Monday, June 04, 2007

I Have Sew Much to Say...



I didn’t realize when I started Olivia’s Bai Jia Bei, or 100 Wishes Quilt, all the things I would learn along the way. It is surprising to me the similarities between waiting for Olivia to come home and making her quilt.

1) It has been a journey. I just received my last piece of fabric and I am partially excited that I can finish the quilt now and partially sad that the anticipated walks to the mail box are done.

2) It has tested my patience to wait on people to send me fabric just as the wait for Olivia is testing my patience! And now the wait for the rest of the cards begins…
3) It has been a learning experience. I have a quilting teacher from CraftyPlanet.com who has helped me all along the way. It reminds me of the “teach a man to fish” proverb. I didn’t hire someone to make the quilt for me, but I am learning HOW to make a quilt, something I have wanted to learn for years.

4) I have had to give up control. When you have 100 very different pieces of fabric and are piecing them together like a puzzle, you can drive yourself crazy trying to get them in the “right order”. I finally had to just let go and let it be a piece of art. I also had to go easy on myself that it will undoubtedly NOT be perfect, but it will definitely be made with love.
Funny how those things also describe parenting! A journey where your patience is tested, a learning experience where you have to give up control…hmmm…

The quilt has been a WONDERFUL project to keep me busy during the wait and I am so grateful for it. It has given me something tangible to work on, something to look forward to, and something that our daughter will have forever. Thanks so much to everyone who contributed. I picture Olivia looking through her book of wishes years from now and talking about the different people who contributed to her quilt. It is that image in my mind that brings me peace during this agonizing wait for her arrival.

1 comment:

Jinglebritches said...

Was that a subtle hint???? Or did you mean to say "Get me the ding dang cards????" I love you!!!

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