BOOM Blocks

Our project merges quilt-making with the vibrant energy of music, celebrating the iconic boombox and the universal power of art. By upcycling fabrics, we honor sustainability and the interconnectedness of all things while building skills and fostering community through hand-sewing and quilting.

A Start to a Joyful Day
David Hawkins
8” x 8”

”I like to take walks every morning, it helps me start my day. I like being outdoors in fresh air and feeling the sun on my face. Walking feels good and gives me independence to do things on my own.

Orange is good, sun, basketballs, smiles, orange tie dye socks, Hot Wheel tracks, orange creamsicles , carrots, and pizza because it tastes good.” - David H.

”Happy pinks and purple flower smells and the sky is so blue. Picnics and friends makes me happy to be outside with family in the yard and walking.” - Elisa J.

• “Medal of Honor recipient for courage.

• Purple Rain a song by Prince.

• A Color in the Rainbow

• Grapes sweet and delicious 

• Mountains in the distance” - Joe M.

“Things that make me see the color blue, sadness, if some feels sad, even me. When there is a cool chill outside. The ocean waves. Cosmos. Blue Sky. My jeans, they’re blue. Blue painted walls Birds, some birds are blue. Blueberries . Music, like the blues.” - Matthew S.

“I choose this color because it reminds me of the desert and sand on the beach.

I remember when I was a kid going to the beach with my grandpa and looking for shells and how the sand felt in my hands and feet. It was soft but sometimes it felt gritty.” - Rebecca C.

”Watching the night sky is a moving experience, you feel relaxed seeing all of the stars and the moon glowing in the dark. Feeling the cool, chilly weather, the changing winds. The night sky helps me to close my eyes and hum the smooth sounds of George Benson.” - Bryan A.

“The color yellow is lively, it’s bright and shiny. Some foods are yellow like bananas and lemons. School pencils and buses.

Yellow Canaries, singing in nature. Caution signs warning of potential danger. Taxi cabs driving on the big city streets of Pittsburgh. The Sun. Heat, warming up when the weather is cold.” -D’Marcus B.

“Red is an important color in the Chinese culture that why I chose it.The heart is what is red inside of you. Blood is red and all us humans have blood inside of us. A firehouse engine is red. The LA GOAL red door leads us to a magical garden we created. I used to wear a red watch but now it’s not working. A red rose is a flower you give to a woman you like and symbolizes LOVE. Because you know All You Need is love to make this big world go round.” - Kris L.

“The gray air means rains drops and the song rain drops keep falling on my head by The Carpenters. I like gray because it is cold outside and music playing and songs about rain. Elephants, sidewalks and big buildings in the city.” - Andy C. & Jenny N.

“This color reminds me of the ocean waves. It’s calming and peaceful. Listening to the sound of the waves hitting the sand. I remember a trip to Hawaii with my Dad it was a wonderful trip learning about the Island and history. The ukulele is famous in Hawaii.” - Jennifer B.

“Clean and fresh, snowy weather and puffy clouds. A new canvas, a blank page and a bright glow of light that shines in the morning sky.” - Lisie Y.

“Dirt is brown and makes things grow, the flowers trees and plants that are all around the world. We need dirt to grow our food and to build a house and live on land.” - David H., Joe M., Lisa F.

“Music tells a story of how we all connect to our emotions through the sounds of   music and how we all can relate to lyrics in a song. Crossing over in different ways to make us feel understood and loved even in bad situations. It can also lift us up in spirits and makes us feel happy and joyful.”

“Green is a reminder of things growing. Plants and leaves, different shades of green all different and beautiful. Green is calming and symbolizes growth in nature, you cant see it because it’s slow. Life is happening all around. The color green reminds me of birds singing, sitting outside and thinking about everything growing.” -Kris L.