Kim Hanson

Writing & Quilting

Calgary’s Confederation Park…Urban Beauty and the Quilts of Berny Sproule

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So lovely that you stopped by.

Loading up my vehicle with the quilts of Berny Sproule, I headed over to Confederation Park last week. Arriving in the early morning light, I caught some stunning Indian Summer displays of the beauty of nature. Despite the early-ish hour, the Park was alive with pedestrians and cyclists and dog-walkers, all of them yielding me the right-of-way when they saw my camera! Without fail, people walking by stopped to admire and remark on the beauty of Berny’s quilts.

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Confederation Park is what now would be described as inner-city. Spanning more than 160 hectares, it’s located in the neighbourhoods of Mount Pleasant, Capitol Hill, Collingwood and Highland Park. As its name would suggest, the Park was “born” in 1967, Canada’s 100th birthday and celebrates Canadian Confederation with displays of flowers and memorials and flags. It’s obvious that a Park this large could have only been created “back in the day” before Calgary’s population soared to well over 1 million people.

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Berny is a retired teacher, long time quilter and does quilting on her long arm machine.

Right away I was so attracted to Berny’s baby quilt, which she calls “Pile of Sheep” made for her granddaughter, Cecilia Francis. Berny altered the pattern somewhat and decided to stack the sheep on top of one another. Such a delightful result!

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I cannot resist a colourful baby quilt! Berny’s “Elephants on Parade” immediately grabbed my heart. I love this little quilt! Berny made her applique Elephants using different dot-patterned fabrics. Her choices were perfect. Elephants just stampede off the background fabric making this little gem really special.

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Elephants on Parade was stitched and quilted for another granddchild, Felix Patrick. One way Berny makes her quilts unique, is that she adds a special touch in the form of a label.

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With this kind of love and affection who wouldn’t want to be a grandchild to Berny Sproule? So special and sweet and charming.

Courtney’s wedding quilt is spectacular. The beautiful fabrics blended-in with the Fall backdrop of nature at Confederation Park. It is truly beautiful and for Berny’s daughter, Courtney, it must have been love at first sight.

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Courtney’s quilt label reads, “Sunsets. It began with a smile, a hug and a kiss, who knew it would turn out in unconditional bliss. Courtney and Justin, as you begin your new life together as wife and husband, may your journey be filled with love, happiness and good health. This quilt is a celebration of your promises to love, honor and cherish each other”. All our best wishes, Mom and Dad.

Just below the wooden bridge and foot path where I snapped photos of Courtney’s wedding quilt, there is a stream which is a protected wildlife reserve.

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There are benches and more wooden bridges and a child’s playground in the Park; there are picnic tables and pathways and tunnels so one can walk under 14th Street N.W.

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A morning walk along the pathways of Confederation Park is like meandering through a lush and marvellous oasis in the middle of the City. So lovely.

Kim

Quilts and the spectacular Riley Park in Calgary, Alberta

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Obviously I think Riley Park is spectacular! I virtually grew up in that park in my Calgary neighbourhood of Hillhurst, visiting it daily. Our principal, Mr. Dibble at Hillhurst Elementary School would tell us “not to cut through the park” to get home, but rather take a circuitous route around the park throughout the streets in the neighbourhood. I really was a good little girl but ’round about grade three I disregarded what Mr. Dibble had to say, snuck through the giant black wrought iron gate and cut straight through the park every day to and from school. Cutting through the park meant stopping at the playground and playing on the swings and the slide for awhile with my friends and/or my brothers. Cutting through the park meant taking off our socks and shoes and wading through the pool after it opened May long weekend. Cutting through the park meant a shorter (and much more fun) way home.

I found a teeny tiny photo online of the wading pool in Riley Park, circa 1956.

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This is how it looks now.

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City Parks and Recreation have modernized and updated the pool over the years, taking out some cement barricades, etc. that were hazardous. My savasana quilt hangs on the fence surrounding the pool. This quilt pattern was published in Quilter’s Connection magazine. I’ve always been fond of the batiks and the colours of this quilt and the embroidered symbols for savasana.

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Rachel Elliott’s quilt, Weight of Love hangs on the fence bordering the other side of the wading pool and looks great as a canvas for the picnic table.

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The playground now is likely lead-free and woodenless. Back in the day, I got some pretty rough slivers on the seats of the old wooden swings.

