The Beth Lists
  • Homepage
  • Little Bear's Adventures
  • Diverse Dining List
  • 90 Notable Nights
  • Happy List
  • Quilt Adventure Blog
  • Not So Happy List
  • The Texas Twenty List
  • Mom's Picnic List
  • 18+ Dance Adventures
  • 55 Strangers
  • The Barbie Bucket List
  • 60 Celebrations
  • 57 Celebrations of the Fifties!
 Quilt Adventures

How the Magic Quilt Began

1/10/2012

1 Comment

 

The Magic Quilt
Picture
The quilt looks a little Magic here, in the glow of the morning sun.  It also looks a bit lonely with no children on top or seniors gathered around.

I made this quilt nearly 20 years ago to replace an old family quilt I destroyed from overuse with children.  And even before I lugged quilts to classrooms for storytelling, I used rugs when I was a kid myself, babysitting  younger children.  You could get kids to brush their teeth faster if you promised to play "flying carpet" for a few minutes before bed!

Imagination!

 

Picture
I will admit, I used to sometimes feel guilty about getting paid for pretending with kids!  I love telling stories and I love having children add their own imagination to the story telling.  Why else would we have two Rapunzels in this story?  These children at The College School in Webster Groves, Missouri brought their own version of Rapunzel to life and eventually put it on film.  Incidentally, one of these Rapunzels is grown and has played major roles alongside Reese Witherspoon and Glenn Close.

Is no one listening to me? Is my son pouting?

 

Picture
This photo is the only one I have of the old quilt in use.  This was in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where the quilt began to lose chunks of fluff and batting with each class. 
I think it's just a bad photo, but we could probably use it to make a point that I had no control or enthusiasm because I needed a new Magic Quilt!

The New Quilt 

 

Picture
So I finally bought material, used my mother's old feisty machine and created this 9X9 foot quilt.  (real quilters would not be impressed) 

I created a sitting space with borders, so children could "sit on the blue" and focus inward.  The printed material was inviting to kids.  There were animals and crayons and boats and things to sing or talk about. 

It worked.  Whether it was the soft material or the colors, or the cozy island feel of being together on a space, the quilt unified us.  I learned quickly that I had more control with kids on this quilt.  The wilder kids seemed calmer.  The quieter kids grew more animated.  Children listened longer to my quilt stories and their enthusiasm motivated me to create more.

Magic Quilt Classes

Picture
 I had so much fun making up stories about all the places the Magic Quilt could take us, that I ended up teaching classes that revolved around these silly "what if"  stories.

The photo above, shows  kids at Center of Contemporary Arts in St. Louis, practicing a little percussion before  acting out a story about an  imaginary trip to a jungle.  Between the storytelling and the acting, there had to be lot of time to explore and create...games and music...costume and prop making!

Comfort of the Quilt

These kids are in a Magic Quilt class in Sugar Land, Texas.  They're  having fun, which has been my goal for using the quilt with kids.  However in recent years I've started using the quilt in places where it is more needed...where it can bring comfort and support as well.

Picture
I am not allowed to photograph the kids who now pretend with the quilt on visits to the Fort Bend County Women's Shelter.  I also have no pictures from when I used the quilt with children at the Astrodome and the Red Cross shelter when Houston housed victims of Hurricane Katrina.  These are different kinds of quilt experiences, less structured and more informal.  But whether kids gather on the quilt as a fun after school activity or as a distraction from some bigger worries, the quilt seems to bring a bit of escape to all...me included.

What I have learned...

Whether on a bed, wrapped around a child in a Norman Rockwell painting, or resting on a floor with kids on top...A Quilt is a Welcoming Thing.

 

I have heard people say, the older the quilt, the more valuable. Since I believe a quilt's value increases with each person it comes in contact with... then I guess that must be  true!
Picture




1 Comment
Lorrie Shinol
1/11/2012 05:57:22 am

This was fun to read, Beth. I just love your magic quilt!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    The Quilt

    For 20+ years children have called it the Magic Quilt.  They've danced and pretended all over these colorful squares.  I've dragged it to schools, shelters and studios where children have climbed on top to hear Magic Quilt  Stories and to act them out.

    I still regularly use the story telling quilt with children at a nearby  Shelter, but 7 years ago I started using the quilt on a table with a group of Alzheimer's  folks.   I was blown away by what these incredible people could share and enjoy, so I started up "Quilt Groups" at other centers.  

    In 2013, motivated by the warmth and generosity of the friends I've made through this quilt, I decided to start taking the quilt with me, when I vacation. So far I have met some wonderful adults and children while traveling and sharing the quilt in Mexico, N. Carolina, Utah, California, Mississippi, Chile, Mexico, Guatemala New Mexico, Bermuda and Honduras.  

    In this blog I will share about some of the adventures I've had near and far with the help of the quilt.  Mostly, I'd like to share some of the things I've learned along the way.

    Archives

    April 2022
    September 2021
    May 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Homepage
  • Little Bear's Adventures
  • Diverse Dining List
  • 90 Notable Nights
  • Happy List
  • Quilt Adventure Blog
  • Not So Happy List
  • The Texas Twenty List
  • Mom's Picnic List
  • 18+ Dance Adventures
  • 55 Strangers
  • The Barbie Bucket List
  • 60 Celebrations
  • 57 Celebrations of the Fifties!