Jeanne Leffingwell

What adults have to say about Jeanne’s Art and Teaching

“My 10 year-old son Daniel had a great experience in the Million Bead Project. The geometric nature of the patterns, as well as counting the beads in both the individual and collective projects were excellent real-world and aesthetic applications of his love for mathematics. He came home nightly and designed new patterns and worked on his loom creating them; and even when the school project was over he continued to do so. A really exciting program.”

— Jay P. Feldman
University of Idaho, Department of Philosophy

“My students loved this project. They volunteered to stay in for recess. They really enjoyed the opportunity of being ‘Beading Buddies’ with the 1st and 2nd graders.”

— Gail Sipe
5th Grade Teacher, McDonald Elementary

“[Jeanne] is an excellent artist, teacher and professional. She is passionate about using the arts to educate our children and enrich our community. As an ICA rostered artist and former grant recipient, she is organized, hardworking, dedicated and thorough in her approach… This innovative project, combining art, math, science and exponential literacy provides an exciting opportunity. K–12 students, UI art education majors, and members of the community are working together to visualize some very complex information through the arts.”

— Sally Machlis
Commission Member, Idaho Commission on the Arts and University of Idaho Associate Professor of Art & Art Education

“The Million Bead Project with Jeanne Leffingwell provided a unique opportunity for students to learn about the art of beading and mixed media, to quietly create their own pieces, and to contribute to a large-scale work. Through each step of the process, students found a sliver of peace that many seldom experience in their hurried family schedules… Jeanne has made a positive impact on our students this last month, and I would recommend the exceptional Million Bead Project to any school wishing to supplement their art curriculum.”

— Stephanie Sant
Movement Specialist, McDonald Elementary

“Dear Jeanne, I just had to let you know how grateful I am for your work with our kids… The work is breathtaking, and the depth of your commitment is as beautiful to me as the art itself. You’re such and encouragement—thank you”

— Keely Emerine Mix
Trustee, Moscow School District

“It’s great in home-schooling because our bead class became a big part of our math lessons for this term. By drawing the designs on graph paper and then transferring it to the loom and then counting it all out, a whole bunch of lessons came into play, and now [my daughter] is writing about it as a record in her journal.”

— Erin O’Rourke
Home-School Parent

“My kids love to bead. They talk about it all of the time.”

— Jodi Bice
Parent, Moscow Charter School

“Yes, You go girl!! We need a book.”

— Sue Cable
3rd Grade Teacher, Washington Elem, Pendleton

“People sit down in front of the TV to ‘connect’, but it just doesn’t work. We need more projects like this. It’s like taking a fresh breath of air to do this.”

— Mrs. Z.
Teacher, Moscow Junior High School

“Jeanne’s enthusiasm and artistic intensity captured the interest of my 4th grade daughter’s class completely. I’ve rarely seen the entire class so engaged…”

— Angie Freeman
Parent, Moscow Charter School

“… Jeanne was very good with the students. To be honest I thought the students would have a lot of difficulty with the beading project… but that was not the case. Her teaching skills and ability to explain and show the process of beading at their level assured that the students knew what to do. She didn’t talk down to the students. They were quiet and attentive while she was explaining because she was imparting information in a way that they could understand…”

— Carrie Hendricks
Principal, Freewater Elementary School

“I enjoyed learning how to do loomwork with beads and design for the loom. I liked it best when there were over 20 people in the art room at lunch working on the beading projects! I also enjoyed the collaboration with Ms. Leffingwell to create a mural piece which is part of a larger visionary installation project, the Million Bead Project. That is really exciting!”

— Blue Leitch
Art Teacher, McLoughlin High School

“It is absolutely wonderful… it encompasses such a wide variety of our student body…”

— Bob Celebrezze
Principal, Moscow High School

“This was a very valuable project for the mind and soul!”

— Margi Smith
4th Grade Teacher, Lena Whitmore Elementary

What kids have to say about Jeanne Leffingwell and her projects:

“This is the first time the bell has rang [sic] and nobody moved.”

