DONE!

Reese's OHGWQ is DONE! I just finished it probably an hour ago. Reese is (hopefully, by now) asleep under it between Mommy and Daddy in bed.

Good wishes for Baby Jonathan.

Here are the wishes I have so far for Jonathan.

"May the blessing of life await you. May the sun of glory shine around you. And m[a]y the gates of plenty, honor, and happiness be ever open to you." -Charles Dickens
May you always be happy.
Sue Strane
Pittsburgh, PA USA
DTV 5/24/07
OHGWQ Group

"Where flowers bloom so does hope."-Lady Bird Johnson
Dearest Little One, Always take time to smell the roses.
Sue and Robert Golden
Madison, WI
LID: 7-14-06

Little Boy: All God needs to build a man.
Debbie Sauer, MI

Wishing you a lifetime of love!
The Stocks-Bordnicks
Atlanta, GA
Waiting for Annie
Anhui, China

"Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Sean Dotson, WA

We wish you a life full of bright happy days!
Love, The Conant Family
Chrissy & Gerry & Grace
LID 3/27/07 for Lila
Council Bluffs, IA USA

You are the sweetest kind of blessing from heaven above....A true gift from God. Your new parents will welcome you with open arms. They will protect & cherish you for the rest of their lives and guide you in all the important ways of the world. You life will be filled with a wonderful family, good health, happiness, and an unending source of love.
Bower Family, OR
LID 9-8-06

"I see the moon and the moon sees me...Over the mountains, over the sea, I have a love who is waiting for me. Please let the light that shines on me, Shine on the one I love."
In China, during the Mid-Autumn Festival, families look to the moon to connect them to loved ones who can't be together.
Your journey has brought you home to a place you never would have imagined, filled with warmth and love.
"We See The Moon" By Carrie A. Kitze- Kai Lin's favorite book
Todd, Kerry, and Kai Lin Seip
And now...Li Hong- Fujian Province
Forever a family November 2007
Pueblo, CO

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I- I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference." -Robert Frost
Allen, Angela, & William Miller
Levelland, TX

Never forget where it is that you've been...But always look with hope to where it is that you are going...
The Beaudoin Family
Marc, Christen, Abigail, Zachary, Hailey (Hanzhong City, Shaanxi) and Jacob (Jinan, Shandong)
Hooksett, NH

If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap.
If you want happiness for a day, go fishing.
If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune.
If you want happiness for a lifetime, help someone.
--Chinese Proverb--
God made you special & unique. There's only one just like you!
The Gibbens Family
Tucson, AZ
LID 11.23.06
LOI 6-29-07
Waiting for Sarah Kanae LeiHua in Shanxi province

"He who asks is a fool for five minutes, but he who does not ask remains a fool forever." Chinese proverb.
The Millers
Allen, Angela, & William
Levelland, TX

Dear one, May you be surrounded by love and blessings always. May the music of your life be as wonderful as it can be.
Best wishes,
Robert, Dawn, Catherine, and Iain Logan-Brown
Feb. 2008, Michigan

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but a habit." -Aristotle
Wishing you a lifetime of love, laughter, and happiness.
Suzanne and Terry Wong
LID 29/11/06
London, England

Play in the warmth of the sun. Dance in the light of the moon.
David & Ann Krisell
Kammy Krisell
Sherwood, AR
LID 8/18/06 for Mari-Grace from China
http://mari-grace.blogspot.com/


"Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."
Christopher Robin to Pooh
May all your dreams come true.
Sue Strane
Pittsburgh, PA USA
DTV 5/24/07
OHGWQ Group

Boys are God's way of telling you that your house is too neat.
Debbie Sauer, MI

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away." -Unknown
Cortney Dotson, WA

"Sailing takes me away to where I've always heard it could be just a dream and the wind to carry me and soon I will be free." -Christopher Cross, "Sailing"
Wishing you a lifetime of dreaming!
Patrick, Allison, Ying, and Meimei
Atlanta, GA
Waiting for Annie in Anhui, China

"All your dreams can come true if you have the courage to persue them." -Walt Disney
Sue & Robert Golden
Madison, WI
LID: 7-14-06

"I am only one. But still, I am one. I cannot do everything, but still, I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something I can do." -Edward Everett Hale
Cortney Dotson, WA

Deseo que la buena fortuna y la felicidad, encuentren siempre el camino hasta tu hogar, y tengas una vida llena de amor, alegrias y sonrisas junto a tu nueva familia.
I wish you that the good fortune and the happiness find always the way to your home, and have a life full of love, happy moments and smiles with your forever family.
Nazareth Porras
Canary Islands- Spain

