Amelia's 100 Good Wishes Quilt

100 + FAMILIES.....

2007-03-03T15:49:00.000-05:00

Whoo Hoo! Yes folks, I have officially made it to over 100 families. I am so excited. Totals after this post will be:

107 Families
141 Squares of fabric
140 Wishes

This post will also complete the swap I have done with the Ladybug and Red Thread Believers Group.

Final Squish from the "Ladybug and Red Thread Believers Group"....

Donna Clark and Family from Jacksonville, Florida. What girl doesn't love purses????

From the OHGW Quilt Group.....

The Jacob Family from Anoka, Minnesota. I've swapped with Cindy in the Blessings swap and the Asian swap. Thanks Cindy!

From the August Lucky Eights Yahoo Group...

Adorable animal print from The McLaughlin and Straub Family in Fort Solanga, New York

From the Asian Swappers.....

The Fridrich's from Boulder Creek. California;

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined"

The Goodridge Family from Houston, Texas

The Gresbach family from Brookfield, Wisconsin

The Jacobs from Anoka, Minnesota~ I love purple...

The LeBlancs from British Columbia, Canada

The Pontillo-Whitt Family from Geneseo, New York

Another wish from Australia. Lynne always adds a little something extra to her wishes. This time she made this beautiful origami star with the fabric swatch attached to it. Thanks Lynne!

From Bonn Germany and the White Family!

And last, but certainly not least...the White family all the way from Bonn Germany!

After today, I am only waiting on 13 wishes to finish out the four swaps that I am in. This has been so much fun that I decided to join a new swap with the new people that have joined the August Yahoo Group! YAHOO...here we go again!

Blessings,

Kim

Gung Hay Fat Choy!!!!!!

2007-02-17T15:42:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year!!! Tomorrow, February 18th, starts the beginning of the Chinese New Year or Spring Festival. The Chinese New Year is based on the Lunar Calendar. The celebration lasts for two weeks with events every day....tonight is New Years Eve and all families gather together for a Celebration Dinner!

I have seven wishes to post today. Totals after today are:

97 Families, 129 Fabric Squares and 128 Wishes.

Enjoy....

The Gorlewski Family in Batavia, Illinois. Lisa is a member of the Ladybugs Group.

Wishes from the August Lucky Eights.....August Yahoo Group....
Beach Wishes from the Blackburns from Canton, Michigan

A wish from Chris and Jo Brabham in Avon, Conneticut

A wish from the George's....the September Yahoo Group....
From The Peterson Family in Massillon, Ohio. I love the flower on the wish, it's beautiful!

More Asian Fabric Swappers.....

Another wish from the LaValla Family in Belle Chasse, Louisiana (YUM!))

From the Nagowski Family in Lancaster, New York

I still have several squares to collect to complete the swaps. I'm sure they will come in more slowly now. Each day I run to the mail box anxious to see what treasures I will open.

Blessings,

Kim

One wish today...

2007-02-13T16:01:00.000-05:00

Today there was one lonely wish from the Shield family in Everett, Washington. They are a part of the September Yahoo Group.

Today's totals after recounting all of them: 122 squares, 121 wishes from 93 families, a little different than the previous count ;-)

2007-02-12T16:06:00.000-05:00

Today, I received five wishes from four families. That brings the total to 120 squares, 119 wishes from 92 families. I don't believe that I will get anything tomorrow since we are expecting some weather....mostly freezing rain...YULK! Enjoy....

Asian fabric from the Smith's in Oregon. We've swapped in another swap too.

An Asian fabric and beautiful Panda Bear wish from the McMillians in Elk Grove, California

The Noonan family from Crofton, Maryland sent two wishes since they are collecting for two quilts. These wishes are from the "OHGW" Swap that I am in.

Another wish from the Noonans'....

This wish is from the Harter family in Fishers, Indiana. They are in the September Yahoo Group. The wings on the ladybug move in and out so you can see the fabric. This is so very creative. I just love it!

Inching closer to 100 families....

2007-02-10T18:02:00.000-05:00

I have received five more wishes from four families, two of which are "new families". This brings the magic number of "Families" to 89....almost there. I still need to collect wishes from three swaps and I have one swap to mail out. I bought the vellum today for the wish. I should be able to finish it tonight. After this posting, I will have 115 fabric squares with 114 wishes! Enjoy.....

Asian wishes from.....Jeff & Kimberly Shelton in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Another Asian Wish from Don and Kathy Powers in Macomb Illinois....

