Virginia A. Spiegel

As many of you know from my e-newsletter, Joe and I adopted two formerly feral cats from the Clark County Humane Society in January.  This is Sunshine.  It’s unbelievable how sleek and sassy she has become in such a short time.  Both Sunshine and Sparky are cats that need lots of interesting things to do; I could write a book about cat toys made from boxes, tissue paper, etc.  What joy they bring to our home.

This hardworking no-kill (or adoption guarantee) shelter is seeking to build an addition to rehab puppies rescued from puppy mills through the Refresh Everything online competition.  I hope you will make your way over and vote today and every day until July 31.

Sunshine is sitting on one of our favorite snuggle quilts made by my sister, Nancy.  She also made this quilt:

which she donated as a fundraiser for my Mom’s Ladies Aid.  I love Church Ladies; they are such dedicated do-gooders.  The quilt is all quilt shop fabrics and a super queen (almost king) sized.  The suggested donation is $5 for 6 tickets; contact me at Virginia(at)VirginiaSpiegel.com
You can do PayPal or we can chat about other arrangements.

Logo by Jeanelle McCall.  ”Every one Fits In” quilt by Karen Newman Fridy

Lynn Krawczyk curates Breaking Traditions, an exhibit of 12×12″ art quilts, each year and donates $10 of the $15 entry fee to a good cause.  The good causes this year are Art Now for Autism, founded by artist Claudine Intner, and Autism Speaks.  Deadline for entry is August 21, 2010.

I am more than happy to promo this exhibit as the 2008 exhibit raised $1085 for my Fiberart for a Cause and the American Cancer Society.

Claudine Intner’s quest to raise funds for autism research is reaching new heights this year with over 90 artists participating.  Art Now For Autism, Claudine’s brainchild, is a reverse auction this year with prices dropping throughout the week.

Art Now For Autism began today and will continue through October 10.  This wonderful piece of fiber art donated by Patty VanHuis-Cox to Art Now For Autism has now joined my collection:

Ever Watchful

The Art Now For Autism reverse auction allows you to browse by types of art (art dolls, digital art, drawing, fiber art, jewelry, mixed media & collage, painting, photography, printmaking & artist books, prints, and three-dimensional art), subject matter or artist.   I know I will be stopping back throughout the week as well as following Claudine’s tweets about the progress and success of this fundraiser.

In addition to  yesterday’s Hearts For Anna fundraiser, there are a lot of other ways that you can use your talents to “do good” in the world.  These two events have quickly approaching deadlines:

Deadline:  August 15

Lynn Krawczyk curates the Breaking Traditions art quilt exhibit each year as a labor of love and to support a fundraising projects of fellow fiber/mixed media artists.

The 2009 exhibit will benefit Bernie Berlin’s dog (cats welcome also) rescue, A Place to Bark, with $10 of the $15 entry fee being donated directly to A Place to Bark. In honor of Bernie’s efforts to find orphaned and abused dogs permanent loving homes, the theme for the 2009 exhibit is “Home.”

Deadline for receipt of the 12×12″ art quilts is August 15.  There are many participation prizes donated by generous artists and fiber businesses.  The exhibit premiers at the American Sewing Expo in Michigan in September and is seeking traveling venues.  All the information to enter is here.

Deadline September 1

Art Now for Autism is seeking artists to participate in this year’s exhibit. All media are welcome including fiber, painting, drawing, photography, collage, mixed media, book arts, jewelry, and crafts. Deadline for submissions is September 1, 2009.  All the details on how to donate your artwork are here.  The Reverse Auction of artwork will be October 5 – 10; ongoing previews of the artwork are on the Art Now for Autism blog.

Art Now for Autism was founded by artist Claudine Intner after her son was diagnosed with autism.  She has raised over $11,000 since 2007 and would like to raise $7500 this year.

100% of the funds raised go directly to Austism Speaks, the nation’s largest autism science and advocacy organization, dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families.