Dear little one, Enjoy when you can and endure when you must. -Goethe
Our best wishes for you and your family.
Bjaine Bentelsen & Linda Hennlisen
Nyuobing M., Denmark

"The secret of success is to know something nobody else knows." -Aristotle
Diane Lambert
Elkhorn, WI

My wish for you...
Cherish your family and make memories that will last for generations. Bear hugs last forever!
Carrie R., Ohio
LID 12/24/06

"And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV
With love, the Zucco Family
Tony, Honour, and Caitlin
Montgomery, AL
Adoption Ty, from China

"When they've finished reading, Olivia's mother gives her a kiss and says, "You know you really wear me out. But I love you anyway." And Olivia gives her a kiss back and says, "I love you anyway too."
From "Olivia" by Ian Falconer
Meilyn's favorite book
Age 2
Forever in our arms
June 4th, 2007
Cortney Dotson

.......................

Piecing Complete!

The top of the quilt is DONE! Currently, it roughly measures 55" by 78". I am 61". It is mucho taller than I am. Now, all I need to do buy the batting and backing and get started on that, and then I'll be done! Until I get those needed supplies, however, I believe I am going to start on Reese's crazy quilt. I'm making a mini-quilt that will be roughly crib sized out of the scraps from her big quilt as a crazy quilt. Should be fun.

I can't really start on Jonathan's quilt yet, because I only have 45 squares. I really don't like to start piecing until I have all of my squares.

If you would like to contribute to Jonathan's quilt, please email me. I have the same size and fabric requirements as I did for Reese's quilt, but I am asking for neutral or boy-specific fabrics. Contributions would be awesome.

I am also collecting for 2 charity quilts, one for our local prostate cancer foundation and one for our local branch of the Susan G. Komen Foundation for breast cancer. I'm collecting orange and blue (like their logo, more or less) for the prostate cancer one, and dark pink, light pink, and whites/cremes for the breast cancer one. When completed, both will be donated to their respective foundations for them to do as they will with, either auction them off, or, as Susan G. Komen said they may do, give it to one of the Survivors at the Race for the Cure. I am doing this because my dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer in November and has a prostatectomy in January. He is now completely cancer-free with a PSA of 0.00. My best friend growing up's grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer in the last year and has had 2 masectomies since we got home with Reese. I am making a breast cancer quilt in honor of her, because she is the one who taught me how to sew. You can email me as well if you would like to donate to either/both of those quilts.

This sounds so junior high, but: LOOKIE WHAT I DID!

what's done so far

this should be rotated into a vertical picture, but I didn't realize that until now

I've begun really putting all of the front together. So far, I have 3 of the 7 rows finished. Then I have to do the borders around the edges. Then it's a matter of getting batting and backing and putting it together. Should be interesting. If you have any tips please email me or leave a comment. :)

I don't know why I've suddenly wanted to get this finished, but I do. Maybe it's that I have about half a dozen other quilts I'd like to do, but I'll feel bad if I set this one aside to do this. Go figure, my possibly largest quilt EVER will be my first. Yeah, intelligent, I know.

I plan on using the scraps from this quilt to make a "crazy quilt" at approximately crib/toddler size.

The sashing in between the squares is exactly the same color as the walls are painted in her room. I was going for something in the same area, but I never guessed it'd be exact.

On another note, I am making a 100 Good Wishes Quilt for my 3 week old nephew, Jonathan. He's a biological baby and was a pleasant surprise for my sister and brother-in-law. I am currently collecting squares for his quilt, same specifications as for Reese's quilt, if you'd like to donate to it. My sister has always had trouble getting pregnant, her first 2 children came about with some help, and this was her first baby she hadn't had to have medical intervention to get pregnant with. You can see pictures of him at Journey with Reese. Donations would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Finished with the squares!

I finished piecing the actual squares about 5 minutes ago. Now I have to get out to buy the fabric for the sashing, etc. Anyone have any tips for sashing and putting the actual quilt together? This is my first quilt so yeah, newbie. I have 34 squares that are 8x8 in. a piece. If anyone has any tips for the size and layout, PLEASE let me know.

It's so cool that this is getting so close (in my mind) to being done. I can't wait!

New Machine

I got a new sewing machine for Christmas, so piecing has re-begun. Continued...whatever. Anyway, things are coming along again.

Speed Bumps

I wish I could say I was done piecing. Sadly, that is not so.