A wish from the Spamers in the August Yahoo Group. The Spamers are from Dallas.

Two wishes from Shane and Malia Parnell. They are in the August and September Yahoo Groups. Love these bold fabrics.

Multiples wishes from Multiple Swaps

2007-02-09T14:42:00.000-05:00

I have four more fabric squares and wishes to share with everyone.... They are just as beautiful as all the others.

Retro Dots from Jocelyn Firth in Canada and the September 2006 DTC Group. Jocelyn has a "Lifebook" blog, www.myjiangixgirl.com. She has "Lifebooks in a Box" club for those of us that want to start our children's lifebooks before we get them home. I can't wait to see the first set of pages that she is currently working on. Thanks Joceyln

More from the Ladybugs....Jami Butler in Thomasville, Georgia

Beautiful Dots from Michael and Margaret George in Folden Mississippi

From the Asian Swap - The Lozorarts Family in Falmouth, Maine

This brings the total to: 110 Fabric squares, 109 Wishes from 87 different families.

Blessings,

Kim

Swappin' with the Ladybugs....

2007-02-04T22:50:00.000-05:00

A little bit about this swap....this is sort of an individual swap with a Yahoo group that I belong to that is strictly Christians. We are called "The Ladybug and Red Thread Believers". This group came about because the larger Yahoo Groups that generally has memberships from all over the world did not want any type of reference to talk about religion, prayer requests, beliefs etc. In my opinion, as long as a message indicates that the body of the message mentions "God", people should be o.k. with that. But that's not the case with some groups. So this group is a supportive bunch of families with the same beliefs and values that lift each other up and support each other through the adoption process. I belonged to a similar group while waiting for Elise~but it was infact the BIG yahoo group with over 200 members from all over. That group is still in tact two years later (although the active members are around 25) and the common thread that we all share is our religion...hmmmmm. Anyway....I am rambling, but that's the beauty of this being MY blog...I can do that. Enjoy...

Too cool fabric from one of the Ladybug Leaders, Jessica Smith and Family in Lanesville, Indiana

Ruth and Troy Clark from Gresham, Oregon

The Phillipsons from Helenville, Wisconsin

Final count: (106) Squares, (105) Wishes from (84) families! WOOHOO!!!

So, I'm caught up...in a manner of speaking. I still have three swaps to complete. I have cut the material and now I need to do the wishes. The wishes are the hard part for me....I can't seem to do something simple. The scrapbooker in me comes out and bears her evil head. Can you hear the evil laugh......

Off to bed, busy day tomorrow! God Bless!

New Swap with a New Quilt Group

2007-02-04T22:12:00.000-05:00

This is a new swap with a new quilt group. As you have probably read on my other blog, there are some people involved in international adoption that want nothing to do with religion and they don't want anyone with any type of religious beliefs to send a wish that has a religious tone. The large Quilt Swap group that most people participate in to get their 100 squares and wishes, has now banned using any kind of bible verse on any wish that you send to people in the group. The only way around this is if you organize the swap and specifically state that religious references can be made. So, there has been another Quilt Group started that allows the freedom to use any type of wish you choose including bible verses. The group is small, but I'm sure it will grow. The following squishes are from that group. I just wish there was a little more tolerance in this world on both sides of this debate

Pink Flamingos from the LaRosas in Melbourne Beach, Florida

This wish from The Dudley Family in Naples, Florida has a great cut-out of an Asian character...unfortunately, I'm not sure what it means.

A cute wish from The King Family in Buckeye (OHIO), Arizona

This wish and the next are from the Keisling-Smiths in Portland Oregon....

Their daughters are Frances and Louise....love these fabrics too!

Totally cool retro fabric from Adam & Lisa Hopp in Kent, Washington

This wish and the next are from the Hansen's in Olathe, Kansas. You might recognize the name, I've swapped with Shari in a few other swaps. Thanks Shari! I love the hearts!

From Australia........

This wish and the next two are from Lynne Sinopoli-Hagiwara from AUSTRALIA! I believe Lynne and her husband are waiting for their first daughter. The Aussies sure do know how to do squishes!

She sent a flag and a wonderful post card that will go in Amelia's wish book

This is a great poem with a beautiful fabric and finally.....

What would a squish be without a koala bear! Thanks Lynne!

