In Part 2, Milly came onto the scene, meeting the children and Gloria. She accepted the “challenge” – as she called it – of quilting a mural which would become a Peace Quilt. Gloria started the ball rolling with her own blankie, actually her personal Peace Quilt.
Part 3
As I collected photos for this story, look what I found in my archives:
the original sketch!
When the sketch was finished and children had decided that the quilt would be ‘just so’, they spent time coloring their design. This solidified their images of Peace and reinforced how they wanted the quilt to look. It was coming to life.
Milly came to school every week with fabrics. They were gorgeous! I asked her if she had purchased them at JoAnne Fabrics. Her silence was deafening. I compare this faux pas to asking a lady wearing an original Oscar de la Renta if she got her dress at K-Mart. Milly was kind, she understood. Each visit we spread out the sketch on a big table. Children came to find a favorite part of the sketch and pick what they felt was the perfect fabric for that part.
Lizzie was especially interested in the horse and wanted blue fabric. I smiled a big smile. Here’s why:
This was Lizzie’s second year in my classroom. Children often spend two years with me as it is a full day, multiage class. Lizzie rides horses on her farm. She adores horses. More importantly, the year before when we prepared for our annual Art Show, Lizzie was struck with the painting Large Blue Horses by Franz Marc. She worked at her masterpiece over and over- five times to be exact. By the time she finished the paint was so thick and heavy I was worried it would fall off the wall at the art show.
Can you now imagine the thrill that Lizzie felt when she picked out ‘just the right blue’ fabric? I did! And, I told Milly about the art piece while we watched Lizzie. Each child had a similar story, or a reason. Milly was the provider of the feast, and children came to the table to find their favorite foods. It was that simple. Milly ‘got it’.
As the quilt progressed each week, Gloria would pop in and check things out.
When Milly finished the quilt she asked me about the writing and lettering, how I wanted to say PEACE. I hadn’t thought about that, I was so consumed with each part of the quilt. Milly was way ahead of me, she was looking at the forest while I had been looking at the trees. I said, “Milly, you decide.” And she did:
She arrived at my house, held up the finished front of the quilt… and I burst into tears. I never cry, but my tears came out like a flood when I saw this magnificent work of art. Did you know that Milly only sews by hand? She never uses a sewing machine. That means when she began to quilt this fabric, she did so stitch by stitch. Many weeks went by as she came to school and let the children watch her sew. They were mesmerized. It seemed as though watching each stitch connect their special ideas made the quilt all the more important.
Our next step while Milly quilted was to make a book, a Peace Poetry book. We took all of the children’s ideas and put them into a rhyme:
A dog and a cat
A heart on a tree
Autumn leaves falling into the sea.
Stars and a rainbow
Triangles of white
Chicks and flowers, peeping and bright
Puppies and kittens
A cow and a moon
A big bright star, a truck that goes vroom
A horse and duckies
A heart that is red
The color of yellow, peaceful thoughts in my head.
When the quilt was finished there was a big ‘todo’ in town. The newspaper came to do an interview and get photos. The library wanted to hang the quilt for a while. This was big!
Does the quilt look familiar to you? I hope so – it is my blog photo!
When the dust settled I told ‘the world’ of this remarkable quilt, including sending an email to the National Liberty Museum. I thought they might enjoy knowing all that had transpired since we recreated their Peace Portal. Their reply was not at all what I expected, and completely changed the course of events. Frankly, it was a shock. Just when I thought this was finished, that our quilting adventure was at an end, I was so wrong. Little did I know what was about to happen was the beginning. Stay tuned for Part 4.
Jennie
A Teacher's Reflections 
This is a story that needed to be told again. It’s all just wonderful.
Best wishes, Pete.
I’m glad you feel that way, Pete. I do, too! Reading it again is a joy.
Agree with Pete! Loved it the first time round and getting all the feels again!
Thanks, FR. I feel the same way reading it again. 🙂
this just gets better and better, and i love that you found the original sketch !
I know!! Thanks so much, Beth.
The original sketch. What a find!
Yes, indeed! 😀
Loved it.
So glad!
😀
Great project.
Thanks, Anneli!
I’m with Beth!!!! I love that you found the original sketch — the inspiration! Thank you so much for showcasing all of this again, Jennie! ❤️😉❤️
Honestly, I am loving reading this series again! I’d forgotten that I found the sketch. I’m so glad you’re enjoying this, Vicki. Thank you!
Super grateful…thank you! So good! ❤️
💕😍❤️🥰
Wow! I either never heard or forgot that your blog header came from the quilt. It still would have been a cool project, but it was more special because Milly interacted with the kids. I worked with a sixth-grade teacher who did a quilt each year with her class. Each student contributed a quilt square. She displayed all of the quilts for Open House which was fun for her old students when they came back to visit.
