Do you have a longtime stash?

As a long time quilter and lover of quilting fabric I have acquired over the years a wonderful collection…one that continues to grow I might add…actually I have grown it a little this last month and will probably add a little more next week.

Watch for my upcoming posts as I share what I have been up to for the last month or so!!

Anyways, I noticed this morning that Tara Faughnan has released her Sunny pattern! This was such a fun month of the Color Collective that I took part in and the pattern has so many possibilities of fun with your stash and a great way to learn a different technique of paper piecing that doesn’t involve removing or wasting paper.

The collective was so much fun for someone like me…. Each month receiving a colour palette of Tara’s choosing and a pattern to play with…it felt a little like being a child back in my childhood and getting fresh new crayons with blank paper to create with!

Onto sharing some scrappy fun!

Marilyn has been inspiring me for many years with her use of her stash…I have two customers named Marilyn who are on a mission of playing with and using stash!! Which means so much fun to someone like me!

Some times simplicity of piecing is a great way to play and use scraps with a beautiful quilt as a result!

Adding some easy piecing that allows for some colour pops into the border really added more fun!

Marilyn told me that she ordered the backing online and that it was a sheet! It was perfect and so easy to work with and the result really made for a two sided quilt!

Using the design A Little Bit of This was another layer of fun adding a layer of soft density and visual pleasure to her quilt.

Of course it left trimmed and ready for binding then gifting.

Beth’s Moms Quilt

This quilt was fun to work on, starting with finding the backing, which I found at our local Fix Sew & Scissors. They are not a quilt shop however have been selling the last of Fuelled by Fabrics inventory.

The floral print that I found was such a lovely match to this vintage top made before there were “quilting cottons”. I loved the seer sucker prints and the memories recalled in working with them!

I chose the pantograph Knit One Pearl one, a fairly recent addition to my collection.

As always, when piecing a quilt backing when applicable I like to match the pattern. Always a complimentary service.

As is trimming quilts so that they are ready for binding upon pick up.

Let me help you turn your quilt tops into finished projects.

For Professional, Hand Guided, Quality Longarm Quilting contact me at

wendysquilting@gmail.com

A Very Special Quilt 🍁

Phyllis created this unofficial Quilt of Valor for a very dear friend. It was my pleasure to help her finish this special quilt.

She chose the Pantograph Here and There with its heart like look signifying the love she wants to send with this gift.

The backing is a nice soft flannel and a perfect fit for a Canadian Quilt. Of course with a print like this I matched the pattern when piecing the backing (both always a complimentary service)

Trimmed and ready for binding, her quilt will soon be ready to be gift!

On Point

February has been such a busy month!

I have been quilting for Marilyn for many years, her use of colour always amazes me.

This quilt using the basic nine patch makes it very easily a beginners quilt, however setting it on point gives a much more interesting look.

I find working on my customers quilts who are utilizing their stashes to make amazing scrap quilts so inspiring…and lessons the guilt that I sometimes feel about my stash!

Not really, I love my fabric stash! It brings me joy!

The black border with the pops of colour, is such an interesting contrast to the centre of her quilt.

Have you heard of bobbin chicken? It’s when you realize you have finished a seam or project and had barely any bobbin thread left! Well I won at backing chicken on this one!

I chose the pantograph Star Swirl for this quilt…notice the tiny stars in the background fabric and then there were also stars on the backing! This is such a softly flowing design with a perfect density for a quilt with a lot of piecing.

Trimmed and ready for binding!

Colour Confidence…Quilting

This week I have been busy quilting a few quilts made by a long time customer of mine.

I have always admired her use of colour and how she plays with different layouts. Her quilts are often what are referred to as scrap quilts. When someone has been quilting for many years those scraps accumulate and seem to grow when stored away.

Some of her quilts such as this one is just a bounty of colour and prints, they are so much fun to look at and explore the variety of prints.

Making simple blocks and utilizing same colour families in individual blocks is another technique that plays with colour.

The variety of colour and prints against a solid or solid reading print in this next quilt would really use up some scraps and sure makes a fun quilt to look at. Many of the most fun scrap quilts have easily pieced blocks such as half square triangles.

Allowing yourself the freedom of playing with your scraps over time, will help to grow your colour confidence.

One of the most freeing decisions that I have made in my personal scrap quilts is that I let go of stressing over the placement of blocks.

