Kim Hanson

Writing & Quilting

Third Act

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Months ago, I came across an editorial piece in a women’s business magazine. The writer, a middle-aged female, was lamenting her reality; that she had spent so much time on building her business that she had missed out on precious time with family. Her business was very successful and over the years, she had expanded its reach.  She was rightfully proud of what she has created, yet so regretful of the day-to-day family activities she had not witnessed.

As I read her words, I realized it was exactly the opposite for me. I’ve always had such grand business ideas that have not been fulfilled. The lion’s share of my time has been devoted to family. My husband’s job has always taken precedence – I worked a part-time job away from home, took care of our three children and ran our hectic household.

Our three children grew into lovely, caring, responsible adults. When I was 46 years old, and still kinda filled with a youthful exuberance, our lives were blessed with the birth of our first grandchild. I was able to take care of our boy during weekdays for four years, while his parents were at work. I learned very quickly that I didn’t  really have youthful exuberance, he did! Jacob wore me out, but those four years were truly some of the best of my life. We went everywhere together…he has such an adventurous soul. We visited the Y, the library, the zoo – and met some of the best people ever, especially at the local Y. He’s now almost 16 years old and I pray that our time together in his youth established an unbreakable bond for life.

I’m turning 62 pretty soon and now my Dad’s health is in decline. His driver’s license was taken away by his family doctor sometime ago, so I’ve become his eyes and ears on the road. Prostate cancer, alarmingly high blood pressure, kidney issues and deteriorating vision keep us both very busy with countless doctor’s visits and scans, scans and more scans. He needed an emergency CT scan and for expediency, his doctor sent us to High River, a town 45 miles away from home. The appointment was at dawn. Neither of us will ever forget the spectacular sunrise that day, the laughs we had or the great health care professionals at the tiny High River hospital. Sometimes, when we’re at the Mall for his haircuts or having a blood draw at the clinic, we take a few minutes and walk and talk and he grabs a coffee. We sit in the food court and he tells me things I never knew. Stories I’ve never heard.

I’m beyond mid-life and approaching my third Act. In retrospect, I may have regrets in my life, but I will never regret all the time I’ve been able to spend with my family. Thanks to my husband, who has always supported me no matter what, I’ve done what I’ve really wanted to do. I’ve wanted to be there to watch our kids grow. I’ve wanted to be there to spend time with our grandchildren. I’ve wanted to be there when my parents need me in their last days. I’ve been blessed to be able to do all of that. Thank you God.

 

Kim

 

 

 

Grandma Forgets

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My dream is to write picture books for children; I’ve been learning all I can in the past few years about writing for children.  I’ve taken many courses online (mainly through writers.com) and have loved and learned from each and every class. I’ve been working with a wonderful, established American children’s author, who is assisting me with invaluable feedback on my work. When my first children’s book is published, I will owe her a tremendous debt of gratitude.

Grandma Forgets by Paul Russell & Nicky Johnston is just the type of book I aspire to write. It touched my heart and I wanted to share it with you all. Grandma has Alzheimer’s and doesn’t always remember her children or her grandchildren. Undaunted, Grandma’s family perseveres, visiting with her often, reminiscing about her wonderful long life and all the activities they have done together. The illustrations of their memories moves the story along.  The most lovely part of the book is that Grandma is always cheerful, always willing to engage with her grandkids, even if she doesn’t remember who they are. To the young granddaughter in the story, the most important thing is that Grandma knows how much she is loved.

Maybe a family member could make Grandma a “quilt of memories”? Maybe that would help her to remember? Maybe that’s another story.

Thanks everyone.

Kim

 

Taking Stock and Getting Ready for 2017. Do you practice the Five Good Pillars of Health?

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Happy New Year everyone.  I’m so grateful that you have stopped by.

I’m doing my usual year end review – more a mental review than anything else….pondering what worked for me this past year, insofar as quilting and writing are concerned, and what did not work. What parts of quilting and writing were particularly enjoyable?  What was not so much fun? Can I find some time to learn more about photography? Taking better photos is a goal.

In addition to the mental part of this equation, I really like to do a reorganization of my sewing space, sort of getting things ready for the dawn of a new year. Checking out fabric (do I have enough? yes!), checking out what quilt patterns are have in the works and what stories there are to tell. Physically going through all my folders and papers and business cards and recycling and updating. It’s so much fun and a way to renew.

Besides the usual sewing and quilting and writing, I’m checking in to see what I can do to maintain good health.  Without good health, really, what is there?

There are five widely accepted “Good Pillars of Health”.

1. Eating foods that are generally good for your body. (Everyone slips up once in a while, but it’s important to get back on track and eat for the overall health of your body).

2. Maintaining some type of regular, physical activity. (Yoga and walking are it for me – they both help me to get up from my desk and my sewing machine and my couch and move. This one seems to be the hardest one for people to sustain; why is that do you suppose?)

3. Reduce your stress. (So vague, right? How do you reduce your stress?)

4. Maintaining social connectivity.  (To family, friends – especially women friends for women)

5. Spirituality.

What steps do you take to maintain good health…stay connected to both your family and your friends? How do you practice spirituality? I’d love to hear from you. You can leave me a comment on my blog – above the post, right under the title.

So hug your kids and grandkids. Let’s plan on making them some great quilted projects next year.

Thanks so much for being here in 2016. All the best to you and to your family in 2017.

Kim

 

The Haunting of my UFO

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I’m not one to accumulate UFO’s. I’m way too addicted to the satisfaction that I feel when I actually complete a quilt. Quilter friends of mine have lots of UFO’s, due mainly I think, to the wonderful anticipation and excitement of always starting something new.

Now having said that, I have one BIG UFO that I can’t seem to shake! It gleefully stalks me from room to room in my home, as my sewing studio keeps being relocated. The latest incarnation of my studio is in our basement…I have much more space now and much better lighting – all the better to see my UFO mocking me from the confines of a large Tupperware container.

The genesis of my UFO came with extremely good intentions on my part. A quilt shop in Cochrane, Alberta was offering an exquisite bear-themed block of the month. Of course, the blocks were delightful and wonderful and I just had to enroll. So, I paid my money and every month a lovely packet of pattern and fabric arrived in my mailbox. I tore into each block of the month (for …. oh about eight months) and dutifully completed the bear appliques. I’m not at all sure what happened to make me stop constructing those blocks, but stop I did. Now, I’m left with eight lovely blocks and seven little packets of pattern and fabric.

There is something to be said about momentum….once it’s lost, it’s hard to regain. I take the completed blocks out of their Tupperware home every now and again. It’s a reminder, each and every time, that I must finish this project. It would make a child such a lovely charity quilt and for that reason alone, it’s more than worth the time and effort to finish it off. Wish me luck!

The Perfect Quilt

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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.

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.