love and soft sq-wishes quilt for Izabella Danielle: November 2007

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Our First Sq-Wish!

11.23.07--We received our first Sq-Wish today! I can't tell you how big the smile was in my heart and on my face when I went to our mailbox to find our very first "Sq-Wish"! I could hardly wait to open it. It came to us from a very special family--one you've heard me reference earlier in our blog--they share the very same DTC and LID dates as us--AND they have received their referral to a little girl "Maggie Mae" in China. She's a lucky little girl and they're a blessed family! As you can see it's perfect--soooo soft--and I can really begin to see this quilt taking shape now. Everything with this adoption seems so unreal. And frankly--like it will not happen. But when you get days like this--it becomes a little more real. Their wish is as soft and warm as the fleece, it is verse that reminds us of the core of what life is really all about--LOVE. Thank you so much. It's simply precious.

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

This is such a fun yet very special project....

11.7.07: If you're so moved--I would love for you to get involved in this very special quilt for our little one. I thought starting it now would do two things--help make the time go by with some injection of fun and sharing--and assure I'll get it done before she arrives. Since I figure I have plenty of time--as this wait is pretty long.

She will remember you forever and I, as well as she, will be forever grateful for your friendship and support.

When I receive the sq-wishes--I'll take a picture of them and post them here to share with family and friends.

So stay tuned--for what beautiful squares and wishes are to come--but more importantly, stay tuned for our little one.

Gratefully--A little girl from China's mom--yup--that's me!

PS--Here's the picture of me with my first quilt--tyed with my Grammy on an antique quilting frame. I'm sitting in my grandmothers living room.

Traditon--"To Welcome and Celebrate LIFE...."

Lisa's Family Tradition--Quilting goes back in our family, as I made my first quilt when I was just 13 and “tyed” it on an antique quilting frame that was a family heirloom. It was handed down through the generations and then on to me from my grammy. I remember cutting the squares on rainy days at the pool when I was a lifeguard.

Chinese 100-Wishes Quilt Tradition--In parts of China (specifically Northern China) there is a tradition in which family members and friends of expectant parents give them scraps of cloth or old clothing, and with this scarp of clothing a card with their good wishes. The fabric is then made into a quilt (called a "Bai Jai Bei"in northern China), which will wrap the child with the energy of good luck and wishes. The cards with good wishes are kept in a book, so the child has a map of sorts to each square—indicating who gave this wish. This is also a visual way to show the child how many people loved them even before meeting them!

Here's how it works:

The details of Izabella's Sq-Wish Quilt--So here it goes..our little girls very special “Sq-Wishes Quilt” will be:
-- meaningful
-- soft
-- colorful
-- and it will be used! Not a show piece.

Be Creative--Many of my family members live in Vermont—the weather is very cold—and fleece is a favorite fabric choice for clothing. If you so choose—you could use an old fleece shirt, pullover, jacket to make the square. This would follow the tradition of scraps of special fabric in the traditional Chinese Wishes Quilts. The only requirement is it should be lightweight fleece. OR—you could opt to purchase a piece of new lightweight fleece fabric—I’ve been told sometimes the best way to purchase fleece is to purchase a small blanket or throw. It’s really up to you—whatever moves you—feels right for our little girl and her new family. Whatever you chose wil be perfect.

I would love you to participate in my quilt project by sending us a Sq-Wish.

CREATING A SQ-WISH (A Fleece Fabric Square plus a Card Wish ):

For example “Sq-Wishes” click here

1. Choose any Lightweight FLEECE fabric that you like-any design or color. You may use a piece of old fleece fabric that is special to you, or a new fleece fabric that inspires you feel inspires good feelings, good luck and good wishes.

Note: If it is a new piece of fleece—please DO NOT WASH it.

2. Fabric Square--Cut one 12" x 12” square from the fabric.

3. Card Wish--On a 3"x5" or 4"x6" card attach a small piece of the fabric (so we can to match which fabric goes with which wish) and write your wish on the card.
Your wish can be your own original writing or a favorite poem, quote, or anything else you like. Please sign your wish and include a picture of your family, your city, state and date of your wish on the card. The date is important—as this wait looks like it will be years—and those dates will show her the love that was here for her for YEARS before her arrival.

4. Mail the fabric square and wish card to us. If you need our address—please email me at ljcotaa@mchsi.com. You can email the wish card and photo if you'd rather. I will print it and put it in her book for you.

That’s it. We have had wonderful support from so many people during this process, and we thank you very much for all that support as well as for your participation in this project of creating a beautiful gift of meaningful wishes for the little girl.

love and soft sq-wishes quilt for Izabella Danielle

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Our First Sq-Wish!

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

This is such a fun yet very special project....

HOW TO ORDER:

Super Hero Capes

SUPER HERO CAPE ADD-ONS

Multiple Add-ons

Place the Order

Traditon--"To Welcome and Celebrate LIFE...."

Here's how it works:

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