Tag: Quilts

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Jo Anne’s Quilt Story

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My first quilt was made about 38 years ago, I was 22.

Quilting was on my mind though for many years before that! I loved making things as a child and my Mother and other sewers provided me with scraps of fabric to play with!

It was when Quilt Canada was held in Thunder Bay in 1992 that I discovered there was a local Quilting Guild! I was really excited that I could meet like minded friends…though the first time I went to a meeting and saw that everyone appeared to be much older than I was I chickened out and didn’t attend!

Thankfully I met my new friend Alva at the fabric store and told her and she convinced me that those ladies would be more than happy to welcome me, and welcome me they did! They mentored me and my skills and love of quilting grew!

Jo Anne is one of the founding members of our guild and one of the women I remember welcoming me. It has been my absolute pleasure to quilt for her over the years!

Here we are in front of her quilt at this years show.

On a fun note, that day I attended the show with my friend Betty Maki…the two of them chatted and Jo Anne commented that she is the younger one by a year! My friend Betty is 88 1/2 and isn’t afraid to admit it 🥰

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

What a Weekend!!

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Well that was a fantastic quilt show weekend! So many people put so much work into making it happen! So many quilts to see!

I shared in my previous blog a post about micro scribbling because of a quilt at the show that was absolutely amazing!

Joyce designed her quilt herself and followed her vision, I cannot imagine the hours that went into this quilt! I know for myself the hours of planning and dreaming often aren’t recorded along with the actual physical effort that goes into a quilt or work of art such as this.

First her story about her quilt!

Her borders and use of embellishments were absolutely stunning!

I hope that this won’t be this quilts only show!

I worked as a hostess Friday evening and show many people this amazing quilt as a hostess is allowed to touch the quilts as we wear gloves.

I used both of my votes for her quilt and clearly others did as well as Joyce and her quilt won a very deserved first place!!

Congratulations Joyce Gilmore!

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Scribbling on your quilt

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There is a quilt hanging in our quilt show this weekend who’s maker did an absolute amazing job not only making the quilt but also designing it!

I volunteered as a hostess last night, meaning that ai was wearing white gloves and was allowed to touch and show the backs of the quilts to those people interested!

Joyce’s attention to detail on her quilt is extraordinary and I found myself returning to it over and over again as did others.

Her scribbling technique had me wanting to head to my studio to play last night though I thought better of it and put myself to bed!

This morning I found a Craftsy link of Cindy Needham demonstrating the scribbling technique if you are interested.

Cindy Needham Scribbling

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Welcome Ana Paula!

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I have been following Ana Paula for a little while on social media and this weekend we met in person at her amazing studio!

Thunder Bay is incredibly blessed to have her choose our city to live in and not only to share her incredible quilts and art but also her beautiful kind and vibrant self!

Her shop will be opening next month and is located on Frederica St. She will be a vender in this coming weekends quilt show.

http://www.canadapaulabrasil.ca

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Flowers and Weddings

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I was contacted several months ago about quilting this quilt in May if the piecer had it ready…she did and this lovely quilt is trimmed and ready for binding. Well before the Wedding where it will be gifted to the bride and groom.

My quilting is hand guided and we chose the pantograph A Little Bit of This which added just the right density and flow for this very soft quilt.

I pieced the backing for this quilt this is a complimentary service that I provide and many of my customers really appreciate just bringing me the yardage.

Speaking of backings, some of my customers just want to piece the quilt top and request that I find the backing for them. This is another of the many services that I provide.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Forest and Turning Twenty

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The pattern Turning Twenty by Tricia Cribs was a perfect choice to showcase this William Morris fabric collection Forest.

This is an older collection that is softer in colour than some of the newer lines we have been seeing online in the last while. This collection has large prints including some fun animals. It’s so much fun to spot the animals in this elegant quilt!

I chose a soft flowing pantograph design with a chameleon coloured thread that would not detract from the design on the quilt top but would add to the elegance when viewed on the almost solid looking back.

This beautiful quilt left trimmed and ready for binding and with the binding prepared.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Fun Little Racoon Baby Quilt

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Another sweet baby quilt made from the Quilters Magazine Patch Pals collection!

This little Racoon quilt is totally adorable! I chose to use the pantograph swirls to this fun quilt to add even more fun to this wonderful quilt!

The pattern for this quilt and the others from this collection can be found by clicking the link below.

https://www.quiltingdaily.com/quiltmakers-patch-pals-collection-quilty-pleasures-blog/https://www.quiltingdaily.com/quiltmakers-patch-pals-collection-quilty-pleasures-blog/

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Longtime Gone Quilting….

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There is a “promise” of some sunshine later today! It seems so long ago that our sky was blue….yes I know it’s blue above the clouds!! I am more than ready for some sunshine, less wind and oh some green grass, leaves and flowers.

Spring will come!!!

In the meantime, life has been so full and busy with both quilting and with life!

I am so blessed in both departments, I am so fortunate to be entrusted to quilt so many quilts for others which is a true passion for me!

Every once in a while though… it’s time to quilt one of my own! If you have been following my blog for a while you will know about my Longtime Gone Quilt (pattern by Jen Kingwell) and the fun journey it has been!

Well I finally slipped it into my Que and it’s quilted and trimmed. It will hanging in our upcoming quilt show if you are interested in a close up and personal look. I hope that it inspires other quilters to challenge themselves with a scrappy sampler!

I am waiting for brighter days for more pictures and will share more about this quilt soon.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Quilting and Life

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First of all, how exciting that the Superior Quilt Show returns next Month. This is the Thunder Bay Quilters Guild Quilt Show that is normally held every second year! Of course the last few years haven’t been business as usual so it is even more exciting to have the show return!

The response of the membership has been fantastic and while normally there has been a call for extra quilts over and above the limit of three quilts per member this year the number has been capped. So I will have 3 quilts in the show along with any of my customers who have chosen to enter their quilts.

If you are in the area I hope that you will not only come and check out some of the incredible quilts and quilting that are done locally!

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

April 21st Spring and Quilting

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I believe that most people who live in North Western Ontario are longing for spring as we do every April! However our reality it seems is that winter isn’t over until it’s over and spring storms dumping fresh large amounts of snow in April is not uncommon… but still!

I am ready to put our winter gear away, but I know better so will wait!

My morning view

I will be back to showing quilts regularly again, life has been busy and as usual so have I and my APQS Millenium Longarm.

Just before Easter and our trip to Cuba, I quilted this sweet little quilt with Minkie fabric for the backing. These digital panels are amazing and this one with the giraffes appears 3D.

When choosing a quilting design, I wanted something that would look like it was in the jungle but also would have enough stitching to hold this fun quilt together for the long run. This design was the perfect fit!

It was a little challenging as we really wanted to use this piece of backing and it was a little small…I had a half inch on both sides of extra backing fabric. Yes I do require 2” as that does seem to work best but I can and do make exceptions and in my 18 years of quilting professionally I have learnt a trick or two.

The best part of this particular quilting job is this!

The recipient loves his new quilt!!