Swing Higher Wall Hanging

• 100% cotton fabric and batting
• H 23" x W 20"

I had a lot of fears as a kid: monsters in the dark, anything that moved too fast and basically any new experience. But I loved swings. 

I'd pump my legs hard and in perfect rhythm so I could soar high in the air. I loved/hated that drop in the pit of my stomach on the descent. If I closed my eyes, it felt like I was flying, completely free with nothing holding me back. 

That feeling is what I think of when I look at this improv wall hanging. As I get older, I'm releasing those fears and enjoying the freedom that comes with that. Ultimately, I am learning to embrace the person I am. So I've called this design: 'Swing higher!" 

Kristy Woudstra of Gezellig Studio in Hamilton is a minimalist, modern quilter who uses geometric shapes and solid colours to express her thoughts and emotions. As the daughter of very practical Dutch immigrants, she is drawn to the functionality of this art form. The idea of people (usually women) stitching scraps of fabric together over the centuries to bring their families comfort is both inspiring and humbling.