New Quilts - The Beginning of a Blessing

The above quilts are small. They measure 32" x 40". Smaller than a regular crib quilt but slightly bigger than a receiving blanket. These "little" quilts (19 in all thus far) have been my projects for the last few months. Cutting out the squares, putting the colors together (the best I could with what I had) and then sewing them up. My plan at present is to get them finished and donate them to the Edna Gladney home. This home, in Fort Worth, Texas, for those of you who do not live here, is an adoption agency. It gives pregnant girls/women, if they want to give birth to their babies, a place to stay until they deliver. It's a very real alternative to abortion. From all I've heard, they are doing wonderful work. So these "Blessing Blankets" will go home with those babies who were fortunate enough to have life chosen for them. Indeed a blessing for these little ones. Please keep these babies in your prayers. Their lives hang in the balance as does the nation of America for the slaughter of children that they have legally approved. God is not pleased.

In Him,

Cindy

New Quilts....New Beginnings

I have been working...and the above crazy quilt is one of the finished quilt tops I have folded up and put away, awaiting the machine quilting I will soon learn to do. Not quilting done on my Bernina...but on a large machine quilting machine that will require lessons to learn to use. I have been also been cutting out quilt pieces from my stacks of fabrics that have been resting in bins for years. These have now been sorted by color, cut out into various size pieces, including squares, and stacked according to size of square. They will eventually all be assembled later to make more quilt tops. Now they are just piles of colored fabrics, resembling nothing, waiting to be assembled. Sometimes I wonder if that's not the way the Lord looks at us. He cuts out the pieces of our lives, sorts them by shape and color and plans what he wants to make with them. Eventually, in His time, he will piece it all together and it will make something useful and beautiful. Our job is to remain patient and faithful while He does his sorting, cutting, planning and assembling.

There are several other finished quilts that I will post in the next few days or weeks. They are nothing to ooh and ahh over...but they are finished and done. A few steps closer to finishing my assigned project of "getting to the end of my basket".

I want to make baby quilts on a regular basis once all the other projects are done. I already have a name for what I will call them. Blessing Blankets.

I guess my quilts have taken the place of my painting for now.

No paintings yet....sorry

For the last few months I have been in my studio. Seriously. I have not produced anymore paintings, although I still have a few of my old ones to give away. I know, I know...I keep saying I have more to post here but I don't do it. The last two were not taken and I suppose that left me a bit bewildered. I don't know why I should be, but I was. Anyhoo...:) moving on

Above is a photo of one of my latest projects. It actually turned out bigger than I had originally envisioned it, but it will easily fit a queen/king sized bed. My sewing projects will be the same as my paintings. Given away. I already have names in mind for most of the quilt tops that I've pieced, but of course, they aren't entirely completed yet. Other projects include reusable grocery sacks, aprons, jewelry bags, purses, clothing, tablecloths and place mats. I've even helped a dear friend recover a sofa that was given to her. That was a fun four days. Some yummy lunches accompanied our days of couch recovering. Thanks Karen....for hiring me.

Trying to "get to the end of my basket" is a daunting task but I am finding that one stitch at a time, one seam at a time and sooner or later the garment/project is finished. The same is true with our Christian walk. Just keep at it. One day I hope to have a clean studio and one project at a time to work on. It's good to clean out the cobwebs and start afresh. Thank you Lord for fresh starts.

Prayerfully yours,

Cindy

More Paintings to Come

I have not posted here for some time now. I had a painting out and ready to post the other day. In the mean time a friend stopped by to bring me a dress to alter and she saw the painting on my kitchen counter. "Are you putting this one on the blog?" she said. I said I was and she said she'd be calling me later. I just handed it to her to save her the time. :) It is now sitting on the piano at a local deli, TIN CUP, owned by Bradi and Damon Carney. I haven't gotten around to picking out another one. To those few who have stuck with this blog, thank you for your patience. I should be back on track with posting paintings. This summer has been spent in my studio sewing...."getting to the end of my basket."
In Him,
Cindy

Just another day in September

It's been far to long for one of my postings. You would think I had no daily offering but I certainly do. The paintings that I have left in my "stash" are waiting to be given away. I just need everyone to take them. :) It seems people are hesitant to take them...but I hope you will get over that hesitancy. Below is my next offering.

