Thursday, January 12, 2012

While researching this morning I stumbled upon Bai Jia Bei, which means " 100 wishes".

There is a tradition in northern China called the "Bai Jia Bei." In Mandarin, it's 百家被, which literally means Quilt United by 100 Families. 家 is the character for both family and home. The following is a story of the origin of the Bai Jia Bei...

"The last Empress of the Qing dynasty was a mere concubine, until she had the good luck to birth the Emperor’s only son. When forced to leave her baby alone for a while, she conceived a plan to protect him from the senior wives and obligate the other powerful Manchu families to back his claim to the throne. "From the head of each of the highest one hundred families in the Empire, she required a bolt of the finest silk. From the silks she commanded the palace tailors to cut one hundred small pieces and from these make a robe for her child. Thus he belonged, by symbol, to one hundred strong and noble families, and under their shelter the gods would fear to harm him."

I think this sounds like something I would like to do! Now I LOVE to sew, but I have NEVER quilted, so wish me luck!!

I would love to start gathering wishes for our future daughter, wherever she may be. If you would like to help here is what I need:

1.  1 8" x 8" square of pre-washed 100% cotton fabric to be used in the quilt.
2.  A second 2" x 2" piece of fabric attached to an index card or piece of cardstock or in a card, whatever you would like.  On the card please include a wish, or poem, or message or special song lyric...you decide!  These will all be compiled in an album for her so and the fabric swatches will let her know which quilt square you contributed.
  HERE is a great post about how they should look!!

I also found this in my research today.


LEGACY OF AN ADOPTED CHILD

Once there were two women who never knew each other.
One you do not remember, the other you call Mother.
Two different lives shaped to make you one.
One became your guiding star, the other became your sun.
The first one gave you life, and the second taught you to live it.
The first gave you a need for love. The second was there to give it.
One gave you a nationality. The other gave you a name.
One gave you a talent. The other gave you aim.
One gave you emotions. The other calmed your fears.
One saw your first sweet smile. The other dried your tears.
One sought for you a home that she could not provide.
The other prayed for a child and her hope was not denied.
And now you ask me, through your tears,
the age-old question unanswered through the years.
Heredity or environment, which are you a product of?
Neither, my darling. Neither. Just two different kinds of Love.
~ Author Unknown


Very touching. :) Have a blessed day!

2 comments:

  1. that is a wonderful idea... :) LMK when you need fabric :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi!!
    If you still need fabric, maybe we could swap (as I'm also collecting fabric for my child's BJB :) )
    Contact me for more info, or read my blog: http://polinka.canalblog.com

    Smiles :)

    ReplyDelete