Kim Hanson

Writing & Quilting

Trapped and Tangled Loon

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Good day everyone. It has been a very long, long time since my last post. I have been writing mainly, taking classes, taking photos, getting my garden growing, with some quilting on the side. Also, my Dad has been hospitalized yet again; I can’t remember if it’s been three times or four times during Covid. . . it’s been a lot for both him and for his family.

I was so excited to have my very first children’s story published in the American children’s magazine, Cricket. My story, “Trapped and Tangled Loon’ was included in their April, 2022 issue.

April 2022 Issue of Cricket magazine

It’s a story about two boys at Police Outpost Lake (near Waterton, Alberta) who help to free a loon who has become tangled in fishing line.

I must admit I was thrilled. 

Here’s hoping there’s more children’s stories, worthy of publication, in my future.

Insofar as quilting is concerned, I’m getting myself better organized. I’ve sold some of my “stash” fabrics online and will likely continue to sell some more. I really have too many fabrics and can’t see my way through them all. I’ve been working on two children’s bunk bed quilts – one of which will be featured in Quilter’s World magazine in the Spring.

My blogging will be on a much more regular basis now. Thank you all so much.

Kim

Quilts in the Summer – Chief Mountain and Beautiful Waterton Lakes National Park

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In May, I was at Heritage Park’s Festival of Quilts and came across a sweet little quilt called My ABC’s. It was displayed on a wooden rack in a side yard across from the Wainwright Hotel. I was drawn to it immediately.

Turns out, the quilt was made by Charla MacPhee, a novice quilter, mother of four and previous member of the Calgary Modern Quilt Guild. For a novice quilter, Charla has made an amazing number of beautiful quilts. Recently, she and her family made a major move across Canada back to her native home. Before she left Calgary, Charla graciously allowed me to photograph some of her quilts in the surroundings of beautiful Waterton National Park, located in southern Alberta. I was so happy that she trusted me with her beauties!

My husband and I set out for Waterton on a Friday night. It was 10 p.m. when we arrived. The elk were grazing on the horizon as we turned into the Parks’ entrance.

WatertonElk

Saturday, we awoke to a cloudy day and a Park that was not at all crowded. We stayed at the quaint Bayshore Inn which was built so many years ago on the shores of Waterton Lake. Heading behind the hotel, I drank my tea sitting on the large rocks on the banks of the Lake. What a way to start the day!

Behindhotel

PrinceofWales

Boat

Walking around the teeny tiny town, we came across this Mama Deer and her two little fawns grazing in someone’s backyard.

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Just off Main Street is a rustic little church with an old wooden signpost; the perfect place to hang Charla’s Hello Darling quilt. She made this one using a background of Kona white solids and a jelly roll of fabrics designed by Bonnie & Camille for Moda. The colourful, pieced blocks are set on point, which makes this quilt look to me like a modified log cabin pattern. Very striking and very pretty.

HelloDarling

After a few hours, We headed out of the Park towards our land – maybe a 25 minute drive or so. Rain falling, the bridge and the majestic Rockies made for a stunning backdrop for my quilt, which I call Summer.

Summer

Along the way, we found this deserted, tranquil rest stop.

Reststop

My ABC’s made by Charla for her children from free Moda letter patterns is the quilt of hers I fell in love with at Heritage Park. I find it utterly charming.

MyABC's

Wildflowers are abundant in this “neck of the woods”. Beautiful fields of flowers grow undisturbed.

Flowerwithdew

Sunflowers

Purpleflowers

Cartwheels, another of Charla’s quilts hangs on the fence surrounding the perimeter of our property. Chief Mountain, which is actually located in Montana, looms in the distance. She used another Moda jelly roll in the construction of this project; designed by Corey Yoder.

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I am grateful that I met Charla before we she moved so far away, and even more grateful that I got the opportunity to photograph a few of her quilts. She’s a lovely lady and I wish her and her family all the best in the East!