I was half-way though a square when my sewing machine bobbin ran out. And it hasn't worked since. We killed two needles (bent them to he** and back) in one evening and determined that was a sign to give up. And we just haven't gotten the machine to the Machine Doctor. So, no new pretties.

Piecing has begun!

Fish square.

yellow square.

Bugs/dragonflies square

Flowers/Asian stuff square. And the colors co-ordinated.

Teddy bear/childhood square.

Purple square.

Purple and green. I love this foursome.

Pink!

Ladybugs.

Random square.

Bright, bright colors square.

I have begun piecing on my mother's 23 year old Kenmore sewing machine. And the bobbin hates me. I had to wind a new one today because the one I had ran out...and now it's being stupid and won't pull through. Grrr.... But the fact that I'm piecing does not in ANY WAY mean you can't still contribute. Obviously, this will not be a 100 Good Wishes Quilt, as I am well into the 120's. And it is becoming apparent in my planning world (which is really abstract and loose on facts, LOL) that I still need more to make the darn thing a rectangle. Sooooo....feel free to continue to contribute. If I don't need them for this project, I'll use them in the next (which is top-secret). So, they WILL be used, some how or another. I'm planning on using the scraps from cutting out the little 5x5 squares out of 8x8 and larger squares to make a smaller quilt that's more kid-sized. Like a scrap quilt/crazy quilt thing. It's going to be really random. I'm not going to bother with sashing on it. The hope is it'll be about toddler sized, a little bigger.

I'm grouping squares into groups of 4 (unless they can't be cut down, like the 2 contributions from awesome people in my Irish dancing world) by color, theme, or...if there is not enough of them to have 4....a random or half-and-half square.

Thanks so much to everyone who has contributed. Without you, this would be a pointless endeavor. Thank you.

Squish #125- Omaha, NE, USA

Love the dance/ballet fabric. Reese loves her dance!

The wish:

Parenting and loving a child is a tremendous joy. You are a blessing to your parents and your arrival has been eagerly anticipated.

My wish for you is that some day you experience all the joys and challenges that come with caring for a child you love.

Jeff, Carrie, Maizie, and Bo Schaffert
www.mingmaizie.blogspot.com

Thanks for the squish!

Squish #124- Canada

Thanks for the squish!

Squish #123- ehh...I don't remember

The letter F for the ABC swap

Fruit, just as life goes, fruit isn't always what you think and sometimes what it actually is may surprise. For instance, there is the age old debate....

The Kowel Family
Scott, Tasie, Baden (b. 10/30/03, a. 7/31/07, Shenzhen Bao'an in Guangdong province), and Savannah (b. 3/17/04, a. 6/16/05 Yihuang , Jiangxi)

Thanks for the squish!

Squish #122- Quebec, Canada

The wish: (no translation available, I'm not that good at French).

Chere petite He des etoites

Comme une etoile filante
Tu as parcourse te ciel
Pour rejoinde ta famille
Et attente du rayon de soleil
Cue ta vie soi simplie d'amour
Aupre de tes parents
L'etoile pelaire brillera et veiterra sur toi
Tout au long de ta vie

Nous t'enveyons de millions de Bisous Scintillants

Marie-France, Francis, Jonathon et Anna-Marie
Quebec, Canada
arsenaultroy.blogspot.com
LID: 26 mars 2007

Sorry if the typed up words are off. I'm reading them off of a picture on my computer. :)
Thanks for the squish!

Squish #121- Frisco, TX, USA

That's my cat, Chen Le's head in the picture.

Thanks for the squish!

Squish #120- Can't remember

"The glory of friendship
is not an outstretched hand,
nor the kindly smile,
nor the joy of companionship;
it is the spiritual inspiration
that comes to one
when he realizes that some one else
is willing to believe in him
and is willing to trust him."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

May you always be surrounded by loving family and friends.
Carolyn, Todd, and Vivian

Thanks for the squish!

Squish #119- London, England

The letter P for the abc swap.

P is for Play
pinwheel. pretend. pinata.
Can you think of more playful words that begin with P?

We don't stop playing because we get old; we get old because we cease to play.
-George Bernard Shaw

With love,
The Cole Family
London, England

Squish #118- Mikulus Family

I have lost the envelope so I can't remember where it's from. This one is the letter V for the alphabet swap.

V is for Valentine

My teacher's very special
So I'm making her a heart,
A valentine that's sure to be
A proper work of art.

