Kim Hanson

Writing & Quilting

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Death of a Dream?

July 13, 2021 | 8 Comments

As many of you know, I’ve longed for a backyard writing shed for years. I’ve had a recurring dream since my 30’s of a peaceful, tranquil, creative space, all my own.

I visualized a little cottage-type shed, with white shiplap on the peaked ceilings and gauzy curtains blowing in the gentle breeze. My magical space had a built-in bookcase on the back wall, a comfy chair and-a-half tucked into one corner and my desk positioned in the center. Funny thing was that the little shed stood in the middle of the woods, in a beautiful, green-grassed meadow. Obviously, my dream embellished my backyard just a smidge!

I’ve coveted she-sheds of all shapes and sizes. I’ve coveted old sheds and new sheds. I even have a board for them all on Pinterest.

Some of my very favourites:

 

So, so, beautiful, right?

My dream writing space has always represented something tangible to me; a creative place where the words would flow naturally from my brain, to my hand, onto the page. They would flow so easily.

Now, in my 60’s, I still poke around online, looking for that perfect little she-shed. As luck would it, I found one! If it wasn’t perfect, it was near perfect.

Isn’t that cute? Someone was selling this little gem. I loved the tiny wooden porch, the outdoor lights and the scuffed-up door. I was pretty excited, and bonus: we wouldn’t even have to build it! It was already insulated, wired and ready to go. It was a good size – 8′ x 12′ and was located fairly close to our home. Movers were ready and available to move it to my backyard right away. Sounds perfect?

I thought about it for at least a week. I looked at the online photos of the shed every day, inside and outside. I went out into our backyard with my tape measure and paced out the size. Then, I did it again and again. Coming back into the house, I walked down the steps into my basement studio. Taking stock of everything I already had available to me. . . the light and space and comfort I had access to. . . I decided against purchasing this little, sweet, shed.

For days, it felt like “my dream was dead”. After all those years of thinking about my own little workspace, it was so hard to drop it. But, I realized this dream of mine had surfaced long ago, when our kids were young and space was at a premium in our home. I also realized there was no magical place where words would flow easily. Writing is not easy – it’s hard – no matter where you hang your hat.

In my home studio, I have space for my fabrics, my files and my desk. I have storage for scrapbooking supplies and finished photo books. It’s a warm and cozy space in the winter and cool and comfortable in the summer. I do have peace and quiet to write and quilt.

Things change. Life circumstances, mindsets and dreams all change.

My new dream is that I will become an (older!) published book author. Better late than never.

Kim

Filed Under: Personal, Quilting Studio, Stories & Essays, Writing | Tagged With: backyard, quilt, quilter, quilting, she shed, studio, writing

What is the name of this mystery block|?|

July 6, 2021 | 10 Comments

Good day everyone. Here on my blog and also on the Quilting for Kids Facebook page, we are running a new contest, and it’s a little different this time.

Here is a photo of a quilt block. It’s old – likely stitched in the 1930’s. As a contest entry, we are looking for the name of this mystery block.

You can enter below this blog post in the comments. Or you can head over to Quilting for Kids on Facebook (click the link above) and enter there. This contest is only open until this Friday – July 9th. So enter today!

An answer will be chosen at random from all the correct answers and the winner will receive this prize:

 

Best of luck everyone.

Kim

Filed Under: Contest Winners, Quilt Patterns, Quilt Photography | Tagged With: contest, mysteryblock, quilt, quiltcontest, quilters

Super Quick, Super Easy Pinwheel Tutorial

February 9, 2021 | 1 Comment

Good day everyone. I wanted to post a very short, quick tutorial for anyone who is currently stitching pinwheels or wants to stitch pinwheels.

For the quilt I’m sewing, I needed to end up with a finished pinwheel, measuring 8.5″x8.5″. In order to accomplish that size of a block, I cut two squares each 7″.

Step #1 – With right sides together, stitch around the perimeter of the fabric unit, 1/4″ from the outside edge.

Press. This is a very important step. It ensures that when the fabric unit is cut, the half square triangles all measure the same.

Step #2

Placing your ruler at opposite diagonal corners, cut through both layers of fabric with your fabric cutter. Leave pieces in place.

Pick up your ruler, place it on the alternating diagonal corners and cut.

Step #3

Press to set the seams of the four half-square triangle units.

Open and press towards the darker fabric.

Step #4

Lay out the pinwheel on your sewing table.

