Friday, May 1, 2009

Quilting For A Cause


Author Brenda Novak is hosting her 5th Annual Online Auction to Benefit Diabetes Research. The auction opens today and runs for the whole month of May. Last year, the auction raised over $250,000! Since Brenda is an author, many, if not most of the items up for auction are related to you guessed it . . . reading and writing! There are literally hundreds of items of interest for readers of ALL genres and for authors as well. For the reader, there are autographed books (including many ARCs of upcoming releases), lunch dates with authors, and other great items.

For those of you who are aspiring authors, there are even opportunities for you to bid on manuscript critiques and other evaluations related to getting published.

In addition to book related prizes to bid on, there are items such as trips, tickets to shows, autographed CDs, collectible items, paintings, and hand crafted items such as jewelry, beaded purses, and quilts. Speaking of quilts....

My blogging friend Phyl of the blog Phyl's Quilts & Books has sewn the gorgeous quilted wall art shown here that she has so generously donated to the auction. Isn't it pretty? You can see some close up photos of the details at Phyl's blog HERE.

I first 'met' Phyl last summer on my blog when I posted about my cross-stitching hobby and she popped on to comment about her love of quilting. Of course, since we both also have a passion for reading romance, our blogging friendship was sealed! Needless to say, I've been following Phyl's blog since then and hence have followed Phyl's progress on this quilt. I truly admire Phyl for putting her time, effort and love into such a beautiful piece in order to donate it to this wonderful cause. If you have ever made a handmade gift for someone, you know what it is like to be inspired by your friendship or love for that person as you spend all those hours working on the piece. You enjoy the craft even more knowing you are going to give it to someone who will cherish it forever. In this case, Phyl poured her heart into this beautiful wall art with thoughts of donating it to this auction, knowing the bids on her quilt will be funding diabetes research which will affect the lives of anyone who has diabetes. I admire the quilt as well as Phyl's giving spirit. :)

If you want to put a bid on Phyl's quilt, click HERE.

You can browse the hundreds of items by category HERE or from the sidebar of the auction website.

I noticed there is an ARC of Nalini Singh's upcoming July 2009 release Branded by Fire up for auction. I want it. :)

7 comments:

  1. Thank you for the heads up Christine!

    This is a wonderful cause. :)

    Warm Regards
    L

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  2. Thanks so much for highlighting the auction and my quilt. I'm so grateful, but words fail.

    I hope everyone will find something of interest among all the really neat things up for auction.

    And I'll be bidding on that Nalini Singh ARC, too, LOL!

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  3. That is such a beautiful quilt!

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  4. Wow - that is gorgeous. As much as I do my part to drive the bids up, I've never managed to actually win anything.

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  5. Lea: You're welcome. I hope you find something fun to bid on.

    Phyl: You're welcome, too. You did such a wonderful thing donating your quilt to this cause.

    Amy: It is indeed a very pretty quilt. Phyl is very good with that needle and thread! :)

    Lori: LOL! Well, at least you're doing your share to help raise the money even if you don't receive the fruits (prizes) of your labor. ;)



    The bid for the ARC of Branded by Fire is already at $53.00!!! WOW!

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  6. Thank you very much for the heads up Christine. The quilt is gorgeous. I have a friend who quilts and I know how much time and effort goes into them!

    And good luck with bidding for the Branded by Fire ARC!

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  7. Hey orannia!

    Did you see Nalini's ARC is going for $105 right now?!? WOW!!! Needless to say, I'm not in the bidding war. :(

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