmobiled for 4 1/2 hours!

After Bison Burgers for supper there were nerf gun wars, some serious rough house play, Jerry teaching Liam self protection moves and so much laughter!! It was a full, busy day ending with the boys having a hot sauna, hot chocolate and no complaints about heading to bed…the grandparents weren’t far behind.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Dreaming of Summer Quilt 💐

wendysquilting

Are you ready for spring? Summer? Depending on where you live it might already be spring but here in North Western Ontario spring is weeks away dare I say months…

One of the quilts I had the privilege of quilting this week made me think of a pretty little cottage by a lake….

What a fantastic way to use a floral fabric stash!

I chose to use the Pantograph Garden Frills as it adds an almost Lacey feel and such a soft flow of stitching.

I really like the affect of laying a corner of the quilt top over the backing for the above picture as it was really hard to capture the true white backing and the soft pretty floral prints. This picture is a really close match.

This queen sized quilt is now trimmed and ready for binding!