A View from the Bench

A Quilt for Mike

August 25, 2020 | 7 Comments

Good day everyone. Thanks ever so much for joining us. I appreciate all the new subscribers that have come on board recently.

Five years ago, my thirty-something son asked me to make him a quilt. I was a little taken aback. . . he had never seemed very interested in my quilting. I put Mike off for awhile; but he asked me again.

So I began to go through my fabric stash in an attempt to figure out what fabrics I could use for his project. Mainly, kid-themed fabrics dominate my stash, along with florals and bright feminine-styled fabrics. Finding something that I thought Mike would like was a bit challenging.

I came up with some brown and cream fabrics I had ordered awhile back – they were vintage type fabrics, American civil-war inspired. Here are some fabric examples on my Pinterest page.

Civil War Reproduction Fabrics.

Beginning to pull fabrics together, I really wanted to finish it before he asked me again. Unfortunately, I really rushed it; I wasn’t feeling particularly inspired or creative at the time…I just wanted to “get ‘er done!” So, I did. Including some machine embroidery here is Mike’s finished quilt.

I was not at all happy with the finished product. Not really liking the salmon-y coloured fabrics, I was disappointed I had used them. But, Mike seemed to like his quilt and he appreciated it.

Maybe a month later, our son’s best buddy who was also named Mike, asked me to make him a quilt. I was so shocked! Do guys in their 30’s really want a quilt? He, of course, offered to pay me for it, but I declined, knowing full well he couldn’t afford it.

Pulling more fabrics from my over-subscribed stash, I made Mike #2 his quilt. He smiled a lot when I gave it to him, so I think he liked it.

As many of you already know, our Mike passed away in March of 2018. One of the things I kept from his apartment was his quilt. He always had it laying very neatly across the back of his sofa. Mercifully, it still smells like him.

As hindsight set in, I regret not taking more time to design Mike a really special quilt – something just for him. I regret not sitting down with my pencil and paper and drawing a quilt pattern that would have suited just him. I regret not knowing that I would never have the opportunity to make him another quilt.

Recently, I discovered a hidden gem in Calgary – a section of the Rotary/Mattamy Greenway. It’s a pathway located in Royal Oak, adjacent to the car dealership where my vehicle is serviced. There are ponds and huge trees and beautiful City views along the way.

Beautiful Bullrushes

Bike Rider on the Path

Not really sure why, I wanted to get a few photos of Mike’s quilt in these exquisite, natural surroundings. Somehow, the backdrop makes the quilt look better.

My heart still aches at the loss of our son. It’s strangely comforting having his quilt here at my house. In the end, I’m glad I made it.

Thanks everyone.

Kim

P.S. One of the most outstanding birthday gifts I ever received was from Mike. He went to the local quilt shop and bought me this book called Color Magic for Quilters. He was a very thoughtful person.

r. It’s an amazing resource. Thank you son.

The Appeal of Quilt Retreat

July 11, 2020 | 4 Comments

Good day everyone. Hope you’re doing well.

The Autumn 2020 issue of Quilter’s World magazine is out in print. I love working for Quilter’s World; they approve my idea and then let me run with it. That’s truly the best way to work!

My piece is entitled, The Abiding Appeal of the Quilt Retreat and begins on page 66 of this issue. As with all my writing, I’m so very fortunate to engage with some wonderful people. For this article, thanks go to the following ladies: Angela McPherson, Vivian Sergeew, Donna Bonn and Alvina Saliken, (of Sweet Pea Quilting in Parksville, B.C.) all of whom were kind enough to spend some time with me…answering my questions and providing me with some of their lovely photos.

You can pick up an issue at your local quilt shop or grocery store or Chapters. Alternatively, you can purchase an issue online here.

Thanks again to four special ladies who helped me make this article happen. I’m very appreciative and grateful for your kind assistance.

Kim

Riley Park – My Very Favourite Place

July 4, 2020 | 12 Comments

There’s no place in Calgary like Riley Park. It’s where I used to play as a kid. It’s where I grew from a child, to a teenager. Although the park is a little different now than it used to be, it’s still filled with memories at every turn.

Spring and summer bring the park to life; green grass, a playground full of noisy children and 50+ year old trees show us the best part of nature.

My granddaughter and I went to the park last week. We ended up playing a camera game she came up with…take as many photos as you can in a specified time period. She literally had me running from place to place!

She’s an active girl – it’s sometimes a challenge to keep up.