Now you know the quilt is my blog photo. 😀 I’d forgotten that I mentioned it in the blog post. Glad I did! I bet those sixth-graders remember the quilts. That’s really wonderful! I owe you an email. Tomorrow!
Looking forward to it when you have the time, my friend. Ryan, Meighan, and Jack are at our house right now. One of his favorite books is Goodnight Moon. It would do your heart good as it does mine to hear Ryan reading it to him in the evening before bedtime. Jack suddenly becomes a prodigious book lover to avoid going to bed. (There are far worse habits than that.) 🤣 We’re heading south to visit my sister-in-law tomorrow. It’s been a wonderful eight days with them so far. They’re going to be with us until Thursday, before going on to Monterey, then flying home next weekend.
I’m so glad you’re spending time with Ryan and his crew. Is he happy with the career change? And Jack is enjoying Goodnight Moon. How wonderful that Ryan reads it to him every night, and that Jack wants to hear more books. Big smiles here! Safe travels, my friend!! 😀
I forgot that your blog image is the Peace quilt!! I see it now! It’s a beautiful quilt, but more important than that it’s a treasure! The original work you found is too!
I know! I’m so glad I mentioned it in the blog post. It really is a treasure, as is the original work. Thank you, Deborah!
I know how this story goes, Jennie, but I still enjoy reading each bit.
I feel the same way, Dan!
I feel the same way, Dan. Reading this again is a joy!
The children did a fantastic job of picking out just the right fabrics.
They really did. It took a long time, and children were engaged, thanks to Milly.
This is such a wonderful story and quilt. Millie’s sewing by hand reminds me of a dress I had to make for school when I was 11 years old. My mother did not have a sewing machine then so she and I together sewed that entire dress by hand including putting in the zip that ran down the back. Whew what a job.
I love your story! My grandmother taught all of us how to sew, but I was the only one who was not interested. To this day, my sisters sew beautiful clothing… but they don’t write. 🙂 I’m so glad you liked Milly’s quilt story. Many more episodes ahead.
💖🌸
Wonderful and joyful post dear Jennie. The quilt is looking awesome and let there be peace everywhere. Gloria too is looking beautiful ❤️❤️❤️
Many thanks, Kamal!
Hi Jennie, thank you for a lovely post!
I’m so glad you liked it, Charles!
Nice.
Thank you!
Great to read this again…my newest take away is that with that blue horse insertion, you could call this a gentle activist statement made by the next (at the time one of the youngest) generation! And the fact that Millie exampled what it means to be curious as she used this opportunity to challenge herself!
peace
Well said, Laura. I think you are right, as Lizzie always had strong feelings, but expressed in a gentle way. She is now Hadrian, a blog post about a month ago. Milly really fostered creativity, both in children and in herself.
So good! It is proof positive that wonderful things can happen when we accept some challenges!
Yes, indeed! Many thanks!
You are always welcome dear Jennie ❤️🙏
Thank you, Kamal!
Oh, Jennie…I know where this goes–and I could read this over and over. Let Peace begin with….kids! Milly was the perfect quilter “angel” for this project of Peace! Reading about Lizzie and the blue horse was new to me. Wow. I love how the kids picked their favorite “food” and Milly, “got it”. Of course! I can’t help but think of the impact all of you had on HER too.
My great-grandmother quilted by hand. My boys’ great-great grandmother, on their Dad’s side, quilted by hand and she was legally blind. They both have a quilt of hers. I’ve always admired quilters.
Everytime I see your blog photo I see this “hanging” in the most special place. The colors and poem are powerful, Jennie! ALL OF THIS IS POWERFUL! Oh, to have faith and peace as children!
Thank you for spreading peace, joy, and love–for teaching our kids curiosity and challenges–that the things that might seem too hard to “tackle” aren’t anything “big” when we do it…together! God bless you and the kids and Milly! ❣️❣️❣️
I so loved this comment, Karla! Yes, Lizzie and the blue horse is never to be forgotten. I’m glad I’ve kept the quilt as my blog photo, too. How wonderful that your boys have a family heirloom quilt, hand sewn, too. Wow! Many thanks for your kind words, my friend. 💕
It’s my blessing, dear friend! Thank you, too!❣️
You’re very welcome! 😍
Always welcome dear Jennie ❤️
Thank you, Kamal!
❤️❤️❤️❤️
God, you are SUCH an awesome teacher!
🥰
Now I’m remembering more of this. I can promise you, I have never, ever heard of a preschool teacher going to the lengths you go to to teach children what they need to live in this world. I remember the next part too. I was so impressed. Does anyone realize what an asset you are to the world? I’ve told you that my DIL owns a preschool. Can’t hold a candle to what you do in your classroom. Makes me sad.
That’s so nice, Marlene. Thank you! It’s really just a matter of paying attention to what children love, then doing something about it. I’ve visited other schools and helped give teachers suggestions… but I always feel their resistance. I don’t know why. Yes, sad.