Wednesday, November 21

Counting our blessings!

This past month, I've been really busy coordinating a Silent Auction fundraiser for our church, St. Paul's UCC here in Henderson. It was a lot of fun and it raised funds! Can't beat that, right? I gave the fundraiser a name.........called it the "Count Your Blessings Silent Auction". I talked about how when we count our blessings and then share what we have, it makes even more blessings. The concept for the auction was simple........congregation members were asked to bring a themed basket or just some item that could be placed for bid. It could be handmade or store-bought. I loved seeing the items that came in and then I took them and "flouffed" them. In other words, I took a few items and put them together to create one bid item. There were no gift certificates for restaurants or spas, no oil changes or anything like that. These items could be new or used and that's what made it fun. I've been doing Silent Auctions with non-profit groups for years and the format is a simple and easy way to raise some extra cash for a church or organization. As you can see in the photos below there were items for all ages..........

On this table there was a basket full of kids craft supplies, a nail polish assortment basket, children's books, a bin full of tools.........etc..........
A popular item was a rug made by Marvel Tesch and more baskets and decor items.........
There were a couple of "home movie" baskets filled with movies, treats, popcorn and in that cute popcorn container..........
Candles and Christmas greens, Red Hat items and a really popular item was the Jolly Green Giant!! We live just a few miles from LeSueur, MN and the valley that is home to the Jolly Green Giant.
My big purchase was a basket full of Christmas candles and goodies............
The event did more than raise funds, though. It created fellowship. It was something different and folks had fun doing this. I got to know some folks in the church that I had never talked to before. One was Elvirda Bird who embroidered a set of beautiful dishtowels. They came in after I took the photos and I forgot to go back and get a picture of them. Those who know me well, know that I rarely miss a picture opportunity but perhaps I can get a photo before they are picked up by the winner.
And speaking of winners................yep, it's another giveaway. I appreciated all the advice on what to do about the corners on my tabletopper. I am going to try a couple things on one corner and if it doesn't work, then it won't be too much to rip out. In the meantime, you can leave your name for a chance to win some of the poinsettia fabric in a blue colorway............
There are six fat quarters........oops! a little edit here ... I don't know what I was thinking because there are four fat eighths and two fat quarters in this grouping..... in this collection. Just leave your name, and this time tell me what little blessing has happened to you in the past week that makes this a good week!
My little blessing this week?..........hmmmm........let me think on that..........there was more than one thing that is making this a good week!!
Have a great day!
Sandi

29 comments:

tisme said...

My blessing this week would be,
my mom, stepdad and sister are coming for dinner tomorrow. I am blessed with the best mom in the world! We quilt together, shop together and anything else we can come up with. She is 74, and looks and acts like me! I am 54. :)
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

DebrafromMD said...

My blessing this week is the family gathering tomorrow for Thanksgiving dinner. I love it when we spend the day together.

Christine M said...

My blessing this week is that when my son over-rotated at gymnastics and bumped his head, he wasn't seriously hurt. Just a huge bump on his forehead. Thanks for the lovely giveaway. That fabric is just gorgeous.

Kate said...

So many wonderful baskets. Glad that you affair turned out so well. My blessings this week is that I get to spend Thanksgiving with my youngest son. Have not been near him for over 3 years and missed him terribly during the holidays.

Jocelyn said...

My blessing this week is seeing that God is always faithful, even through difficult situations. Wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Kate said...

What a swell idea your church silent auction was. This will sound corny but I count my blessings regularly and there are too many to choose from to mention one in particular. However, I do count my blessings that there are generous bloggers like yourself who have fabulous giveaways, who share their tutorials, and keep me entertained. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting said...

Lots of blessings, but, the best is my oldest son is home from college for Thanksgiving. Also, we (as usual) will be spending Thanksgiving with our neighbors and their extended family. Great blessings for good friends and family.

Marsha B said...

