"for my baby shower Mary El dove right into my love for sharks and made the cutest quilt for my daughter! 2 years later and it looks as great as the day I recieved it. My daughter loves how soft it is and insists it come in the car with us no matter what!"- Sam
I'm very happy with my recent purchase of a patchwork blanket from Handcrafted Childhood! Mary El did an excellent job making a sports-themed blanket that is very detailed with Chicago sports logos as well as complementing colors. This quilt would make an excellent gift for yourself or anyone! Mary El has made intricate quilts with a balance of cute and comfy for years and it is great to see her sharing with talents with others!- Michelle
I love Hand Crafted Childhood! For 8th grade graduation I sent in my son's t shirts to make a quilt for him. I was so happy with the outcome! The quality of the work and the beauty of the final product was wonderful! I loved it so much that I had another quilt made for my daughter's 8th grade graduation! I would highly recommend!- Diane
This Grateful Dead Moondance painting, captures the dreamy cosmetic energy that the dead are all about dancing under the glowing moon lost in the rhythm of the universe. The colors are rich and hypnotic, and the whole scene feels like a beautiful tribute to music movement and magic. It’s more than art. It’s a vibe, a memory and a mood. Every time I look at this painting, I feel like I want to go dancing with the bears under the stars Mary El is incredibly talented. Highly recommend.- Jean
Over 10 years of hockey, countless games, and memories—now beautifully stitched together my wife Mary El, the creator of Handcrafted Childhood. This blanket, made from all my old jerseys, isn’t just a keepsake; it’s a functional piece of our everyday life, keeping me and my two boys warm and comfortable during movie nights and game days.
It’s more than a nod to the past—it’s a meaningful part of the present, shared with my kids as they begin to discover a love for hockey themselves. Every square tells a story: the grind, the wins, the losses, and the brotherhood. It’s a powerful reminder of what the game has given me and what I hope to pass down to my boys.
This quilt is a testament to the essence of my childhood and teenage years and is an incredible example of what Handcrafted Childhood stands for: preserving memories in a way that brings them to life, day after day.
- Patrick Crozier