A very SPECIAL Quilt for Khloe!!

You may recall awhile back, a post I did about Khloe's Bai Jai Bei Quilt, also known as her "100 Good Wishes" Quilt!! For those of you who may not be familiar, let me refresh. There is a tradition in the northern part of China where it is customary to invite friends and family to contribute a patch of cloth (swatch of fabric) with a wish for the child. Part of the patch of cloth goes into the quilt for the child, and the other part of the cloth can go into a Memory Book with the wish for the child. The quilt contains the luck, energy, good wishes (and BLESSINGS!!) from all the families and friends who contributed a piece of fabric. The quilt is then passed down from generation to generation. Many adoptive families choose to take part in this tradition by inviting their friends and family to contribute fabric to construct this traditional quilt as a keepsake to welcome their new child home. And that is exactly what we are doing for Khloe.

This is where you come in: I am inviting each of you to contribute to Khloe's quilt. If you are following along on our journey, then you are already a part of her story. It would mean so much to me, to have your chosen fabric and good wish included. I originally set a deadline, but I can see that is not going to happen, so I have extended it indefinitely until we have all 100 wishes to assemble her quilt. I would really like to have them no later than December or Christmas time at the latest. All you need to do is pick out a piece of fabric (12x12 or larger) and include a small clipping of that fabric somewhere on your 'wish'. All of the good wishes/blessings will then be placed into a scrapbook, where Khloe can identify your fabric from her quilt and read the "good wish" or "blessing" that you sent for her. There is no wrong or right way to do this. It can be as simple as a card with a piece of the fabric attached...or as fancy as a full scrapbooked sheet of paper. Whatever you are comfortable with. I think in my first post, I confused some of you into thinking you had to actually "quilt" a square for her, but that is not the case. All you do is purchase your favorite quilting fabric and send it along with your wish. I know of several of you who said they would like to contribute, but so far I have only received four. If you would like to send your fabric/good wish, there is still time. Please email me (by clicking at the bottom of my "ABOUT ME" profile on the right hand column) and I will email you back with my mailing address. I would also love it if you would like to include a photo of yourself, and/or your family for Khloe to see. This will be her book that she will have for a lifetime.

Here are examples of the beautiful "Good Wishes" we have received so far. As you can see, they are all very different... and they are all very beautiful!! Thank you SO much to those of you who have already contributed... I love them all!! :)

• This first fun swatch was contributed by Alene Snodgrass... an amazing women of faith, a fellow blogger friend and an author!! ...I just purchased her new book, too!

• These beautiful fabrics were contributed by my new bloggy friend, Sherri, who anxiously awaits the referral of their daughter, Emma. Sherri contributed 2 swatches that coordinate perfectly together! ...I love the ladybugs! ;)

• This pink girly-girl fabric was contributed by my friend Jill, at Peeptoe Pumps and Pearls! It looks YUMMY enough to eat!! Jill spent some time volunteering a year ago at New Day!

• And last, but certainly not least... my friend Valerie made this lovely creation, including 2 fabric swatches, as well. She also put her creative talents and degree to work by including a miniature "stab stitch book" which she created herself. It's the little removable red book at the bottom of her scrapbook page/wish. It's the neatest little thing ever...I just wish you could open it and read it for yourself!! I've never seen anything like it! The front of the mini booklet is decorated with the Chinese characters for "Faith, Hope and Love" and the inside is personalized with Khloe's full name and the pages are the Bible verses from Ephesians 3:14-21. Very cool!!

Thanks again to everyone who has already sent me your fabric and wish. I would consider it an honor to receive one from each of my bloggy friends, even if we have only just met!! And if you are family and you're reading this... I will be knocking at your door to collect. J/K!! ;) But ALL are appreciated and they will become a part of a VERY SPECIAL heirloom that Khloe is sure to treasure her whole life through! Thank you in advance and may God bless each of you! <><