We’ve been matched folks! Now, I really have to kick it into gear with Lydia’s 100 wishes quilt. We are a little over half way there with the number of wishes we’ve received. Please consider being a part of this for her.
To welcome new life, a tradition exists in the northern part of China to make a Bai Jia Bei (100 good wishes quilt). Family and friends are invited to contribute a square of cloth along with a good wish for the baby. The squares of cloth are all sewn together into a quilt, and the good wishes are put into a scrapbook for the child. The quilt symbolizes wrapping the child in the good wishes of family and friends.
We are making our own version of this quilt by making a yo-yo blanket for her and a yo-yo doll for her big sister Ashlyn.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Choose a 100% cotton fabric that you like. It can come from a quilting or fabric store, fabric you already have, or something that is special to you like an old piece of significant clothing, etc. Mark contributed one of his favorite old t-shirts. Drew contributed one of his “na-na”s (blankies).
- Wash the material if it is new to let it shrink before it is cut.
- Cut a square measuring about 12″ by 12″ (I will be cutting it into 4 6×6 squares)
- Write your wish for Lydia. The wish can be your own words or thoughts, a favorite poem or quote, a blessing, a prayer, or a favorite scripture—whatever keepsake words you would like Lydia to have from you. You can e-mail a message to me (mkraudy@verizon.net) or send a hard copy. If you are sending a hard copy, please do not make these larger than letter sized. From these, I will compile a scrapbook for her. Please also include a picture of you or your family—you can e-mail a digital picture to me or send me a hard copy. We would love for you to write a few words separately for Ashlyn as well so that she can have a scrapbook that goes along with her yo-yo doll. So, if you could do something similar for Ash, that would be great.
Thanks for contributing to these keepsakes for both of our daughters. I’m excited about putting it all together and telling Lydia all about each one of you and how we all anticipated her arrival into our family as well as encouraging Ashlyn in her role as big sister.
Hi Kelly,
Thats funny you wrote this today. I was reminding my family of this today. I was going to post something on the yahoo group. You did receive the one I sent you right?. It really hard getting 100. People say yes but then don’t send anything. Hoping you get all of your soon.
I have material for you…but would like to maybe get something different if possible while we are in China! Your yo-yo’s look great! Any specific color I could look for for you in China?
Hey…maybe we’ll be there at the same time!! What is your time frame for travel? We are thinking early-mid March.
Well…you already have my fabric…and the YoYo’s are lookin’ great! I can’t wait to see the finished product. I SO need to do this post, too… I need LOTS more wishes, myself…only about 1/2 so far!
Good luck!!! ;)
((hugs))
I have one coming…should have put it in last week’s package. Can’t wait to see the finished quilt!
So, I’m going to do my best to get this out to you, I’m SO bad with wish-sending! I love the idea that you are doing something alittle different- is that an easier type quilt to make? Seems like it would be harder to me, but I can’t sew a button, so…..who’s to say??? :)
I’m going to try to get this done for you this week! :)
Kel, I have some fabric I can contribute, only I have no ides if it is 100% cotton or not. Got it a long time ago. And I will send some wishes and a picture via e-mail.
I see Brian’s shirt in there! I will make sure we finish our notes to her ASAP. I will redo the kids and do ours…and I will add one from baby boy Hamson. :)
Thank you for asking us. We would be so honored to be a part!! I have JUST the fabric and I’ll tell you all about it when we meet! I can’t wait to see it finished.