The big ToteTuesday finale will be this coming Tuesday, February 23.  Mini-previews of all the totes/artwork are here. A link to the ToteTuesday full auction preview will be posted here on my blog on Monday, February 22.

Below are a few of the snazzier totes for ToteTuesday.  Of course all these totes have themed contents as well :

Altered Cloth –  Discharged Tote sponsored by Sue Kelly. Tote created by Sue Kelly from her black and white discharged fabric and stitched with metallic thread.

Judy Murrah, International Quilt Festival’s Vice-President of Education and author of many books on special garments, like Jacket Jazz, donated the tote (shown in the center of the photo) for  the Fancy Ladies tote.  From Karey Bresenhan, tote sponsor, “The tote is as lush on the back as it is on the front – an embellisher’s dream tote.”

Laura Osbun’s gorgeous tote was custom-made for the theme of Journey By Water.  Forty-fifty batiks were collaged, sewn, and embellished in a wave pattern. Note the coordinating accessories, also by Laura.

Kathleen Murphy’s fancy paisley tote sparkles with Swarovski Crystals. Appropriately enough Kathleen donated this tote for the Glitterati tote sponsored by Peggy Schroder.

Stop by tomorrow for the link to the preview of ToteTuesday 3 featuring 13 themed totes and 3 individual artworks.

We have a very strong line-up of fiber-related themed totes including:

3 Creative Studios tote sponsored by Peggy Schoder.  Includes donations from all the artists (Sue Bleiweiss, Terri Stegmiller, and Vicki Welsh).  Sue Bleiweiss is donating this beautiful custom journal.

Altered Cloth: Gingko Leaves tote sponsored by Sue Kelley.  The tote itself (detail shown above) was made by Sue and features hand-dyed fabrics, extensive stitching and beautiful gingko leaves details.

And for some funky fun, this Knitting Toys tote sponsored by Lynn Krawczyk.

Karey Bresenhan and the International Quilt Festival team have donated a total of five totes.  Karey is the Honorary Chairperson of Fiberart For A Cause.  Read more about her totes here.  Three totes, including The Earth Laughs in Flowers tote and contents shown above, will be up for bid on February 16.

Stop by here tomorrow for the link for a full preveiw of all the totes and artwork.  100% is donated directly to the American Cancer Society through Fiberart For A Cause. Our goal is $12,000.

There will be thirteen themed totes and three individual artworks up for bid for ToteTuesday on Tuesday, February 9.

A Preview will be posted on Monday, February 8 on my website.  Check back here on my blog for a link.  That same webpage will also be the Auction on Tuesday, February 9 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. CST.

Why the change? So MANY great totes — time to move to my website so you don’t acquire carpal tunnel from scrolling, scrolling, scrolling on my blog.

I’m working on the Preview page right now and, believe me, you are going to need some time studying the Preview on Monday to map out your strategy for bidding Tuesday.  The Opening Bids/Go For Gold bids won’t be listed on Monday to avoid a premature bidding war.

Of course, 100% of the proceed are donated directly to the American Cancer Society. The first five totes raised $1518 for the American Cancer Society; how high can we go this Tuesday?

What can I tell you about the totes that will be up?  Some have custom-made totes which are worth the opening bid all by themselves.  But then the generous donors have stepped right up and stocked their tote with special items to inspire your creativity.  Perhaps an example is in order:

This is the Thread Calligraphy tote sponsored by Sue Kelly:

Lined tote bag made by Sue Kelly with hand painted canvas and hand painted canvas straps. The background is a colorwash of acrylic fabric paints. Paintstik rubbings add interest with more visual texture and color. Thread lettering done by Nancy Kazlauckas with metallic thread. The word ‘imagine’ appears on one side of the bag, ‘create’ appears on the other side.

Detail from Thread Calligraphy tote

The contents of the bag include a book, Thread Calligraphy by Nancy Kazlauckas, a pattern called Coneflower also by Nancy which includes instructions and stencils, four fat quarters of hand-dyed fabric by Brooke Strassburg, and a package of micro brushes which have an amazing number of uses.

What a beautiful combination of form and function.

The other twelve totes up for bid on Tuesday will remain a secret until Monday, but here are mini-previews of ALL the totes to be offered Tuesdays in February. There will only be two more ToteTuesdays after this one!