Kim Hanson

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My Brand New, Beautiful Quilt Ladder

November 26, 2022 | Leave a Comment

Good day all! Nice to have you here with me, as always.

Way back in April-ish of 2022, I began to search for a quilt stand of sorts that I could display my quilts on, outdoors. I wanted it fairly large, fairly tall actually, so that visually, it would take up the appropriate amount of space in photos.

Now, there are many types and kinds of quilt racks on the market. But they are all made in the same mold, and are maybe 40″ tall. I needed one much, much taller.

Closing my eyes, I had a visual in mind. I started searching online. Nothing of interest was popping up. I took a look at the Kijiji website and did a search. I got a hit for someone advertising quilt ladders who lived in Innisfail, Alberta – about an hour and fifteen minute drive from Calgary. There were no photos on the Kijiji ad. I contacted the email address.

In writing, I tried to explain exactly what I needed. The person at the other end of the email said, “My husband can make you anything you want!”  She told me her husband would make me a wooden quilt ladder in whatever size I wished. Grabbing the tape measure, I got the exact dimensions of the back of the inside of my vehicle and gave them to her. I explained to her what I needed the quilt ladder for. . . in that it had to be able to stand on its own, not necessarily lean against a wall or fence, etc. She took a deposit from me via e-transfer, which I was so happy to send. It meant the process had started. Then, I waited.

Maybe two weeks go by. I get an email from the lovely lady in Innisfail whose name is Yvonne. I can go and pick up my quilt ladder anytime. It’s all ready to go home!  She sent me a photo of it.

I was ecstatic! It looked perfect. We drove north up Highway 2 the very next day.

When we arrived at the home on a cul-de-sac, Yvonne invited me in. My new quilt ladder was standing there in their living room. Yvonne’s husband, Merv, had made it exactly to my specifications! I thought it was beautiful and I said so, over and over again. Merv was pretty happy and proud of what he had made just for me. It’s exactly what I wanted and what I needed.

We paid them the balance owing in cash, visited for quite sometime, and then headed out. Rick was positive that my brand new quilt ladder WOULD NOT fit into the back of my vehicle. Quote: “There is no way that is going to fit in the back of your Rav.”  Merv and I exchanged a glance or two. He didn’t say anything. He and I knew it would fit – after all, I had measured.

Now, the ladder doesn’t fold in or collapse in any way, so it had to fit into my vehicle, as is. Lifting up the hatch door, we carefully slid it into place. Voila! A perfect fit! Yes, the driver’s side and the passenger side seats had to be squished toward the front, but there was still leg room for the drive home. (I’m glad we hadn’t brought the dogs along for the trip. Not too sure where they would have fit in).

I think my new, custom-made quilt ladder is beautiful. Merv even gave us some brown stain in a jar to take home, in case the ladder needed the occasional touch-up. I’ve taken it out to the ghost town of Rowley so far, with many more ghost towns still to visit.

I think it works perfectly for what I wanted. Thank you so much to Merv’s Quilt Ladders, to Merv himself and to the lovely Yvonne.

Here is their contact information:

Take care everyone.

Kim

 

 

Filed Under: Quilt Photography, Quilt Stories and Essays, Quilters, Quilting Studio, Quilts, Stories & Essays |

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.

 

Filed Under: Beautiful Calgary urban parks, Personal, Photography, Quilt Photography, Quilt Stories and Essays, Quilted and Embroidered originalYoga mat bags, Quilters, Quilts, Quilts and Machine Embroidery |

Bow Bench Retreat – A Jewel in the Middle of Alberta

July 21, 2017 | 2 Comments

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

 

Filed Under: Decorating with Quilts, Photography, Profile pieces, Quilt Photography, Quilt Stories and Essays, Quilters, Quilting Studio, Quilts, Writing |

Bowness Park, a beautiful, picturesque and historic backdrop for quilts, new and old

June 30, 2016 | Leave a Comment

Good Wednesday everyone. The long weekend (July 1st – Canada Day) is coming, the sun is shining and the hail stones have all dried up! So, it’s a great day.

Bowness Park is our playground – especially for those of us who are fortunate enough to live close by. It is an unexpected and glorious demonstration of nature, an oasis on the banks of the Bow River. In the book, Bowness Our Village in the Valley, the Park was widely known as “the best feature” of the historic Village of Bowness. As native Calgarians know, Bowness was amalgamated into the City of Calgary in 1964.

My Dad was reminiscing the other day about the late 50’s and 60’s. As he tells it, our family used to “live at Bowness Park” despite the fact that we actually lived in the neighbourhood of Hillhurst. In those days, the park was filled with delightful amusement rides for children – a carousel with big horses, a caterpillar ride that went round and round and a mid-sized Ferris wheel that felt gigantic to me as a young child. The best ride though, hands down, was the Train….little cars that toured the park on the little train tracks that any kid would love to climb aboard. Great days and so much fun.

BownessParkTrain

The little boat ride was exciting too. I fondly remember fighting off my brothers so that I could steer with my right hand and drag my left hand in the water!

BownessPark1

Swimmers flocked to the Park in the summer time to swim in the massive pool. I personally have no memories of the pool. Dad tells me that two people lost their lives swimming in that pool via electrocution. I’ve always thought that was just an urban legend, but I was wrong.

