#kimkonenhandmade

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Muted Rainbow Baby Quilt

I loved working on this beautiful custom quilt for a family who are expecting a rainbow baby. The custom embroidery on back was very personal for them, reminding them that miracles can happen after loss.

38" x 38"

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Barn Star Love Quilt

This Lone Star quilt deserves it’s very own name. This quilt was inspired by the star my client was betrothed under in a barn. She wanted a star with ascending circles surrounding it. It was an honor to make this quilt. 

Dimensions: 104″ x 94″ 

The barn star that inspired the piece. 

The group of water color sketches I made. She chose the bottom left. 

My daughter getting into the photo shoot on a warm November day. 

[kimkonenhandmadejournal]

Warm Autumn Baby Quilt

Handmade for a family who is expecting their first grandchild. Grandma-to-be chose the colors and gave me carte blanche on design. It's soft, warm, and ready for it's companion.

Approx 35" x 45"

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Scarlet Moon Quilt

The Scarlet Moon quilt was originally designed in collaboration with my client. It will live in Ohio, where the state flower is the Scarlet Carnation. This gigantic quilt was inspired by southwest vibes and modern design.

110" x 105"

By request, three handmade holiday stockings to match the quilt.

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New Mexico Quilt: Pattern by Simple Geometric Quilting.

The pattern originally called for queen size, but I customized the size of each block by 1.5" and increased the borders by 4" to achieve king size.

Custom made for my BFF who lives on the east coast. Handmade in 2022. 110" x 105".

About the pattern maker: Laura's approach to quilting is relatable, which is why I'd been looking forward to making a quilt from her pattern, New Mexico Quilt. She says, "Quilting should be approachable, everyone is creative, and perfection is overrated." Learn more about her patterns here: Simple Geometric Quilting.

[kimkonenhandmadejournal]

Hidden Hope Quilt. A Love Letter.

Dear Queer Kid in a Small Town,

You may feel like your colors cannot shine as bright as they truly are. You may feel alone in your town where people are so loud and refuse to think outside of the binary to understand you. Hidden in this quilt is hope. Please look outward to the brightness. Please know that there is a beautiful world full of colors and communities who accept you and love you. There is hope. There is hope. You are a star. 

Love,

Your ally in a small town

About the quilt • 60" x 60" • Machine stitched & quilted

I chose black, grey, and white to represent how binary life can feel to a non binary kid.

Inspired by the events in Kiel, WI, in May 2022 when a nonbinary student was bullied and the media spun it into a “misuse of pronoun” issue completely lacking in empathy for the victim and the nuances of the whole situation.

While repeated bomb threats closed our schools, libraries and community, parents tossed out what seemed like a million lies and falsehoods about transgender kids.

I could not stop thinking about how this one child was feeling. Perhaps they must have felt so bad just for being who they truly are.

My hope is to give at least one person the ability to look at something they don’t understand and see it through the lens of grace and empathy, not bomb threats and terror.

The quilt is bound with rainbow cotton that features stars, representing a larger community who accepts trans and gay kids for who they truly are.