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The Ocean Quilt, 71" x 52", by Tari Brand, Kelly Gallagher-Abbott, and the second grade class at Oakridge Private School. The kids drew sea life, their drawings were transferred to fabric in wax, then they were hand painted with Procion dyes.
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Quilts in the Classroom
Oakridge Private School, Tustin, California
As a way to contribute to the school her children attend, Kelly Gallagher-Abbott volunteers to help each class make a quilt for a special dinner and auction at the end of the school year. She is assisted by fellow quilter Lura Schwarz Smith, and Tari Brand, another quilting mother.
When Kelly begins working with a class, she brings in some of her own quilts that are humorous, colorful, and whimsical to show them there are no limitations. They soon take off on ideas, and although she may try to guide them to integrate what they are learning, if their creativity is flowing in other directions, she tries not to interfere too much.
Kelly enlarges the children's images on a copier, then takes them back to the kids along with stacks of fabric and they choose the fabric they want to use. She has used many techniques for putting images on fabric, and the level of involvement of the children depends on their age. They may dye fabrics, trace, cut, iron, even applique, quilt, and embellish the final product.
Kelly is currently working on a quilt with children from 2 to 17 who have had cancer or know someone close to them with cancer. Kelly says, "This is what I think quilting is all about, introducing others to the creative, therapeutic, supportive, and encouraging world of quilting."
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