Virginia A. Spiegel

Waiting

We had a little blizzard this weekend with freezing rain first.  I am fooled every year by those mid-March days of sun and sixty degrees.  

So out I go, cut down my ornamental grasses, whack down the perennial stems with all the seeds finally eaten by the birds, uncover gloriously green tips of daffodils and tulips, and, generally, go Spring crazy.  

Above is the frozen berry of a viburnum.  The birds wait for several freeze and thaw cycles to sweeten the berries and then the cedar waxwings fly in and clean them off all in one day.

Don’t forget TOMORROW is the deadline to submit your jpegs for Collage Mania. 

 
The Raven by Pat Dolan
One of the many collages donated from the Poe Birthday challenge on Quiltart 

This Wednesday, April 1, is the deadline for receipt of jpegs for Collage Mania.

Collage Mania is an all-volunteer effort to raise at least $20,000 for the American Cancer Society in just three days, May 5-7.

The Call for Artists is here.

In brief, the collages must contain some fiber and be finished or mounted to 8×10 inches. Do read the call carefully before submitting your jpegs.

It’s not too late to participate, but do remember we always choose QUALITY over quantity for Collage Mania.

Fiberart For A Cause has raised over $170,000 for the American Cancer Society.

I submitted this photo to be considered for the perpetual 365 Pictures daily prompt on Creativity Portal and today is my featured day.  The purpose of 365 Pictures is to provide an intentional focus on one new image/prompt pair per day to inspire your creativity, in whatever form that may be. I can support that.

I know that all I have to do is look at this photo and I am somewhere else, beginning a journey of discovery.

I also wanted to share today the mind-boggling success of the Fifth and Final Invitational Reverse Auction of Fabulous Fiberarts. Just eight fiber artworks raised $6250 in three days for the American Cancer Society:

Gerrie Congdon raised $300.  Patron:  The Brummett FiberArt Collection
Marjorie DeQuincy raised $800. Patron: The Fent Art Quilt Collection
Rayna Gillman raised $1600.  Patron: Teri D. Springer
Linda Teddlie Minton raised $1800  Patron and Gold Donor:  A Friend of FFAC
Susie Monday raised $350 Patron:  Mary Ann Littlejohn
Judy Coates Perez raised $450  Patron and Gold Donor: Michele Hardman.
Leandra Spangler raised $200  Patron:  Mary Wise
Roxane Stoner raised $750.  Patron: Christine Bell

I also want to thank two hardworking and talented artists:  Natalya Aikens and Carol Larson. I was unable to find the perfect patrons for their donated artwork, but salute them both as p.r. goddesses and generous souls. 

I hope you will visit the website and blogs of all the donating artists who gave so freely of their time and talent.

A sincere and heartfelt thanks to the generous artists and their patrons as well as the many Friends of FFAC who supported and encouraged this effort. Onward to Collage Mania!
 

Detail from Window Into the Home 2 by Natalya Aikens

Well, here we are already at the last day of the very last Invitational Reverse Auction of Fabulous Fiberart. We have today yet to go and have already raised $4650 for the American Cancer Society with only four pieces of fiber art.  The word amazing comes to mind!

The minimum donation drops by 1/2 today at 10 a.m. CST. and the Reverse Auction closes at 5 p.m. CST today.

Glorious, personal, and one-of-a-kind fiber art is available today from:

Natalya Aikens (Her donated art, detail shown above, was on the cover of Quilting Arts 2009 Calendar.  A copy of that calendar will be included thanks to its donation by Pokey Bolton of Quilting Arts.)
 

Detail from Noshi Ribbons by Gerrie Congdon

Gerrie Congdon (If you love vintage Japanese textiles, check out her beautiful artwork.) 

Detail of Red Door, Feng Shui 2 by Carol Larson

Carol Larson (Donated in honor of her father, a colon cancer survivor, her artwork is a comment on the “starter castles” popping up everywhere.)

Detail of Pomegranate Cross by Susie Monday

Susie Monday (Mounted to a canvas, big and bold art made entirely of fabrics created by the artist.) 
 

Cricket in the Thorn Tree by Leandra Spangler

Leandra Spangler (Noted vessel maker and paper artist has created a unique mixed-media piece with removable book.)

Detail of Sir Winter McDormant by Roxane Stoner

Roxane Stoner (Intricate and brooding; Roxane’s artwork reflects her Alaska setting in subtle and marvelous ways).
 

Of course, 100% is donated directly to the American Cancer Society with an immediate electronic receipt to the donor.

Thank you for your support of Fiberart For A Cause, fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.

Pomegranate Cross (detail) by Susie Monday

Beginning today at 10 a.m. CST, you can add a great piece of fiberart to your collection and contribute to the fight against cancer.  All the details about The Invitational Reverse Auction of Fabulous Fiberart are here.

Our generous artists this year are: Natalya Aikens, Gerrie Congdon, Marjorie DeQuincy, Rayna Gillman, Carol Larson, Linda Teddlie Minton, Susie Monday, Judy Coates Perez, Leandra Spangler, and Roxanne Stoner.  

Whose Woods? (Detail) by Rayna Gillman

How does the Reverse Auction work?  Choose an artwork at the minimum donation for that day.  The current minimum will always be highlighted in red.  E-mail me at Virginia(at)VirginiaSpiegel.com and I will let you know if the artwork is still available.  You will then proceed to the Fiberart For A Cause donation page and make a donation to the American Cancer Society.  You will receive an immediate electronic receipt from the ACS.  
Wait too long and your favorite artwork might be gone!

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me.  

Some have questioned whether this is a good time to be offering high-end fiber art in a fundraiser.  My thoughts are that we are successful because we are giving it a try! And don’t forget that we still have Collage Mania coming up on May 5 -7.

Thank you for your support of Fiberart For A Cause, fundraising for the American Cancer Society.  We have already donated over $165,000.