Step #4

Stitch one side together, pressing seams towards the top. Repeat on the other side, pressing seams towards the bottom. Stitch together along the mid-line.

There we go! You’re left with the perfect pinwheel.

It’s such an easy way to stitch a whole lot of pinwheels.

Talk again soon. Thanks so much.

Kim

Filed Under: Uncategorized | Tagged With: perfectpinwheels, pinwheels, quilt, quiltpinwheels, quilttutorial

Perfect Flying Geese

January 23, 2021 | 1 Comment

Good day everyone. I’ve always said, “I’m not a typical quilter. . . a typical quilter is very precise, pays close attention to working in a step-by-step manner and quilts by the rules.” Unfortunately, that’s not me, never has been.

I’ve always been too time conscious, worrying more about getting the project done quickly than getting it done precisely. My rushed manner has always left me with a mistake or two or more. It’s always left me with seams to rip out and many re-dos. Perhaps daily meditation has helped me to see this behaviour? I don’t know.

I’m trying to work in a less hurried and more well defined, concise way. I’ve decided to spend more time on my cuts and my stitches and my pressing. I’ve decided to be a little more detail-oriented and a little less time conscious. I want to slow down in my quilting work and get it right the first time.

Recently, I wrote a profile piece about a mother-daughter quilting duo for an American quilt magazine. While doing my due diligence, I watched several of their online how-to videos on youtube. One of the videos I tuned in to dealt with “how to make perfect flying geese”.

Now ordinarily, I would not have paid too much attention to the content of the videos. I figured my flying geese were good enough the way they were. But, in light of my new “intention”, I paid close attention.

The ladies used a Bloc-Loc flying geese ruler. Basically, all the ruler does is square-up all your geese so that they all measure exactly the same. It doesn’t help with the actual construction of the geese.

I chose to buy a 3″x6″ ruler; but it comes in many sizes. It’s a little expensive I’d say, but I now feel it’s very worthwhile.

The ruler has already come in handy for a quilt I’m making for my book. The ruler also comes with a guide to making flying geese – i.e. what size to cut the rectangle, what size to cut the squares, which is also very helpful. Once the flying geese units are stitched together, the ruler is placed over the unit, and any excess fabric trimmed away. (I used to trim flying geese units using my regular quilting rulers, but they were never all exactly the same). It’s very likely that most of you use a ruler like this already, but for me, it’s different and I love it! I will always use it now.

What do you know? They’re all exactly the same size! Yippee.

Please take good care of yourselves and your family.

Kim

Filed Under: Uncategorized | Tagged With: Bloc-Loc, flyinggeese, quilt, quilting, quiltruler, quilts

Quick & Easy Quilts

January 15, 2021 | 1 Comment

Good day everyone. I hope both you and your families are well. Prayers for a very speedy dissemination of the vaccine.

Quick & Easy Quilts is a new publication from Fons & Porter. It’s a unique publication; a bit different from other quilting magazines. A few words from their website:

Telling a Story – Yours and Ours

Launching June 30, 2020, this magazine features quick and easy projects combined with storytelling elements that make this publication unique. Quick + Easy Quilts is meant to be approachable and the quilts achievable—something welcoming to beginners and still fun for those with more experience. Mixed in with the quilt patterns are personal stories, tips and tools we love, photos from our designers, and maybe even a recipe or two.

Here is the cover of the latest issue.

Quick & Easy Quilts magazine February/March 2021

My Valentine’s Day fabric wreath is featured in the magazine on pages 25 through 29.

Page 29 Quick & Easy Quilts February/March 2021

I love that the editor has included my story behind the wreath, a pattern on how to make the wreath and photos of the wreath in different settings. It was a privilege to work with Tracy Mooney (editor), Lori Baker (acquisitions editor) and Melina Piotrowski (administrative assistant) for Quick & Easy magazine. They each contribute to making the process “quick and easy!”

Here is my fabric wreath in Christmas fabrics.

Christmas Wreath

And one that hangs in my living room.

Puff pillow wreath

If you are interested in making my wreath you can purchase the magazine here. If you don’t fancy the wreath, there are many other quick & easy projects in the magazines’ pages that you can make in practically no time at all!

Thank you everyone. Talk again soon.

Kim

Filed Under: Uncategorized | Tagged With: fabricwreath, quick&easyquiltmagazine, quick&easyquilts, quilt, quilt&easy, redandwhite, Valentines'Day

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