My contribution to the inventory that was auctioned off was an embroidered wall hanging, complete with mirrors, silk threads and intricate handiwork. And after all this time, I am still amazed by how coveted Indian handicrafts are!
I bought this particular piece at an exhibition at Bandra Reclamation - that part of Bandra that was once a marshland but has long since been reclaimed for the greater common good of Bombay. (really, ask the naysayers who think that Bombay will be submerged in a torrent of ocean waves one day, no thanks to land reclamation. As if!) In the wide open maidans and playing fields, at any given time, there will be an handicraft exhibition from states across India peddling their wares. (And that's also where you'll find my Mother on a Saturday evening - somewhere between a Kashmiri cushion cover and a Rajasthani bedsheet)
And so I sold my wall hanging (someone called it a tapestry. Sure, why not!) - proceeds of the auction went to the Susan G Komen Cancer for the Cure foundation. A silent auction, I realized, is a great way to raise money. Here's how it works:
- Ask people to bring in anything they'd like to sell or dispose off from their house.
- Display all the collected inventory in a common area.
- Have 'bid sheets' for each item.
- Ask people to write their name and bid value on the sheet, against whatever they want to purchase.
Voila, at the end of the afternoon you've raised some serious dough.
Of course, I did some bidding and buying too.
Purchase # 1 - Necklace from South Africa
$3.00
Purchase # 2 - Soledad O'Brien's Biography
$5.00
Honestly, this was a sympathy buy - t'was the last book standing. And as much as I love me some Soledad I would not pay full retail price to read her story. Not when there's a dishy Mr. Cooper around. And by dish, we're talking about the oozing with butter and cheese kinda one.
7 comments:
The necklace is a stunner for sure.
well... i am not really too much into accessories.. so cant really comment about the necklace..
however, I loved the book :)
I loved the necklace! Like your mom, I too love shopping for handicrafts...when I went to Rajasthan for the first time I went crazy...especially in the interiors of Barmer, Jaisalmer, Choutan :))
@Madhu you've read it? @Khushi, I have yet to visit those beautiful places. Lucky you!
dont know anything about necklace etc.... but books.. i have always liked... not heard of this title but i guess there is something worth reading in it :)
Necklace is really a wonderful piece
I have spent many a days shopping at the Bandra Reclamation exhibitions - pearls was what I usually went for! But you should know how to distinguish between the fake and the real ones. Learnt it with time and experience (often others ;)).
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