100 Good Wishes Quilt
Inspired by the ever-awesome Shannon (with the coolest-named blogs in the world!), who is no end of talented and crafty, we’ve decided to start a 100 Good Wishes Quilt for our daughter. And because Shannon introduced the idea to me, I am going to borrow her words to describe it:
There is a Chinese tradition when a child is born called “Bai Jia Bei”, otherwise known as a “100 Good Wishes Quilt”.
It is custom to invite 100 family and friends to donate a piece of fabric to the child’s mother. The 100 pieces are then sewn together into a quilt that is said to contain the luck, energy, and good wishes from all the family and friends who contributed a piece of fabric. The quilt is then passed down from generation to generation.
Now, I live in Mennonite country, so quilts are a big thing around here. I’ve always wanted one, and so I thought this would be a fantastic keepsake for our daughter to have — not only is it a lovely gift for her, but it will be something that carries with it all the hopes, dreams and good wishes of those around her who love and care for her.
I love the idea that my daughter can wrap herself in a blanket of love and good wishes.
We would love any and all of you to participate, if you want to, as well as anyone who may not be reading along on our adventures but might still want to send along their good wishes and hopes to our daughter. Individuals, families, “virtual” friends, whatever! You’ve all been a part of this journey with us, and it would be lovely for her to able to have a keepsake from all of you, who have been so wonderful in your support and good wishes from the beginning.
So if you are interested, here’s how it works (again, thanks to Shannon):
- Leave us a comment that you are interested — or email us, if you prefer — so that I can email you our daughter’s name so you can personalize the wish, and our mailing address.
- Choose a piece of 100% cotton fabric that you like or has special meaning to you.
- Pre-wash it to prevent shrinkage and cut an 8×8 inch square from the fabric to be used for the quilt.
- On a piece of card stock or paper (acid-free is best for preservation purposes), attach a small piece of the same fabric on the note (so we will remember which fabric goes with which wish). On this paper is where you write your wish, your name and where you are from. Your wish can be anything - your hopes for her, a poem, quote, verse, favorite saying, advice or anything meaningful to you.
We’ll take a picture of each square and wish and place the photo, along with your wish, in a life book for our daughter. The squares will be made into a quilt, and both the quilt and the book will be keepsakes that tell the story of her journey to us and all the people who were with us and brought us such support, comfort and friendship.
I will also post your wish and the photo on our 100 Good Wishes Quilt page, so you can follow along as we create this keepsake.
Thanks so much in advance to everyone who wants to participate!
You have four coming from Texas!
Comment by Kelly | July 24, 2008
I am interested!
Comment by Janna | July 24, 2008
I’m in! I already have some fabric too.
Comment by Heather | July 24, 2008
I am in!!! I did this for Shannon already and it was so much fun picking out the piece of fabric to give her!
Do you need me to send you my email address?
Rana
Comment by Rana | July 24, 2008
Nope, got it!
I wanted to get in on Shannon’s quilt, but by the time I got my poop in a group, it looks like she’s got all her squares!
Comment by CinnamonOpus | July 24, 2008
Oh, oh, oh…me, me, me. I am jumping up and down for joy, I want to send you some too!!! I’m so glad there is more people wanting to make a good wishes quilt for their kids. I think it is such a great welcome to a child. I have always slept under a handmade quilt and I want to pass on the tradition to our daughter.
And Cinn, just because it is you, there is still time to send me fabric too. I would love to have you included in our quilt.
I can’t find your email address, mine is ________ (deleted to foil the spam-bots!)
Send me your snail mail and I will send you mine.
PS. Sadly I can not take credit for the wording. My wonderful hubby is the word-nerd and I made him help me word the quilt request. He also comes up with the blog names. Sometimes I wonder what goes on in that brain of his. (umm maybe too much sharing??) Now if I could only get him to write on the damn blog!
Comment by Shannon | July 24, 2008
Yay! Still time! I’m so glad to be able to contribute. Plus I love an excuse to go to the fabric outlets!
Comment by CinnamonOpus | July 24, 2008
YAAY!! Count me in!!! I would LOVE to contribute and be a part of this for your daughter. I have another friend doing the same thing. It’s such a beautiful idea.
Comment by haze | July 26, 2008
Hey Cinn
I am definitely in
Nicky
Comment by Nicky | July 28, 2008
me too!! me too!!
Comment by Tanya | July 29, 2008
I would love to send a wish for your daughter. My email address is ______________ (deleted to foil the spam-bots!).
Comment by Elizabeth | July 30, 2008
Hi Cinn, we have three coming, one from each of the girls, and one from Hubby and I. I cant’ wait to see the completed project.
Comment by Sherri | August 3, 2008
Hi Cinn - I’d love to take part! And I’m even feeling inspired to start one too - but first I must finish convincing myself that quilting won’t be too hard
(My mennonite inlaws would be SO impressed!! hehe)
Dianne
Comment by Dianne | September 2, 2008
Thanks Dianne! I thought it was a wonderful idea when Shannon first posted about it. If you start one for your daughter, count me in!
I live just on the edges of Mennonite country here in southern Ontario, so quilting is all around me but something I never learned to do. So I am expecting to beg lots of help from friends and acquaintances to get this done!
Comment by CinnamonOpus | September 2, 2008
I’d love to send a square, if that’s OK with you.
Comment by Timmi | September 3, 2008
Hey Timmi! That’d be awesome! I’ll send my address out to you today.
Thanks!
Comment by CinnamonOpus | September 3, 2008
Hi, Peevish Kitty! I don’t know if you remember me, but I would love to send your daughter a quilt square. Would you allow me to?
Comment by Babybee Amy | September 12, 2008
Heya Babybee! I would LOVE it if you wanted to participate! That would be terrific!
Once I get home and have access to email again, I will send along our mailing address.
Thanks so much!
Comment by Cinn Travels | September 12, 2008