I think you should gift them with a quilt from "your" culture! Then they can show their other friends how North Americans do it.

You guys rock!! I was so afraid of offending someone with my question. All your answers are helpful. I have to spend more time on the website before I decide what to do.

I made them a wallhanging for their wedding which they love. Other friends who have visited them say it's displayed on the wall in their living room and they tell everyone Tom's wife made that with her own hands. That makes me feel so good because I wasn't sure what to do then but you know men--DH told me he needed a wedding gift 3 days before he was leaving for China!! Wanted to shoot him.
All turned out well.

Thanks so much for all the GREAT advice-and if you think of anythng else, please let me know.

Ditto!

Here's the baby quilt that I made for a former Chinese student--I sent a message about it earlier.

Carol45, that is lovely. Any child, any where would love to have this.

Hi Jan,
My husband and I lived in Japan for 5 years. My Japanese friends were interested in American customs and culture. I don't think you can go wrong in making an American quilt. You might want to check to see if colors or shapes (or animals) have any particular meaning to them so as not to unintentionally offend but otherwise just make an American baby quilt.

Check the Chinese calendar and find out what animal is for 2010. You could incorporate that into the design, kind of a meeting of the cultures, friends sort of sentiment.

Carol I love your quilt-thanks for posting it. I really like the bright colors.

Thanks again everyone-I appreciate all the help and suggestions. I'm still looking a websites and haven't made a decision yet but I'll let you know what I decide. I don't know if they'll have an Ultrasound to determine the sex so I'm not going to do a gender-specific quilt (that's the only decision I've made so far LOL)

Asian art forms use a lot of pastel colors....but, as has been said, they are living in the modern world. I agree that any baby quilt will thrill them. I am in the same situation.... I befriended a young man who attended the Air Force Academy and he and his wife are now expecting their first baby. Thanks for knocking the cobwebs from my head... I need to make them a quilt for their baby!!!!!

Agreed on the traditional American art form. I made a baby quilt for a good friend of mine who is Finnish and lives in France. No way was I going to be able to meld those cultures together so I told her I was making her a baby quilt but that it would be a traditonal Amercian quilt. As it turns out, I made a Greek Cross pattern quilt becasue half my family is Greek (husband's side) and I told her that way she would remember me! (Actually I just like the pattern). She loved it, and her mother (who lives in Finland) REALLY loved it! I think the advice on color choice is wise, but otherwise I wouldn't stress about making it look Asian.