Category Archives: art

Milly the Quilter Story – Part 7

Posted on July 13, 2026 by Jennie

In Part 6, the quilt, Milly, and the children were VIPs aboard the Intrepid Museum in NYC.  What an event!  The museum’s Curator called me to say the quilt was too large to hang at the museum.  Their Executive Board unanimously … Continue reading →

Posted in America, art, Community, Giving, Inspiration, military, patriotism, quilting, The Arts | Tagged , , , | 37 Comments

Milly the Quilter Story – Part 6

Posted on July 9, 2026 by Jennie

In Part 5, the children were over the moon singing “God Bless America” at every opportunity.  We sang for soldiers, and made our own God Bless America book for families, writing and illustrating all the words to the song.  Children still … Continue reading →

Posted in America, art, Community, Giving, Giving thanks, history, Inspiration, military, museums, patriotism, quilting, Singing, The Arts | Tagged , , , , | 55 Comments

Milly the Quilter Story – Part 5

Posted on July 6, 2026 by Jennie

In Part 4 the Peace Quilt became part of the permanent collection at the National Liberty Museum in Philadelphia, and Milly became an important part of my classroom.  Children adored her.  She loved singing, and Milly’s favorite song was our favorite … Continue reading →

Posted in America, art, children's books, Inspiration, literacy, museums, patriotism | Tagged , , | 43 Comments

Milly the Quilter Story – Part 4

Posted on July 2, 2026 by Jennie

In Part 3, Milly brought in beautiful fabrics and placed them on the sketch of the Peace Quilt spread out across a big table.  Children came to her like moths to a candle, picking out just the right fabrics.  At … Continue reading →

Posted in art, Community, Expressing words and feelings, Heart, Imagination, Inspiration, museums, Peace, quilting | Tagged , , , | 38 Comments

Milly the Quilter Story – Part 3

Posted on June 29, 2026 by Jennie

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in art, Community, Gloria, Imagination, Inspiration, Peace, Poetry, quilting, Teaching young children, The Arts | Tagged , , , | 56 Comments

Milly the Quilter Story – Part 2

Posted on June 25, 2026 by Jennie

In Part 1, I discovered a Peace Portal at a museum and recreated it in my classroom.  Peace became a big deal and very real to children.  When I saw quilts that were murals, I knew I had to make … Continue reading →

Posted in art, Community, Diversity, Expressing words and feelings, Gloria, Imagination, Inspiration, museums, Peace, Teaching young children, The Arts, wonder | Tagged , , , | 50 Comments

The Art Show!

Posted on April 25, 2026 by Jennie

The annual Art Show is up and running.  As always, the art is stellar.  Why?  Because I empower children.  I tell them, “You can do this!”  I show them works of art by the masters – slowly and purposefully.  I … Continue reading →

Posted in art, Early Education, Heart, Inspiration, School, The Arts, wonder | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 65 Comments

Happy Easter From the Ducks in Boston Public Garden

Posted on April 5, 2026 by Jennie

This is a favorite post from Easter many years ago. Photo courtesy Universal Hub Robert McCloskey’s classic story, Make Way for Ducklings, is immortalized in bronze statues in the Public Garden on Boston Common.  Mrs. Mallard and her eight ducklings, Jack, … Continue reading →

Posted in art, books, children's books, Community, Inspiration, picture books, The Arts, wonder | Tagged , , , , , | 69 Comments

Music to Inspire My Young Artists

Posted on March 10, 2026 by Jennie

“Where words fail, music speaks.” ~Hans Christian Andersen~ Music is at the heart of every emotion- inspiring poets, writers, and artists. I use music to inspire my preschoolers to paint.  Oh boy, do I ever!  First I bring in my … Continue reading →

Posted in art, Imagination, Inspiration, music, preschool, The Arts | Tagged , , , | 73 Comments

Summer at the Eric Carle Museum

Posted on August 25, 2025 by Jennie

A trip to the Eric Carle Museum is my ray of sunshine, my inspiration.  Seeing original art illustrations and finding new children’s books gives me joy.  This summer visit was wonderful of course, and filled with new discoveries. The lobby … Continue reading →

Posted in art, children's books, Diversity, Eric Carle, Eric Carle Museum, Inspiration, picture books, The Arts | Tagged , , , , , , | 84 Comments