— Will G.
Student, Lena Whitmore Elementary

“This is the most fun thing I’ve ever done in [art time].”

— Jon A.
Student, McDonald Elementary

“…I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE beading!!”

— Stacy H.
6th Grader, McDonald Elementary

“Why can’t we do this the rest of the year?”

— Daniel L.
Student, Moscow Charter School

“Beeding [sic] is my most favorite fun ever.”

— Iverson W.
4th grader, Washington Elementary

“Could you maybe be here all year!!!!!”

— Brendan C.
Student, Russell Elementary

“Please stay all year!!!!!”

— Danyon H.
Student, Russell Elementary

“From my poked fingers to your wrist, thank you so much for the old loom that you gave me. I am planning on making a lot of beadwork with it. On that note, I made you something in return… Thanks to you, I now love to do bead working. Sincerely,”

— Taylor A.
Student, McDonald Elementary

“I wish beading was a sport.”

— Alex
Student, Russell Elementary

Selected Evaluation Comments from Art Students of Blue Leitch at McLoughlin High School in Milton-Freewater Oregon, Spring 2005:

“I liked everything, especially the attitude of the artist towards the project. That’s what got me going to just keep beading.”

— Gabriela Diosdado

“I learned that you can do a lot of fun things without having to go out. I liked best that we got to do a bracelet to keep for ourselves.”

— Andreina Alvarez

“I liked that we got to make different types of beadwork and pick our own patterns and colors.”

— Stephanie

“I liked learning about all the different kinds of beads.”

— Teresa Jones

“I liked best that she (the artist) believed that we were going to get more beads than the other school.”

— Marla Landa

“I learned that people have been beading since a long time ago.”

— Vicky Mesa

“We got to be around an actual artist who makes a living from beading and stuff.”

— Jorge Garza

“I liked the beadwork that we did. I learned that beading can be hard and takes time.”

— Salvador Saucedo

“It was interesting because everyone worked equally.”

— Narcisco Gomez

“I liked best seeing the finished beaded piece after it was done.”

— Jesus Diaz

“I thought it was really fun. I really got into it.”

— Jovita Tapia

What people said about the Million Bead Project Installation
Selected from more than 584 signed comments from the “Jumble Jar” entries and Gallery Guestbook (May 18–July 23, 2007)

“An extremely fun project. I wish to do it again.”

— Lilly Tarabulski

“What a terrific concept, what a scope. It is an overwhelming experience to see the million-plus results so far. I really enjoyed how subtle some of the individual weavings are. Congratulations!”

— Sonja Lewis

“Delightful in many ways! Wonderful experience for all children taking part in this project.”

— Kathy Kearney

“I am in awe of this fantastic project! Jeanne’s conception, action, finding participants & completing this is a Herculean (Amazonian) Effort!”

— Jane Pritchett

“This is amazing art work and it is nice to see communities coming together.”

— Bethany Smith

“I loved doing it but more than that I liked seeing the different ones.”

— Anna Daley Laursen

“Fantastic! My kids were part of the first group at West Park. I can still pick out their contributions to the million.”

— Lisa Morris

“Beautiful individuality! Everyone had a part of a whole.”

— Lindsay Weisbrod

“I think that it is a neat idea to make such an abstract idea tangible.”

— William Godsoe

“Great idea. I appreciate these types of learning projects, they really help kids in school.”

— Debbie Stubbers

“Fantastic - Hope to use it in Math in 5th grade in Grangeville.”

— Hilary McAlister

“I helped make it. It’s a great idea!”

— Brittney Peterson

“An amazing project - from conception to implementation to Art!”

— Gail Chermak

“It’s amazing to see people come together like this for the sake of Art.”

— Leah Rachel Culp

“It’s like totally WICKED!!!”

— Edy Alberran

“Jeanne - your vision has become a glorious reality! So many beads, so many little hands, numeric concepts, & magnificent art. Thank you - you’re amazing!”

— Cindy Bechinski, Curriculum Director
Moscow School District No. 281