We're planning to make a quilt for MeiLin just like we did for Miyah.  We would love for you to contribute to it.  Here are the details....

There is a tradition in the northern part of China of making a Bai Jia Bei, or "100 Good Wishes Quilt" to welcome and celebrate a new life.  The quiltmaker invites 100 people to contribute a single square patch of cloth. Much of the time, the squares were scraps from their worn clothing and is said that the luck, energy, and good wishes of the people who wore these clothes now surrounds the child when he/she is wrapped in the quilt (for us this quilt will represent the love, support, and prayers of our friends and family).  The quilt is then passed down from generation to generation.  The squares, however, do not need to be from old clothing, but can be scraps or newly purchased material - anything with special meaning to you.   We would love for you to send a square to add to MeiLin's keepsake quilt if you are able.  If your kids would like to send separate squares and wishes/blessings that would be wonderful too!  The more the better...it's difficult to get 100 people to send squares.

If you are interested, here's what we'd need:

1) (2 or more 8" x 8"  or larger square(s) of 100% cotton material (pre-washed would be great).  I'll recut them so they don't need to be perfect squares - you can even cut them roughly or send a large piece).  If you send more than one square, they can be identical or different material.

2) Along with your quilt square(s) please include a "wish" which could be a prayer, poem, thoughtful quote, Bible verse, original thought, or whatever you choose, on a piece of paper along with your name. 

3) On this piece of paper with the wish and your name, paste a small square of the fabric (can be about 1"x1") that you're sending for the quilt.  This small swatch will help us to identify your fabric within the quilt.  The piece of paper can be as simple or as fancy as you'd like to make it and will be kept in a scrapbook for MeiLin to read.  I know she will love to read the blessings from each of you and find the fabric you've contributed within the quilt.  If the fabric has special meaning to you, please include that information on the paper as well.

To see examples of a "wish" or blessing click here and here.

Your help will make this a wonderful keepsake.  Thank you so much!