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.
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.
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.
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.
I woke to rain this morning! We have woken to snow several mornings this month and I think that I speak for almost everyone I know in Thunder Bay…enough with the snow already!!
It may be our stage of life, but on the life side of things several friends have either passed away or had serious diagnosis this year. It does cause one to take stock and in my case rethink a few things.
Life can get so busy or so routine that it can be easy to overlook taking the best care of our most valuable possession…ourselves, our health and wellness. I have always for the most part been mindful of self care and as I age the value of diet and exercise becomes even more invaluable!
I love meal prepping and all of the amazing information and ideas that are at our fingertips!!!
Long gone is the mindset of exercise equals fitting in those blue jeans haha now it’s so much more about muscle tone, balance, flexibility and of course health!
I am sharing the link below only because I enjoy doing many of her work outs, maybe you might as well.
Long ago when I first started Longarm quilting for others, I was working in an office where I learnt the importance of ergonomics and applied what I learnt to my quilting life as well!
My Dad who is an amazing wood carver, pointed out years ago the importance of breaks, exercise and diet in order to keep quilting…crafting long term! Such excellent advice! Thanks Dad!! By the way my Dad will be 86 this summer, while he is still busy carving…he is active walking daily, exercising mind and body and enjoying life!
I can easily become so engrossed in a quilting project that hours can go by without taking breaks, I am however very mindful of the need to move and stretch! I encourage you to consider it as well.
It’s been a very full month, with quilts coming and going as usual. April means taxes of course…nice to have that one checked off the list!
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!
The Instagram Quiltfest 2023 is nearing the end. It’s been a fun adventure and I hope to play again. Thank you to Amy at https://www.amyscreativeside.com
The prompt favourite finish had me reminisce a little and I chose my Flower Power wallhanging.
Now this is a project from over ten years ago…it taught me faux trapunto and raw edge appliqué on my Longarm. I used fabrics from a Kaffe Fassett charm pack and for the most part just allowed myself to play! the back ground fabrics had just enough dye lot difference to make the circle truly pop off of the first background.
At the time talk was that only quilt shop quality fabric should be used for backings and definitely not sheets…I never liked to be limited to “creative rules” and chose to use a vintage bed sheet from the 70’s for my backing. The bedsheets from my child hood were so much fun!!
I absolutely love this quilt! Yes I have made many others and for many reasons they are also favourite finishes however this one might just be the most fun!
In this case Cathy brought me her Nebula Quilt designed by Julie Herman of Jaybird Quilts and fabric by Tula Pink. Cathy made some changes to make it hers.
I really do love quilting for others! It’s so much fun to help other quilters bring their projects to completion.
Cathy chose the pantograph Nemesh Feather Grande which is such a pretty design and perfectly suited to this gorgeous quilt!
The backing really showcases the beautiful feathers, curls and swirls of this gorgeous pantograph!
Cathy also supplied the prepared binding, so not only was her quilt trimmed but the binding was attached and pressed and ready to be hand stitched when she picked it up.
Cathy will be entering her quilt in the Thunder Bay Quilters Guild Quilt Show May 26, 2023- May 28, 2023 if you would like to view this and many more beautiful quilts in person.
Are you a fan of binding? What is your favourite step in quilting?
I really don’t have a favourite step though I really do enjoy hand stitching bindings, I like to take my time to keep my stitches close and hidden as best as I can. I love the look of a really well stitched corner on both front and back. Somethings take time but to me some things are well worth the time it takes to do it right.
Part of my Longarm Quilting Services does include binding. I am often asked to prepare the binding, attach the binding and occasionally to hand stitch the binding so when the quilt is returned it is completely finished.
This is the back and binding on my granddaughter Romee’s quilt, yes it takes more time to hand stitch but why race through such a special project 😊
Of course machine stitching a binding both front and back does make for a more durable quilt especially if it will be laundered often so it’s a valuable skill to have. I do use the technique from time to time but still prefer hand stitching.
Oh and of course how do you choose the binding? I rarely make that final decision until the quilt is almost finished. I love how the binding adds that final touch… it took some time to finally choose the binding colour for my Sunny Quilt and I am so happy with my choice of orange!
Applying binding to my Sunny Quilt
Todays project is to attach a customer binding. One thing that I always do and highly recommend is to take a little time and lay the binding around the quilt so that you can adjust it and avoid having binding seams in the corners.
Wendy’s Quilting and Life 