(this post is a bitch-fest and I'm long winded. I've calmed down a bit, but when I think about it my blood begins to boil all over! So you're forewarned.)
$21 dollars is what this quilt went for at the silent auction.
Do I think my work is so fabulous that it warrants a ton of money? No. But come on! All you fellow quilters out there know the time and money that goes into making a quilt. I wanted to help the school. That was my intention all along.
Let me tell you how it went.
I get to my daughter's school. I see all the baskets of great stuff that is up for silent auction. Each basket has a list of it's contents and the value of the basket. Just about every single basket had a starting bid of around $10. TEN dollars for stuff that was valued at $100, $200, $250 and up!
To top that off, each bid can only be increased by $1-$5 higher than the last bid. WHAT?? Are you F'in kidding me?? This is a fundraiser for the school!
I come to my quilt that I donated. Starting bid: $10. Value: $50. Wait...WHAT?? The materials alone cost me close to $100. So I spoke with the lady running the silent auction part. I told her that I made the quilt the value needs to be at least $150. So she changes it to $250 giving me some credit for my 20+ hours of labor on the damn thing. I look, the bid is currently $11. O.M.G.
I take my girls around the festival to play some games for a while. I go back to the silent auction items. The quilt is now up to $20. I see a lady sitting in front of it. I don't think much but find it odd that she is just sitting there. I hear the lady running the auction with the bullhorn make an announcement that there is 30 minutes left on auction items. More time goes by....lady still sitting in front of quilt. Bullhorn lady (the chick running the auction) looks at lady/friend sitting in front of quilt and says, "when I give the 30 second warning, write my name down for $1 more that is on there right now!
wait a minute...WHAT did I just hear??
I look...
lady sitting in front of quilt has one arm on one side of sign-up sheet, her cell phone on the sheet and her sweater on the other side of the sheet.
At that point it all comes together.
She had her friend post up in front of the quilt, somewhat hide the sign up sheet, and then make sure HER name was on it last for the $1 higher bid!
This is a woman that is working at the fundraiser to help raise money for the school.
Auction ends. Quilt sells for $21 to the lady running the damn show.
I was furious and I left.
Today, the President of the Parent Teacher Committee (who is my friend, who asked me to donate the quilt in the first place) speaks to me and apologizes about what went down. She wanted to give me the money for the value of the quilt. I refused. Apparently 4 other people approached her today complaining about what they witnessed with the quilt. One of my other friends asked me where the sign up sheet was for the quilt yesterday because she wanted to bid on it but never saw it.
There is a chance this woman could read this post as I included my blog info with the quilt.
and I hope she does
and I hope she is embarrassed
and ashamed of herself
as she should be
Thank you for taking the time to read this if you've made it down this far. I'm fuming over this and being able to vent to fellow crafters with big generous hearts, helps. Ok, I feel better now!
It is a shame that people don't value all the time, creativity, and money that goes into making such a beautiful quilt. It is amazing that the person running the auction for the intent of raising funds for the school rigged the auction so she could get it for such an unfair price and cheat the school out of money. I had a similar situation happen at work and I won't donate my quilts any longer - they never make enough to cover the cost of the material, let alone the time. I now will only make quilts for family and friends - I know they appreciate it and all the work that goes into them. Keep making quilts for those you love!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness. I don't even know what to say - your story is heartbreaking. I know that had I been in your shoes I too would have been angry... and probably tearful. How sad that people bidding on very expensive items started the bids so low. Isn't the point of a silent auction to raise money for a cause, not get cool stuff for pennies on the dollar??? And shame on that woman and her friend for rigging the bidding on your quilt!
ReplyDeleteYour quilt is beautiful, and clearly much more valuable than what it sold for. I'm so sorry that happened to you. :(
First I don't blame you for being mad. Second, the person running the Silent Auction didn't run it properly. Each donated Item should have had a minimum amount requested BY THE DONATOR - then if the amount is not matched, the item is returned. You don't put the VALUE - you put that starting BID. It is something to approach the school about. It would make me think twice about donating something of that value again - instead I would offer a monitary donation.
ReplyDeleteNo, she wont feel bad, if she could do that in the first place and she got what she wanted, it isn't going to bother her. But, what goes around comes around - it always does. Though I am a little bit puzzled as to how she could get it if you had a price on of $250 what was the point of upping the price if people could still get it for less? Shouldn't the starting bid be higher to stop people getting away with this sort of act....isn't that what you are suppose to do. I don't understand how the organisers have got away with that. No wonder you are mad...I am mad for you! Maybe if you don't want your friend to give you the value of the quilt...then she could give that amount to the school instead....and make sure this never happens again. Hugs
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, I would be furious. And that's probably a pretty strong understatement. Your quilt is absolutely beautiful and the woman (term used lightly) who essentially stole your quilt should absolutely be ashamed of herself. Though I agree that she probably won't be. At least your friend recognized that value of what you offered to the school, and I think it says a lot that other people approached the school with complaints as well. I hope that means that Organizer Lady doesn't get the chance to be in that position again.
