Professional Longarm Quilting Services
This quilt was pieced during a weekly block challenge of a block a week by my customer. She used primarily batik fabrics for the top and the backing is batik as well.
There is so much to see when looking at this quilt that I chose a very soft flowing pantograph that just added the right touch.
Do you remember those large boxes of crayons.. the ones that came with attached sharpeners? Now that was exciting! Maybe more so for some than others. I really don’t remember not creating and enjoying playing with colour.
Growing up, my Mom always had her sewing machine out and often was used mostly for making clothes but sometimes home decor. The visits to the fabric departments… were so much fun!
Seventh grade in Winnipeg meant a sewing class…that meant my very own set of new notions! The beginning of a love for sewing notions that still exists today. Oh and the fabric!
While it is true that styles change and that is very true in the quilting industry as well, and collecting fabric that may or may not get used isn’t the wisest use of money. Having a stash that has been collected over the span of many years has its benefits.
I have been Longarm quilting for others for 18 years, I have noticed that many of my customers who are ahead of me on this life journey have more time and the fabrics to make the most amazing quilts.
Marilyns quilt is one! I asked her if the fabrics in this quilt were all hers and she said yes all accumulated over many years of quilting!
This quilt is one of three queen size quilts that Marilyn has made for her adult granddaughters.
It always amazes me how many different quilts there are, I so rarely see duplicates.
This week one of the quilts that I quilted was this queen size quilt, there was a backing challenge in that the maker sewed the backing with the selvages intact to stretch the fabric and also added side pieces (as in leader, enders only on the sides) in order for the backing to be big enough.
As the backing really wasn’t big enough to load with the seams horizontally it was very challenging to load and keep even with three seams rolled onto the bar. However, it worked!
The tension was perfect, on the perfect backing for this quilt!
There are times when by mere coincidence the same pantograph is chosen for a few customer quilts which I had also chosen for My Sunny quilt. I have been happily quilting with different ones once again.
January has always felt like a long slow month to me, the weather is usually the coldest we get and it’s typically the quietest month.
It’s been a fun month of quilting both for customers as well as relaxed piecing for myself. I have the backing for my Sunny quilt and a quilting plan…
This quilt that Florence made is so pretty and called for more blossoms.
The backing is a solid Kona in black. I chose to use a silver thread which really popped against the back, however I was unable to capture a good picture of it. So unless you happen to see the quilt live, you will have to take my word for it. The stitches were so pretty!
We spent yesterday, the last Friday of this January with three of our grandchildren. It was a fun filled and very busy day! Snow play and snowmobiling, fort building.
My personal favourite was when Grayson (5yrs) asked what my sewing machine and serger were for so I let him try them…later he said he wished that he lived here…I asked why and he said it was because I have sewing machines!!! He was so excited to show his Dad his new skills when he picked him up!
I have been quilting for Joan for several years now and am always delighted when I see her latest creation. Her colour and pattern choices are not only fun to see but also to quilt!
As most quilters, she has found that the scraps are taking over so she has begun the scrap piecing journey. This quilt is one and was a fun walk down memory lane!
It was loaded and quilted on a gray snowy day! I share this picture to give a glimpse of how I load most quilts. I like to load the top as I find it gives me more control and enables me to keep the quilts square and flat. It’s an extra step but one that I find worthwhile.
I used the Pantograph Flying Paisley, with just enough flowers and leaves to compliment this very pretty quilt.
The pantograph Shasta Daisy has always made me smile. I remember ordering it only because I liked it, that’s how my collection of pantographs has grown for the most part.
I remember one day my friend Alva came by with her latest creation and as I was showing her my latest addition to my collection she saw Shasta Daisy and stopped and said that one! Added note: this quilt was a block of the month program from a shop called Quilters Stash that was here in town for a number of years.
My photography skills and camera have vastly improved since 2012 when this was taken.
Many of my customers leave the quilting choice up to me, that used to cause me stress in the early years of my quilting for customer days however most quilts speak to me as soon as we meet these days.
This star quilt of Joan’s called for Shasta Daisy.
When looking at this quilt, the prints suggested a floral pantograph, then a closer look revealed some Daisy like petals. The star blocks are very angular and adding the flow of a more curvy design softens those angles.
Marilyn has been on a stash busting mission for years, her quilts are always so fun and interesting to work on. This latest one was a bit of a walk down memory lane as I recognized many prints.
She told me that she was determined to use up her large floral prints.
I used the pantograph Rhapsody which really flowed beautifully across this quilt adding a lovely floral and leafy dimension.
Another anniversary has just passed over the New Year of my APQS Millennium’s arrival December 31, 2004. I began Longarm quilting for others a few months later and continue to love and grow in this wonderful business.
After allowing myself a little down time and time to quilt one for myself, my machine is back to work…of course that means that I am as well.
And another peek
We had scheduled a fun day for Liam and two more grands before Christmas which had to be cancelled due to the gastro crud…so this week we had a redo… the epic nerf gun war, sledding and snowmobiling were in order and lots of fun and laughter!
Of course the big winter highlight is when Pappa gets out the snowmobiles. Liam has mastered his driving skills and loves to ride our trails.
Another highlight around here this winter has been the addition of the jumbo lego blocks…they have provided hours of fun! Liam has returned to virtual learning this week and really enjoys his forts for when he is off school.
Lori has three grandchildren who will be snuggling under some very fun quilts this Christmas.
Our fantastic quilt shop owner Donna of Fuelled by Fabric brought in Grinch fabric which Lori used to make her quilts. She used a layer cake and some yardage.
Each one a little different and with very snuggly backings.
With four table runners to quilt recently and all with different backings I decided to baste the backings together and also add leaders to both the top and bottom.
Having fabric devoted for the task of leaders has enabled me to quilt for customers who’s backs are not quite large enough to accommodate loading with the red snappers that I use. I find it a quick and easy solution.
My customer chose the same Pantograph for all 4 runners, however the design would not have worked as an edge to edge over all of the runners. Instead each runner was quilted individually arranging the snowflakes to be somewhat centred through each one.
Sometimes small projects take as much if not more time than larger ones. In this case the extra time was well worth the effort.
Wendy’s Quilting and Life 