Memories of childhood

Earlier in the year  I took part in a jolly block swap with transatlantic quilters. We made little people inspired by Kleine Meisje Quilts and for many of us these little people took on lives of their own. I had made some extras and when I remembered our Christmas challenge was memories of childhood I decided to make more little girls wearing old Lancashire cotton apron prints from my late mother's stash. It took one whole day of my quilt retreat. When I got home I pieced them in rows, quilted simply then added writing round the edge including the title "fabric of childhood". Then I gave each a name using my machine's alphabet facility, names common in the classrooms of my childhood but seldom seen now. Motley buttons completed the look

.

It was good to see the other challenges and realise a couple of members had an African childhood more common in the days of "Empire". A very clever one, a many sided ball with each side a faded black and white photo was very tactile; it got picked up quite a lot. But on this never to be repeated occasion my piece won; I was utterly delighted especially as my prize was a Christmas cake  made by excellent cook Vanessa. Alan was pleased too when I got home. We've already broached it and it's delicious.