Kim Hanson

Writing & Quilting

Memories in Fabrics and Threads

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As quilters, part of what we attempt to do is preserve memories. We preserve them in fabric – like a snapshot.

Last week online, I came across this adorable photo of quilt with a little girl nestled underneath it. I mean…just look at that little face! She’s so precious.

The quilt was designed and stitched by Robin from RobinSewCrazy. In 2007, she opened her shop on Etsy.  Here she is with one of her grandchildren.

Memory quilts are her specialty…she uses her client’s old/too small clothing as fabric for the applique hearts on the quilt top. Robin does not use a pattern for her work, creating each quilt individually and custom to her client’s request.

Robin’s quilted creations capture the imagination. Just looking at them makes me happy! I love the menagerie of fabrics and colours, and they way they all mesh together in the end.

Thanks everyone.

Kim

Bow Bench Retreat – A Jewel in the Middle of Alberta

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For some of us, the creative juices begin to flow the minute we leave the City limits. There is something so wonderfully powerful about being surrounded by nature and all its splendour….wide open spaces, fields filled with seasonal crops and unparalleled beauty.

 

Last week, I took a trip to Carseland, a tiny hamlet south east of Calgary. Travelling on Stoney Trail, I headed south as far as I could, then turned east on highway 22x. But rather than taking the left turn into Carseland, I went right heading to the Bow Bench Retreat. I was meeting with Nancy Strath, the lovely, accomplished, entrepreneurial founder of the Retreat. Nancy smiles a lot…but then, she has a lot to smile about!

Outside the Retreat itself, stillness is the first thing that strikes you. Then, you notice how many birds are singing. Next, you open your eyes to the spectacular beauty of the surroundings. Overlooking the Bow River and Wyndham-Carseland Provincial Park, Nancy’s retreat is the visual definition of bliss.

 

 

Nancy began this place from scratch, on family land, taking over the barn-like structure and filling it with “all things quilting”. There are sewing tables and chairs, power outlets everywhere. There is a cozy little kitchen and metal bars in the rafters where her quilts are hung. She wanted the retreat to not only be her sanctuary, but a sanctuary for all quilters who venture out. She says, “This place was created out of love and joy”.

 

 

 

Nancy is a certified Judy Niemeyer quilt instructor and loves to teach the foundation paper piecing style that Judy advocates. “It’s like putting together a giant puzzle, says Nancy, Or like painting by numbers. Although Judy’s patterns initially look daunting, they are detailed and organized, methodical and quite relaxing to work on,” she adds.

Quilters come to Bow Bench not only to stitch and learn from Nancy, but to also experience her gentle and kind manner.  She’s like a quilt counsellor….who offers therapy sessions! Novice quilters are welcomed with open arms at Bow Bench and are free to use all of Nancy’s quilting supplies, such as scissors, rotary cutters and mats as a way  to “try out quilting” before they purchase all the supplies for themselves.

Nancy will be teaching Judy’s newest technique, called Vintage Rose, at Bow Bench for one Saturday per month commencing in September. Since Nancy does not offer overnight accommodations at Bow Bench, she hosts the occasional workshop away from her Carseland location. Upcoming is a foundation paper piecing retreat at the Lazy M Lodge near Caroline, Alberta. Here, participants will be able to stay overnight, eat great food and sew to their hearts’ content for an entire week.

Nancy is amenable to renting out her facilities at Bow Bench Retreat to individuals and groups. You can contact her at 1-403-934-3491 or email bowbenchretreat@gmail.com.

I keep thinking I want to drive back to Carseland just for an opportunity to practise some yoga poses on Nancy’s deck! In the sunshine. Above the Bow River. Amazing!

Kim

 

Mehndi Hearts – Quilted and Embroidered Pillow Tutorial

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Good day everyone. Thank you so much for joining me here on my blog.

I have another tutorial for you all.

Triple Mehndi Hearts

Quilted and Embroidered Pillow

Ever since Julie at Designs by JuJu released her super sweet Mehndi heart design collection, I’ve been longing to use them for a project. Now, finally, I have! Here is a quick and easy pillow project you can easily make over a weekend. There are ten different Mehndi Heart designs available; your challenge is to choose just three. Begin by gathering together a few fabrics, some colourful rickrack and your favourite embroidery threads and let’s get started. Hope you LOVE your new TRIPLE MEHNDI HEART pillow.

Please be sure and read through all the instructions prior to commencing.

Finished Size:  17″x19″ – pillow cover

Shopping List:

Designs by JuJu Mehndi Hearts designs DBJJ799 – choose three, one large and two small

Fabrics (Shown on pillow cover – Lila Tueller’s Fantine Collection, Riley Blake)

 

White for embroidery – piece 8″x10″ and two pieces 8″x9″

Blue for pillow top front and backing – two fat quarters

Pink for backing to Mehndi hearts and for pillow corners- fat quarter cut 7″x7½” and two pieces 6″x6½” and four pieces 6″x8″

Green for pillow back – two pieces 12″x21″ and two pieces 13″x21″

Quilt batt –  19″ x 21″, 12″x21″ and 13″x21″

Lightweight fusible web – three sheets 8″x11″

Tearaway stabilizer – 1 yard 20″ wide

Pillow form – 18″x18″

Small Pink rickrack – 44″

Small Orange rickrack – 44″

Large Green rickrack – 44″

Embroidery thread, embroidery needles, scissors, pinking shears

Regular and white pencil, omnigrid ruler, rotary cutter

Temporary Spray Fabric Adhesive

*I use Brother Embroidery thread for all my projects

 MACHINE EMBROIDERY

  • Download three Mehndi Hearts designs, one large and two small. Beginning with the large heart, load the first design into machine.
  • Large hoop 8″x10″ white fabric with corresponding piece of stabilizer and place the hoop onto the machine.
  • Stitch out the first heart design, being mindful to clip jump threads as you go. Repeat for two small heart designs – medium hoop 8″x9″ white fabric and corresponding stabilizer.

