Tag: Thunder Bay

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Mid March

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Well it’s a little past mid March and I woke up to snow…again. Thankfully my morning commute is only a short stairway away!

A peek at what’s under my needle…though it’s almost finished and will be done before lunch break. I am really enjoying the changing colours on this quilt with every advance.

Todays Instagram Quiltfest post prompt was favourite quilt which I can truthfully say that I don’t have one.

I love quilts and their stories some are so exciting such as for babies and weddings…some have brought me comfort the ones made for friends that are at the end of life or struggling.

This is a customer quilt from early in my Longarm career, I love the beautiful appliqué and the quilting added. I wish that I had better pictures of it!

Another custom quilting job that included a lot of freehand stitching, it really is a spectacular quilt!

This one was a Victory Quilt made to commemorate the end of the World War in 1945, it was brought to me top and backing and binding to complete.

Another long time ago quilt, made by Margaret Bliss for her Grandson, that shows my custom Quilting.

My friend Alva and I decided to play with the disappearing hour glass pattern shown on Missouri Star Quilts…mine was made with Kaffe Fassett fabrics and hers with Batiks.

My disappearing hourglass quilt

This was Alva’s last quilt, I quilted so many quilts for her and this final one was the only one that I put the last stitch in for her in the binding.

Many of my personal quilts have been made just for fun, playing with different ideas, patterns, fabrics and colours. Many quilts are my favourite while I am making them!

Oh one last picture…I was asked to be quilter of the month early on in my Longarm quilting career the memory came up this week on facebook

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Scrappy Goodness!!

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Anyone who knows me knows that I love Quilts!

Todays Instagram Quilt Fest post is about scrappy finishes, so I spent a little time looking through my pictures and look what I found!

My adorable Granddaughters enjoying a summer day last year! I had forgotten about the quilt that they are on!

It was made using quilters candies from a once upon loved quilt shop in town called Patchworks! The owner had a candle jar of charms folded into 1” squares with a stitch to hold them together. When I shopped with my girls the owner Diana would pour them onto the floor and my girls were allowed to pick one to add to the collection…

I remember making the quilt to practice Longarm quilting when I first began my business.

One day last December we had a day with grands which always makes for a grand day! Kaija asked me if we could go to my sewing room and make something. Music to this Grandmas ears!!

We made a pouch with scraps and when I dumped out my in use scrap basket I was reminded of my initial love of scraps! She filled her little pouch with scraps and has had hours of fun!

I have made and quilted so many scrappy quilts and my customer quilts continue to inspire more…

I have an early memory of my Mom taking taking me to a neighbours house and this lady had a sewing room full of Raggedy Ann dolls all in bright dresses she also made Barbie clothes…that room was so full of inspiration that never left me I was probably 5 yrs at the time!

Hopefully my sewing room will grow inspiration in my granddaughter’s hearts and minds as well.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Todays Instagram Post lesson learned

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This mornings IGQuiltFest post was about lessons learned. I chose to post a couple of pictures from my design wall the lighting wasn’t the best for sure. However my point was that we should enjoy our quilting journey!

Samplers are a great way to try new techniques and to build new skills! I have made a few designer mystery quilts from the Fat Quarter Shop. (See Centre Quilt) this was made with supplied fabrics and a finishing kit and I really like this quilt. Sometimes though if you don’t like the finishing kit…it’s perfectly ok to change it up and make it your own!

The first picture above is a stage of the journey of my Longtime Gone Quilt (pattern by Jenn Kingswell) my decision to make this quilt began with a ruler by Creative Grids to make the pineapple block. It was during Covid and I wanted to PLAY and use tons of different fabrics with only two rules tons of variety of low volumes and any bright fabrics that caught my fancy!!! Making this quilt even more fun was the addition of scraps from friends…this quilt has so many stories and is right now a most favourite project!

This one (to be quilted soon) was my most fun to piece. It really stretched me at times but it brought so much joy into my life! Oh and the backing I chose has a story as well. I plan to have it ready to hang in our upcoming Quilt Show in May.

The third quilt in the gallery is my version of a Moda Blockheads quilt. I made almost all of the blocks but also chose to add some such as the sister hood block and made this quilt more of my own.

To steal a term I have heard before…the unused blocks now reside in the parts department for future use. This quilt took me a little out of my comfort zone using a colour palette that didn’t really rock my boat. Still I am happy with the result!

