i need one item [one of the sets or necklaces] to donate to the charity auction at Bouchercon in Las Vegas this weekend. any suggestions on how to make a decision???????
----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)
vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from "Diana Curtis" :
]Eenie, meenie, miney, moe? ]:-) ]Diana
that's how it may very well wind up!
----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)
On Mon, 13 Oct 2003 23:36:26 -0400, vj wrote (in message ):
I just finished getting everything out of here for the handicapped children's benefit auction. What I did was set everything up to merchandise itself, so that the volunteers at the charity wouldn't have to do anything. I made sets of at least a necklace and bracelet, sometimes adding earrings as well.
I bought the cheapest velvet display boards I could find, since the customers swiped all my expensive ones last year. Each necklace and bracelet was attached to the display board with u-shaped floral pins ($0.50/100 at the craft store) in such a way that the jewelry wouldn't look odd even if the board was tilted.
I wrote a little descriptive blurb about the pieces on the board, then glued it right to the velvet display. I added a dried flower sticker from the scrapbook aisle so it would look just a little more special. I figured that way, any interested bidder could just read about the piece without asking questions, because I am not well enough to go to this year's auction. If you'd like, I'll post the blurbs here -- I read several Coldwater Creek catalogs beforehand to get in the right frame of mind.
On the back of each board, I used a temporary tacky glue (like rubber cement, but meant for paper and cloth) to hold one of those Chinese silk jewelry bags. I matched the bags to the piece of jewelry on the front. I figure that the customers will think they're getting a little bonus, and the bags only cost $0.40 apiece. Lastly, I stuck a label to the easel part of the display board, telling the buyer that the jewelry bag could be removed and to gently lift it from the cardboard surface.
I wrapped each complete board in bubble wrap, which was then taped in place. Six boards with jewelry fit in a small box, which I then brought to my friend who teaches at the center. We were looking through the pieces at lunch, and I could have sold every one of them to other patrons at the restaurant (even though I told all the people coming by that the sets were "$200.00 and up")
Maybe an hour after I left my friend, I got a call from the center. Apparently, they have never gotten a jewelry donation that was all ready to go, and they were thrilled. They want more pieces (maybe next year), because they've had so many of the other donors asking to buy the ones I've sent.
You might want to try something similar for your auction. I know that if I ever decide to sell pieces in a gallery or whatnot, I'll do something similar to this method: I can't imagine a gallery owner turning down the opportunity to do less work merchandising, and I also know that my pieces will be presented the way I want them to be, in the best possible light.
Kathy N-V
P.S.: Wierdly enough, I've been asked repeatedly for watches with semi-precious stone bands. I had a bunch of watch heads and simply strung some leftover semi-precious beads on Stretch Magic, and they've been snapped up instantly. If you have some watches, you might want to donate those. They are cheap to make, only take a second, and mine sold for $35 each - not bad, considering the materials were right around $5, and the time spent was minimal.
Eenie, meenie, miney, moe? :-) Diana
vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from Kathy N-V :
]You might want to try something similar for your auction.
all of that is super advice, Kathy! and i've saved it for the future in my own "reference files".
however, the only pieces i have ready to go are here:
----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)
Love that Celestial Heart.
Tina
vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from "Christina Peterson" :
]Love that Celestial Heart.
thanks, Tina! i'm hoping that one is sold, but until then . . .
----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)
I vote for the third up from the bottom. That pink, green and black will get a great price for the auction. And before I give anything, (this is personal and you might think foolish) I hold onto the piece and pray, not only for the recipient, but for their entire family and circle of friends. I pray that whatever trials they are experiencing will stop and they will be blessed in their lives, slow down and realize how blessed they are and be grateful, peaceful and serene.
On Tue, 14 Oct 2003 10:28:12 -0400, Diana Curtis wrote (in message ):
Considering that it's fall, I'd probably pick the brown and yellow spiral (which I'd describe as the color of autumn leaves) with the Tink centerpiece. That one spoke to me, and I think it would be lovely.
The one above it, though (black , lavender and green) might also fetch a really good price if promoted as a "treat your own bad self to a holiday gift" sort of set.
However, on the third hand, :-) each set is so lovely that you really could do the eeny-meanie miney moe thing, and you couldn't go wrong.
(Or you could be me, the woman with more jewelry than she'll ever wear, and donate the whole lot)
Kathy N-V
They are all just scrumptious, but sea foam won the eenie meanie miney moe test. Diana :-)
Kathy, these merchandising tips are fabulous.
So, I think you are maybe feeling a little bit OK, since you are able to be getting stuff like this done? I sure hope so. Sarajane
Sarajane's Polymer Clay Gallery
Sarajane's Polymer Clay Gallery
On Tue, 14 Oct 2003 11:32:02 -0400, Sjpolyclay wrote (in message ):
I'm just taking my own sweet time. Things I used to do in an hour now take days, but at least they're getting done. And when the pain gets too bad, I just stop.
Thanks so much for the nice wishes,
Kathy N-V
vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from "Diana Curtis" :
]They are all just scrumptious, but sea foam won the eenie meanie miney moe ]test. ]Diana :-)
LOL! thanks!
----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)
vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from Kathy N-V :
](Or you could be me, the woman with more jewelry than she'll ever wear, and ]donate the whole lot)
**LOL** well, i can't AFFORD to donate it all, yet! thanks for the help, as always, Kathy!----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)
vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from snipped-for-privacy@aol.comeatspam (Sjpolyclay) :
]I think all are beautiful, but the top one in blue and green is the ]eye-catchiest, IMHO.
thanks, Sarajane... that's the ONE i'm going to have problems parting with, i think.
----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)
vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from "CLP" :
]I vote for the third up from the bottom. That pink, green and black will get ]a great price for the auction.
thanks, Christy!
----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)
Wow - that is a tough choice! They are all so pretty. I would just close my eyes and pick one!
vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from "Kandice Seeber" :
]Wow - that is a tough choice! They are all so pretty. I would just close my ]eyes and pick one!
DH finally made the choice - Susan's amethyst/violet set will go to the auction.
21" long, plus the pendant.The focals in this set [including earrings] are amethyst in color with violet designs on etched glass. The other glass beads are faceted or fire-polished Czech glass, some with an aurora borealis finish. Clasp and spacers are genuine hand-crafted Bali Sterling Silver. The wire-wrap is also sterling silver. Earring focals match the lampwork beads in the necklace and are also etched glass. Ear wires are genuine Bali Sterling Silver and the wire wraps are sterling silver.
All lampwork is by Canadian artist Susan Burwash [Wired Woman Design] and are properly kiln-annealed Moretti glass.
Created by Vicki Ball of Books ?n' Bytes, this design is one-of-a-kind and entirely original.
Retail value: $125.00
that's the text that goes with.
----------------------------- The Friday night Charity Auction starts at 10:00 pm with 'celebrity' auctioneers Harlan Coben and Max Allan Collins. Everyone attending will receive a complimentary beverage courtesy of the Ballantine Publishing Group so bring your checkbook, cash or plastic. It's for a good cause..the Las Vegas/Clark County Library literacy programs . Beth Fedyn and Michael Hoover are co-chairs and are still accepting items for auction. E-mail Beth at snipped-for-privacy@gdinet.com for information. Silent auction items are on display in Royale Sky box 206 and this bidding will close at 4:00 pm Saturday. Riveria Hotel - Las Vegas.
**sigh** leaving in less than 12 hours, and i'm NOT done!!!----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)
I can see why...its a beaut. And obviously we both have exquisite taste!! Sarajane
Sarajane's Polymer Clay Gallery
InspirePoint website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.