All the way from ENGLAND, Lara Goldsworthy in Near Hayle Cornwall ~

The Edmisten Family from Indian Trail, North Carolina

Troy and Ruth Clark from Gresham, Oregon

The Carter Family from Athens, Alabama

The Bachman Family from Owosso, Michigan

There are (15) squares and (15) wishes from (11) new families in this post. That brings the total to: (103) fabric squares, (102) wishes from (83) families. WOW!!!!

Wishes from the Lucky Eight's

2007-02-04T19:25:00.000-05:00

Lots and lots of squishes from the families in the August 2006 Lucky Eight's Yahoo Group. Enjoy the fabrics and wishes.....I have!

Cool fabric and wish from Kelly & Mike Wilson in Atlantic Beach Florida

A wish from the Westbergs in Gladstone, Oregon....

A second wish from the Westbergs

The Tuffner Family from Oswego, Illinois

More beautiful fabric from Sarah Swanson in Maryland

It is such pretty fabric. I love the Asian women. It's from the Satler Family in Richmond, Kentucky

The Rodriguez family in Longueuil Quebec, Canada

Tim & Nicole Martin from Batavia, New York

This retro fabric is AWESOME...I love it! It's from the Mannos Family in Hannesville, Illinois

This is my FAVORITE material in the WORLD....I just love it. It's from The Kalkwarf Family in Wilber, Nebraska.

Jenny & Kris Henrikson from Lombard, Illinois

The Goings Family from Blacklick, Ohio

The Fritz Family from Florissant, Missouri

Norman and Cheryl Godin from Salem,Wisconsin

A Wish from Edwards family, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada

Adorable bugs from Jason & Stacy Cashion in Tullahoma, Tennessee

Gary & Terri Casebier in Saginaw ,Texas

Fabulous Asian Fabric from the Boettichers in Astor, Florida

The Barker Family from Lexington, Kentucky

The Allens from Church Road, Virginia

Thank you to everyone in the "Lucky Eights". The wishes and fabrics are just beautiful.

Count after this posting:

87 Wishes with 88 Fabric Squares from a total of 72 families. Almost 3/4 of the way finished!

Red Threads of September 2006 Wishes

2007-02-04T17:40:00.000-05:00

I am finally getting back to scanning and posting the wishes that I have had this month. The following "squishes" are from the families that are members of the September 2006 DTC group. We call ourselves "The Red Threads of September"

From Christine O'Rourke

The Osborne Family in Summerville, West Virginia

From Sarah Swanson in Bethesda, Maryland

The Wartman Family in Taylor Mill, Kentucky

The Jones family from Springfield, Missouri

Love this fabric from the Koeske's in Spokane, Washington

LaDawn Tucker from Ballwin, Missouri

Robert & Kelly Barger from Columbus, OHIO - Go Buckeyes!

The Bruhn's from Franklin, Wisconsin

The Ludwigsen from Grand Blanc, Michigan (near Gracie)

From Gary & Terri Casebier, Saginaw, Texas

The Godin Family from Salem, Wisconsin

The Phillipson Family, Helenville, Wisconsin

The Bodo Family in St. Augustine, Florida....bet it's a lot warmer there right now ;-)

Love this fabric from Anita Carbaugh in Chambersburg, PA. I wonder if she's close to Dr. Dan?

The Westberg Family from Gladstone, Oregon

Only six more wishes left to complete this swap!

Totals after this posting:

76 squares of material with 75 wishes from 60 families!!!! We are well on our way!

Final wishes from the "Blessings" Swap

2007-02-04T15:41:00.000-05:00

I can say that one of the swaps that I am participating in is finally complete. I received the final "squishes" this week and have them scanned in for posting. There were (22) families in this swap NOT including us. I received a total of 24 wishes and fabric squares from 22 families. I'll have to update the totals on the home page. This has been one of my all time favorite swaps because the blessing was a bible verse. Enjoy the final squishes:

The Butler Family, Thomasville Georgia.

The Powers Family from Macomb Illinois. Kathy's first blessing was lost in the mail and she was sweet enough to send me another blessing. Thanks Kathy! I love your blessing!

And last, but certainly not least is this blessing from Tom and Shelly Peters in London, Kentucky.

Thank you to everyone that sent our Amelia such a wonderful blessing.

