Square One
I have my first square of fabric for my daughter’s 100 Good Wishes Quilt. And it’s actually not sent in from anyone… it’s from me.
I was cleaning out the last of the stuff in her room, getting ready to carpet clean and paint, and I found a bag of fabric. I used to sew a bit, especially when I lived in Japan, because there were no clothes commercially available to fit a tall, athletic sort like myself. If I needed new clothes, I either had to make them or have them sent from home. So I learned to make them.
I spent free lunch hours scouring the local department store fabric departments for anything interesting to buy to make skirts or shirts or whatever out of. And then one day, I found a real treat: kimono fabric.
(click to embiggen)
Okay, so it wasn’t REALLY kimono fabric — kimono are made of silk, and this was cotton, so it was actually yukata fabric. A yukata is kind of an everyday-wear kimono. But it was really pretty, and really captured the essence of some of the kimono I had seen around, so I picked it up.
I never did make anything out of it. I always thought I would — maybe pillows or a tablecloth or something — but I never did. So it sat in a bag full of fabric for the last 15 years.
Until Saturday.
Then I realized, what a perfect way to start off our daughter’s quilt than to include a piece of my history? Japan is always close to my heart, and my time there such a part of who I am, that I wanted to pass some of that on to my daughter. So I will.
And I got to thinking, chances are I will never be able to gather 100 squares for my daughter, because I don’t really know 100 people well enough that they would want to participate in a project like this. I just don’t have a lot of friends or family. (So it’s going to be more like a 20 Good Wishes Lap Quilt… possibly a 10 Good Wishes Pillowcase…) And I realized I want more in life for my daughter.
My life is measured in experiences, most of them fun or interesting or memorable. Living in Japan. Scholarship. Hippie chick teacher. Volley dolly. But I never formed a lot of lifelong, lasting friendships, or stayed in touch with people (until my husband and I got married, that is). I’m a prickly sort of character, to start off with. And I am not really a girls’ girl, and I think I was well liked, but not really the sort of person others — particularly girls — wanted to be close friends with. But mostly, I just learned early on that it’s just best not to get attached.
But I want my daughter to have a life full of not only great experiences but also people who love her, and people that she loves. I want her always to have people she can trust, people she can rely on, people who will make her happy and care for her.
So my wish for her, that I will put in her scrapbook to go with her quilt, will be: “Measure your life in love.”
I hope she will.
I’ve also posted a photo and blurb to start off the 100 Good Wishes Quilt page, which is where I will be posting all the wishes and squares I get for this project.
Having travelled a fair bit since grade 11, I think I can relate somewhat to where you are coming from with regards to close friends. I too have lived long-term in other places & made great friends in those places but when I returned to Canada I just wasn’t able to pick up with my Canadian friends where we had left off. We moved back here from Australia 6.5 years ago & I’m just now starting to settle in again, friend-wise. I am finding, though, that being adoptive parents (waiting ones) is bringing more “friend opportunities”, which is great.
Anyhow, it’s funny that you should mention yukata fabric - that’s the kind of fabric I intend to send for your quilt (if I ever find it - see move from Australia above, would you believe we still have some stuff in boxes?).
Comment by Janna | September 2, 2008
That is a beautiful piece of fabric and such great meaning behind it. The quote is perfect as well.
I can totally relate to the friends thing. I have pretty much lost contact with all my high school friends years ago for various reasons and all my university friends moved to the economic boom that was/is Alberta. Pretty much leaving just me and my husband behind. Thankfully, I consider him my best friend. I have also “met” so many wonderful people through adoption and blog land that I now consider friends and they can actually relate to things like infertility and not just nod their head and say “just relax, it will happen”
A quilt with 10 or 20 meaningful and sincere good wishes will mean way more than a 100 that don’t mean anything to you. If you need to add extra fabric, you could always do some photographs put on with iron on transfers. I want to add a referral photo, one of us, maybe some info on her birthplace, etc. I will get my butt moving and get my wish in the mail this week.
Shannon
Comment by Shannon | September 2, 2008
Thanks guys!
It’s interesting how some people stay friends with their childhood friends all their lives, while others are more transient. But like you were saying, through infertility or adoption or whatever, I am tending too to meet friends through shared experiences, and that’s actually been really cool.
Janna — Isn’t that funny how you thought of yukata fabric too! Well I natter on about Japan a fair bit in my blog, so it’s no wonder! I am just glad to be using it. I had picked up these couple of yards of remnants and hung on to them for so long… I guess this is why! And I like that international flavour the fabrics will add, too.
Shannon — I’m glad you like the quote — it’s one I’ve always remembered from when I saw RENT. It just seemed to fit. And I do like the idea of adding to the quilt if I need more squares — those are some neat ideas! I was also thinking of transferring each wish onto a neutral square and putting them on, too, if I had lots of room. So many ideas to play with!
Comment by CinnamonOpus | September 2, 2008
Very beautiful thoughts! Gorgeous fabric too.
Comment by Rhonda | September 2, 2008
Oooh. Pretty.
You have squares coming from us.
But I’m not the one making them. I’m the one coming up with “wishes” to go with them.
Comment by Kelly | September 2, 2008
I am not a girls’ girl either…I have always had close girlfriends but only 2 or 3 at a time. I always lots of guy friends too. I felt sometimes it was easier hanging out with guys because they just don’t get catty!
I have one friend from high school who I still talk to often and guess what…its a guy! He actually stood up for me at my wedding
I am lucky now to have a great group of non-girls’ girls to hang out with…not to mention all the great gals I have met thru the adoption process (you included).
I will be sending you a piece of fabric for your quilt - I found the right one but silly me didn’t buy it right then and when I went back they were all sold out…so the search for the perfect piece continues.
Comment by Rana | September 2, 2008
Okay, my fabric is so not going to match that and neither is Autumn’s. I may have to rethink my fabric.
Comment by Sherri | September 3, 2008
Oh it doesn’t have to match! That’s the fun of it… each square is different and has a story!
Comment by CinnamonOpus | September 3, 2008
Hi Cinn! Are you guys still doing a quilt? We are and if you are still swapping fabric I’d love to swap.
Barb
Comment by Barb | October 29, 2008
Yes we are! We haven’t started yet — life is busy! — but we are doing one. I’d love to swap!
Comment by CinnamonOpus | October 30, 2008