I never had a Barbie as a child (insert sobbing violins here). No, Mereth and I had to make do with cheap Barbie knock-offs called Fifi. Let me tell you, Fifi was one hard-faced dolly. She had a mean look that could split stone. It wasn't a lot of fun to play with a doll that looked as if she was going to give you what-for any minute. Which is probably why she ended up full of pin-holes and missing the tops of her fingers; I just never felt much of a connection with her.

We made both Fifis endless collections of clothing, and set them up in their own one-bedroom apartments, and generally enjoyed playing with them. But they weren't like real Barbies....

When my daughter came to Barbiedom, I just had to have one of my own too. A sweetly smiling brunette, the type of girl you'd like to have as a best friend. Called Phillipa. And then Phillipa's little sister Erica had to come home with me, because she was fully poseable. If you don't understand any of this, you never will. But if you do understand, you know why I had to have them as an adult. If anyone asks, it was so that my daughter and I had a common interest.....

Our Barbies had to have quilts to go along with the clothes, and Don built them a 5 bedroom mansion with attic, kitchen and living room. They had a sportscar, and a caravan, several dogs and cats and a pushbike. They even had horses! They lived the high life allright. Until that fateful day when they were packed away in boxes, 7 years ago.


I found Erica's little quilt, so here she is holding it up. You can see she's thrilled with it, even after all these years. Those hexagons measure 1/4"along each side, and were made from tiny shop samples.

Phillipa's quilt is made of 1/2"hexagons, also made from shop samples. Alas, it was never quilted, but she's so lovely, she doesn't hold that against me. I just may finish it for her this week....




I must have a word with her about those purple earings; sooo last century. We may have to go shopping for some new gear.