I write this journey backwards in time, as it tells a better story.
Juliet, fourteen years later.
Juliet noticed everything. She loved to draw, and her pictures were detailed and beautiful. Little did I know she had paid attention to our Starry Night poster in the classroom. I always had art hanging, and Starry Night was a mainstay. Where would we be without art?
When she went to MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) in New York, she saw her beloved Starry Night. Her mom took this photo for me.
When Juliet was in sixth grade, the assignment was to paint one of the famous works of art. Yes, she painted Starry Night. Wow!
There is more - much more - that all started before Starry Night.
It happened like this...
After visiting the Bennington Museum in Vermont and seeing their display of Haitian quilts, I was thunderstruck. We had just created a Peace Portal in the classroom, yet I could tell the children needed and wanted more. I knew we could create a Peace Quilt.
It began with Juliet's mom sketching out children's ideas.
Juliet was eager to decorate the big drawing.
Ta-Dah!
When the quilt was finished, I compiled all the photos into a book.
Fast forward....
Juliet and her mom and sister visited. It had been a long time since I had seen them. Juliet's mom had just repainted her Peace Dove in the parking lot.
After all the hugs and smiles (which took forever), I talked about the Peace Quilt. We reminisced about making the drawing. I pulled out the Creating a Peace Quilt book and read it aloud. It was a walk down memory lane.
And then, the best. I had saved that original drawing of the Peace Quilt. I gave it to Janine, Juliet's mom. She was overcome.
The quilt hangs as a permanent display at the National Liberty Museum in Philadelphia. Milly was the quilter who took the drawing and children's ideas and made the quilt.
Juliet drew a picture of the quilt for Milly. Every triangle along the border was in the exact color. Her drawing was the greatest treasure Milly received.
Jennie
P.S. Milly made more quilts with the children, and they hang in places of prominence. I have written many blog posts on Milly.
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