ReplyDeleteYou did a wonderful thing for a SCHOOL fundraiser , and the greedy woman did a dishonest deed to get it ; LORD HAVE MERCY ! unbelievable . Good Lesson for the children . Why are people like this ?
ReplyDeleteThis is worse than the story of the beautiful orange purse (Lazy Girl pattern I think) that was on display at a LQS , and somebody ripped it off . People are heartless .
I'm glad the others spoke up to PTA president .
I LOVE your quilt and would have bidded on it ! And I would have bid alot !!!
Oh Jen, I am soo sorry this happened to you. big hugs.
ReplyDeleteugh! that is one ugly situation. I'd be more than a little livid!!!
ReplyDeleteseriously I don't think I would have been able to hold back.
At our school something like a quilt would be in a live auction so that it got the praise it deserved.
silent auctions are bad news. People are out for a deal. We see it all the time at our school too....
I'm so sorry.
Oh, gosh. I would have cried. And then I would have made a cash donation to the school and taken my quilt back.
ReplyDeleteThat's unacceptable behavior!
I'm so sorry...and your quilt is beautiful and amazing! It is truly unfortunate that people can be so corrupt...I hope that something is done to deal with this situation!
ReplyDeleteWow, that is really awful! I can't belive that someone would do that, especially since it is a fundraiser for the school and presumably her kids attend the same school. It is a beautiful quilt!
ReplyDeleteah, that is a bummer! sorry that happened to you. seriously can't believe that the quilt went for such a small amount of money. if the needs of the school had been put 1st, it would have taken a bigger donation, for sure!
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry this happened to you! What a nightmare, but I hope word does get back around to the bidder. I actually run a silent auction with handmade items each year, and I always ask the artist what they'd like the reserve price to be, as well as the starting bid. Because, who am I to say what that item is worth. It's cool to see a community of people who do value art "step up" and bid the reserve price once you do set the bar higher. Ugh--some people. Hope your weekend gets better!
ReplyDeleteThis is horrible! I worry about this when thinking of donating. I sometimes, wonder if an "on my blog" auction with the proceeds dontated to the school would reap more value to the school.
ReplyDeleteI hope she reads your blog too! If she doesn't know you personally, I would be surprised if she checked it out. Such a shame!
That's disgusting! I wish I had been there to reach right over that lady and pick up the sheet so I could raise it $5 and pass it around! The woman with the bullhorn needs to give it back so the school can raffle it off.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry for you having this bad experience and shame on the "cheater" who got the quilt. Last year I made a gorgeous quilt for silent auction and we were allowed to put on the minimum bid accepted. It did not sell, but I hated to deprive the charity of the possible gain. So even though I've had the quilt stored for a year, I am setting up a raffle this summer, and we'll only have a drawing if we can first sell $400 worth of chances. There is a second prize baby quilt included i the raffle.
ReplyDeleteBut I also will not make any more for fund raising purposes. Nor any smaller table toppers or zip bags for bazaars, etc., because they never sell for what they are really worth in material and time, or they don't sell at all. I will have to figure out a different way of donating to those causes.
I feel for you Jen, and I congratulate you in keeping your language tame!
ReplyDeleteI had a similar experience once, though not as bad, and just stopped donating handcrafted items. I felt better just donating money instead since it cost more than the school got benefit for.
The worst part is that "woman" is probably bragging & showing off her great bargain. I hope the organizer doesn't let this go by with nothing said to her. She is an insult to all the hard-working parents.
Ugh fer reals!? Some people.I hate when people go against the spirit of things.
ReplyDeleteAt first I thought this was just a case of people not knowing the value of a handmade quilt, but it's despicable that someone in the leadership would manipulate the auction of your quilt. It's for charity for goodness sakes!
ReplyDeleteIf she really is that inconsiderate, I doubt she would actually go through the time to check out your blog. Does she have the quilt yet? If not, maybe you can attach a copy of this post with everyone's comments so she'll know that other people in your community and in the blogger world realize what a scummy thing she did.
I am sure this made you twice as angry as it made me so you must be beyond boiling mad!! I probably would have run over (if that was possible) and bid on my own quilt just so this did not happen and then redonated it for a special drawing or something. Some people are just low life and if she does happen to read this, what goes around comes around.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry this had to happen to you, feel it, then let it go...don't let this dishonerable person and horrible situation live in your body rent free.
