The Little Girl in the Giant Bonnet

Holly Hobbie is a character from the 1960’s illustrated on American Greetings cards. She was a “cat-loving, rag-dress wearing little girl in a giant bonnet.” The quilt on my tablescape today is made of this adorable little girl. She is endearing to me because she is wearing my mother-in-love’s clothing from her childhood.

The quilt is a sampler of a little girls’ wardrobe. It’s stitched with blues, pinks, greens and reds on an ivory background.

A soft backdrop for teatime.

Could this be a dress and petticoat for Sunday School?

Was this a shorts outfit she wore to a picnic?

One pink rose in memory of the mother who lovingly laundered all these dresses.

Holly Hobbie loved cats.

So does my mom-in-love. Even if they scratch things they aren’t suppose to.

Could these be dresses she wore to her piano lessons?

Are the patches from a little pink sundress? Bonnets from a pair of dungarees?

Did she hurry to school in a sailor’s dress?

Was this a playsuit from a Butterwick or McCalls’ pattern? Did it have an adorable Peter Pan collar?

Or was it a pinafore ordered from the Sears catalogue?

Or a hooded cape made by the hands of a loving aunt?

I enjoy talks with my mother-in-love. Talks about art, literature, collections, and antiques. We love to reminisce about her precious grandchildren. We discuss fashion trends and decorating. We love our cats, little girls dressed in rag dresses and giant bonnets.

Linking with these utterly fabulous parties:

Celebrate Your Story, Mommy Moments, Rustic and Refined, Coastal Charm,