Belated Birthday

 Ten years ago I accompanied my daughter to Xian, China to 'pick up' her daughter Claire.  It was my job to be the sherpa, toting and corralling our stuff, so that my daughter could have more time to focus on 13 month old Qin Fan (named for the Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi, buried nearby in the famous tombs).

This was not my first such trip, having accompanied my daughter previously to 'pick up' her elder daughter.  It was on that trip that I learned (duh!) how much 'down' time there was.  Literally, those babies need naps!  I had decided to take hand work to amuse myself in those times when my daughter was busy feeding, changing, chasing or napping the baby.

I took light squares for backgrounds and red squares for hearts that I would hand appliqué, yielding a wonderful heartfelt (get it?) memory of the trip.  Then I saw Claire!  What a cutie!  With big, pudgy hands and feet.  They were the cutest!  I couldn't resist!

Upon our return to the US, Mommy was very busy with babies...I was very busy, and the project was carefully put away.  Over the years, I've looked at it, but always put it back, thinking "someday..."

In the meanwhile Claire has grown into a tall, smart, athletic, musical and artistic young girl (and I'm not in the least biased, really...)  This latest time I tore up my studio looking for something and came across the squares again, I decide to commit to it.  If not now, when?!

My daughter and Claire share a birthday... which recently passed.  I had aimed at having it completed....but today...I have finished it.  Fortunately, Claire loves the word 'belated'...thinks it's a very interesting one.  And, best, she loves this quilt.