Wednesday, July 18, 2018

Passionate Quilter - Teacher

Guest Post by Vicki Hanson-Burkhart (Wanda’s daughter)


Wanda S. Hanson
Wanda Strope (Hanson)

Thank you all for the thoughtful messages and prayers for my Mom. As she mentioned in yesterday’s post, she had to undergo major surgery and will be away from the computer for a few days or longer while she recovers. 

Meanwhile, I wanted to share with you the link to a new page on the Exuberant Color website that reveals a little background of why my Mom is such a great person, quilter and teacher, and give you a glimpse into her beginnings in sewing and quilting. You’ll discover her passion and productivity goes way back...before I came along:)  

Take a peek at an Interview with Wanda S. Hanson. 

46 comments:

PaisleyBird said...

Vicki, praying for you and your mother today. Thanks for posting!

patty a. said...

Lovely post. I have your mother in my thoughts.

Katy Sweigart said...

Praying for your mom. Her blog is so the first I read every morning. She has been so generous taking time to answer questions that I asked. Loved the interview!

Roxanne said...

The interview and accompanying photographs are wonderfully Wanda-ful! I love the sewing keepsakes, especially the 4H page with the scrap of fabric. Thank you for this post and interview and please give your Mom a hug from all of us!

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

hope Wanda is well and back to home soon - have been in touch with your mom since shortly after she started her blog - she is in my thoughts

Quiltdivajulie said...

Thank you, Vicki - your mom is such a treasure to so many of us. I enjoyed the new interview page. Sending ongoing prayers for your family and for Wanda's hospital caregivers.

Carol- Beads and Birds said...

Praying for your mom's complete and speedy recovery.
xx, Carol

Linda Swanekamp said...

Thank you so much for sharing your mother's story. Prayers for her recovery and strength to continue on.

Alice said...

Today’s blog was a treat. Thank you. Praying for your mom. I read her blog everyday and have learned much from her. She is in my thoughts today.

DianeN said...

Wonderful post. I remember very well seeing her at the Sandwich Fair and then later taking classes when she had Quilting Treasures. She was a wonderful teacher.

Sending all good wishes for a successful surgery and good recovery. Take care.

jrquilts said...



PRAYING FOR YOUR FAMILY AT THIS TIME. YOUR MUM IS SUCH AN INSPIRATION TO US ALL. TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER . hjrogers@sympatico.ca

mb-RI said...

Lots of prayers to your mom from Rhode Island!

BatikFanatic said...

What a wonderful (or Wanda-ful) addition to her website — love seeing the old photos and stories! Since I discovered your mom's blog, I've learned so much from her approach to quilting and, well, life in general. She's so generous with her thoughts and comments, and I hope all proceeds well for all of you. Much love coming your way...

Kristin said...

Praying for your mother. Cute photo and nice article.

Michele said...

I've been traveling and got behind on my blogs. I'm sorry that your mom is having major surgery today and I am sending warm wishes to her and to you that it goes well and she recovers quickly.
I was lucky enough to take a colorwash class with your mom in the fall of 2016. I'd been following her blog for several years by then and it was an honor to meet Wanda. She has been such an inspiration to me and to many others, and she is such a lovely person.

LynneP said...

Thanks for today's post. I liked learning about your mom's past.
Keeping Wanda in my thoughts today!

Bonnie H said...

Wonderful post ! We are from the same era (learning on the treadle machine, etc.)
Wishing her the fastest recovery !!

Lola's Mom said...

Loved the look back into the 50's and all Wanda has done in her life. She continues to amaze me with her energy, I can see it started early on. Love you, Wanda...speedy recovery!

Needled Mom said...

I loved reading the interview. She is so talented in her sewing/knitting and quilting. Wanda and her family have been in my prayers today.

Julierose said...

Great interview--hoping that all goes well today for Wanda--prayers winging their way to her...hugs, Julierose

Martha Mumaw said...

Wanda introduced me to quilting in 1974. I was pregnant with my first child. I was only 19. I took beginning quilting classes from her in the basement of Johnson's floral shop. She introduced me to the rotary cutter and mat! I later worked with her at John and Joyce douglas's Pfaff dealership. She gave me a recommendation which led to me doing night community education classes at Waubonsee community college. I have Wanda in my thoughts and prayers. Love her.

kadyb said...

I'm sorry to hear about the need for surgery and wish Wanda a successful outcome and a speedy recovery. I enjoy her blog so much. My thoughts and prayers are with you all, including her care givers. Love her.

kadybird2002 at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

Sending thoughts and prayers for a successful surgery, and quick recovery for your mom...so enjoyed the interview and pictures from the past!
Lots of positive thoughts for Wanda!!

Sandra B
scb304@juno.com

Marnie Haines said...