More jewelry by Diane

Lime Green on Black Pendant

(I know this looks like white but it's

the flash. The actual lines on this

are lime green)

Gas Pump Pendant

Green Scroll Pendant

Stair Step Pendant

It's been too long since my last posting.

(I seem to say that each posting now.) :) A couple of you have asked if I was still doing this blog and I am, it's just not so frequent as at first. Currently, I'm busy in my studio with my sewing machine. Boring to most but I am enjoying my sewing again. I still have more of my paintings to offer here, that will have to come later, but for right now here are the last four pieces of jewelry that my friend, Diane Sawczyn created. She is currently living in Australia where her husband, who is a "travelling" nurse. Remember, if you see a piece of jewelry that you like, please ask, they are offered here, FREE, just as my paintings are offered. If you feel led to give a bit of money to "My Daily Offering" it will all go to the Biggerstaff family in Colorado. Cody is their 16 year old son and he starts his second round of chemo for his leukemia, in a day of two. His cancer has reoccurred. Medicaid has tentatively decided that they won't cover this round of treatment. Prayers are requested for this family. Thanks for listening.

In Him....daily

Cindy

Green Pendant

Today's offering is another piece of jewelry by Diane Sawcyzn. She was the one that originally brought the Biggerstaff family to my attention. Here is Diane's green dichro pendant with a subtle clear cross with sterling silver bail. Approximately size: .75" x 2.25". I have no painting to offer today but hopefully I'll get one posted tomorrow.

In Him,

Cindy

DIANE'S CROSS AND CINDY'S FARMHOUSE

Good afternoon to all of you who are keeping up with "My Daily Offering". Please read to the bottom of this posting as there are updates on several families that we are praying for.

Below is Diane Sawczyn's Multi-Colored Cross and below her cross is my painting entitled " Farmhouse & Silo" which measures 12"x16". Those who have been in Maureen Brouilette's classes at The Upstairs Gallery will certainly recognize this painting. :-)

Multi-colored Cross
Here is Diane's description of her cross. Multi-colored dichro cross can be worn with almost any outfit. Silver plated bail. Approximately 1.5" x 2.75".

Farmhouse and Silo

Below are the latest updates from Cody's mother, Meloney Biggerstaff, posted yesterday and then again this morning. Please keep this family in your prayers.

Posted to Cody's medical blog yesterday.....4-13-09
It was a pretty good day and this round of chemo is over and he feels pretty good. They just told us that he doesn't have to be hooked up to an I.V. tonight and that got a big Cody smile, that's for sure. A night with no beeping is a welcome thought. They will just check vitals every 4 hours and we can live with that. He will lose his hair in the next week or two and we aren't looking forward to that at all, but that is just part of the journey. I told him we could get pizza to celebrate being done with chemo and he got a couple pieces down. Thanks for all your support and please continue with the prayers and GOD bless!

Posted to Cody's medical blog this morning 4-14-09
Good morning. Luck with nurses ran out last night and she had a rough time which stole a lot of our sleep. Oh well, she tried. I had just fallen asleep when Cody called and said he was going to be sick and he wasn't kidding. So much for the pizza and he was really sick for a while, but it passed. He is sleeping soundly now and he deserves it. No doctor yet today and we don't have his blood counts either. They are working on finding the right donor and need to find one pretty soon and I'm sure the perfect one will come up in plenty of time. Thanks everyone and we will let you know something when we do. GOD bless!

