Kim Hanson

Writing & Quilting

A Quilt for Mike

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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.

 

Where’s Spring?

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Here we are, sitting near the end of February. Cold and snow is all around us. I crave warmth and sunlight and quiet, especially the sunlight. I feel it in my bones, a weariness that just won’t go away, no matter how much sleep I get.

The crystal clear day helps…sun reflecting off the mounds of snow piled everywhere. It helps to see the blue sky and sense the endless possibilities of what Spring may bring.

 

 

 

Balzac Billy, the groundhog Prairie Prognosticator did not see his shadow this past February 2nd. That’s supposed to mean an early Spring, but there are no signs of it so far. I’m not sure Balzac Billy can be trusted.

So…what to do in the meantime, while we wait for warm breezy days and Robins to return and sprouts of crocus in the flower beds?

Definitely getting outside helps; bundle up as much as possible and walk (or run) as far as possible.

Act like a kid again and play in the snow.

Keep doing those things you love to do – go to yoga class, or to the gym. Sit still and embrace the quiet in meditation. But don’t forget to be creative. Don’t forget to quilt! Be creative with fabrics, love the new ones on the scene and make up your own patterns. These things will keep your mind busy, your body active and spirit intact until it’s time for a change…a time to be living more outdoors. After all, mind, body and spirit are all connected in a way that makes three components equal one.

These are some incredible fabrics I received yesterday. The collection is called Summer Garden from Benartex. I can hardly wait to get started working with them.

Be good!

Kim

Quilts of Nancy Basserman and beautiful Baker Park in Calgary, Alberta

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I originally published this blog post on October 21, 2016. I wanted to republish the post – as Nancy Basserman has recently passed away. I only came to know Nancy several months before she passed….she was a lovely lady, very kind and very sweet and a wonderful quilter. May she rest in peace.

 

Earlier this week, I took to Baker Park to photograph some of Nancy Basserman’s lovely, scrappy quilts. When I arrived, the sun was shining and the birds were singing. Not fifteen minutes later, the skies clouded over and it was threatening to snow. With or without sunshine, Nancy’s quilts sparkle especially in the beauty that is Baker Park. Across the Bow River from Bowness Park, it is a little known gem of nature, walking paths and greenery.

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In the background, Canada Olympic Park and our ancient ski jump built for the 1988 Olympic Games.

Even though the cold had started to blow in, there were some people in the park, riding their bikes or walking their dogs but it was mainly deserted. Just right for me to snap my photos!

Nancy’s amazingly striking scrappy pineapple quilt drew me in right away. It is so pretty and so scrappy and so attractive.

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Nancy has a penchant for making flying geese – and she does it very well. This beauty demonstrates both Nancy’s piecing and quilting skills.

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Baker Park is home to a pair of bronze twin bears Leo and Mol. The statue stands near the center of the park; an interesting twist to the beauty of nature that surrounds it.

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A sweet little Christmas quilt is one of Nancy’s favourites.christmas

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I call this quilt “In the Shadows” – probably not what Nancy calls it but I love it for the shadowy effects each block portrays.

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Next time you’re out and about in Calgary looking for a wonderful place to walk or sit and think check out Baker Park. Nancy’s quilts will not be there but you will love the nature that surrounds you.

Kim

Calgary’s Confederation Park…Urban Beauty and the Quilts of Berny Sproule

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So lovely that you stopped by.

Loading up my vehicle with the quilts of Berny Sproule, I headed over to Confederation Park last week. Arriving in the early morning light, I caught some stunning Indian Summer displays of the beauty of nature. Despite the early-ish hour, the Park was alive with pedestrians and cyclists and dog-walkers, all of them yielding me the right-of-way when they saw my camera! Without fail, people walking by stopped to admire and remark on the beauty of Berny’s quilts.

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Confederation Park is what now would be described as inner-city. Spanning more than 160 hectares, it’s located in the neighbourhoods of Mount Pleasant, Capitol Hill, Collingwood and Highland Park. As its name would suggest, the Park was “born” in 1967, Canada’s 100th birthday and celebrates Canadian Confederation with displays of flowers and memorials and flags. It’s obvious that a Park this large could have only been created “back in the day” before Calgary’s population soared to well over 1 million people.

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Berny is a retired teacher, long time quilter and does quilting on her long arm machine.

