Collage Mania Closes with a Bang

In a 3-day extravagaza of bidding, Virginia Spiegel's Collage Mania (a part of Fiberart For A Cause) has raised over $18,000 in donations for the American Cancer Society. With this success, Virginia is taking her very well-earned retirement from the world of fund raising (but I have a feeling that she won't be able to give it up entirely ... I wouldn't be surprised to see a few smaller fundraisers in her future).

I want to say thank you to all who have followed Virginia in this adventure. I know I feel a tremendous sense of accomplishment just from my own small part in it. I'm happy to report that my "Nevermore" raven postcard went on the first day, and "Poe Meets Frost" went on the second day of bidding. I wasn't able to bid on anything this year, but I sure enjoyed the vicarious thrill of those who were. The eye-candy alone was well worth the trip!

Congratulations to Virginia and to her faithful friend and sidekick Karen Stiehl Osborne, for their hard work and dedication to this cause. My two pieces will go out to their new owners in a few days, once all the paperwork is done and instructions sent out by Karen. Thank you all for the wild ride!

Shoppin' and Biddin' Time

Collage Mania, the Fiberart For A Cause fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, opens today (Tuesday, May 5) at 10 a.m. CDT. There is an official clock on the first page of collages: http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/CM2009Collages1.html

Choose from 383 fiberart collages (many of them small art quilts) donated by 161 artists from around the world. Each artwork is finished or mounted to 8x10". Today's minimum donation to the American Cancer Society is $80; the minimum donation drops to $40 on May 6 and 7. All the details on how to acquire collages is here: http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/CollageMania09Directions.html

Our goal is to raise at least $20,000 for the ACS in just three days. And now, here are more of my favorites, just as an appetizer ... thank you for your support!

Pear - Judy Alexander

Renewal - Denise Aumick

St. Pete Window 7 - Natalya Aikins

Radiant - Emmie Seaman

Poe House - Linda Thompson

Sunburst - Elizabeth Dawson and Lynne Pfeffer

The Daydream - Terri Stegmiller

The Bone - Susan Sanborn North

One More Day to Collage Mania!

Here's the website again for Collage Mania, starting TOMORROW! http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/CM2009Collages1.html

and to quote Virginia Spiegel,

"All donations for collages are made directly to the American Cancer Society through Fiberart For A Cause. Patrons receive an immediate electronic receipt from the ACS. I hope you are able to join us for this three-day art extravaganza. Our goal is to raise at least $20,000 for the ACS."

And here are more of my favorites, just to whet your appetite.


Journaling Forgiveness 1 - Karen Presser


Madness - Patty VanHuis-Cox


Make Time for Art - Jamie Fingal




Old Pink Rose - Georgianne Kandler

Peace - Lynn Krawczyk

Collage Mania Countdown ...

More of my "favorites" ... although it is so hard to choose among the 383 collages!



Possibilities - Fannie Narte

Fossil - Ann Flaherty

Growth Begins - Laura Ann Beehler

Hands - Jeanette Thompson

In the Woods - Liz Berg

Home Again - Allison Brown-Cestero

You can see ALL the 383 collages here: http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/CM2009Collages1.html and make up your shoppping list, for when the bidding opens Tuesday, May 5. It runs through Thursday, May 7.

Collage Mania is approaching fast ...

Counting down ... here is Virginia Spiegel's post for today about the LAST BIG fundraising opportunity from FiberArt For A Cause ...

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 now: http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/CM2009Collages1.html

This is the final big Fiberart For A Cause fundraiser for the AmericanCancer Society as I will be returning to my studio fulltime after a 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-keymanner 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 QuiltFestival - Houston, Chicago, and Long Beach. Thank you, dear Karey! Our goal for Collage Mania is at least $20,000 in three days.

Warm regards,

V.--

Virginia A. Spiegel

Website: http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/

Blog: http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/blog/

Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/vspiegel

Fiberart For A Cause, fundraising for the American Cancer Society. COLLAGE MANIA May 5 - 7, 2009 http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/NewFiles/ACSFundraiser.html

and here are some more of my personal favorites ...

Essential Blue 9 - Wen Redmond

Dusk - Carol Lawson

Do You Believe Anything is Possible? - Jill Kerttula

Dickens - Pokey Bolton

Creatures of the Deep - Marka Harwell Bentley

Collage Mania is ALMOST HERE!