Kim

Next Wednesday – Quilter’s World magazine – Young Ideas, New Traditions. How this article came to be.

Wednesday Charm – Waterton

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Hello everyone. Happy Wednesday. So very nice to have you here, as always.

My husband and I took a very quick trip down south last weekend, to some land near Waterton National Park in our Province of Alberta. The day was stunningly beautiful; very sunny with a little stormy cloud. Wind was blowing as it always seems to be.

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It’s the undiscovered country, it really is. So few people are even aware of the beauty that lies in southern Alberta.

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Chief Mountain looms large on the horizon – it is located in the State of Montana and is a highly sacred and powerful place to the Blackfoot Confederacy.The mountain is said to have mystical power; a force that is highly palpable. I love being close by.

Wetlands border Chief Mountain….home to so many different species of birds.

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One of my favourite places is a church that is basically in the middle of nowhere. The door is left unlocked for anyone who wishes to look around inside. The church is very dark inside now, as the windows have been boarded over, but there are still four or five small rows of benches and religious pictures adorning the walls. There is a guest book to sign.

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It has a small cemetery attached in the church yard and it is a privilege to wander around the grounds.

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It is so wonderful to take a break sometimes, to treasure and admire what nature offers us each and every day. Beauty, tranquility and peace.

Till later…..

Kim

Quilting away from Home

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Though there is plenty of work for me to do while I’m away from home, I like to take the time to walk in the mornings to some familiar places around the Lake. The little red and white church is my favorite. Although I’ve never been inside the wee church, it’s existence fascinates me and I’ve admired it’s strength and standing in the community for 25 years or so now. Sitting on the bench in the side yard with the sun streaming down on my face is as close to heaven as it gets. There is no sound, except maybe for the occasional boat cruising by. On weekdays, the Valley is so quiet; serene and lovely. There is true peace and healing being in such a quiet little community – it’s so very lovely.

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SNOW, SNOW and MORE SNOW!

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Quilted and Embroidered Yoga Accessories are being created.

Late on Friday evening, my husband and I decided to head to the condo in B.C. Snow was falling and there was a heavy snowfall warning – but that didn’t stop us from venturing out! Driving away, I texted our daughter and, not surprisingly, she responded “you guys are crazy!” My plan had been to work on my quilting all weekend – but I figured I could have my “cake and eat it too” if I just brought my work with me.

The highway west was busy until we passed through Banff. Turning onto highway 93, there were several vehicles huddled together idling near the open gate close to the huge, electronic “Moose on Road” sign. Really, a moose was on the highway? When and where exactly? Kinda made me wonder how long that sign had been posted. (BTW, same sign still there on our return trip home!).

We breezed on past the idling vehicles into the darkness of highway 93. The snow was blowing into our headlights and into the windshield, making it almost impossible to see anything at all. This section of the roadway we call “the dead zone” aptly named as there is no cell service, no radio reception, no nothing. So, I plugged in my ipod, and we both listened to Brad Paisley and drove along in the complete darkness, lost in our own thoughts.

Approaching Radium, the highways became more treacherous – black ice and more fierce blowing snow. My husband sped up to pass a slow moving vehicle on the left and I closed my eyes and squeezed them tight. White knuckling the dashboard; thank the good Lord we made it!

It was chilly and cold when we arrived at our place; time to pull out the quilts and snuggle in front of the TV for what was left of the evening.

Saturday morning was a snowy, winter wonderland. Walking on the frozen Lake was like being all alone in the middle of a gigantic whiteout. My husband grabbed a snow shovel that was propped up against the old picnic table and began to clear the snow off the Lake. The ice beneath was incredible – so smooth and glassy. Too bad there weren’t any shinny stars waiting in the wings – it was just too cold for a pick-up game of hockey.

Back inside, work was calling me so I booted up my computer and began some quilting/blogging/research work. I’m extremely excited to be working on my new project – quilted and embroidered yoga accessories for a fabulous U.S. magazine.

Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to read my weblog.

Kim