Virginia A. Spiegel

My niece, Jenny, and my Dad three years ago at our Relay For Life.  My Dad, a colon cancer survivor, is STILL HERE!

Yesterday closed out Collage Mania, our three-day art extravaganza.  Thanks to generous fiber artists and their patrons, we raised over $18,000 in just three days. All of the acquired collages will remain up as a resource for the artistic community.

Our grand total for just over four years of fundraising is now MORE THAN $190,000 donated to the American Cancer Society.  We have proven the ability of fiber artists and their patrons to really make a difference and raise significant amounts for a good cause.  

We have made a very effective and creative fundraising team; I thank each of you for your generosity and support. Special thanks go to our Honorary Chair, Karey Bresenhan, a mentor for life and fundraising. And Collage Mania wouldn’t have happened this year without Karen Stiehl Osborn stepping forward and donating her time and effort. 

This was the last of the big Fiberart For A Cause fundraisers as I return to my studio after more than four years of fundraising.  FFAC will still be quietly raising funds for the ACS with my eBook, the FFAC store, and smaller fundraising events organized by supporters of FFAC.

I will be taking a little break from fundraising and the computer this summer  Time to enjoy the great outdoors and, yes, my studio. I hope you do the same!

Cat sleeping in a flower by Fiona Liberatore
In memory of my gramma, Dorothy Carter, and my grandad, Gino Liberatore

Last day! We have already raised more than $17,000 for the American Cancer Society. That’s pretty darn amazing for two days – thank you uber-generous patrons!   We have today until 5 p.m. CDT to reach our admittedly crazy goal of $20,000.

Journey Life by Virginia Cole
Survivor thankful to ACS, who helped me 25 years ago.

We still have over 100 great fiberart collages donated from around the world by generous artists. The minimum donation continues at $40 today.  So go forth and do some art shopping for a good cause today!  

Celebrate by Linda Frost

Being Blue by Marion Barnett
In honour of my friend, Lynn Bunis 
 

The Raven by Pat Dolan

Wretch by Patty VanHuis-Cox
In honor of my dad.

Wood Heart by Ann S. Miller
In honor of Judy, friend and survivor

Regular Collage Mania opens today at 10 a.m. CDT (see clock on the first page of collages).  If you are worried that your favorite collage may be acquired later today, you can still shop at the $80 minimum donation level until 9:59 a.m. CDT this morning.  All collages then become available for a minimum $40 donation at 10 a.m. CDT today through 5 p.m. CDT tomorrow (Thursday, May 7).

Collage Mania has already raised more than $10,000 for the American Cancer Society in one day and there are still hundred of collages available donated by generous artists from around the world. 

Prairie Potholes – Harvest No. 5 by Kimberly Baxter Packwood

Patrons have been MOST generous and I thank them.  I am also thankful that everyone is reading the DIRECTIONS and making my life so much easier. It’s great having Karen Stiehl Osborn riding shotgun this year and helping keep track of patrons.  I know sometimes it is frustrating when servers haven’t yet uploaded the newest pages showing Acquired collages or I haven’t had time to mark the Acquired ones for awhile, but you can always send me a note if you have a question.  

Thank you for your continued support, good humor and patience. It should be another GREAT day today!

Coneflower I by Heidi Miracle-McMahill
In honor and Memory of Carmen Rodriquez

Collage Mania, a Fiberart For A Cause fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, opens today, May 5, at 10:00 a.m. CDT.  Check out the official clock on the first page of the collages if you are wondering what time that might be in your time zone. 

Remember it’s first come/first serve, not highest bidder.  Today’s minimum donation to the ACS is $80.  If you are able to add even an extra $1, it will make a difference in how much we raise.  All the directions of how to acquire collages during Collage Mania are here.  

Create Art by Jamie Fingal

All of the activities of Fiberart For A Cause during the last four years have been a labor of love for me as they are done in honor of my Dad, Bob Spiegel.  He is a fifteen-year a colon cancer survivor. Fiberart For A Cause is part of the Forest Lake, MN Relay For Life, a grassroots fundraiser for the ACS, chaired in admirable style by my sister, Nancy Spiegel Rosman.  

I thank Karen Stiehl Osborn for making the Collage Mania pages (all 39!) happen and many other selfless tasks, our Honorary Chair Karey Bresenhan, and most of all, the 161 artists who donated their artwork to Collage Mania and you, the patrons, who support both fundraising and the fiberarts.  Today promises to be a fun and exciting day!

Thistle by Nancy Dobson
In celebration of my Mom, Mary Blick, a cancer survivor

Thanks to 161 generous artists from around the world, you can choose from among 383 fiberart collages during Collage Mania, May 5 -7.

See all the collages here.

This is the final big Fiberart For A Cause fundraiser for the American Cancer Society as I will be returning to my studio fulltime after a very good run of almost five years in which we have already donated over $170,000 to the ACS.   Fiberart For A Cause will still raise funds in a much more low-key manner through the FFAC Store, my eBook Art, Nature, Creativity, Life, and fundraisers by Friends of FFAC.

I would like to thank all the artists and patrons who have donated their time, money and care to make FFAC such a success. 

FFAC would not exist without the personal involvement and effort of our Honorary Chairperson, Karey Bresenhan, Director of International Quilt Festival – Houston, Chicago, and Long Beach.  Thank you, dear Karey!

Rising Spring by Ann S. Miller
In honor of Judy, friend and survivor

Our goal for Collage Mania is at least $20,000 in three days. I am very optimistic we can do it!