It's a count-down ...

Three hundred and eighty-three original artworks created for Virginia Spiegel's Collage Mania 2009 are now up for preview here. All artwork will be available on a first-come/first-serve basis on May 5 -7. The directions on how to participate as a patron in this three-day art extravaganza are here.

Payment is by credit card directly to the American Cancer Society through Fiberart For A Cause. Use only the link provided in the DIRECTIONS and, remember, the payment will say it is to the "Forest Lake Relay For Life". This is correct, as it is part of the Relay For Life, of which Virginia's sister is Chair. You will receive an automatic electronic receipt from the ACS. Adding even $1 more to the requested minimum donation will make a difference, but add a little more only if you are able to do so. As Virginia says, "We are not into guilt!" ;^)

After Collage Mania closes, Karen Stiehl Osborn will send your name and e-mail to the artist, who will contact you to make shipping arrangements.

And now for the fun part ... I've chosen a few of my favorite collages to post here, and will add a few more each day until the opening of Collage Mania on May 5. It's a teaser for the actual Preview, as well as a little insight into my artistic tastes, if you're curious.



Collage 2 - Wen Redmond


Copper Artifact - Michelle D. Cunningham



China Visit II - Sharon Eley

Ancestors were hilarious until I became one - Jill Kerttula

Adirondack Nite - Janet McMahon

Oh yes, two of my pieces are available too ... ravens from the Edgar Allen Poe Birthday Challenge. See this earlier post.

Another Collage Mania Supporter

I just love it when someone supports a great cause out of the goodness of their heart ... and pocketbook. Iris Karp http://www.mistyfuse.com/, besides producing my all-time favorite fusible web, is one of those people who puts her money where her mouth is, and always puts a little public service announcement at the bottom of her ads. Here's one, in the latest Quilting Arts Magazine, for a cause near and dear to my heart ... Fiber Arts for a Cause, currently calling for artists to participate in Collage Mania.

In case my scan isn't clear enough for you to read, her blurb says, "Buy art and find a cure for cancer! Collage Mania is May 5-7, 2009. Submission deadline is April 1. Learn more at www.virginiaspiegel.com."

FFAC's founder, Virginia Spiegel, has all the information you need at http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/CollageManiaCall08.html. Step up ... do something good ... and have lots of fun while you're at it!

Collage Mania Opens Monday

Get your motors runnin' ... Virginia Spiegel's Collage Mania
http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/CollageMania081.html,
to benefit the American Cancer Society, is opening Monday morning at 9:00 a.m. CST, to run for ONLY two days. See her blog for more info. http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/blog/archives/770 and for some answers to some Frequently Asked Questions.

Here's are some more "teasers" for you ...


Asian Fall by Angie Platten


Creation Story by Joy Hellman


Full Circle 2 by Sherrie Tootle

Get your emails ready to send, and your trigger finger ready to hit the "Send" button at 9:00 Monday (and/or Tuesday) morning! I know I'm excited ... Good luck!

IT'S HERE!

Collage Mania Preview Week -- It's here at last!


Sun Please, by Inge Reinholdt

At last, the much-anticipated Preview of all 235 collages created by over 100 artists worldwide, which will be available for purchase on May 5 and 6, 2008! Collage Mania 2008 is organized and managed by fiber artist Virginia Spiegel. Virginia explains:

"Preview Week is a great time to browse through the collages, make your shopping list, prepare an e-mail to send me (note: for which collages you want to acquire!) and ask any questions you may have about Collage Mania and how to acquire the artwork."

FUNDRAISING TO BENEFIT
THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY

Virginia and her team of supporters organized Collage Mania 2008 to benefit The American Cancer Society. Virginia is also the founder of Fiberart For A Cause which has raised more than $150,000 for the American Cancer Society in the last several years.

HOW TO ACQUIRE A COLLAGE

Virginia provides detailed information about how to acquire a collage on the Collage Mania Site. It's fun, it's exciting! Preview all the wonderful artwork, make your choices ... and have your email ready to send off on May 5 and May 6! Then you will have not only some fantastic new artwork for your collection, but also the satisfaction of having helped a most worthy cause.

I've got my choices already made ... keeping my fingers crossed that I get at least one of my "first" choices, but knowing that ALL of my choices are wonderful! Dive in, have fun, and help Virginia raise more money for the American Cancer Society.