Kim

No Wishes to post BECAUSE

2007-01-19T22:10:00.000-05:00

I am stuck in computer "hell". That's right. Not exaggerating or embellishing like my family does so well. NOPE, I spent over five hours (not kidding) with customer service people from India and the Philippines trying to figure out what's wrong with my machine. On top of that (this is the kicker)...I waited OVER EIGHT (yes I do mean the numeral "8") hours while an update downloaded. Now friends, I am an CPA, not a computer guru or geek. I just want a machine that works and works when I turn it on. But don't you think that a technical person would have in their "protocol" to tell someone to turn their antivirus software OFF while doing a download since it slows the machine down to less than a snails pace?????? Yep, after 8 hours, I finally drug myself off the couch (where I was snoozing since the rest of the house was comfortably tucked into their lovely beds), to try to figure something out since the download was only at 65% after EIGHT hours and I turned my antivirus OFF and it finished downloading in less than 15 minutes.) Well, I sure do believe they need to change their protocol...and let me tell you I told them that in not so many words this morning when I called them back for the THIRD TIME. I'm not bitter though, nope, not me!

This computer nightmare always happens to me in the fever pitch of tax season. It NEVER fails! So, my laptop is at the computer hospital (thank goodness we know a good one), getting a new hard drive to try to "fix" my problem.

All of that being said, I can't post ALL the wishes that I have received because I have no computer...just my dear husband's (DH). He has been so kind as to let me borrow his for the weekend. I'll be able to post blogs, but no photos. So on Monday or Tuesday, I hope to have a very large batch of wishes to post. I did receive one wish yesterday and five today.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend.....I'm at a wrestling meet all weekend. Yep, once again I have thrown myself into the chaotic madness to a 23 team wrestling meet. I sat there for over four hours tonight waiting for Tucker to wrestler. Who knows how long I will wait tomorrow. He did win his match...his record is now 15 wins, 2 losses. He's kickin' butt...I'm so proud. I will admit to the fact that I will be doing a voice-over or some music for the video taping that I did of the match. I had some "issues" with the referee and couldn't contain myself. Thank the Lord my stepmother is a video genius!

I'm so blessed to have "techies' in my family!
Blessings,
Kim

New Quilt Swap....Asian Inspired Fabric

2007-01-17T14:52:00.000-05:00

No new "squishes" today. But I decided to organize a new swap....one with Asian inspired material. I participated in one of these for Elise's Quilt and I just LOVED the material that I got. I can't wait to see what we get this time. I hope to get around 20 participants....striving for that

"100 Families" goal.

Blessings,
Kim

Two more wishes today....

2007-01-16T16:30:00.000-05:00

The mail did not run yesterday due to the Federal Holiday. I was hoping there would be loads of squishes (squares and wish smashed together), but alas, only two. I did join another swap since I am not at 100 families....that's my ultimate goal. I think I will need to join one more swap after that one to reach my goal. I want to do an Asian material swap, so I'll probably have to organize it. We shall see.

So here they are:

The Margala Family

Mission Viejo, California,

Blessings Swap

Kevin & Tonya Lane

Gilbert, Arizona

August 2006 Swap (Lucky Eights)

As I toil over whether to organize a swap or not (and watch the snow fly out my kitchen window), I wonder if my daughter is born yet? If she is, how old is she? I guess only time will tell and until that time, I pray that God holds and hugs her when she needs it.

Blessings,

Kim

My wishes.....

2007-01-15T12:03:00.000-05:00

My Wish for the August 2006 DTC Group

My Wish for the Blessings Swap

My Wish for the September 2006 DTC Group

Wishes from the September 2006 DTC Group as of 01/15/07

2007-01-15T10:15:00.000-05:00

Wishes I have received so far:

Don and Kathy Powers

Macomb, Illinois

The Peterson Family

Massillon, Ohio

The Norgalis Family

Branchburg, New Jersey

The Nagel-Zeller Family

Regina, Saskatchewan Canada

The Luth Family

Shelby Township, Michigan

The LaValla Family

Belle Chasse, Lousianna

The Hughes Family

Oceanside, CA

The Holders

Glen Rose, Texas

The Hestermann Family

Schererville, Indiana

The Hatcher Family

Kekaha, Hawaii

Brian & Lori Hassett

Virginia Beach, Virgina

The Hart Family

Norwalk, Ohio

The Hansen Family

Olathe, Kansas

John & Kris Feeney

Burke, Virginia

The Corley Family

Shelbyville, Kentucky

The Chambers Family

Ridgewood, New Jersey

The Benton Family

Chesapeake, Virginia

The Adamson Family

Belford, New Jersey

The Askew Family

Bend, Oregon

The Aske Family

Ridge Manor, Florida

The wish is for the September and August DTC Group

The Wishes in this post are from all of the families that either mailed to documents to China (DTC) in September of 2006 or received Log In Date (LID) in September 2006 from CCAA (Chinese Center of Adoption Affairs). This was a "General Swap", so anything goes as far as wishes and fabrics.