CONSTRUCTION:

  • With a pencil, draw a line around the perimeter of the large embroidered heart, ½” from the edge of the finished design.
  • Using pinking shears, cut around the pencil line. Repeat for two small heart designs. Press all three hearts.

  • Using fusible web manufacturer’s instructions center and fuse the large heart to the 7″x7½” piece of pink fabric. Repeat using the 6″x6½” pieces of pink fabric for the two small hearts.
  • Using the white pencil, draw a line around the perimeter of the embroidered heart, ½” from the edge of the finished design.
  • Using pinking shears, cut around the pencil line. Repeat for two small heart designs.
  • Fold one blue fat quarter in half lengthwise and press and widthwise and press again to find the natural center. Center all three hearts as shown in the photo, being mindful to line up bottom point on each heart and fuse in place. (Fuse the small hearts first, then the large one).
  • Machine applique stitch around the embroidered heart and the pink fabric heart.

  • Measure 1¾” from bottom of heart tips and with the white pencil, draw a straight line widthwise across the pillow top. Center 20″ strip of pink rickrack on pencil line, pin and stitch. Pin and stitch 20″ strip of green rickrack in place directly under the pink rickrack. Pin and stitch 20″ strip of orange rickrack in place directly until the green rickrack. Repeat these steps for top of pillow. Trim to even.

  • For pillow corners, see diagram #1.

  • After stitching, fold over pink fabric and press. Trim pink fabric to mimic corner of the pillow. Repeat for three other corners of the pillow top.

QUILTING:

  • Make a quilt sandwich; place right side of pillow top back (second blue fat quarter) on a flat surface. Spray lightly with fabric adhesive and carefully layer the quilt batt on top and smooth. Spray the quilt batt lightly and layer on pillow top. Pin if needed. Quilt as desired. (I used an echo – outline stitch around the triple hearts and a basic, straight line grid to quilt the pillow top.) Trim pillow top to measure 17½”x19½”.

PILLOW BACK:

 

  • Sandwich a layer of batt between the two green pillow back pieces sized 12″ x21″. Turn under one edge, widthwise ½” and press. Turn under another ½” and stitch. Repeat for two green pillow back pieces sized 13″ x21″.
  • Right sides together, lay one back piece over pillow top, lining up bottom edge. Right sides together, lay the other back piece over pillow top, lining up top edge.
  • Stitch pillow top and pillow back together ½” from outer edge. Trim and turn pillow cover right side out. Insert pillow form.

 

If you have any comments or questions, please email me directly at km.hanson@shaw.ca.  Thanks!

Kim

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Beautiful, inspiring, idyllic Canmore, Alberta

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I took a quick trip west to Canmore yesterday, to do some research for an upcoming article I’m writing for Quilter’s World magazine. Even though I live only an hour away, I forget how beautiful it is. Being surrounded by mountains and walking paths and crisp, clean mountain air is truly amazing. What a pretty, bustling town!

While I was there, I paid a visit to The Sugar Pine Company, an outstanding, destination quilt shop located on 7th Avenue. I realized I hadn’t been there since they moved to their current building – so 15+ years ago! A little nutty – since it’s a fantastic shop with everything a quilter could ever desire. Literally….everything! I’m going to plan a trip out there soon with one of my quilting friends (Marilyn W.? Marilyn C? Karen? LA?)

The displays are so pretty and so creative…..the work of owner, Leah. Leah and her husband Dean work together in the shop daily.

While I was in town, I was lucky to take in the Visions Art Quilt Show.

I will be sharing photos of wonderful art quilts with you all, but you will have to wait for my magazine piece! It’s due winter of this year.

Any quilters or artists wanting to be inspired by the spectacular surroundings should take some time and visit Canmore. What’s old is all new again!

Kim

Best Rag Quilt Scissors Ever?

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I’ve been making machine-embroidered rag quilts for the past decade or so. I love them! This one is called Animal Sunshine.

This one I made for my sweet granddaughter, Harlow, when she was born.

And this one is Theo’s Quilt.

I have designed a new, machine-embroidered rag quilt pattern which will first appear on the Designs by JuJu’s website in the very near future…so I can’t yet show you any photos of it here.

When working on my new project, I stumbled upon some wonderful, inexpensive, rag quilt scissors. These are Fiskars and they could not be more perfect for clipping the seams on your rag quilt! Gone are sore fingers and fatigued hands and weary wrists. These scissors are truly splendid, gliding along, making very short work of your seam clipping.

Grab a pair for yourself!  You’ll be all ready to try my new pattern when it’s unveiled.

Thank you so much everyone.

Kim