I've worked on it all morning
So it should be ready soon,
I'd like to slip it on her desk
Before this afternoon.

It's colored in with crayons
And it's trimmed with paper lace,
It has flowers, hearts, and Cupids-
I can't wait to see her face.

May sweetness follow you all year round.
Mikulus
Charles and Karrie
2 grown children-5 grandchildren
3 teenagers (oh my)
4 year old- Kazakhstan 4/05
10 month old from Vietnam 4-07
DTV-2007

Thanks for the squish!

Squish #117- West Fork, AR, USA

This one is from a family who takes dance at my dance school, if I recall correctly.

The wish:

My 8" square is made of 4 cathedral window squares. It is a variation called "Secret Garden". I am making a large quilt of these for our pastor and his wife, celebrating 50 years in the ministry. Folding, ironing, and sewing these squares reminds me of my 4 daughters doing origami.

To: Reese KaiJin
I wish for you to become a happy, healthy, woman of God. I hope you will some day learn to make quilts of your own. Quilting can be a great joy, and in so many ways can connect peoples together.

Paula Dutton
West Fork, AR

Thanks for the squish!

Squish #116- Indianapolis, IN, USA

I love the clovers.

The wish:

Love the moment. Flowers grow out of dark moments.
-Coreta Kent

Mary Ann DeMartes

Thanks for the squish!

Squish #115- Strongsville, OH, USA

The wish:

"Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead."
-Louisa May Alcott

Our wish is that you always follow where your dreams lead.

Sarah & Alison Kobulnicky
Strongsville, OH

Thanks for the squish!

Squish #114- Boothwyn, PA, USA

The wish:

When your life began the stars in the sky aligned then a wish was made for you to be loved and that voice was heard was heard by an angel above.

Little one, here are my wishes for thee:
May your life always be filled with sunshine.
May you always be surrounded by love and happiness.
May you always be proud of who you are.
May you always feel a sense of belonging in this world.
May you attain all of your dreams in life.

Chris and Michelle Lynam.

Thanks for the squish!

Squish #113- Boucherville, Quebec, Canada

This is the letter 'M' for the Alphabet Swap.

The wish:

Hickory, Dickory Dock

Hickory, dickory, dock.
The mouse ran up the clock,
The struck one, the mouse ran down.
Hickory, dickory, dock.

Hickory, dickory, dock.
The mouse run up the clock.
The clock struck two, the mouse said, "Boo!"
Hickory, dickory, dock.

Hickory, dickory, dock.
The mouse ran up the clock.
The clock struck three, the mouse said, "Whee!"
Hickory, dickory, dock.

Hickory, dickory, dock.
The mouse ran up the clock.
The clock struck four, the mouse said, "No more!"
Hickory, dickory, dock.

M is for mouse.

May you always stay a child at heart.

Anik Nolet and Sylvain Theriault,
LID: 05-18-06
Boucherville, Quebec, Canada

Thanks for the squish!

Squish #112- Etrechy, France

First (and only) squish from France.

The wish:

Bienvenue Parmi Nous

I wish you much happiness, health, prosperity--That's beautiful life being for you. All your life are being happy.

Viviene et (and) Micheal

Thanks for the squish!

Squish #110 & 111- Suffolk, VA, USA

I actually got this on Saturday...it's been a crazy week.

The wish:

My daughter's room is decorated with the bold words below, because they are my greatest wishes for her. They are my wishes for you, too:

May you DREAM big dreams and know you can make them come true.
May your heart DANCE with laughter and joy.
May you IMAGINE all the possibilities that life has to offer you and choose wisely.
May you always be surrounded by LOVE as strong as your family's love for you.
May you always remember to WISH on shooting stars and when you blow out the candles on your birthday cake.
And, may you always have FAITH in your heart and HOPE for tomorrow.

-Robin Salsberry

Thanks for the squish!

Squish #109- Broken Arrow, OK, USA

The wish:

U is for Umbrella

The collapsible umbrella is said to have been invented during Cao Wei in ancient China, roughly 1700 years ago. The Chinese character for umbrella is - (san) and is a pictograph resembling the modern umbrella in design. Some investigators have supposed that its invention was first created by tying large leaves to bough-like ribs (the branching out parts of the umbrella). Others assert that the idea was probably derived from the tent, which remains in form unaltered to the present day. However, the tradition existing in China is that it originated in standards and banners waving in the air, hence the use of the umbrella was often linked to high ranking (though not necessarily royalty in China). On one occasion at least, we hear of 24 umbrellas being carried before the Emperor when he went out hunting. In this case, the umbrella served as defense against the rain rather than sun.

