Tag: Thunder Bay Ontario

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Long Time Gone Jacobs Ladder Block

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Do you find piecing is a little like eating potato chips? once you start it’s hard to stop? I do and as a bonus it’s so much healthier. I rarely allow myself to have my ironing station beside my sewing machine. It’s so important to get up from your chair and move. In my opinion anyways.

So after finishing up the Square in a Square Star block I moved on to the Jacobs Ladder block. I have always enjoyed working with small pieces and this quilt certainly gives me joy.

It’s fun to play with the layout. Can you guess which one I chose?

I am really looking forward to seeing this quilt come together and am mulling over the quilting design as I work on it. Often I choose a quilt to make knowing beforehand how I will quilt it.

As I was falling asleep last night I was wondering what will become of this quilt. I think a child might have fun with it as there are many little surprises in it.

Currently on the design wall is the Plus a Star block…more on that soon.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Welcome June!

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I cut the grass yesterday for the first time this season. One of the many perks of my life with Erik is that I have a nice little lawn tractor to cut grass…it’s a task that I enjoy!

This years winter was exceptionally long and stretched well into what should have been spring.

May held many challenges.

I learnt a lot about sump pumps and am extremely thankful that Erik already knew…so one morning early in May when I said that the pump sounded like it was humming he flew into action replacing it!

With that under control we breathed a little easier, however a day or so later I discovered water coming into the cold storage room. Thankfully we work well as a team, and between the two of us we were able to prevent any damage. I am an early riser and Erik is more a night owl so we worked shifts. It was a week of shop vacuuming every 20 minutes for a few days and loads of towels on and off the line or in the dryer being rotated.

The sump pump ran non stop for 3 weeks. We had a lot more snow than usual this year and with several rainstorms and frozen ground many people had destroyed basements. We were lucky!

I still continued to work away on customer quilts though not very much time for personal piecing.

So I was happy to celebrate the beginning of June by cutting grass! It’s time to plant some flowers and make some plans!

Liam has one serious plan and it looks like this summer we can make that happen!

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

April Snow 2022

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April is supposedly the month of showers that bring May flowers. After what has felt like an extra long winter this one has been stubbornly hanging on.

I won’t lie and I am sorry for those west of here but I am thankful that the predicted blizzard is bypassing Thunder Bay! This Wednesday they are predicting rain and lots of it…so fingers crossed it doesn’t end up being snow.

Opps I may have spoken too soon looks like Thursday snow this week…

Spring is really the only season that I wish would come sooner than later!

When Liam and I arrived yesterday…I pick him up from school on Mondays and he spends the night…the first thing he did was head for the snow! The Temperature was 8C and with the sun shining it was very pleasant outside.

He does love the snow out here and was so happy to see it was still here!

Last night I came across pictures from a year ago…Liam was with us doing school virtually… he was standing close to the same spot.

April 17, 2021

That day he rode his bike and enjoyed his first ice cream cone of the season, sitting on the deck…. Though 2 days later… April 19, 2021!

The snow has been melting and in a few weeks we should be done with it.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Snow! And Quilting

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Ok, it’s April 11th already and we are still getting snow?? It was snowing this morning when I woke up. It is supposed to rain a lot this week so hopefully that will help the snow melt.

I won’t complain too loudly as it sounds like west of us they are in for a pretty big spring snow storm this week…fingers crossed that we just get the rain!

Yesterday I put the last stitch into a very special quilt that I will be sharing more about very soon. My Longarm and I have been really busy and productive so look for more posts about that.

Next up is the second of three half square triangles I have been quilting for Marilyn. I always press tops and backs before loading them on the Longarm. Her piecing and workmanship is perfect and her fabric and colour/value skills are so inspiring!

Only many years of collecting could possibly build a stash that would make a total of 4 queen size quilts with such an array of fabrics. I wonder how close I am getting.

There are so many options out there for quilters compared to when I began. Tutorials abound on the internet and online shopping opens an incredible world of choice for new and experienced quilters. I personally have fun at times with a quickly pieced quilt but I also really enjoy the journey and challenges of different projects.

Sometimes, projects linger longer that I originally plan such as my Longtime Gone quilt and the collective projects that are waiting…when I start to feel a little guilty regarding what projects in the quilt world that are referred to as UFO’s (unfinished objects) I remind myself that I like to savour the journey. Some projects don’t require quick completions.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Superman Quilt

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How fun is this quilt made by a grandma for her grandson who loves superman! Liam totally approved this quilt. (If you haven’t been following my blog Liam is my 10 year old grandson)

You might notice that the binding is attached. I do upon request add the binding for my customers. Many will choose this step and will do the hand stitching themselves.

The pantograph swirls was chosen and added fun movement to this quilt.

More fun…the backing glows in the dark!!!

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Why Have A Large Fabric Stash

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Do you remember those large boxes of crayons.. the ones that came with attached sharpeners? Now that was exciting! Maybe more so for some than others. I really don’t remember not creating and enjoying playing with colour.

Growing up, my Mom always had her sewing machine out and often was used mostly for making clothes but sometimes home decor. The visits to the fabric departments… were so much fun!

Seventh grade in Winnipeg meant a sewing class…that meant my very own set of new notions! The beginning of a love for sewing notions that still exists today. Oh and the fabric!

While it is true that styles change and that is very true in the quilting industry as well, and collecting fabric that may or may not get used isn’t the wisest use of money. Having a stash that has been collected over the span of many years has its benefits.

I have been Longarm quilting for others for 18 years, I have noticed that many of my customers who are ahead of me on this life journey have more time and the fabrics to make the most amazing quilts.

Marilyns quilt is one! I asked her if the fabrics in this quilt were all hers and she said yes all accumulated over many years of quilting!

This quilt is one of three queen size quilts that Marilyn has made for her adult granddaughters.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Fatquarter Shop 2011 Designer Mystery

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This long ago project was started and the blocks all completed, the finishing kit purchased only to be stored in a boot box for ten years.

Nicole has been writing about hers on her blog at https://sisterschoice.typepad.com/sisters_choice_quilts/2022/02/can-you-see-where-i-am-going-with-this.html#comments

She has taken hers in a totally different direction, which I really like. Mine has been completed by my friend Florence and will one day be finished and hopefully loved by one of our daughters or granddaughters.

It is a pretty quilt, though I have clearly moved on from such a soft palette. Actually I am really enjoying working with the solid palettes.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Florence’s Paper Pieced Quilt

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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….

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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

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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!