Jumping Off: 100 wishes quilt

I mailed the following letter out last week, but I know we have friends who read the blog who didn't get the letter (I don't have everyone's address or that many stamps)

But I wanted everyone to be included. So, here's the letter..... I hope you will all participate in his 100 wishes quilt!

Dear friend,

While we are waiting for the arrival of Bates we are working on a project that we REALLY need your help with. We are creating something called a "100 Good Wishes Quilt."

To welcome and celebrate a new life, there is a tradition in the northern part of China to make a Bai Jia Bei, or "100 Good Wishes Quilt." It is a custom to invite 100 people to contribute a single square patch of cloth. The 100 patches are sewn together into a quilt that contains the luck, energy, prayers and good wishes from all the families and friends who contributed a piece of fabric. The quilt is then passed down from generation to generation.

We are asking you to please participate in this project. We love the idea of welcoming Bates into our home with a quilt that represents the good wishes and prayers you are all sending his way.

Here is what we would like you to do:

1. Choose ANY 100% cotton fabric that you like. It can be from clothing or from a fabric store. It just needs to be a design and color that you like.

2. Cut two (2) 12" squares from the fabric OR one (1) 12” by 24” piece of fabric.

Tip... if you have no idea how to work with fabric, ask for assistance at a fabric store and show them this letter. They will probably cut it for you!

3. Include your "good wish note". We will place all your wishes and prayers in a scrapbook along with a piece of your fabric. One day we will give the scrapbook to Bates.

Ideas for selecting fabric squares:

*Select a fabric that is meaningful to you.

*100% cotton fabric is best, as it washes and wears better.

*If there are several members in your family, please feel free to send more than 1 set of scraps. It would be so special to include good wishes from all members of your family!!

Ideas for note:

Well... what would you wish for Bates to have in his life? How will you pray for him? A poem? A bible verse? Keep in mind that they will not see your note until he/she is older, of course.

It would be great to get the fabric and notes before January 28 so the quilt can be completed before we bring him home. The quilt is being designed and assembled for Bates by his D’D (Mary Leigh’s mom).

Please take a few minutes from your busy schedules to help us create this very special keepsake for our boy. The miracle of this adoption has been helped and nurtured by so many of you and this will be so incredibly meaningful for us!

Thank you!