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A brand new condominium is being built on the edges of the playground at Riley Park. Living there will mean the playground is your backyard. Given the increase in inner-city traffic and all the pedestrians now, I still think it would be an amazing place to live. Kid noise would be so abundant; it would be wonderful.

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Walking from the park to the rock garden adjacent to Tenth Street N.W. brings back so many memories. My Mom absolutely loved this garden and she would haul us all to the park on a regular basis so she could point and sniff and “oooh” and “ahhh” at all the flowers. Yelling as she did, “stay on the path” would make me nuts. All we wanted to do was play tag and keeping to the paths was impossible.

Even now in September, the rock garden (now called Senator Patrick Burns Rock Garden) is still full of colour and beauty.

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I would love to have my own bench someday in this park.

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A huge piece of my heart still lives in Hillhurst and Riley Park….amazing to think of such a thing after all these years have passed by. I felt so overwhelmingly sad and joyful at the same time, watching all the kids spill out of Hillhurst Elementary School on their way home for the day. Kids and moms holding hands, not hesitating to “cut through the park!”

Kim

Quilts in the Windermere Valley; the Town of Invermere, B.C.

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A summer playground for Calgarians, Lake Windermere is a mere three hour drive away. The lake is actually just a widening of the Columbia River…beginning past Radium, B.C. stretching from the town of Invermere to Fairmont Hot Springs. My family has been going to the lake for more than 30 years. Yet, each time I leave home headed for the peace, tranquility and relaxation that awaits me, I love it more and more. The drive itself is a beautiful journey…Highway 93 in B.C. has an incredible mix of wildlife often grazing just off the highway.

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Verdant Creek is maybe halfway between Castle Junction and Olive Lake on Highway 93 – and is a large reason visitors stop at Vermillion Crossing and Kootenay Park Lodge.. The colour of the water in the creek has always fascinated me.

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The town of Invermere itself is the hub of the Valley, a throwback to quieter days – it reminds me of Stars’ Hollow! (Gilmore Girls fans?) Main Street has shops and restaurants lining both sides leading down to the amazing and stunning beauty of the public beach.

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Teeny tiny Windermere is a village or a hamlet in the most picturesque spot on the lake. It’s beaches are pristine and beautiful.

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I was in Invermere recently, looking for a fitting backdrop to photograph some quilts by Rachel Elliott, Charity Coordinator for the ever-expanding Calgary Modern Quilt Guild.

Heading down Main Street, a white piano in the middle of the sidewalk piqued my interest. “Play Me” spoke the sign on the piano and some children were taking turns doing just that. How typically Invermere! The freshly painted white piano was Theresa Wood’s idea, events coordinator for the town.

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Near the Sobey’s sitting atop the vast Panorama Hill is the delightful Windermere Valley Museum.. It’s an amazing place; a little Heritage Park. I was lucky to have the museum all to myself.

Rachel’s geometric wonder, which reminds her of a giant piece of confetti, is a quilt she made from a pattern called Weight of Love by Libs Elliott. She is attracted to strong geometric shapes; not surprising given that Rachel is a junior high math teacher.

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A few of my quilts hanging by the old, vintage Mining Cabin.

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Moving on to the Mount Nelson Skate Park located up the hill from the center of town, Rachel’s quilt Gravity looked spectacular hanging outdoors in the brilliant blue sky and sunshine.

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Gravity is a pattern by Julie Herman ofJaybird Quilts and again, its geometric shapes appealed to Rachel’s mathematical mind. What began as a personal challenge ended up being a tremendous accomplishment for the novice quilter. Rachel did a wonderful job of piecing Gravity together and Mary Dylke’s quilting expertise finished off the project. Just look at those tiny circles!

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Gravity hung in the choice spot on the brow of the balcony of the Wainwright Hotel at the 2016 Festival of Quilts in Heritage Park in May. Rachel was understandably overwhelmed at the sight of her quilt being displayed in her first-ever quilt show. As she says, “I shed a few tears”.

Clementine, Rachel’s name for her Lion quilt (pattern by Violet Craft) is another intricate paper pieced design. This little gem won first prize in the Calgary Stampede, 2016 paper piecing category. I love the depth portrayed in the lion’s eyes.

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By the roadside leading into Windermere, I stumbled upon a lovely side yard garden filled with sunflowers and poppies.