My blessing this week is we will have a very quiet week at home. The last three months have been very busy with lots of family stuff. For now, everything is over and we can rest! Have a great Thanksgiving!

hueisei said...

My blessing this week is I'm taking a day this Friday to go back to my hometown. I miss my family!

Diane Wild said...

My blessing just happened today. My sister is being discharged from Rochester and going to the New Prague Hospital, so she'll be closer to family. She's had some life threatening issues since Aug. so I'm thankful that I can be with her tomorrow. Thanks for the giveaway. Happy Thanksgiving.

Donna said...

I enjoyed a special pre-holiday cookie and coffee evening with my closest friends Monday. Getting together was indeed a blessing.

luv2quilt2 said...

My greatest blessing this week is having all my family here to celebrate Thanksgiving. My little blessing was having a very long MRI and getting good news from it!!

rag55 said...

My great blessing this week is takking the whole week off from work so i can "play" w/my quilting and celebrate my 31st anniversary w/my wonderful, very patient, loving husband!!!!!!

Karen O said...

A big blessing - finding out my job will end May 31 - so I have 6 months to find a new one. :)

Cherise said...

My blessing was getting together with an old friend for lunch. Have a Happy Thanksgiving! :)

Sandra said...

I was so sick after the first chemo treatment. My blessing is that my system straightened itself out in time to enjoy Thanksgiving.

magicthimblecreations said...

Since only relative near is my Mother, we are blessed to have an "adopted" family to share holidays with and meal at least once a week. This week they helped us finish our bathroom upstairs. Last week we helped them clean their storage sheds and watched their son while they mowed and cleaned their yard. We share, time, abilities, meals, but most of all love.

Teresa F. said...

My blessing this week was my daughter's birthday. She was my first born and she turned 21 last November 21st. I love her so much!

quiltinggrammy said...

I had a wonderful blessing this past week when I heard from my grandson whom I hadn't heard from in months. It was good to reconnect.

ledamewood said...

My blessing this week was having 3 little girls at my house wanting to sew. The 2 youngest made pillows and the oldest has 6 nine patch blocks completed towards a quilt. I loved having them here.

SewLisa :o) said...

It was a blessing that this was the last week of Homeschool Coop until February. It gets old driving almost an hour to Coop once a week, although Coop itself is a blessing to my girls.

Lynn M said...

Ok. I had a HUGE blessing this week. Monday was my 5 year aniversery. I have been a stay at home mom for five years while my husband was in the military. Well he got medically discharged. He had planned to retire in 20 years, so he hadn't worked on his education more than they expect you to when you are in. Well when he got out, he tried out a few jobs in his career field and hated them. He wants to change his field and follow his dreams. He became so depressed because he felt like he couldn't. I took the opportunity to show him how much I love him, and appreciate him, so I told him i would work while he went to school. Anyway, i had been looking for a job for about 2 weeks, and we had no money coming in. Finally on Wednesday I walked into a local business I heard was hiring. I got the job on the spot and started that day! I am still so happy to have gotten this job.

Judy1522 said...

My blessing is my cousin's daughter is attending college in our state and because she is not able to go home for Thanksgiving she is spending it with us.

annemarie said...

My blessing was finding out that my daughter is pregnant which means another grandchild on the way. We have three grandsons so a little girl would truly be a blessing.

Pam said...

My blessing is my wonderful daughter, but for this week it has to be finding you.

Ellee said...

My blessing this week was spending extra time with my husband who had the whole week off of work. soparkaveataoldotcom

mary mahoo said...

My blessing of the week would be my grandson,,,and his parents for blessing me with such a wonderful boy to love. Thanks for the chance to win.

Marilyn said...

My blessing? Family. I got to see my parents and my kids and their spouses and all my grandchildren. Amazing to have four generations.

Anda W said...

This particular week my blessing was hearing that a young acquaintance who had a massive stroke is showing hopeful signs of recovery. awolk at rogers dot com

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