Right away I was so attracted to Berny’s baby quilt, which she calls “Pile of Sheep” made for her granddaughter, Cecilia Francis. Berny altered the pattern somewhat and decided to stack the sheep on top of one another. Such a delightful result!

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I cannot resist a colourful baby quilt! Berny’s “Elephants on Parade” immediately grabbed my heart. I love this little quilt! Berny made her applique Elephants using different dot-patterned fabrics. Her choices were perfect. Elephants just stampede off the background fabric making this little gem really special.

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Elephants on Parade was stitched and quilted for another granddchild, Felix Patrick. One way Berny makes her quilts unique, is that she adds a special touch in the form of a label.

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With this kind of love and affection who wouldn’t want to be a grandchild to Berny Sproule? So special and sweet and charming.

Courtney’s wedding quilt is spectacular. The beautiful fabrics blended-in with the Fall backdrop of nature at Confederation Park. It is truly beautiful and for Berny’s daughter, Courtney, it must have been love at first sight.

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Courtney’s quilt label reads, “Sunsets. It began with a smile, a hug and a kiss, who knew it would turn out in unconditional bliss. Courtney and Justin, as you begin your new life together as wife and husband, may your journey be filled with love, happiness and good health. This quilt is a celebration of your promises to love, honor and cherish each other”. All our best wishes, Mom and Dad.

Just below the wooden bridge and foot path where I snapped photos of Courtney’s wedding quilt, there is a stream which is a protected wildlife reserve.

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There are benches and more wooden bridges and a child’s playground in the Park; there are picnic tables and pathways and tunnels so one can walk under 14th Street N.W.

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A morning walk along the pathways of Confederation Park is like meandering through a lush and marvellous oasis in the middle of the City. So lovely.

Kim

Quilts and the spectacular Riley Park in Calgary, Alberta

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Obviously I think Riley Park is spectacular! I virtually grew up in that park in my Calgary neighbourhood of Hillhurst, visiting it daily. Our principal, Mr. Dibble at Hillhurst Elementary School would tell us “not to cut through the park” to get home, but rather take a circuitous route around the park throughout the streets in the neighbourhood. I really was a good little girl but ’round about grade three I disregarded what Mr. Dibble had to say, snuck through the giant black wrought iron gate and cut straight through the park every day to and from school. Cutting through the park meant stopping at the playground and playing on the swings and the slide for awhile with my friends and/or my brothers. Cutting through the park meant taking off our socks and shoes and wading through the pool after it opened May long weekend. Cutting through the park meant a shorter (and much more fun) way home.

I found a teeny tiny photo online of the wading pool in Riley Park, circa 1956.

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This is how it looks now.

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City Parks and Recreation have modernized and updated the pool over the years, taking out some cement barricades, etc. that were hazardous. My savasana quilt hangs on the fence surrounding the pool. This quilt pattern was published in Quilter’s Connection magazine. I’ve always been fond of the batiks and the colours of this quilt and the embroidered symbols for savasana.

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Rachel Elliott’s quilt, Weight of Love hangs on the fence bordering the other side of the wading pool and looks great as a canvas for the picnic table.

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WeightofLove

The playground now is likely lead-free and woodenless. Back in the day, I got some pretty rough slivers on the seats of the old wooden swings.

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A brand new condominium is being built on the edges of the playground at Riley Park. Living there will mean the playground is your backyard. Given the increase in inner-city traffic and all the pedestrians now, I still think it would be an amazing place to live. Kid noise would be so abundant; it would be wonderful.

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Walking from the park to the rock garden adjacent to Tenth Street N.W. brings back so many memories. My Mom absolutely loved this garden and she would haul us all to the park on a regular basis so she could point and sniff and “oooh” and “ahhh” at all the flowers. Yelling as she did, “stay on the path” would make me nuts. All we wanted to do was play tag and keeping to the paths was impossible.

Even now in September, the rock garden (now called Senator Patrick Burns Rock Garden) is still full of colour and beauty.

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I would love to have my own bench someday in this park.

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A huge piece of my heart still lives in Hillhurst and Riley Park….amazing to think of such a thing after all these years have passed by. I felt so overwhelmingly sad and joyful at the same time, watching all the kids spill out of Hillhurst Elementary School on their way home for the day. Kids and moms holding hands, not hesitating to “cut through the park!”

Kim