BownessPark2

I came across a document online entitled Memories of Growing Up in Bowness by Linda Mikkelsen Price. In the memoir, she shares “On hot summer days, the place to be was Bowness Park and the swimming pool. The pool had a huge sandy bottom and a wooden deck, two diving boards, slide, stationery raft, movable raft and a water wheel. My siblings and I were not allowed to go to the pool or park on weekends because Mom did not like all the strangers from Calgary that hung around. (*I would have been one of those strangers!) Maybe that rule saved my life. It was a Sunday when two people were electrocuted in the pool under the slide. I still remember hearing the wail of the ambulance and fire engine sirens”.

The 2013 flood in Calgary permanently changed the landscrape of Bowness Park. The banks of the Bow spilled over devastating much of the Park, and water streamed unabated into all the neighbouring backyards. Standing on the sidewalk watching the water furiously cascade onto the streets was a frightening sight that I hope I never see again.

It’s 2016 and Bowness Park has been renewed, restored and rejuvenated. It’s original beauty and charm may not be evident, but the Park itself feels pristine and new and quite wonderful.

Fromthebridge.

Canoe

Fromthebridge1

Geese and ducks heartily populate the lagoon. One thing I didn’t know was that geese hide in the tall grass when the temperature rises.

Geese

Geese1

Bowness Park is an enticing backdrop for quilt photography, my new found passion. I’m excited to share with you, photos of a few quilts made by my excellent friend and fellow quilter, Marilyn Wickenheiser. Marilyn and I have been friends since her eldest daughter was 12 years old – for 26 years now. When I was the editor of our neighbourhood newsletter in Silver Springs, Marilyn came to me with an idea of advertising for and beginning a girls hockey team. Although I love everything athletic, I was inwardly sceptical and initially scoffed at Marilyn’s idea. But bless her heart, she persevered, the advertisement went into the newsletter and the rest became history. Who knew….girls liked playing hockey too! Marilyn went on to play a huge role in the launching and development of Girls Hockey Calgary.

Handmade4

Handmade12

Marilyn’s quilt is entirely handmade, including the crochet edging. It is extremely heavy and oh so cozy. (What I’ve recently come to understand about autism and weighted blankets, this quilt would be just perfect) It is called a “promise quilt”…there is no pattern for the quilt, nor are there any written instructions. The “promise” part comes from the maker promising not to write out instructions for others, but to pass on the how-to’s to other quilters verbally.

Kate’s Chenille Quilt by Chi Chi Designs in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan is the inspiration behind Marilyn’s exquisite chenille quilt. I’ve never made chenille from scratch, but Marilyn has and the results are beautiful.

Chenille

Chenille3

In Marilyn’s huge stack of finished quilts, this quilt top immediately caught my eye. I love the colourful fabrics – it reminds me of a child’s quilt. The pattern for the top is Triple Dash from ModaBakeshop 2014. Marilyn used only scraps to make this delish and charming quilt top. No new fabrics required!

TripleDish

TripleDish1

Quilts of Marilyn’s along with My Zen Garden, piled in front of the fire pit on the brand spanking new deck in front of the not-yet-opened Cafe adjacent to the lagoon at the Park. My Zen Garden lies beside a commemmorative plaque on one of the decks’ wooden benches.

Threequilts

Zen1

The playground is new, the walking/biking path is new and there are new train tracks that run along the river banks. Yes, the little kids’ train is still running, the massive poplar trees are still shading Park visitors and the beauty is intact.

BPplayground

Have a lovely long weekend. Next Wednesday – My Zen Garden quilt pattern.
Take care
NewSignature
Historical Bowness Park photos from the book entitled Bowness, Our Village in the Valley, published by the Bowness Historical Society.

Filed Under: Beautiful Calgary urban parks, Decorating with Quilts, Photography, Quilt Patterns, Quilt Photography, Quilt Stories and Essays, Quilters, Quilts, Writing | Tagged With: Calgary's urban parks, decorating with quilts, historical photos, quilt patterns, quilt photography, quilt photos, quilts, writing

The Perfect Quilt

April 8, 2015 | Leave a Comment

This little essay of mine is currently featured on the Quilter’s Newsletter website.

The Perfect Quilt

Infusing my heart and soul into creating a quilt for someone that I love, is my the recipe for creating the perfect quilt. Perfection is in the eye of the beholder, and sometimes the creator – it is never universal. Perfection is the “idea” of a creation that fulfills the objective.

Years ago, I came across some stunning vintage fabric on eBay. As it was truly vintage, it was only 20 inches wide and was like an old English painting; delightfully portraying the utter sweetness and simplicity of life through a childs’ eyes. When the fabric arrived at my door, it looked even better than it had on my computer monitor, and I was thrilled to have it in my hands. I folded it and placed it in my stash, not having the vaguest idea of what it would be used for.

One day our beautiful granddaughter, Harlow was born. Once I saw her sweet little face, I instantly knew why I had purchased that fabric so long ago. It reminded me of her! Even though I hadn’t yet met her, my heart knew her. Harlow is a blessing beyond words, whose only mission in life is to find joy and spread it around.

I made her a quilt featuring the vintage fabric; it’s uncomplicated and simple, like her. Soft pink and muted green cottons work in concert to complement the unmistakeable innocence of the vintage fabric. An embroidered “H” for Harlow confirms the quilt is hers, and pale pink flannel serves as the most comfy backing ever. No quilt was easier to make, yet it meant so much to me.

HarlowsQuilt6

HarlowsQuilt4

There are imperfections in Harlow’s quilt but I don’t see them. I just see the lovely perfection that is my granddaughter and delight in the way she snuggles under her quilt at nap time.

Till later…..
Kim

P.S. You can click on the photos and they will be larger on your computer monitor.

Filed Under: Quilt Stories and Essays, Uncategorized |

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