THE KELLEY'S of Hutchinson

There is another dear family that Robin and I know personally, Bill and Dana Kelley. Robin worked for Bill when he was in high school in Hutchinson, Kansas. They have remained close through out the years. Dana's daughter, Lindsey, is suffering from an autoimmune disease called Interstitial Cystitis. It is a chronic, debilitating disease and at present there is no cure. Surgery was done on her bladder to check for inflammatory cells and that went well. Prayers for Lindsey, Dana and Bill as they deal with the financial, mental and emotional strain would very much be appreciated

THE MEISTER FAMILY

Jeremy Meister, the young man with the Lyme's disease is still struggling with his disease and is still hoping to find a doctor that will diagnose him properly so he can get into the Mayo Clinic. The tumor that was removed from his intestines several months ago is now back. Please continue to pray for Jeremy, his wife, and their six children.

Thank you for listening.

In Him, Cindy

Dragonflies and a Red Dress

Dragonflies Pendant & The Red Dress

Good Monday morning everyone.

I received an email from a good friend, Diane Sawczyn, last night asking me if My Daily Offering could be used to help some friends of hers that are in need. Their names are Mike and Meloney Biggerstaff and their son's name is Cody. They live in Fort Collins, Colorado. Cody, who is 16, is battling leukemia and has already had a bone marrow transplant from his younger sister as well as months of chemotherapy and radiation. Cody and his family are still recovering from the last round of treatment and bills and now the cancer is back with a vengeance. Cody is currently undergoing treatment in Denver and Meloney needs to be with Cody. Mike and Meloney have two daughters who are young and are still at home. Mike is staying with them so they can continue with their school and he can continue to work. Mike is a railroad engineer and is away from home quite a bit for his job. They stayed at the Ronald McDonald house during the first round of treatments but they have used their allotted time up there. The help would be to assist Meloney in paying for a place to stay while Cody is undergoing treatment.

Diane Sawczyn is a good friend of mine and is currently living in Australia. Her husband is a traveling nurse. I went to high school with Diane and she has a heart of gold. She has sent me several pieces of the jewelry that she makes to put on "My Daily Offering" so I will be posting those all this week and some of next. Diane has the jewelry with her and will be sending it from Australia to those that want it, so expect a few extra days for shipping.

Above is my painting, "The Red Dress", which is done in the style of Itzchak Tarkay. It measures 11"x14" and is done in gouache on watercolor paper. It is not matted or framed. Beside my painting is Diane's first offering. She calls it "Golden Dragonflies". Here is her description of the pendant. "Golden dragonflies dance on clear amber colored glass with black, patterned, and orange accents. Floating pendant needs no bail so it can be worn with gold or silver. Pendant size: approximately 1.25: x 2.5".

You know things are free to those who ask here on My Daily Offering, and that will continue to be the case. I would just ask you to prayerfully consider supporting the Biggerstaff family during this time of need. I know there are thousands of people out there that might need help. This is the family that the Lord has put in my path. We have to help those that He either brings to us or shows us. It could be you or me tomorrow.

In His Love,

Cindy

SUNFLOWERS In a Vase

Taken by Bradi Carney

I've been asked lately if I'm done offering my paintings on "My Daily Offering". Since not having posted for over a month I can understand why the question would be asked. The answer is no, I am not finished. I've only been sidetracked by family birthdays, anniversaries, a trip to Colorado and life in general. It's been on my list of "things to do" but obviously my list of things to do was longer than I had time for.

Above is my Daily Offering for this week. Sunflowers in a Vase. This painting is watercolor on paper and measures 9" x 12".

Hope all is well with everyone....

Cindy

One of My Favorite Things

Taken by Rita Smith
Watercolor on paper 11"x 15"

Today's offering is of one of my favorite fruits, the cantaloupe. If it is ripe and sweet you can't beat the flavor. Anyway...this has always been one of my favorite paintings even though realism is not among my strong suits. I look forward to when the cantaloupes are worth eating again.

I hope each of you has a productive and/or restful weekend. I always look forward to sleeping in on Saturday mornings. More offerings will be forth coming next week.

Lovingly, Cindy