Tag: Piecing

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Do you have a longtime stash?

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As a long time quilter and lover of quilting fabric I have acquired over the years a wonderful collection…one that continues to grow I might add…actually I have grown it a little this last month and will probably add a little more next week.

Watch for my upcoming posts as I share what I have been up to for the last month or so!!

Anyways, I noticed this morning that Tara Faughnan has released her Sunny pattern! This was such a fun month of the Color Collective that I took part in and the pattern has so many possibilities of fun with your stash and a great way to learn a different technique of paper piecing that doesn’t involve removing or wasting paper.

The collective was so much fun for someone like me…. Each month receiving a colour palette of Tara’s choosing and a pattern to play with…it felt a little like being a child back in my childhood and getting fresh new crayons with blank paper to create with!

Onto sharing some scrappy fun!

Marilyn has been inspiring me for many years with her use of her stash…I have two customers named Marilyn who are on a mission of playing with and using stash!! Which means so much fun to someone like me!

Some times simplicity of piecing is a great way to play and use scraps with a beautiful quilt as a result!

Adding some easy piecing that allows for some colour pops into the border really added more fun!

Marilyn told me that she ordered the backing online and that it was a sheet! It was perfect and so easy to work with and the result really made for a two sided quilt!

Using the design A Little Bit of This was another layer of fun adding a layer of soft density and visual pleasure to her quilt.

Of course it left trimmed and ready for binding then gifting.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Jessica’s Quilt

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I love to hear the story behind a quilts creation. When I met Jessica she told me that she would spend summers with her Grandma as a child and that is where she learnt to sew and how to quilt.

Together they began a sampler quilt…time moved on and life took over, school friends teen activities etc.

During her final years of University she inherited her Grandma’s sewing machine and decided to complete the sampler quilt and gave me the privilege of quilting it for her.

There are so many beautiful blocks in this quilt and the colours are amazing.

Finding a backing for this large queen size quilt that she liked for her quilt was difficult and so she chose solid black yardage which I pieced for her. She chose the pantograph Here and There for its heart like design linking the love between her and her Grandmother.

She also chose white bobbin thread which would create more interest to the solid black backing.

Her quilt is trimmed and ready for binding and will be completed just as she graduates from University.

I love the beauty of the stitches on both the front and back of her quilt!

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Elegance in Quilting

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So often when I think of scrappy quilts I think of many colours and prints…but what happens when you choose a colour palette or stick to just one theme such as black and white?

Stunning elegance!

Joan’s Grandson claimed this quilt after seeing her piece it. We chose the pantograph Jitterbug adding a layer of fun!

The backing fabric reads busy and could have just been pieced however there is a design to it and taking a little extra time to match the pattern was well worth doing.

Can you see the seam?

Here it is…

I know how much time goes into making a quilt, so it’s important to me to take the time when quilting for not only myself but for others to do it right. Seaming backs is a complimentary service, including matching the pattern.

This beautiful quilt is trimmed and ready for binding.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Pink Quilts for Granddaughters

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A few months ago my Granddaughter Minka 3yrs asked me if I could make her an all pink quilt. I had made a pink baby quilt for our Granddaughter Olivia’s arrival last summer.

I still had a fair amount of pink fabric left from that project to start another…I did purchase more fabrics when Minka’s Mom suggested a pink quilt for Romee as well.

Sometimes it’s just fun to make quilts with squares and to make them as scrappy as possible. These quilts are fun! I also added pink fabrics from my Moms fabric stash.

Minka’s

The quilts are similar, though they have different backings and bindings and Minka’s has some butterflies from fabric that she especially liked. Minka’s quilt was quilted with the pantograph Hearts and Blooms.

Minka’s backing…those paw prints on the binding are so cute!

I ordered the fabrics from the quilt shop https://road17n.ca for the backings and bindings…when I opened the package I was so surprised to find a gift of 5 good sized sample pieces of more pink fabrics so they were added into the quilts as well.

Romees Quilt

The adorable backing for Romees quilt made choosing the binding a little more of a challenge, I am really pleased with my choice. this quilt was quilted using the pantograph Two of Hearts.

Over the Christmas holidays Kaija came to visit a few times and has begun making her own pink quilt. Hopefully over the summer she and I will have more time to make her pink quilt! Kaija requested that we make hers together.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

January Quilting and Life

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My view this morning…I love the snow laden tree look!

I am almost finished binding the second of the two pink quilts!

A couple of posts ago I shared a picture of the backing fabric being prepared for this quilt.

In my opinion it is well worth the time to do things well. This includes pinning and making sure that my end result is a beautifully quilted quilt that lays flat without puckers or pleats. I know that there are short cuts, however I also know that shortcuts can result in issues that I am not happy with.

It’s a wonderful feeling when I finish a quilt that I know that my customer will feel proud of.

The backing:

Joan has been using her stash to create fantastic quilts!

I really enjoy a good splash of colour in my studio!

Her quilt is trimmed and the binding prepared and ready for pick up.