When discussing some of my scrap quilts with this customer and long time quilter, we both agree that a simple rule of no two same fabrics should touch but it’s alright if they are close by.

Allowing yourself to play and make scrap quilts just for the pure enjoyment of sewing and creating will I believe help to grow colour confidence,

This quilt, made by my Mom was made in an attempt to use up stash and is a wonderful example of years of acquiring scraps from projects and putting them together into a quilt that will be enjoyed for years to come! Happy Birthday in Heaven today Mom!

Jessica’s Quilt

I love to hear the story behind a quilts creation. When I met Jessica she told me that she would spend summers with her Grandma as a child and that is where she learnt to sew and how to quilt.

Together they began a sampler quilt…time moved on and life took over, school friends teen activities etc.

During her final years of University she inherited her Grandma’s sewing machine and decided to complete the sampler quilt and gave me the privilege of quilting it for her.

There are so many beautiful blocks in this quilt and the colours are amazing.

Finding a backing for this large queen size quilt that she liked for her quilt was difficult and so she chose solid black yardage which I pieced for her. She chose the pantograph Here and There for its heart like design linking the love between her and her Grandmother.

She also chose white bobbin thread which would create more interest to the solid black backing.

Her quilt is trimmed and ready for binding and will be completed just as she graduates from University.

I love the beauty of the stitches on both the front and back of her quilt!

Elegance in Quilting

So often when I think of scrappy quilts I think of many colours and prints…but what happens when you choose a colour palette or stick to just one theme such as black and white?

Stunning elegance!

Joan’s Grandson claimed this quilt after seeing her piece it. We chose the pantograph Jitterbug adding a layer of fun!

The backing fabric reads busy and could have just been pieced however there is a design to it and taking a little extra time to match the pattern was well worth doing.

Can you see the seam?

Here it is…

I know how much time goes into making a quilt, so it’s important to me to take the time when quilting for not only myself but for others to do it right. Seaming backs is a complimentary service, including matching the pattern.

This beautiful quilt is trimmed and ready for binding.

Ingrid’s Stars

Another welcome splash of colour! The green background of this quilt had me thinking of the beautiful early spring greens that emerge and delight us here in North Western Ontario after waiting all winter… (despite our unusual winter weather this year I am not convinced that winter has forgotten us)

Bethanne Nemeshes Pantograph Feather Grande was chosen and worked beautifully appearing as a background fill.

Using a finer thread weight in a colour that not only blended with the back ground but also almost disappeared on the stars and borders (the prints) enhanced the stars appearance of floating on top of the quilt.

The backing was a perfect match for the quilt…both greens were not easy to capture with my camera but with patience I was able to come very close.

The quilt was trimmed and ready for binding at pick up.

A Pretty Variation of The Seed Packet Quilt

February is off to a great start!

I love this bright beautiful quilt made with Kaffe Fassett fabrics, it’s a variation of The Seed Packet quilt.

After piecing and loading this quilt I chose the pantograph Rhododendron which plays on the lovely large blooms in the quilt. I am often requested to decide on the quilting designs for the quilts that I work on.

More often than not, I have a quilting plan within minutes of seeing a top and if not an idea will usually come to me not long after seeing the top.

The backing fabric adds another layer of bright with its pretty pink, but has a soft easy to look at design which beautifully shows off the quilting stitches and design.

Trimmed and ready for binding, this quilt will soon be completed and ready for snuggling under.

January 2024…Quilting and Life

I love this picture of our youngest Grandson! It really reflects how he embraces life, he is a busy, curious, and joyful child. Who will begin school in the fall! This is the picture taken of him at an event introducing the children to kindergarten.

Maybe no matter what stage we are in life we should try to embrace each season in life with so much enthusiasm!

January 2024 has been an unusual Month weather wise, seeing only a short stint of bitter cold and while we did get some snow it wasn’t anywhere near our normal.

I have been very happily busy in my studio working on customer quilts and doing my best to schedule in some personal sewing time as well, even making it out to the Rec centre a few times to sew with friends.

Practicing and learning more about quilting on my domestic machine continues to be a goal this year along with playing with scraps …my postage stamp quilt is in progress but may need to be put aside for some other quilts that have been added to the list.

I have 20 blocks finished so far

Working with a ruler on a quilt for Betty has reminded me that I should return to some of my custom work!

Betty’s Globe Quilt

So far February is looking to be a busy and fun Month! What are you working on?