Week 12 - Cindy Wiens

Hello, everyone! I'm thrilled to be taking over Week 12 of 52 Quilters. I have a few ideas for blog posts this week, but if there is anything you are particularly interested in, I hope you'll ask.

My name is Cindy. I've been married to Mark for nearly 43 years, and we live in Fresno, California, which is in the central part of the state. Our son, daughter-in-law and four grandchildren live five minutes away, and my parents live about ten minutes away. I feel blessed to have them all so nearby.

I have been quilting for over twenty years, and before that I dabbled in nearly every other creative outlet--tole painting, china painting, needlepoint, counted cross stitch, scrapbooking, knitting and crocheting. Once I discovered quilting, however, I knew it wouldn't just be another phase. What set quilting apart as something other than a phase? Check back in the next day or two--I'll tell you what has made it so important to me.

My style has changed tremendously over the years, from my first quilt

to one of my most recent finishes.

I love solids and selvages.

During the week I'll share more about places I find inspiration, and the process I go through to transform that inspiration into a finished quilt. In other words, going from here

to here.

Finally, I'll share my passion for making and donating quilts for an upcoming charity auction, as well as a new avenue for donations.

I have maintained my blog, Live a Colorful Life, since 2008, mostly as a record for my grandchildren, to give them an insight into what things are important to me. Thus, a few years ago, I started writing a "Really Random Thursday" post every week, containing mostly non-quilty things that have caught my eye during the week. And on Mondays, I have a series called "The Name Game," where bloggers share how they chose their blog name.

Here are a couple of random things about me:
1. My first iPod never had ANY songs--only audible books.
2. You could not pay me enough money go to through the reptile house at the zoo.
3. I can play the piano--but we gave the piano to our son and daughter-in-law years ago. I don't miss it at all, and now two grandchildren take lessons from my mother, who is 87 and still has over ten students!
4. I have spent about thirty years working out of our home, doing medical transcription.
5. I like reading recipes and am a fairly good cook, but I don't enjoy cooking--because I would rather be quilting!

I'm looking forward to the coming week and sharing more with you.

When I'm not posting here, you can find me online here:
Blog: liveacolorfullife.net
Instagram: @liveacolorfullife

--Cindy

Post by Cindy Week #12: Cindy comes from a heritage of quilting, going back several generations. She has been quilting for twenty-plus years. Besides making quilts for family and friends, Cindy regularly donate quilts to help raise money for disaster relief at an annual auction in my hometown of Fresno, California. Find Cindy on instagram.com.