Hello Friends!
I am doing one last Auction in honor of my daughter Makenna. I didn’t run the auction in 2020 because of all the craziness and this past summer was just too busy. I have been so blessed doing this auction each year after my baby girl was born and then returned to heaven. You might not understand how helpful and healing it has been for me to share my art and Makenna’s story with anyone interested. However, as Thanksgiving approaches, I have been reminded how much each auction has touched my heart. So, this seems like the perfect time to honor her with one more art auction.
Her story has touched many, I have made numerous close connections, and the money we have raised from each auction has all been donated to help organizations which helped Makenna, her family, and me during her short, sweet lifetime. We have been blessed by many artist friends that have donated their beautiful work for the auction each year and many wonderful people that have purchased these paintings for the cause.
Thank you, my heart is full!
Walking with Makenna's 7th Painting Auction
If you don't know Makenna's 47-day life story,
then please feel free to read from earlier posts from 2013. In short, on May 1, 2013,
my baby girl was born 7 weeks early. But the worst part was she was born
with Trisomy 18, which means she had an extra chromosome 18. The doctor's
told us it was "not compatible with life" and that she would die
early. The statistics gave her a 95% chance to not live past one
year. She lived for almost 7 weeks and then died on June 16, Father's
Day. It was one of the worst days of my life and yet a sacred experience
for my husband, my mom, and me who were with her.
Her life may have been too short, but the time I had with her taught me so much and has shaped me into the woman I am today. This annual auction has been my way of doing something with her and for her. Thank you for sharing in our journey...
Walking with Makenna 7th Annual Auction
For 8 years now, I have held
a painting auction in Makenna's honor every year, except 2020, and donated the
proceeds to a charity that helped us during our time with her. I am not
only auctioning off my own paintings, but also some from artist friends that
have kindly donated a painting for the auction. This year, there will be 9
paintings available by the following artists:
Jane Hunt - Into the Blue, Oil
Kathleen B Hudson - Shadows on Barton Creek, Oil
Suzie Baker - In Her Arms, Oil
Sarah Yeoman - Into the Light, Watercolor
Debra Joy Groesser - Autumn Glow, Oil
Mick McAndrews - Colorado Splendor, Watercolor
John
Williams - Autumn Fishing, Watercolor
Brienne M Brown - Time with Family, Watercolor
We will be donating the proceeds from the auction to the non-profit organization, The Ronald McDonald House.
This organization is very dear to me. They help so many families through tough times all over the country. Makenna was in the hospital for her entire life, and it was because of the Ronald McDonald House in Hersey, PA that I could live near her for almost every day of her short time on earth. We live two-hours away from the hospital and the Ronald McDonald House was my home away from home for almost two months. It was wonderful. Every night volunteers from the local community brought dinner so we didn’t need to cook. Though we could if we wanted to.
We also had a place my older boys and husband could
stay and play when they come to visit.
It was a very trying time for our family, but the Ronald McDonald house
made it tolerable. They also create a
community of support. We may not have
known the stories of the other families that were staying with us, but we all
knew we were going through a tragic time.
Just having the company was support.
You could talk about it, but even if you didn’t want to share, you knew
you weren’t alone. The Ronald McDonald
House is an extraordinary place.
Here is how you can help...
Visit the Walking with Makenna Auction Website. Bid on one of the 9 paintings you like best. The images of the paintings available are also on the side bar. You can click on those images as well. If you win the bid, you will pay, and then your painting will be shipped to you for free.
Starting bid for all paintings is either $100 or $150
If you don't want a painting, there are still 2 more ways you can help:
1. Purchase a greeting card pack from paintings by myself for $30 (limited number)
2. Donate any amount by clicking the "Donate Now" Button on the home page.
A gift of a fine art print by Brienne M Brown will be given to the donor that donates/bids the highest amount.
Our goal is to raise $3500 for the Ronald
McDonald House.
Please message or e-mail me with any questions
you have. I am happy to help.
Thank you also for being a part of this and
helping me to keep Makenna's memory alive by helping others. I hope you
can also get a wonderful painting in the process.
God Bless You!
Best Wishes,
Brienne
bbtravelingcolors@gmail.com