The cricket pitch was a great spot to throw down a few cartwheels. I first saw cricket being played as a kid. We’d stand in the park watching two teams play. The rules then and now are still a big, giant mystery to me. Players running the length of the pitch, hitting a small ball with a large wooden bat. So very strange.

We both sat in the parks’ massive trees. While dangling down our legs, it occurred to me that I had likely sat in that exact spot 54 years ago, when I was ten years old. It’s humbling.

No water is in the wading pool yet…I’m not sure if the pool will be open this summer or not. It’s configuration changed over the years. It’s gone from being a giant, cement rectangle with a rough, uneven bottom to a children’s wading pool with water fountains and a bright teal smooth bottom. Just like the colour teal in my quilt, Carina.

Although my granddaughter and I did not visit the Rock Garden this time, we’ve been there before.

When we were ready to head home, a woman arrived at the park, with her kite in hand.

Try as she may, and it was a very windy day, she couldn’t get the kite to stay up in the air. Some city workers in orange vests came by and tried to be of assistance. They couldn’t get it to fly either.

My view from the bench in Riley Park brings me full circle. I remember myself cutting through the park with Marilyn Black (Chalmers) on our way to Hillhurst School. I remember also that we were not supposed to cut through the park; we were supposed to go the “long way”, on Fifth Avenue to 12th Street N.W. I remember playing with my brothers in the pool in the summers. I remember my Dad bringing us there to play baseball. Then I see my beautiful, precious granddaughter cartwheeling down the cricket pitch and I can’t help but feel amazing joy and gratitude. Not everyone gets to literally “go back in time”. I see myself as a ten year old in that child, so open and loving and unaffected…just looking for the next adventure around the corner.

It’s like a small piece of “perfect” in a world filled with chaos.

McCalls Quilting magazine – “Jolly Holiday”, Christmas quilted and embellished pillow.

June 12, 2020 | 2 Comments

The best of Friday to you all! Thank you for taking the time to read my blog post today.

McCalls Quilting magazine has just published my Christmas pillow, which we called Jolly Holiday, in their most recent issue – Summer, July/August 2020. Now, if you’re at all like me, and appreciate the fact that our Spring has only just finally arrived, the last thing you’re going to want to think about is Christmas! I know, I know! I truly feel exactly the same way.

But, Christmas is still coming. Maybe you’d love to get ready for it in June or July? Maybe you’ve had a hankering to stitch a project now to add to your Christmas decor in December? If so, this fun and easy pillow is just the quilting project for you. You can pull out some traditional red and green Christmas fabrics from your stash, or you can purchase some Christmas fabrics from the collection called All the Trimmings from Maywood Studio, which I used to stitch this quilted and embellished 18″x18″ pillow.

Jolly Holiday; designed and stitched by Kim Hanson

The pattern and photos are featured on Pages 70 – 73 of the issue. In Canada, you can find the magazine at Chapters/Indigo, Co-Op and some quilt shops. It can be ordered online here.

On Jolly Holiday, I worked with the fabulous Lori Baker, acquisitions editor at McCalls, whom I have known for many years. Thanks so much Lori for your valuable assistance and for choosing to publish my design.

I really strive to create fun and easy, colourful projects…projects that other quilters will love making. This one was fun; particularly the piecing of the pillow top and the embellishments I used – giant Riley Blake buttons and a Riley Blake crocheted flower. Why not try this out? You’ll have a great addition to your home come Christmas.

Please message me or leave me a comment if you have any questions.

Thanks again everyone. Please take care of yourself.

Kim H.

A View from the Bench

May 25, 2020 | 2 Comments

Good day everyone. I’ve had a little work done on my website; not a great deal of work mind you – just a few minor changes. I’ve renamed my blog to A View from the Bench. I’ll include photos from some of my favourite benches…places where I love to sit and think, pray or just be in the midst of nature.

First photo is from my son, Mike’s memorial bench, which sits just in front of a playground in a City park. I think most of us are counting down the days until the kids will be back climbing on the jungle gym, sliding down the slides and trying to balance on the teeter totter.

While I was sitting on Mike’s bench, it did my heart good to see several grown up kids come to play baseball on the diamond in the park. It’s been way too long since we’ve seen that!

I mean, not only is it Spring, but there’s a strong feeling of hope; that things are slowly coming back to life.

So, I just wanted to let you know that things will change a bit on my site. My web address is different too – www.kimhanson.ca. If it’s not too much trouble, would you all please consider subscribing to my blog again? I have a new feed and would love to keep coming to you. You can subscribe or re-subscribe here.

Thanks so much everyone.

Talk soon.

Kim