I continue to slowly work on these blocks. The softer colours that I chose to work with a year ago are pretty but soft they will make for a pretty spring quilt.
Moda Blockheads 3 (block 54)
Tag: Longarm Machine Quilting Thunder Bay Ontario
Joanne’s Quilt
Joanne approached me about quilting a quilt that she was just starting. It was for her Granddaughter and was different than her usual more traditional projects.
When she finished the top and brought it to me, she left the quilting to me. I immediately fell in love with the colours and the backing that she chose.
I love orange and this backing made me think of flames. The top was perfectly pieced and fun to quilt. This was one that was hard to give back.
Basting your Quilt
I was approached late last year about basting quilts on my Longarm. I had heard about this technique before so I did some research and offered to give it a go.
I have friends who use some of the basting sprays instead of pinning. I am leery of not only the glue but the fumes and what they mean for our health.
Maureen brought me three projects and reported back that the basting worked well.
Joan’s Kaffe Quilt
Joan’s quilt was the first customer quilt of the year. I quilted it during a very grey cloudy week. The brightness of the Kaffe Fassett fabrics with the white background and oh the backing was just the ticket to light things up a bit.
I chose the pantograph by Bethanne Nemesh, called Nemesh Feather Grande which to me really suited the quilt. I also love stitching this out and that particular week I needed some relaxing stitching which it provided.
Unfortunately, the sunlight did not reappear before the quilt was picked up and the only picture of the finished quilt was before it was trimmed. Joan will bind it with the solid green that is in the top.
Oh and check out the backing!
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 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.
2012 Designer Mystery Block of the Month 2021 First Finish!
When My Longarm quilting adventure first began I joined a club through the Fatquarter Shop called Moda University. I really enjoy piecing and it was fun to receive the kits to play with during a period of my life that was already so busy.
I did finish and gifted many of those quilts and they were great for practicing my quilting.
I also started their Designer Mystery Block of the Month programs. One is ready to be quilted, one is still in the finished stage and the latest one as of yesterday is ready for binding
I chose the Pantograph Be Mine by Patricia E. Ritter and Leisha Farnsworth. I love not only the density but the very pretty Lacey like look it adds to this very pretty quilt.
For some reason I didn’t buy the backing that I wanted at the time and as with most fabric collections if you don’t buy it when it comes out you take your chances. Thankfully I was able to find the perfect backing from https://road17n.ca
Sixteen Years…
My Longarm quilting machine is an APQS Millenium and was delivered 16 years ago today. That New Years Eve my youngest daughter and I set my Longarm up in the Living room she was 9 at the time. It amazes me that we did that considering that the manual was not exactly clear or easy to follow!
I had never actually touched a Longarm before it arrived and knew very little about machine quilting. It’s been an adventure ever since. I used to chat very regularly with a group called lachat… we were all learning at the time and at different levels but everyone helped everyone it was fantastic!
I really wish that I had kept better records of exactly how many quilts I have quilted. The early years were so busy, I was raising my four daughters and working outside of the house as well as my small business.
My Longarm helped keep the bills paid and food on the table but the best part of course have been all of the friends that I have made and the creativity that I have witnessed and been inspired by!
Happy Birthday Millie!!
Quilting and Life 2020
Somehow this strange year is coming to an end…though here in Ontario Covid restrictions will be with us to end this year as well as when we enter into 2021.
The year has not been without blessings, two new grandchildren have been born and we have been able to see and hold them. We are healthy and have had a little more time to enjoy what we have.
I have kept busy with my quilting and honoured to help so many quilters to finish their projects. One of my favourite parts of quilting has been making new friends and especially sharing my passion of quilting.
January
Welcome to my site, it is a work in progress so hopefully you will see changes in the next few weeks.
2019 was a challenging and interesting year that brought me to a point where I knew that it was time to make some changes. One was to resign my position at work and become a casual worker. The shift work is hard to juggle especially the nights. As much as I love what I do at work… caring for people who are waiting for long term care…I also love quilting. I needed to find more balance and by the end of 2019 I had attained just that.
My quilting for Customers is a joy and now that I have more time to focus on my quilting my turn around is much faster and so much more fun!
Another change that my decision has afforded me is that I am able to spend my Thursdays at our local Rec Centre. If you are in Thunder Bay, it is the North McIntyre Rec Centre. I spend my Thursday afternoons there and am available for new quilters or quilters that are working on a project and would like to learn or improve their skills. Contact me at wendysquilting@gmail.com for more information
I had set some goals for myself for 2020. One was to complete my Winter Village Quilt. A pattern, fabric and silhouettes by Edita Sitar. I fell I love with the quilt when I first saw it online, it was the appliqué that really caught my eye.
I reached my goal and quilted this with a windy Pantograph on New Year’s Day!
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.
Wendy’s Quilting and Life 