"All peoples of the world are stitched together into one glorious quilt." Malagasy proverb
Interested in having that Monarch Magic continue on through the cold winter months and uniting children across Canada, the United States and maybe even Mexico?
Join the Monarch Quilt Project!
The quilt project is a wonderful and meaningful connection for both students and teachers. Many Monarch Network teachers have been involved in the last three years and many teachers have been inspired by these amazing quilts during the summer workshops.
Quilting experience is not entirely necessary (we can guide you through even through email!!). The more important essential requirements are a love of playing and learning with children and a love and passion for monarch butterflies and their epic story.
Once you have read through the details of the project and understand the commitment, please e-mail Anne Powers (powersa@limestone.on.ca) indicating your intention to participate.
Include your name, email address, grade, school name, the complete address of your school and the number of students in your class.
Please e-mail by December 15, 2008 (sooner would be even better) if you are interested in joining Monarch Quilt Project 2009.
For those teachers traveling to Mexico this year ... a quilt created by your class would be an awe-inspiring gift to any of the schools MTN is planning on visiting.
THE PROJECT AND PLAN OF ACTION
The theme of the project is the Monarch Butterfly - its life cycle (including migration) and our efforts to conserve and preserve the Monarch's habitats in Canada/ U.S. and Mexico.
The general idea is that each class will design and create squares to be shared with many of the classes involved (there could be two to three different groups depending on the ensuing response). Somehow, in the end one will keep some squares created by one's class and have squares from each of 10 classes for a total of 20 to 25 squares.
Teachers can decide to make multiple copies of 'winning' designs or have each student design/create her or his own square. The squares must be made by the children.
IMPORTANT!!! The squares must be exactly 7.5 x 7.5 inches (when completed and ready to be mailed) and WHITE (100% cotton or broadcloth fabric - cotton/polyester blend). Recruiting a quilter friend / parent to cut the squares is a good idea. The squares, once they are in your quilt, will be 7x7 inches.
Be as creative as you like with the 'media' - fabric paint, crayons, some glitter, permanent markers, embroidery … Please do not use pastels or puff paint (they don't do well in the mail service or in your quilt).
Having some written information on the quilt is great but writing on all the squares does detract from the 'art'. Use some creativity here ... you could have some of the info on a butterfly 'tag'. The information on the quilt could include child's first name, age, city, province or state and country. Some of my squares could say 'Jane age 5 Kingston, Ontario, CANADA'. Use some judgment here ... maybe the butterfly looks amazing just the way it is without the writing ...
Assembling the quilt is your decision - recruit a parent volunteer; create a wall hanging instead of a 'quilt' ... have fun!!
THE TIMELINE
December 15, 2008 email Anne Powers (powersa@limestone.on.ca) with intent to participate. Include information aforementioned.
Early January 2009 - you will be contacted as to who you are mailing your squares to
By April 8, 2009 - mail your squares (if you are completely committed ... you can start your squares even before we get back to you about who you are sending to). Everyone should have their squares by the end of April.
May, June or July …assemble your quilt … this time-line is yours
WORDS OF WISDOM
Here are some 'words of wisdom' from a teacher who participated in Monarch Quilt Project in 2004 through 2008.
- encourage students to draw monarch caterpillars and monarch chrysalids too
- make the animal is as large a possible so that it will be visible from far away
- measure and then draw a 0.5 inch border around the square and keep the design within that border.
- use a pencil to sketch the outline of the design on paper the same size; then pin the -paper on the cloth square and use a pencil to trace the outline of the design
- start with the lightest colours first and finish by outlining everything in black fine marker
Still have questions? See our FAQ page
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|