I am all about savouring some projects! This quilt has been one of those that it seems can’t be rushed. When I first learnt about this Jen Kingwell Pattern it was the possibility of making it really bright happy and scrappy.
The recommended borders just didn’t suit me and so I took a little more time to ponder and finally decided to piece more monkey wrench and 60° triangles for two corners and will complete the rest with checkerboard piecing.
So it shouldn’t be too much longer before this top is completed, I have the backing waiting and quilting planned out.
My Longarm and I have been busy which is where most of my quilting time is spent.
Thank you Yvonne @quiltingjetgirl for hosting the 2023 Planning Party Linkup!
After a very busy year Longarm quilting for others and fitting in a little piecing and Longarm quilting for myself… it’s time to reflect on the last 12 months.
My APQS Millenium arrived at my doorstep December 2004! I was so fortunate to have joined a Longarm chat group of others who were also pioneering in this new adventure! Together we shared and taught each other so much.
I began longarming for others that winter and haven’t stopped! In thinking about a word to claim for the year… Gratitude keeps coming to mind.
I am so grateful for the honour and trust others have placed with me to help them to complete their projects! I am thankful for my quilting skills and I love to support and encourage other quilters and to share the skills that I have acquired over the years.
I have completed 2 personal quilts and have some tops ready for quilting.
My favourite finish is the quilt that my Daughter and I collaborated on and made for my sweet Granddaughter! Baby quilt
I loved the fun back of her quilt as much as the front.
My Sunny quilt was completed early in the year other than binding and that was that I just couldn’t settle on what colour I wanted…this month I not only ordered the colour that I decided on but took the last stitch on it yesterday. Sunny Quilt
My Longtime gone quilt is so close to being completed, I am working on the border and plan to have it completed in January. This has been a project that I have savoured and know that I will miss working on it when it’s complete it.
A fun project this month has been dressing my twin dolls. I find it hard to believe that they are about 55 years old. When my daughter said that she would love to have them for her girls I was delighted and happily found patterns and then added little quilts for both.
I was able to complete two goals with this project one was machine binding which went well and I can see myself doing that a little more often. I quilted the little boy quilt on my domestic machine and I will be doing that a little more as well.
Also for fun I started playing with making pouches and hope to add some bag making to my skills.
Moving into 2023
I look forward to another year of helping others to bring their quilting projects to completion.
My personal quilting goals include working on more of the Color Collective quilts that I collected in 2022. I have the second top completed and ready to quilt and the third partially pieced.
My challenge will be working with my stash and adding only what I need to complete quilts and projects.
I hope to get back into a regular routine of quilting with my friends at the Rec centre and hopefully finally plan a retreat there that a friend and I have discussed since 2019…
I will be upgrading this site in the coming year as it’s time to upgrade which should be fun and educational 😊
On the life side I do have some personal well-being goals in place… life can get so busy but as I approach a significant birthday in 2023 I plan to greet it at my best and enjoy the ride!!
The blizzard warning has been lifted, the wind is still howling and we have a lot more snow than we normally do before Christmas. (Thunder Bay has been under a Winter Storm watch followed by a Blizzard warning for the last several days)
I really enjoy my early morning coffee and the reflection of our Christmas tree in my morning view.
Liam stayed the night last night. He is so excited for Christmas, we spent part of the evening working on this puzzle. Last year it was too hard and we put it aside for another time.
So much changes in a year especially a child and this year he was determined to complete it.
Tracey approached me about having me quilt her first quilt, I was happy and honoured to be able to help as she had a small window of being in town working as a community nurse. I added both her final border as well as pieced her polar fleece backing.
She chose the pantograph Kindling as it added to the feather look that she was looking for. She also chose a heavier weight thread that would really pop against the black background and disappear into the plates.
The design added a stunning look on the back of the quilt as well.
It really is both an honour and privilege to be entrusted with my customers quilts and to help them bring their work to completion.
As the Grandchildren began arriving, we began a tradition of holding a Christmas brunch the Sunday before Christmas. My thinking was it would be nicer than the pressure for young families of trying to be with everyone over a two day period.
So todays our day. The tree is decorated, gifts under the tree. Liam has a new Fort built for the cousins. Cookies are baked.
Liam and I began a tradition when he was very small of baking his favourite chocolate cherry cookies together…
This year he and his Mom mixed the dough and last night he helped me bake them…
We have enough snow! Erik has the snowmobiles ready and made the trails yesterday through the woods for fun after brunch!
Winter has truly arrived and it definitely will be a white Christmas!
The tranquility of the early morning and watching the daylight begin with the snow laden trees is so peaceful I feel truly blessed to begin my day sipping coffee and enjoying the view!
Terri chose the pantograph Kindling for the quilting design and it really added so much movement and visual appeal oh and the texture!
I also pieced the backing and of course trimmed her quilt for her so that it was ready for binding. I always check with my customers before trimming and find that most people are more than happy to have me do this step for them. All of the trimmings are returned with the quilt.
I love how beautiful the stitches look on the back!
It’s not often that a quilt catches Eriks eye but this one sure did!
My customer chose the pantograph Waterworld for the quilting design as well as took me up on my free backing piecing and trimming service. Every quilt back and top is pressed and carefully loaded onto my machine before I begin quilting.
The density of the quilting is also important to consider if the quilt is to be used and washed fairly often.
How fun will this quilt be to receive under the tree this year … it’s for the makers tractor loving guy!!! My guy asked for one too…
Big News on the life front! We found our Christmas tree!
I guess we are just a couple of old souls as we just love having a real tree for Christmas.
Every year we visit the tree farm and carefully choose our tree. It will be set up and decorated before next weekend. I love the addition of light the tree brings to our home during the less day light days this time of year. 11 more days until Winter Solstice 😊
The owners of this tree farm we recently discovered have retired and moved…yesterday I met the new owner and am so happy to say that she is so excited about their new home and venture.
On the quilting front my days and evenings have been busy helping others finish their quilts!
This one is currently being quilted, and in fact is more than halfway finished. I pieced the backing for its maker, something that I offer for free to my customers and for the most part am taken up on the offer.
I also like to take the time to press each quilt top and backing before loading onto the Longarm.
Wendy’s Quilting and Life 