Tag: Quilting

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

My Friendship with Leila

wendysquilting

As a young busy single Mom I was blessed to have many friends who were ahead of me on this life journey we are all on.

Most of these women I met through the Quilt Guild and by quilting for them. When I first checked out our local guild, I only peeked in the door and didn’t stay…I wasn’t quite 30 then and it looked like most of the women there were a lot older than I was. I mistakenly thought to myself that they wouldn’t welcome me.

Oh how wrong I was, and when I ventured back I was so welcomed, and mentored. I loved sitting with these women and watching and listening to them at guild meetings.

When news got out that I was getting a Longarm they were truly excited for me and supportive! That’s when I started quilting for Leila. She at the time was the local Elna dealer and she was determined that I needed the Quilters Dream Pro sewing machine. She kept inviting me over to try it, I kept declining, knowing that I would most likely love the machine and also knowing that it was priced way out of my budget.

Still she persisted and one day when I dropped one of her quilts off to her she insisted that I sit down and try out the machine…so I did. Of course I loved it. Well she had a plan, she said that she knew it was beyond what I could afford but what if I just quilted her quilts for it!

She sent me home with that machine and I love it to this day! She also sat me down and taught me to service my own machines a gift that has served me well many times.

A couple of months ago Leila called me to let me know that she hadn’t been well and was moving to Southern Ontario to live closer to her family. We had such a nice visit.

Leila passed away this week.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Monkey Quilt

wendysquilting

How can you not smile when you look at this fun quilt! The fabric choices were perfect and it was such a joy to quilt!

It was quilted using the Pantograph Waterworld. I like a well quilted baby quilt with the hope that the quilt will be well loved ad will withstand the many washings that are need from being well used.

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

Quilting with Friends and Hats!!

wendysquilting

One of the things that I really enjoyed before the pandemic was my weekly Rec centre quilting day. Before we all had to stay home , once a week from 1-9 quilters gathered, worked on their projects shared ideas and stories and laughter, a lot of silly giggly laughter.

It’s been so nice to be back lately and this week it hit me, that I really did miss the laughter! I really don’t mind being at home, which works really well with a home based business however it sure is nice to be back with friends!

This week I decided to revisit my Longtime Gone Quilt project. I had put it aside while working on a few other projects. I had been bringing my Stellar quilt however that pattern really requires concentration and is best suited for working alone in my studio.

These are the blocks that started my decision to make the quilt.

Have you seen the hats being made? This morning I read on a blog that I follow that she is making one with crumb piecing, that looks like fun.

I have been reading this blog for a while now, her Franken bags are so inspiring and now her hats!! She shares the links to her tutorials on a recent post including one for Finnish Salmon Soup. Here is a link to her fun blog!

https://agilejack1.com

Here is the link for the free bucket hat pattern

http://orangebettie.com/2021/05/31/summer-bucket-hat-tutorial-and-free-sewing-pattern/

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Parchment Pantograph

wendysquilting

Parchment has become a very popular pantograph for my quilters it seems. I have used it fairly often and I used it to finish this recent quilt. I used a baby blue thread colour that really popped against the black.

My pictures of the backing really didn’t do the actual colours justice. The backing is a beautiful blue batik that really showed off the perfect stitches.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Shannon’s Jelly Roll Race Quilt

wendysquilting

Shannon made this quilt as a gift for her Mother in Law. It was the first quilt that she has made.

I chose the pantograph ground cover, the prints in the fabric often give me clues in deciding what to choose.

The backing is a beautiful blue that really allowed the stitching to shine.
Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Christmas…in July Quilts

wendysquilting

It seems to be very popular have Christmas in July celebrations around here.

These two quilts were made to be raffled off in support of a campers association not far from here. The maker began with panels and added blocks to grow the quilts. I used the pantograph windswept as it gave a ribbon effect that also went well with both the top and the backing… almost all of my quilt makers like to have me trim their quilts for them which I do as a courtesy so that they are ready for binding.

On a side note, I lived most of my childhood in Winnipeg Manitoba, we had a cottage growing up. When we moved here people talked about going to camp…I envisioned them all in tents! Until I discovered that cottages are camps here and in the Fort Frances area they are cabins.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Moose Panel Quilt

wendysquilting

Quilts that begin with the inspiration of a panel have become very popular it seems. It’s understandable with the amazing prints available.

This recent quilt is a great example of using a panel to pull colours from and making blocks and borders to grow the quilt. I used the pantograph Star-swirl to quilt it.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Diane’s Quilt

wendysquilting

It was such a pleasure to complete this quilt for Diane, mostly because I knew how special this quilt is to her.

Her piecing on this quilt was exact and her borders laid flat…the paisley designed fabric spoke to me and I chose the pantograph flying Daisy.

I don’t often bind customer quilts but did finish this quilt completely, it made me happy that I could. Diane has always from the time I met her been a cheerleader in living your life and is someone who makes such a positive difference in this world! She inspires me 😊

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Carol’s Star Quilt

wendysquilting

Carol made this quilt for her son, I added my touch with the pantograph Star swirl.

Michelle Wyman designed the Starswirl pantograph.

When I first started quilting on my Longarm, I was a member of an online group called LACHAT it was a fantastic resource not only for longarm quilting but also friendships with so many likeminded people.

It had great forums for trouble shooting, how would you quilt this and show and tell along with a chat room that many of us regularly spent time visiting with each other. I bring this memory up as I am reminded of it when I use Michelle’s Pantograph as that is where I met her.

The owner of the site eventually moved in a different direction and closed the site. Many of the quilters are still active and it’s been fun to follow them on social media.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Althea’s Puppy Quilt

wendysquilting

This was a really fun quilt to work on, Liam doesn’t often as for one of the quilts he see’s me quilting but this was one of them. It was made to be raffled in support of a dog show club that she belongs too.

I used the pantograph Popcorn. I also bound this quilt.

How cute is this backing!!