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This quilt was also paper pieced by Rachel using a pattern by Alison Glass and Nydia Kehnle and some magnificient ombre rainbow fabrics. The quilted feathers are so beautiful; my personal favourite being the purple ones.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Next Wednesday: Quilts in Riley Park.

Kim

American Quilter magazine – 21st Annual Festival of Quilts, Heritage Park, Calgary, Alberta

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Good morning everyone. It’s a sunny and fabulous, if a little windy, Wednesday here in beautiful Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Although it’s only August 24th, there are definite signs of Fall rapidly approaching. The weather here can basically change overnight; the feeling of an instant chill in the air near the end of August is a sure sign that summer is coming to an abrupt halt. I think it’s exciting – cooler weather is not my enemy and I love the “feel” of the day when school starts again.

I had the pleasure of writing an article on Calgary’s Festival of Quilts for American Quilter magazine. The article is featured in the most recent issue of AQ, September 2016.

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The Festival of Quilts is a spectacular quilt show held each year in Calgary’s Heritage Park in late May. The Park itself forms the perfect backdrop for all the beauty of hanging quilts.

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This year’s rendition took place outdoors in blue, sunny skies for most of Saturday and Sunday. But a huge deluge of rain swept in to drench the Park on Saturday and most of the quilts had to be hauled indoors by volunteers and then re-hung outdoors once the skies cleared. During the downpour, the quilted cow stood alone!

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The best part of having written this article was meeting and speaking with some pretty special quilters. Margaret Jones Jessop was the Festival’s Quilter of Distinction. Her work is truly unparalleled…her quest for new and exciting ways to quilt is always inspiring. Rachel Elliott and Charla MacPhee, both members of the busy and active Facebook group, Calgary’s Modern Quilt Guild, contributed tremendously to the success of my article. Thank you so much to these three ladies and to Vanecea Greene and Mya MacPhee (Charla’s pint-sized quilting daughter). You can see my photos of their work in American Quilter magazine.

Next Wednesday I will feature Rachel Elliott’s quilts, photographed in Invermere, B.C. Stay tuned!

Thank you all so much.

Kim

Writing for the Quilting Industry; So many changes in the World of Publishing

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Whenever my work is published, whether a quilt project or a written article, I’m beyond thrilled when I see the proof in a quilting magazine. That thrill never diminishes. There is feedback, validation that your work will interest someone else. It’s great!

Recently, Quilter’s World published an article of mine entitled Young Ideas, Old Traditions on page 80 of the Autumn 2016 issue.
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Initially, this article was written in 2014 at the behest of the editor of The Quilter magazine. I researched the piece interviewing young quilters – Telene Jeffrey of South Africa, Erin Brophy of New York, Britney Chrisinger of California, Katrina Lloyd of Texas, Gina Tell of Iowa, Jeena Lugo of Utah, and Jennifer Lipman from Arizona. Unfortunately, The Quilter magazine went under and my piece went unpublished.

Undaunted, I began the search for a new publisher sometime in late 2015. I queried Quilter’s World with my idea in early 2016 and they accepted it! Two years in the making didn’t dampen my joy of being published; in fact, I think it made it a little sweeter. The ladies I worked with and interviewed for the article were astounding! First, they are all young quilters, carrying on a very old tradition. Second of all, they were wonderful to deal with; funny and interesting and delightful. It was my distinct pleasure to “meet” each and every one of them. I’m actually hoping I get a chance to work with some of them again in the near future.

But sadly, quilt magazines are disappearing. Earlier this month, we learned that Quilter’s Newsletter would no longer publish after the Oct/Nov 2016 issue. They have been publishing for almost fifty long years!

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Working in the past with Quilter’s Newsletter on many of their special issues was truly wonderful for me. I will always cherish the help, assistance and direction of editors Mary Kate Karr-Petras and Carolyn Beam, not to mention Lori Baker. All the best to each of you ladies and thank you so much for all that you did for me.

I had a quilt project scheduled to be published with Quilter’s Newsletter that will now not appear on their pages. A similar experience happened to me when Quilter’s Home met its demise. (GenQ magazine rose from the ashes of Quilter’s Home).

The point is, publishing in the quilting world is changing. The trick is to being ultra patient and evolve with the times. I basically have the attitude of “never give up” and it has served me well.

Cindy Brick wrote a piece on her blog about the new world of quilt publishing and it’s definitely worth a read.

Kim

Next Wednesday: Quilts in Invermere