Enjoy life and take time to play in the rain.
-Darrell and Vivianna David: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.

Thanks for the squish!

Squish #108- Chevy Chase, MD, USA

This one is the letter 'Z' for the ABC Swap!

The wish:

Z is for Zebras!

My alphabet starts with letter called yuzz. It's the letter I use to spell yuzz-a-ma-tuzz. You'll be sort of surprised what there is to be found once you go beyond 'Z' and start poking around!
-Dr. Seuss

May you always enjoy inventing and telling your own stories!!

The Lindsays
Chevy Chase, MD

Thanks for the squish!

Squish #107- Chevy Chase, MD, USA

This one is the letter 'X' for the ABC Swap.

The wish:

X
"X" sounds like the "X" to X-Ray your bones;
"X" sounds like the "Z" in xylophone;
"X" marks the spot in tic-tac-toe;
"X" means a kiss when a hug is an "O".

To succeed in life, you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone, and a funny bone.
-Reba McIntire

xxoo,
The Lindsays, Chevy Chase, MD

Thanks for the squish!

Squish #106- Benton, AR, USA

This squish is extra special because it is from our good friends, The Rouseys, who are members of our local FCC.

The wish:

"We may be a thousand miles apart
But I'll be with you wherever you are.

I'm already there,
Take a look around.
I'm the sunshine in your hair.
I'm the shadow on the ground.
I'm the whisper in the wind
And I'll be there until the end.
Can you feel the love that we share?
Oh, I'm already there.
Oh I'm already
There."

from the song "I'm Already There" by Lonestar

Dear Reese,

Always remember that you are wanted and loved, no matter where you go or what you do. What a blessing you are! May God bless you and keep you throughout your life.
This was the song that kept me, Kim, going while we waited to bring Anna-Marie and then Savannah home to our forever family. The words are just so true...even though your family is not with you right now, they are still there with their love, prayers, and thoughts. It will always mean something special to our family, just as You will always mean something special to your family.

With love,
Kim, Bryan, Anna-Marie, and Savannah.

Thanks for the squish!

Squish #105- Bay Village, OH, USA

The wish:

May your life be filled with happiness.

Lisa Napoli
Bay Village, Ohio

Thanks for the squish!

Squish #104- Victoria, Australia

The wish:

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart."
-Helen Keller

From the Stewart Family
Robyn, Ian, Seb (Korea), and our little one waiting for us in Taiwan.
Victoria, Australia

Thanks for the squish!

Squish #103- Chardon, OH, USA

This one is letter 'O' from the ABC Swap.

The wish:

O is for Orange
We wish for you to see a beautiful orange setting sun, to play in newly fallen orange leaves, to taste the sweetness of a ripe orange and to smell the scent of a freshly carved orange pumpkin.

The Eierman Family:
Gregg, Laurie, Megan, Rebecca, Stacey, Daniel, Alexa Rose XiaoHui & Carrie Anne HongHuan
Chardon, Ohio

Thanks for the squish!

Squish #102- Fort Collins, CO, USA

This one is the letter 'R' for the ABC Swap.

The wish:

R is for Rainbow

The falling rain dissolves into mist
And the thunder begins to die;
As the sporadic lightning fades,
An arch of colors pours from the sky.

Rainbows appear after mighty storms
When things look their worst;
Just when the skies are darkest gray,
Out of heaven does the rainbow burst,

God first sent the rainbow to Noah
As a sign that His word is true;
The rainbow's eternal message
Still speaks to me and you.

The rainbow is a sign of God's promise
That He will guide us through any storm;
That He will ease all our troubles
No matter what their form.

When you feel battered by life's storms
And you are filled with doubt and dismay,
Just remember God's rainbow is coming
For it's blessing...you only have to pray.

Wishing you patience to wait for your rainbow,
The Pie' Family

Thanks for the squish!

Squish #101- Fort Collins, CO, USA

This one is the Letter 'C' from the OHGWQ ABC Swap.

The wish:

C is for Crayons

I had a box of crayons,
All shiny, straight, and new.
I lent a friend one crayon,
And -oops!- it broke in two!
My friend said she was sorry,
But I said "I don't care,
'Cause now we both can color
With one crayon. We can share!"
-Helen H. Moore

There are few things as special as opening a new box of crayons. May you always appreciate the simple pleasures of life.

With love,
The Pie' Family
Fort Collins, CO

Thanks for the squish!