Bai Jia Bei

To welcome and celebrate a new life, there is a tradition in the northern part


of China to make a Bai Jia Bei, or 100 Good Wishes Quilt. It is a custom to

invite friends and family to contribute a patch of cloth with a wish for the

baby. Part of the patch of cloth goes into the quilt for the baby, and the other

part of the cloth can go into a creative memory notebook with the wish for the

child. The quilt contains the luck, energy, and good wishes from all the

families and friends who contributed a piece of fabric. The quilt is then passed

down from generation to generation.



I love the concept and I thought this would be something that would involve the

waiting families as much as the families who have children already at home.



We (Ellen Bower and I) have teamed up to make one to raise funds for Hope4China.

I will make the quilt and Ellen will make a book of the 100 wishes. I am not a

pro but I have made a quilt or two in my time, Plan is for a large single bed size 2.2 metres X 1.4 metres,

The quilt is going to be raffled among the people who take part. During the days

of financial squeeze we have made the entry possible at two levels.


1. You need to send in a piece of cotton. No smaller than 20x25 cm or 8" x 10",

fat quarter would be ideal. It will likely be cut up and appear in several

places. That piece will include the material that goes to the wish card.

2. Create a wish on a card/paper with a piece of the material - if you are stuck

Ellen will be able to help, she is magic with all things creative.

3. Send in a cheque made for hope4china children

- £7.50 will buy you three raffle tickets

OR

- £10 will buy you four raffle tickets

- please add 50p or £1 donation for wadding, backing material and book

materials, so all the raffle money can go to help the work hope4china does in

China.



My address is

Pauliina Johnston

Balnamoon

Crossroads

Keith
UK

AB55 6ND



I have no idea how long it will take to find 100 people to take part. I will put

up a blog when the materials start to come in and you can see the progress. Work

starts when all the pieces are in and a single quilt usually takes me 5-6 months

to make as I like to hand quilt. If I find someone keen to machine quilt I will

not turn them down.



Please spread the word, get all your family and friends to join in. Especially

tell to the families that are waiting, tell to people who always wanted to make

one but never quite got round to it and sneak in an entry for your child, give

one as a Xmas present to the expecting family you want to remember.



At times I get donations from people who do not want the quilt but want to give

to a good cause. Those empty tickets will be raffled among the participants

before the big draw.



Pauliina and Ellen

PS From Linda...wonderful idea...would be FANTASTIC to have squares sent in from our friends all over the world. Please participate & send your square!!!!!!!!