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Instagram Quiltfest 2023 first week

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I decided to take part in #igquiltfest this year hosted by Amy at:

https://www.amyscreativeside.com

It’s been a fun opportunity to first introduce myself and then to share my first quilts. My first quilt made in 1985 was a very simple quilt pre any quilting tools just a strong desire to make a quilt for my first baby.

My first quilt was made using a simplicity pattern and fabric purchased from Zellers… I had a lot of sewing experience by the time I was 23 however the binding stumped me and I never completely finished that quilt. I did however use it and as more daughters came along I kept using it.

So now all these years later I began wondering if I should now finish the binding…part of me said no, it’s such a special memory. I have decided to bind it and maybe one day it can be shared with another baby or just kept as a special memory.

Would you bind this quilt?

The next prompt was favourite sewing machines, while I love all of my machines My Juki Haruka is my current favourite domestic machine and of course my APQS Millenium is my favourite Longarm.

Todays prompt is creative hands and I shared this picture, introducing my Granddaughter to my Longarm. I have taught my Grandson Liam to quilt and I hope to share my love of quilting with my other Grandchildren as well.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Batiks and Stars

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Batik quilts are always so rich looking and this Star Quilt is no exception. The piano key border really frames the blocks perfectly!

Speaking of piano key borders or any pieced borders I highly recommend what is known as a victory lap after piecing your quilt top. It is basically stay stitching around the outer edges about 1/8th inch, this will prevent thread pops when handling your quilt top.

We chose the pantograph Star Swirl, as it not only adds the starriness but also adds a sense of movement as well.

The backing fabric is so gorgeous and rich looking and really showcases the pretty stitches.

As usual the quilt is trimmed and ready for binding.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Comfort Quilts

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These quilts were pieced as gifts to be used for the beds at a local addiction recovery residence I offered to help with the quilting.

I chose pantographs to add to the beauty and love of these gifts adding enough density to the quilting to withstand a lot of use.

Rodendrum Pantograph
Here and There Pantograph
A Little Bit of This Pantograph
Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Bring on Spring Quilt!

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With the forecast of rain and then freezing weather with snow…I decided to make sure I was prepared and able to stay home and work all day today.

There will be a pot of soup made and maybe some chores done but if you need me I will be in my studio!

Some quilts get named while they are with me…this one is Bring on Spring!

The green batik that Joan chose for the backing is that beautiful green of new grass and leaves in the spring and perfectly compliments the quilt top.

This is a large queen size quilt. I love how beautiful the simplicity of piecing captures both colour and designs of the fabric. The centres of each block is a pretty floral adding a pop of contrast and will also be used for the binding.

Speaking of binding, I almost always prepare Joan’s bindings for her, it’s a task that I enjoy.

One more picture to show the backing. I chose the pantograph A Little Bit of This.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Bumble Bees (the quilt)

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This delightful quilt was pieced by a little guys Grandma. He will soon be transitioning to his big boy bed with his new quilt!

I love the way this pantograph (waterworld) adds movement to the quilt while also adding enough quilting to hold up to the many washings it will no doubt have over time.

The yardage used for the backing was fun to piece and match up making the seam really challenging to find.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Northern Lights Quilt

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Another gorgeous quilt, this one showcases the Northern lights. Using the pantograph Kindling added movement to the lights along with variegated thread to help highlight all of the colours.

I used black Hobbs 80/20 batting.

Trimmed and ready for binding, the backing is just also a treat for the eyes!

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

February

wendysquilting

Well the month has begun in the deep freeze! The feels like temperature this morning when I woke was -42C. I am extremely happy to be able to be at home all day today!

January was an extremely full and busy month and I am so grateful for all of the people who entrust their quilts to me to help complete. Other than finishing my Longtime Gone quilt top and a little sewing on Mondays at the Rec centre most of the month was spent working on the Longarm.

Just a peek at a recent Northern Lights Quilt…more to come.

The Thunder Bay Quilt Guild is gearing up for the long awaited Quilt Show in May so we quilters are all extra busy these days. I am planning to show some of mine and hoping to fit in one or two into my my Longarm schedule. (If you are wanting a quilt done by me for the show please let me know soon as my schedule is getting pretty full.)

On the life side… I enjoyed a full day this week watching Liam and his school team play in a basketball tournament with his Mom 😊

And today marks not only my 37th Anniversary of becoming a Mom …

It is my daughter Sarah’s Birthday!