Blessings,

Kim

Blessings Swap as of 01/14/07

2007-01-14T19:24:00.000-05:00

Wish #1 from Gary & Terri Casebier.

They are collecting for two quilts, one for their daughter from China and one for Terri's niece that has cancer.

Gary & Terri Casebier Wish #2

Saginaw, Texas

The Hansen Family

Olathe, Kansas

The Clark Family

Jacksonville, Florida

Kelly Higgs
Elmira, Ontario, Canada

The Peterson Family

Massillon, Ohio

(Home of Ohio's Best High School Football Teams!)

Lorri and Larry Mickelson

Fort Mohave, Arizonia

The Boschee Family
Round Rock, Texas

Wish #1

The Boschee's are collecting for two quilts, hence the two wishes

Boschee Family Wish #2

Shannon Norrie

Carver, Massachusetts

Beth Snider & Tim Hall with their son Samuel

Uxbridge, Massachusetts

The Karpiuk Family

Surrey, British Columbia, Canada

Theresa Johnson

North Attleboro, Massachusetts

The Rileys

Louisville, Kentucky

The Jacob Family

Anoka, Minnesota

The Sanders Family

Auburn, Alabama

The Wells Family (and it's not us!)

Rutledge, Georgia

The Koeske Family

Spokane, Washington

The Spamer Family

Dallas, Texas

The Askew Family

Bend, Oregon

This is one of my favorite swaps that I have ever participated in. I loved getting all the Bible verses. They are all so special, just like our children.

Blessings,

Kim

Wishes from the August DTC Group as of 01/14/07

2007-01-14T17:18:00.000-05:00

The Getzinger Family

Stanwood, Washington

The Napier Family

Westland, Michigan

Sharon Hayes

Cordova, Tennessee

The Adamson Family

Belford New Jersey

The Nagel-Zeller Family

Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

Don & Kathy Powers

Macomb, Illinois

The Brinkman Family

Cary, North Carolina

I hope you enjoy the wishes that I have received from the August 2006 DTC group so far.

Blessings,

Kim

100 Good Wishes Quilt Blog

2007-01-14T11:07:00.000-05:00

It's an icky, rainy Sunday in Ohio. I've decided to chuck any kind of work and start a blog for our newest daughter's 100 Good Wishes Quilt. I have joined three quilt swaps and the squares and wishes are pouring in. This blog will be devoted to showing everyone all the "squishes" that we receive. It should be great fun.

I now have to learn how to scan the squares and the wishes, so this could be a bit challenging at first.

A little about the current swaps:
(1) August DTC Group....this swap included people from around the US and Canada that sent their documents for their adoption to China in August 2006. Some of them have LIDs (Log In Dates) of August, most have September LIDs. There are 38 people participating in this swap including myself.
(2) September DTC Group...this swap is similar to the first swap except it includes people from the US and Canada that sent their documents to China in September 2006. Most of them have LIDs in October. There are 46 people participating in this swap.
(3) Blessings Swap....this swap is a little different than the two other swaps. To participate in this swap you were to send a "Christian Blessing", as opposed to generic wish, with your square of material. There are 23 people participating in this swap.

A little information about swaps. Most swaps are "general" swaps. You can choose any type of 100% cotton material and wish to send to the participants. Some swaps are "specific", like the blessings swap that I mentioned above. This let's people specify what can and can not be included in a swap. Examples of these types are swap are: 50 States Swap, Pink Swap (all pink material), Asian material Swap. The options are limited only by the imagination of the swap organizer.

There are two Yahoo Groups that are dedicated to those people that are collecting squares for quilts. I have joined both of them and hope to have 100 squares sooner, rather than later. If everyone send their squares from the three swaps that I have joined, I will have 107 squares. BUT three of those squares will be mine (I don't like to count them) and twenty-two wishes will be from families are participating in August, September & the Blessings Swap. So I will have wishes from 85 Families. I need at least 15 more wishes from different families after this swap.

So, here we go. I hope you enjoy checking out all the wonderful "squishes" and "blishes" that I have received so far.

Blessings,
Kim