Friday, September 10, 2010

100 Good Wishes Quilt

There is a tradition in Northern China of giving a  Bai Jia Bei quilt to a new baby. It means 100 Good Wishes. As I read about it I found it was mainly reserved for newborn boys. The international adoption community  grasped onto this lovely idea and have used it to also welcome their daughters into their lives. It is a beautiful way for friends and family to work together to create this amazing token of love. It consists of 100 squares of fabric. A piece of each fabric is also placed into a book along with a "good wish" or a "blessing" for the child. She can then look in her book to see who gave each square and then find it on her blanket.

I started working on this five years ago. This morning I looked at what I have collected so far. I have ten pieces from a few friends and family and from adopting families in Denmark and Spain. I need something to concentrate on while waiting for Havensong so I have decided  to collect the rest of her "Wishes." My sweet friend Mary has offered to help me put it together. Tayler and Autumn sew, so I will employ their talent too!

If you would like to help here is what you do.


1. Choose a 100% cotton fabric that you like. It can be from a
fabric store, fabric you already have, or something that is special to you, or maybe even fabric that has special family meaning.

2. Prewash the fabric so it shrinks and is clean; then iron it
so that it is straight enough for cutting.
3. Cut one square measuring 8"x8" and smaller piece to include in our scrapbook with your wish.

4. Add your wish. The wish can be your own words or thoughts, a favorite poem or quote, a blessing for the new arrivals, a prayer, or a favorite verse Place it on a card with a scrap of your fabric glued to the card. Your wish can be as simple or as elaborate as you'd like. You can also include a picture of yourself so she can see who sent the wish. We'll have scrapbook for the wishes. I am sure she will love looking through it.

Thank you! Oh.... you can just message me through FB if you need my address. :)

Michelle

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