What are you working on? Do you use your scraps?

Most of my quilting time is spent helping my customers complete their quilts. I do however schedule in time for myself to piece.

I like to have a few projects on the go at the same time, do you?

My current fun is the scrappy postage stamp quilt which I will be working on for a while!

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Preparation and Longarm Quilting

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Now that the holidays are once again ready to be tucked away and added to memories of Christmas pasts, I am ready to get back to sharing my work!

My longarm has new wheels and is ready to get back to work!

Preparation is key to great results! I often piece customer backings and as I have mentioned before there is no additional cost for this service.

In my opinion most backings when piecing yardage look better when the pattern is matched and so I do take the time if there is enough fabric supplied and my customer wants it done.

Preparing both the top and backing with a good pressing, also enables me to double check before loading just in case there might be issues that can be corrected easily before quilting. Loading freshly pressed backings also assures that there won’t be puckers or pleats in the quilt after quilting.

As I enter my 20th year of Longarm Quilting for customers, I am looking forward to continue helping others to complete their quilting projects.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Winter Solstice (and a fun little project)

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Welcome December 21! The first official day of winter…I may come to regret saying this but where is the snow? The weather forecast for Christmas Eve and day are for above 0 Celsius. This might just be my first not white Christmas in Thunder Bay.

I am finishing up my Christmas projects this week. This little pouch along with another were my fun task last night. I love making these little projects and they make fun gifts.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

O Christmas Tree

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This Christmas tree quilt was made using a pattern and fabrics by Edita Sitar of Laundry Basket Quilts. It was such a pleasure to quilt and enjoy having in my studio!

We chose the pantograph Rhapsody which played on the theme in many of the fabrics.

I like to choose a design that compliments the quilt not necessarily one that echoes the design. Thread colour and weight of thread also make a big difference in the outcome of the quilting.

I personally find it very difficult not to be inspired by the quilts that I work on! Edita’s quilts often have the small piecing that I love to do and the appliqué ❤️

I love the way the quilting shows on the back of the quilt!

Trimmed and ready for binding!

Let me help you to complete your quilting projects!

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Flock Block and Rulers and Organization

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The second block of this season of the “Color” Collective is called Flock and comes with another fun palette to work with. (designed by Tara Faughnan and organized with Amy Newbold of Sewtopia)

I also added pearl pink into my palette. My new phone camera captured the colours really well considering the picture was taken at night.

I have just begun my flock quilt. The flying geese units are bigger than I usually make and as usual I pulled out my wing clipper ruler for trimming down my units.

These specialty rulers are not necessary as the job can be done with regular quilting rulers. It’s just that along the way in my quilting journey I have accumulated some pretty neat tools.

I was watching Karen Brown of Just Get it Done Quilts on her Q&A you tube, she was talking about cleaning out and organizing rulers.

This brought me to thinking about my collection, as a long time quilter I do have a large collection and at this stage I would not consider parting with any of my rulers.

I keep my most used cutting rulers for piecing close at hand, occasionally I move them as needed for space.

Karen also spoke of getting rid of old worn out cutting mats…the purple one pictured is so well worn however it belonged to a dear friend and I really enjoy using it for quick trims. I find different size and colour mats very useful. My Sunny top is complete and I have been hoping to get a good picture to share, today is looking favourable.

My specialty rulers that I reach for most often are all together and also easily assessable.

I use a lot of bins from the Dollar Store to stay somewhat organized.

Years ago I came across this large board and I have made such good use of it, at one time it sat atop an old dresser and was used as my cutting table. Then at some point and because I needed a large ironing station for customer quilts, I covered it with batting and Teflon ironing fabric. It sits on top of what are meant to be used as laundry room cabinets and is the perfect height for both cutting and pressing.

This space I like to keep just for what I am presently working on. I usually have at least two personal projects on the go at a time. My Long Time Gone is still very close at hand.

Tucked away in the closet are two bins of sometimes used rulers. They are fun to have and I love being able to share with quilting friends who are just starting out on this journey as friends shared and helped me along my way.

I am fortunate that for most of my quilting journey I have had a dedicated space for my quilting and as empty nesters even more space. I do my best to stay somewhat organized, when I am busy with piecing my room can become a little upside down but that’s all part of the fun isn’t it?

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Moda Blockheads 3

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I am starting to really want to move on, however I am determined to finish this top and it needs to be soon… well not that I will rush it, I just am doing my best not to start something new until this top is completed.

I wanted to add a large block to this quilt and found one in the original block head quilt it was by Corey Yoder and finishes at 24” square. I wanted something that I could incorporate some pineapple blocks which this block fit the bill.

I began with the outside of the block

These were completed last weekend.

Of course life gets busy and play time gets limited.

Liam is here Monday to Friday and I help him with virtual school and try to come up with fun outside activities.

Customer quilts take precedence over personal quilts often though there are times when the ideas in my head need to come first!

I was finally able to finish my big block yesterday

I plan to lay out the blocks this week and decide layout and sashing etc