June 2007
Dear Family and Friends,
As many of you know, we are in the process of adopting a child from China. We are thrilled with this new journey. As “crazy” as the paperchase part of this process has been, I have been nothing short of amazed at the support we have received from so many – family, friends, even new friends made as a result of this process. Nothing about the last year has been easy, but all of it has been memorable, and in a way, magical.
As part of that wait, we are doing a few special things to prepare for our daughter. One item in particular I need your help with- I am creating what is called a Bai Jia Bei, or a 100 Good Wishes Quilt.
Where did this idea come from?
There are a few historical references as to where this tradition came from. In Pearl S. Buck’s book, Imperial Woman, she talks about the last Empress of the Qing dynasty who gave birth to the only male child of the Emperor. She desires somehow to ‘protect’ this child when she hands him over. She has a robe made of 100 pieces of cloth from the most important 100 hundred families in the Empire. Thus, this child belonged, by symbol, to 100 strong and noble families, and under their shelter the gods would not harm him.
Legend also has it that this tradition originated in northern China as a desire to surround all newborns with the luck, energy and good wishes from family and friends. As such, 100 scraps of fabric from different families were donated from old clothing to the new parents so that the mother could make a quilt.
The international adoption community, mainly those adopting from Asia, have embraced this idea fully. The tradition of creating a 100 Good Wishes Quilt is just one more facet of the adoption journey, and one I’ll treasure both creating and sharing.
Who do I want to participate?
I want as many of my friends and family as possible to help create this quilt. Your continued love, support, and friendship both for our family and our daughter will be woven symbolically into this quilt. In the spirit of the tradition, I can imagine this quilt and the stories behind it will be shared over and over with our child as I tell her about the people who took the time to join me in this effort. As such, I want you, the important people in our lives, to be a part of it.
Your thoughtfulness, time, and good wishes mean so much to me. I know it will mean just as much to our daughter one day as she enjoys both her quilt and the stories it will hold. I will also post pictures of all wishes received here.
Love,
Meghan
Here are the guidelines:
How to help: Fabric guidelines:
1. Please send one 8" x 8" square of 100% cotton, washable fabric.
2. The fabric can be from anywhere: an old favorite t-shirt, a piece you saw in the fabric store and just loved... anything really.
3. The fabric must be pre-washed BEFORE it is cut.
Wish guidelines:
1. Along with your square of fabric, send a 3"x5" or 4" x6" (or some size similar!!!) card with a good wish for Lia.
2. Please attach (glue, staple, tie on, etc) a scrap of the fabric to the card.
3. Your wish card can be simple or elaborate; it can be deep and though-provoking or something funny! If you feel creative and want to decorate it, that's great too. It can be “original” or “borrowed.” Poems, quotes, prayers, scripture verses, song lyrics, or anything else are great too.
4. Wishes will be placed in a scrapbook so she will be able to look at her quilt and know who sent each square with its wish. Children as young as 2 use the quilt as part of a bedtime ritual and know by sight the people/fabric connections! Hopefully, though, she will continue to treasure both her quilt and the wishes of those who cared about her before she was even born into adulthood.
5. Please remember to sign your wish and include your city, state, and anything else you’d like to add!
Mailing Address:
The Jansen Family, 947 Knodt Road, Essexville, MI 48732
Email:
meghanjansen@yahoo.com
Phone:
(989) 894-0534
If you would like to see a few examples, take a look at these pages:
http://www.spareasquare.blogspot.com/
http://3ds100wishesquilt.blogspot.com/
http://www.geocities.com/crwycoff1@sbcglobal.net/100wishes.html
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