Several years ago we had four members of our family who were moved into nursing homes. I knew we would be traveling and visiting a lot so I wanted to have a portable project.This applique design was taken from a small image in a library book on design history. I had originally planned to use is as the quilting design in the center of an Amish style quilt but decided to make an applique project because I knew that once I had the fabrics basted together I would only have to do the sewing. The center is a single piece of fabric hand appliqued to the black background.
The quilting design for the border is an original design in the style of the applique. The quilt is hand quilted and measures 42.5 x 41.5 inches. 
It is called Childhood's End because the making of it encompassed the movement of four relatives to nursing homes and also their deaths. If we think of life on earth as our childhood and the afterlife as the adult stage then this would be their "childhood's end." In another sense, as I have lost so many older relatives and become one of the older generation of my family it is also my childhood's end.In loving memory of the three who died this week in 2000.Ken HarrisDaisy GrafRuth Carson
