Tag: Thunder Bay Ontario

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Florence’s Paper Pieced Quilt

wendysquilting

Florence told me that she really hasn’t enjoyed paper piecing, though she do a fantastic job on this quilt!

The original backing that she and I chose became a puzzle as it just did not want to cooperate, different size needles, bobbins, tension settings nothing seemed to prevent it from snagging and popping white threads through it. The backing was a very dark gray with black swirls. The only thing we didn’t try was washing it, which we discussed however Florence decided to try another backing.

The second backing had absolutely no issues and the stitches returned to the normal perfect ones on both top and back. It is very unusual for a backing to be so uncooperative!!

The second choice is actually was actually prettier on this quilt so maybe it was just meant to be.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Joan’s Scrap Quilt….

wendysquilting

I have been quilting for Joan for several years now and am always delighted when I see her latest creation. Her colour and pattern choices are not only fun to see but also to quilt!

As most quilters, she has found that the scraps are taking over so she has begun the scrap piecing journey. This quilt is one and was a fun walk down memory lane!

It was loaded and quilted on a gray snowy day! I share this picture to give a glimpse of how I load most quilts. I like to load the top as I find it gives me more control and enables me to keep the quilts square and flat. It’s an extra step but one that I find worthwhile.

I used the Pantograph Flying Paisley, with just enough flowers and leaves to compliment this very pretty quilt.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

January Blossoms

wendysquilting

Well it’s official Christmas is over in our household! We really do enjoy the extra weeks in January when we keep the tree up. Though, now that the days seem longer with a little more daylight with every passing day the boost of the tree lights to our world don’t seem quite as necessary. Also the needles were just starting to fall.

I have a few quilts to share from the last weeks Longarm quilting.

This is one of Joan’s and was such a delight to work on, so bright and well floral! Look at this backing!

The top is so pretty and beautifully pieced.

I have a new phone and have been playing with its camera, the portrait mode is a lot of fun.

This next one really shows the affect of the portrait mode.

Liam is back to in class learning this week, so it will be a little quieter around here this week.

I made and trimmed my flying geese units for flock over the weekend…well I trimmed most of them last night. I find it interesting how much fun I am having piecing with solid fabrics, the collective has been such a great addition to my quilting life!

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Sunny

wendysquilting

Sunny is the name of the first block of Season 4 of the Color Collective that I have been working on. This Season began November 1st and this block introduced a new to me paper piecing technique.

I don’t usually enjoy paper piecing, it seems so tedious and wasteful however Taras technique was fun and no ripping papers and very little fabric waste. Not only that but as our days become shorter as we get closer to December 21st it was a fantastic palette and block to play with in the moments that I had time to play.

Curved piecing has really been popular these last few years and I was glad to have the glue technique for these blocks!

Fall and winter are especially busy with customer quilts and Christmas coming so my personal piecing time becomes very precious and needed. I decided to focus on Sunny but also accept that the November block most likely wouldn’t be a top until January.

So yesterday with little wind and not too terribly cold weather I laid Sunny over the snow to show you. I am somewhat pondering how I will quilt this top so it might be awhile before I get to that stage.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Quilting and Life

wendysquilting

We held a Christmas brunch for the grandkids and family on Sunday it was so fun to watch the kids enjoy each other’s company and open their gifts. The excitement of Christmas is alive and well with the children!

Unfortunately one of the families had had the gastro crud run through their house a week ago and we were sure they were in the clear….we were wrong. Almost everyone came down with it starting on Monday.

I was spared however Liam was not, he rarely gets sick and had never had this. We were both very glad that I could care for him through this. Much to our relief and after sleeping from late Monday night until Wednesday morning with a few wake points he is now back to his happy self. Others are recovering as well.

Liam and I really enjoyed fresh air yesterday

We also made some slime

While he slept I was able to quilt my Moda Blockheads quilt and will work on the binding later today. This is my first personal quilt to be quilted this year!

I first saw this sunshiny backing on a customer quilt and loved it!

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

The Rubber Duck Quilt

wendysquilting

How adorable is this sweet baby quilt!

Not that I am counting but solstice is 5 days away and I will welcome each days added daylight minutes!! These pictures were taken during a very grey foggy afternoon.

I often choose a pantograph such as waterworld for baby quilts. I like this density of quilting as I feel that it will help the quilt to withstand a lot of use.

Update

Check out the binding and finished quilt! This really was such a fun project to work on.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Mid December

wendysquilting

December is always an interesting and busy month. I loved the result of the last snowfall, the whole world just looks so bright and clean esp when the sun comes out.

Yesterday however was a grey and foggy one and we had rain overnight and a forecast of snow later today. I do love a white Christmas so hopefully there will be more snow.

Quilting has been busy of course and the Christmas jobs are almost finished. One small one to go for later today.

Of course my machine had a hiccup as a Longarm sometimes does thankfully it was easily resolved, it was a worn out bobbin case…yes they wear out!

Our tree is up and when Liam arrived on Monday the lights and garland were on it and he saw the ornaments and went right to work hanging them while I made supper.

Liam did such a nice job and it was fun telling him the stories of the ornaments as I have collected special ones over the years. Many have been carved by my Dad and painted by my Mom. This year I bought a box of candy canes to add to the tree which Liam though was a fantastic idea.

Liam will spend more time here over the holidays and we have baking plans, his request as we have done so every year that he can remember. He also wants to build and sleep in his lego fort one night and like me he is hoping for a white Christmas. He wants the snow for another reason though, he and Pappa like to drive the snowmobiles!

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Effervescent Quilt

wendysquilting

This was such a fun quilt, so different from others that I have quilted, the chosen fabrics and design went so well together.

We chose the pantograph bubbles which really added more of the effervescent effect!

This photo captured the actual brightness of the quilt! 10 more days until the days start getting longer!
Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

The Wildlife Quilt

wendysquilting

Sharon began her quilt with a panel and as she made it the recipient request a bigger quilt so she grew it! Unfortunately I didn’t get a full picture of this queen size quilt.

The borders with the wolves in the snow were the clue in deciding on the quilting, we decided on windswept as the Pantograph. The density is perfect for a snuggly quilt.

The backing couldn’t have been more perfect for this quilt.
Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

This and That

wendysquilting

I was asked what the pattern was for the top below. It is by Thimble Blossoms and called Dwell 2. It was a nice project to piece and because I purchased it as a kit there were very few decisions to be made.

Sometimes and in some seasons of life it’s nice to just cut sew and press. I was drawn to this project from quilting one for a customer.

We have had very little rain for months and have enjoyed some really nice weather even into November.

The forecast for tomorrow is for rain 75-100mm for our area and for those further from the lake (Thunder Bay is built on the shore of Lake Superior) will receive the precipitation in snow….and so it begins or so it seems!

I have been enjoying some playtime piecing curves and playing with colour. I had to laugh at myself the other day as I was so absorbed in what I was doing that I made a pretty silly mistake…funny how we don’t always see that what we are doing is wrong…

As soon as I pressed it I knew something was off…had I taken just a little time to stop and look at what I was doing and re think it…

Instead I realized it was late and time to quit for the night. The next morning I was able to quickly take it apart and use the right background.

Well worth the effort!!

I enjoy curved piecing and this project is allowing for a lot of practice.