An unlikely story about art and framing with lots of heart

My dear friend and fellow blogger/designer extraordinaire Eddie Ross recently posted the story below on his blog. It is such a touching story that speaks of the connections between art, tragedy and new beginnings that I just had to share it with you all here on my blog too. I love the girls' paintings and the big hearts of their new adoptive parents. I especially love that the way the story came to me was through art in it's purest form. The art of children.

Eddie Ross says:
Weeks ago, in anticipation of our framing event in Atlanta, we posted a giveaway of one free framing, courtesy of Larson-Juhl. To enter, readers were encouraged to submit a comment, describing the piece and why it's meaningful to them. Here's what caught our eye—and captured our hearts—from Marylee Deeter of Joilet, Illinois:

My husband and I have a collection of artwork from Haiti. We are adopting
two 13 year old girls from Haiti to join our family of 5. Some of the artwork
is from the orphanage they live in, done by the children there. We have all canvases...nothing is framed. When our daughters finally get to come home,
we'd like to have a wall dedicated to their home country and culture.

Along with these words came this work of art, one of two created by sisters Ismene and Ismarie at their orphanage in Port-Au-Prince, now left uninhabitable by the quake.

Here's the back of Ismarie's canvas made from scrap wood and fabric.

Thankfully, Marylee's daughter's are okay, having been granted humanitarian parole by the State Department for a speedy exit out of harm's way and their imminent arrival safely home. Soon, thanks to our generous friends at Larson-Juhl, their new rooms will be made just a bit more beautiful, their lives a little brighter, with the gift of their works of art, framed-—and celebrated!—just as they should be.

To support the Red Cross in its emergency relief and recovery efforts for those most affected by the earthquake in Haiti, click here.

And this update courtesy of Marylee (Mom extraordinaire):
Hi everyone....I'm Marylee, though I go by "Lee". As I told Jaithan, my heart is so full and my face salty with fresh tears! We are so humbled by the kind words about our family and couldn't be happier that just as the artwork will be framed, our girls will be here to enjoy it! My husband, his team of 9, the orphanage director and 67 children were evacuated from Haiti on Sunday night at midnight after some policy changes regarding deportation of orphans was announced. They were THE LAST orphans to get out of the country by military cargo plane for now. After 18 hours in Orlando going through customs, Vision Airlines offered to pick them up to fly them to Miami where some very anxious adoptive families waited! (A big shout out to Clay at Vision!!!) They arrived in Miami at 3am Monday and were transported to a compound coincidentally called "His HOUSE" where the children were showered, given clean clothes, and put in the first beds they'de slept in since the earthquake. Early this morning the immigration process started to expedite these kids to their new home cities. Half of the families are complete and on their way HOME. My husband is still there with Ismene and Ismarie waiting to be processed but we fully anticipate an awesome reunion tomorrow at Chicago O'Hare! The team my husband traveled with endured literal days with NO sleep, taking care of children with varying levels of illness, not showering, eating scarcely, seeing things we will never be able to comprehend, sleeping on the ground or in cramped box trucks, all to bring home 67 beautiful children who will now have a chance at a good life! A friend of mine travled with my husband as part of the team simply because she felt God's leading. She left behind her husband and 4 children and risked her life for not only our daughters but many many children. She is still with my husband as she wants to see this to fruition. She had the opportunity to skip out when they landed in Orlando but has endured so that she can be a part of our reunion! Liane is the BEST!
Now that I have written a novel, I just want to say a HUGE thank you to the folks at Larson-Juhl and to Eddie and Jaithan. What beautiful spirits YOU have!
Peace,
Marylee Deeter (Lee)