Good afternoon, Wanda, I've been thinking of you all day and hoping that your surgery went well. You certainly have a terrific daughter who shares so many interests with you. A true blessing. Rest well and accept my thanks for enjoying and learning from your blog for a year now. Marnie Haines

Juliequilt said...

May peace and healing come your way today and for many days to come as you recover from surgery, Wanda. Thank you for sharing this lovely story about your Mom's life, Vicki.

patchworkstories.weebly.com said...

hope things go well for your mom. I always enjoy her blogs...wondering what happened to quiltingblogs.com???where I would always see her entries? I can't figure it out, but the site seems to be gone.

O'Quilts said...

This was great...No surgery will keep our Wanda down...xo

Mary said...

Thank you for sharing this post!

Debbie said...

Loved the post. Prayers and hugs to your family and Wanda.

Nancy J said...

Thanks Vicki, and with those arms, Wanda could do anything, Hoping she will sail through the surgery and recovery like a Kaffee fabric, bright and beautiful.

Unknown said...

Praying for your Mom's fast recovery! Hers is the first blog I ever followed and I enjoy it every day.

Lynn Dykstra said...

Wanda, Here is a link to something I wrote about you 5 years ago.
https://kleinmeisjequilts.blogspot.com/2012/02/exuberant-color.html
All my best for a strong recovery.

A Left-Handed Quilter said...

Vicki - I hope your Mom is doing well and that she recovers quickly. Please give her a BIG HUG from me - ;))

One of my favorite quilts is one of your Mom's that I tried to copy - "Fractured Pansies" from the Margaret J. Miller's book "Strips That Sizzle". It's the last photo - the purple and yellow one - in the top set of photos on the "Interview" page. My left-handedness messed me up and I cut all of the blocks with the diagonal going in the wrong direction - the colors were on the wrong side. I got a good lesson in design trying to make it work - since there was no way it was going to match your Mom's beautiful quilt. And now - all these years later - I love reading her blog daily - and learning all that she so graciously shares with us - ;))

Elsie Montgomery said...

Met you and your mom in your studio in Charleston a few years ago when she had her exhibit there. My daughter was with me. What a fond memory after following this blog for a long time. Thank you for keeping us informed. I am praying for her also.

Mystic Quilter said...

Vicki, you and Wanda are in my thoughts. Wands's blog was the very first one I began reading a number of years ago, I fell hook, line and sinker for her wonderful use of colour in her quilts, I have one of her colourwash pieces on the wall in my quilting studio which I bought from her last year.
I love taking a rest for my eyes by looking up to see this glorious little quilt. My best to you both.

Kerry said...

Thank you Vicki. I think my favourite photo is the one of your mum holding up the rock! But a nice interview. I love seeing your mum's quilts - so bold and bright.

Hope all is going well and that she bounces back soon.

Kindest regards

Mary said...

Thank you for sharing this with us. Sending good thoughts and prayers to your mom!

Asha said...

Praying all goes well today with the surgery. Please keep us informed as you are able. Lovely article. Thanks for sharing. :)

judith lockhart said...

Absolutely loved seeing the story of your beginnings with sewing and quilting and all the pictures, Wanda! Your blog has inspired me so many times and still is continuing to do so. Praying for your recovery!!

piecefulwendy said...

Praying for your mom and you today. Thank you for sharing the lovely interview. I always enjoy seeing what your mom is creating!

Sylvia Anderson said...

Thank you Vicki, for yesterday's post on Wanda's earlier life, and how she wandered into her world of wild, wonderful, wacky and warm sewing and quilting.
The photos remind me of my own youth, especially those saddle shoes and the black and white school photos. Please let mom know how much we miss her and that we are all praying for the best possible outcome of her surgery.

pbj fiber marietta said...

Your mom is an inspiration to me every day! I love seeing what she is up to, both quilting and gardening. Thinking of her and her family and wishing her a speedy and full recovery.

Anonymous said...

Hey Wanda, When prayers go up Blessings come down. Blessings coming your way, Cleta

Cathi said...

Thank you for sharing this with us - loved reading about the incredible creativity that has been part of Wanda's life for so long. We are all fortunate she shares so much on her blog! Watching her use of colour has made me more adventurous with it as well. I am thinking about Wanda and your family and hoping she's back, feeling better and blogging soon.

Mystic Quilter said...

Vicki, in my earlier comment I omitted to say how much I enjoyed the interview with Wanda. So very interesting to learn of her early day with sewing and how she progressed to quilting. The photos are delightful, thank you so much for sharing them with us. Hope Wanda is recovering from the surgery slowly but surely.

Jenny said...

Thanks so much for sharing Wanda story. She is a real inspration to so many of us, and we wish her well in hr recovery.