WTF?!?! I'm fuming mad for you!
ReplyDeleteShe should be ashamed of herself. Her priorities are obviously are obviously somewhere else {like where the sun doesn't shine} to behave like that. I hope she does read your post and all the comments.
I'm so sorry this happened to you!
Omg...r u freaking kidding me?? The nerve of that lady....it was a fundraiser for crying out loud!!
ReplyDeleteAnyways, for a fuming lady I think your post is very mild mannered.....I would have been a little bit more harsh about the whole situation!!!
And I hope your right...I hope she does read this blog and realize that what she did was completely wrong......we quilters put a lot of money and even more time into making these lovely homemade quilts, I little bit of respect would be nice from you non-quilters out there!!!
If I were you, I would contact that woman, and tell her you know what she did. Offer to buy the quilt back for $21, and you'll call it even.
ReplyDeleteThen maybe you can find a better home for it, even if it's just donating it to a different charity.
I am so sorry for what happened. That is so not fair. I would feel the same. I would think that you where not looking for the full value but a fair bidding would be nice. Giving everybody a chance to bid would be great. Then even if it went for $75.00 that would have been wonderful. I hope that the women that did this get a bad feeling (and more like a flogging LOL) for what they did. Shame on you bad women!!!
ReplyDeleteOMG!! I hope she does read and is ashamed of herself!! I had a bad school fundraiser/silent auction experience last year too! Sometimes I wonder about those PTA women and their ethics!
ReplyDeleteJust rest knowing YOU did the right thing!
UN-FREAKING-BELIEVABLE!!!!!! I'm angry for you! I'm sorry that happened to you!
ReplyDeleteBeen there, done that ...know how you feel. Not only the labor and material cost but most people don't even think about the love we quilter put into our finished product.
ReplyDeleteThis makes my blood boil and I didn't make the quilt. Totally infuriating. I hope she does read this post and I hope she is completely disgraced by her own hideous behaviour. I am making two quilts for our school fundraiser to be held in three weeks time. If they go for less than $100, I'll be upset. Not because I think my work is that great, but because something that costs so much in time and dollars to make should raise money for items our kids will use everyday. Items the school couldn't otherwise afford to buy. I am so sorry for you, I feel your frustration, oh boy, I'd be p@#$*d too.
ReplyDeleteI totally feel your pain and frustration!!!! After my quilt at an auction went for a whopping $35 I vowed to never donate another quilt again.
ReplyDeleteAnd you're right that woman should be ashamed of herself!!!!!
I'm so sorry this happened to you...you make beautiful quilts! :)
Wow. I felt anxious and sick just reading about that. I've donated a quilt to my son's school for a fundraiser before and was disappointed by some aspects of it, but I never dealt with anything quite so unsavory. So sorry!
ReplyDeleteMy heart is racing, my blood is boiling and I am sick to my stomach. That woman should be shot along with her friend. When we did quilts for fundraisers we sold tickets for a chance to win. We would take the quilt to different school functions and dispplay it. We went to the school board meeting and the city hall meeting. The first quilt raised $2500 by doing this. One lady didn't quilt but she sold tickets, Form a small committee of like minded ladies for the next one. I am so so sorry for the loss. the quilt was beautiful. HUGS
ReplyDeleteI had a very bad experience with a cub scout auction quilt, too. Won't be doing that again, PERIOD. Next time if you really want to donate to the school maybe just sell it on etsy and donate the proceeds so you know your work will be appreciated and compensated. I think it was a beautiful quilt. I can see why someone would want it badly, but NOT why they would leave their decorum at the door. The bids should have started much higher for that quilt.
ReplyDeleteThat is such crap. I feel so bad for you and the school. Her greediness made the school lose money at a fund raiser! Ugh. I hate when the people in charge take advantage.
ReplyDeleteOh my! I had the same thing happen....almost. I donated a quilt to a children's group. They halfway displayed on an easel, and sold it for much less than I had into the materials alone. I expressed my regret when some nice cakes got a higher bid. Now I only will donate if the quilt will be in the live auction. I feel bad for you.
ReplyDeleteOh, you definitely get a bitchfest for this. :( Wow! Absolutely, disgustingly: "Wow." I can't even believe what happened- that somebody would behave that way at such a function. The depravity is astonishing. But your quilt is amazing.
ReplyDeleteYour story makes my blood boil, too. I'm sorry your work was devalued like that. I had a similar auction experience when I donated to my boys' elementary school. When I saw the bid was only $40 for mine, I wrote down $50 and won my quilt back.
ReplyDelete