Tag: Longarm Quilting

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

A Few of my Favourite Things!

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As a professional Longarm quilter I have over time discovered a few tools that make life a little easier.

I love good lighting and as much as I love my domestic machines they lack good enough lights. A friend gifted me an led strip light meant to be attached to the machine however the strips included never stuck long term.

My newest machine does have a led light, however not as bright as I would like.

I really didn’t want to glue anything permanently to my machine so my solution was to use command strips and crazy glue the light strip to it. It hasn’t moved since!

My daughter gifted me a shoulder massager a few years ago and it’s right up there with good lighting!

Also in the lighting department this led rechargeable flashlight has been invaluable not only for checking the tension on the quilt back when longarming but also when doing maintenance and work such as retiming the Longarm.

This one has a magnetic base and is adjustable.

My Carol Duek paper piecing paper order is out for delivery. So hopefully I will get to play with that today. It was a busy week on the Longarm.

I will share a few more things tomorrow.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Pretty Stars

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I have always been drawn towards soft colours for quilts maybe because there is a gentleness to them. This recent quilt of Joan’s is so pretty.

The pantograph chosen is called Chantilly and added another element of elegance.

Swirls and small feathers
Such a pretty backing that really showcases the quilting design.

Some of my customers like me to prepare their binding for them, I enjoy adding this little touch to help them complete their quilt.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Frozen and Snow

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The binding is prepared for the sunshine quilt and will be applied today.

This cute little quilt was next and the customer chose the pantograph ground cover…this added to the swirling leaves in the panel. In place of batting she requested a thin fleece fabric which quilted up beautifully.

I won’t trim this quilt as the backing will be brought forward as binding. You can see the fleece that was used.
Frozen back…such pretty stitches.

In keeping with the theme we had snow overnight and it’s still snowing this morning. Hopefully it won’t be too wet for my Grandson and I to explore the woods again.

The schools will remain closed for another 2 weeks here so we will continue to hang out together next week 😊

I am currently working on a custom snowman quilt…pictures to follow.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Paper Piecing… and some Sunshine

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So I started some practice pieces for the sisterhood swap. I haven’t done any paper piecing in years so it was a practice in patience. I also realized that It will be easier to use my printer instead of tracing so this morning I ordered Carol Doaks papers.

That will make the project a little easier. Also by the magic of online ordering the paper should be here on Friday just in time for some weekend sewing.

I am also contemplating making the 12” block to add on to my Moda Blockheads 3 quilt. I am very close to calling that project done and moving on.

On the quilting front…I am currently working on a customer quilt that is of her own design. She has been using up some of her Mothers stash to make her quilts. This job makes me smile and because it’s large I really get into the zen mode while running my machine over it.

I have my grandson with me during the days, due to virtual learning so I quilt while he is in school. This week seems more challenging for him and he is not as happy to do school as he was last week. I suspect it’s not as much fun as being with classmates and teacher in person and also not easy for a 9 year old boy to sit for so long.

We made plans to go out on our trails this afternoon and check for animal prints in the snow … and maybe use up some of his built up steam. then some pizza for lunch 😊

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Summer Blossoms Quilt

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Joan’s quilt brightened up the room as soon as I opened it up. I always press quilt tops before loading them onto the Longarm.

I also prepare quilt backs. Many of my customers bring yardage as I offer free piecing…I use a lot of pins which always give me nice even and flat seams.

How bright is this back!
It’s hard to see the stitching on the back.

Trimmed and ready for pick up. The majority of my customers choose to have me trim their quilts. I use the table on the back of my Longarm which is 12’ long making the process much easier.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Water Quilt

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One of my friends recently commented that it must be a good feeling when I unwind the quilt on the frame. It is! I always like to see how the back as well as the front turned out.

Susan M’s quilt

Instead of taking the risk of the backing being too short …I added. Ten inch leader to the top . I very rarely need to do this but it’s a good trick to keep in mind when there is just enough backing.

It was my Grandson who decided the name of this quilt because it reminded him of lakes and water. He is presently doing his schooling virtually so is spending his days with me while his parents work.

I chose the pantograph bubbles as not only are their circles in some of the squares but the background is full of circles.

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

Welcome to March

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Our days are getting brighter…so they feel longer which is very welcome. February seems to have flown by. I was busy with customer quilts, family and a little of my own projects. Our area began another lockdown today due to rising covid cases which feels discouraging. I will have my grandson with me as the schools are back to virtual learning. I plan to start planting some seeds with him this week.

So many of my friends and customers have told me how thankful that they are for their quilting as many of us get lost in our work which makes the days pass more easily.

Laura’s Care-bears.
Care-bear quilt back

Laura’s Care-bear quilt was a pleasant surprise as most quilts arrive to the door these days and the quilting decisions are left to me. I raised my daughters during the Care-bear era and I couldn’t help but think how much the world could use those bears these days 😊

It was a fun cheerful quilt and it was quilted using a tried an true pantograph called popcorn which gives a cloud like appearance.

This tulip quilt is also a reminder that spring will arrive.

The reason that we no longer grow tulips
Longarm quilting Thunder Bay, Quilting, Thunder Bay Quilters Guild, Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Wolves and Quilts

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One morning while sitting quietly having my coffee something caught my eye out the window…a wolf sauntered out of the bush and for a short time stood in the yard before me…all I could do was sit and look, it didn’t occur to me to take a picture. I was just in awe.

I recently finished this customer quilt. I loved the colours in the panel along with the piecing. It called for northern light type of quilting which is why I chose the pantograph, Kindling.

This quilt that I pieced and quilted in 2013 was a gift for one of Eriks daughters who loves wolves. It was a kit that I found online from a shop in Alaska. I remember that it was fun to make and that I entered it into our guilds quilt show that year.

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

North and Star Swirl

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I have always loved Betty’s quilts, her piecing is amazing! Her quilts are usually challenging projects sent to her from her family and she always proves that she is more than up to the task.

When she started piecing her North Star Quilt by Elizabeth Hartman she also reminded me of her integrity that I also really respect about her. She understands the hard work that designers put into their work and encourages others to purchase their own copies of patterns.

This quilt was such a joy to quilt and I chose the pantograph Star Swirl as it added movement and reminds me of the night sky.

Betty chose a soft solid grey for her backing which really shows the quilting. I pieced the back from her yardage as I do for many of my customers.

Wendy's Quilting

Sixteen Years…

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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!

My Millie!

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!!