Category Archives: Fund Raising

Silent Auction

Silent Auction Item 8AUG2014-page-001 This is a set of bidding sheets to fit onto an 8 by 11 inch piece of paper when printed, simplified.  An advantage of these sheets are the ir small size, which permit more items to be laid out on a table.

I contributed:

  • The Green Collar Economy by Van Jones
  • A jarred brownie mix
  • A jarred fruited nutted oatmeal mix for two
  • A gallon of nearly organic spray weed killer with a  spray bottle
  • A larger hand crocheted doily, my take on an existing design
  • A cute little granny square bookmark, blue and white

All of the above items sold.  I was pleased that I overheard positive feedback from the weed killer and the small bookmark.

I also took the following items which did not sell:

  • 9 hand crocheted hot mats
  • One pair of booties
  • Two doilies of my own design, not completely worked out in terms of lying flat, though I like them
  • Two hand crocheted nylon scrubbies

These are some lessons I learned:

Instead of arriving about an hour early, I would get there about three hours early to help set up.

I would have my little sheets pre-filled out.  ( I am very prone to underestimating how long it takes to do simple tasks.)  I would take my time and write on them neatly.

I would try to get the more inexpensive items place at the front.

A lot of people did not buy anything, even inexpensive items.

I would participate more in the bidding.

I would make more effort to speak with everybody, and try to get to know more participants.

I also took a dessert.  (Actually two, and one would have been enough.)  Marshmallows make a hard-to-cut surface.  Brownies and lemon squares can be made a day in advance.

I would make more showy  small things like the book mark for $1, and some totally solid thing for pot holders and coaster sets.

I would make round, none-curling scrubby,  soap holders.

Try not to forget something you have prepared.  I forgot  a loaf of plantain bread.

Keep working up ideas.