Silent Auction Results...And Update on Selling the Farm
Silent Auction Results!
It was an exciting afternoon at the Womens' Club of Westminster Holiday Luncheon & Silent Auction!
I arrived just after 11:00 a.m. and my friend had our display area all set up -- waiting for the clothes to arrive. Believe it or not, someone had already bid $50 just on the doll! We got everything set up amid ooohs! and ahhs! and before stepping away to take a picture, I quickly upped to bid to $100. I figured THAT would get us into the triple digits. There were a lot of really nice items in the auction -- some interesting chotchkies, books, collectibles but NOTHING generated as much interest as the American Girl Doll and wardrobe.
Lunch was served at 12:00 noon and the bidding would remain open until 1:30. My friend got up once to go check on the bidding and when she came back to the table and sat down, she leaned over and said, "It's up to $150 already" and squeezed my hand. We were both very excited.
When lunch and the program was over, an announcement was made that anyone who had bid on items could now settle up for them and remove them from the auction area. A woman at our table was the high bidder on the doll and wardrobe -- a whopping $167 for the works! My friend gave me a high five -- it WAS the highest bid earner of the day. This is what we had hoped for since all the money goes directly to local charities.
I had put my tote full of other clothes in the car before leaving the house this morning because yesterday afternoon, I got a phone call from the owner of Clementine's Boutique in town. I had stopped in there a couple of weeks ago to ask if she carried any 18" doll clothes. She said she used to make them to sell in her shop, but hadn't had any time this year to make any. She told me she would give me a call if she had any inquiries. Well, she said in the last week she has had about a dozen people come in asking SPECIFICALLY for American Girl Doll clothing, so she called me. I figured if the luncheon gig was over early enough, I might stop down there while I was still in town.
Well, my friend was busy doing her "promotion" for ME and before I got out of the restaurant, I had sold $64 worth of doll outfits and handed out quite a number of the business cards my friend had made up for me. WOW! It was so much fun and very gratifying to get such a positive result of my "hobby on steroids." I never did make it to Clementine's because it was nearing 3:00, but I plan to stop down there tomorrow.
Tom called on his way home from work and I was very excited to give him the news. He said, "I guess I need to make some more hangers for you tonight." I said, "Yup. And maybe another clothes rack, too." This is just so much fun! He had stopped for a haircut and beard trim on his way home from work and was telling his hairdresser about the doll clothes thing that I was doing, She told him "Oh my gosh! I have women coming in here all the time wanting to know WHO makes clothes for those dolls!" She said she would LOVE to have a display in her shop and that I should call her tomorrow. Seems like when it rains, IT POUTS!
Unfortunately, my inventory is now getting pretty low and since I am NOT going to "mass produce" maybe I should focus the next week or so on sewing Christmas theme items....I have some seasonal fabrics left -- but I'm lacking for time. So we shall see what happens and how much I can do in the little time between now and Christmas.
In other news, my realtor called yesterday. Said the prospective buyers want to come here AGAIN on Thursday morning. Good gosh this will be the FOURTH TIME they have been here! I asked if they really needed to come inside again because I am about half done decorating for Christmas and need to do a good regular cleaning before Saturday's party. Well, she called their realtor and got back to me. Yes, they do want to come back in the house to "run water and flush toilets." I don't know what that's all about, but my guess is they may want to avoid the cost of a home inspection. Here in Maryland, a home inspection is the prospective buyer's option and NOT REQUIRED. Fine with me. I bought this place 24 years ago without one and nothing has ever been a problem. All the improvements that have been made during my tenure here were done RIGHT so there's no question about the integrity of the structures, heating and air conditioning systems or anything else. I've got one of the best wells in the area and my septic system has never been a problem, either. She said they also want to walk the property line AGAIN. I find that sort of silly as the only thing we have is a Plat Map -- and they are "cryptic at best." I said, "There USED to be wooden stakes in the ground at the corners, but that was 24 years ago and I'm sure they have all rotted by now." My fences are all new and were put on the same lines as the old ones, so I'm assuming that they were 18" inside the property boundary. I have never had anyone raise a question about where the boundaries are here and most people won't pay to have a new boundary survey done if it's not necessary (only required IF there has been an off-conveyance or easement -- which there has not been).
So I guess I will spend tomorrow cleaning and trying to finish up my holiday decorating, running the vacuum and tidying up -- NOT my favorite thing to do in a rush. Which means no time to sew. Oh well...if it means I get a bona fide contract of sale for Christmas, that will be the BEST gift of all.
I will keep you posted! Keep those prayers going and fingers crossed, too!
It was an exciting afternoon at the Womens' Club of Westminster Holiday Luncheon & Silent Auction!
I arrived just after 11:00 a.m. and my friend had our display area all set up -- waiting for the clothes to arrive. Believe it or not, someone had already bid $50 just on the doll! We got everything set up amid ooohs! and ahhs! and before stepping away to take a picture, I quickly upped to bid to $100. I figured THAT would get us into the triple digits. There were a lot of really nice items in the auction -- some interesting chotchkies, books, collectibles but NOTHING generated as much interest as the American Girl Doll and wardrobe.
Lunch was served at 12:00 noon and the bidding would remain open until 1:30. My friend got up once to go check on the bidding and when she came back to the table and sat down, she leaned over and said, "It's up to $150 already" and squeezed my hand. We were both very excited.
When lunch and the program was over, an announcement was made that anyone who had bid on items could now settle up for them and remove them from the auction area. A woman at our table was the high bidder on the doll and wardrobe -- a whopping $167 for the works! My friend gave me a high five -- it WAS the highest bid earner of the day. This is what we had hoped for since all the money goes directly to local charities.
I had put my tote full of other clothes in the car before leaving the house this morning because yesterday afternoon, I got a phone call from the owner of Clementine's Boutique in town. I had stopped in there a couple of weeks ago to ask if she carried any 18" doll clothes. She said she used to make them to sell in her shop, but hadn't had any time this year to make any. She told me she would give me a call if she had any inquiries. Well, she said in the last week she has had about a dozen people come in asking SPECIFICALLY for American Girl Doll clothing, so she called me. I figured if the luncheon gig was over early enough, I might stop down there while I was still in town.
Well, my friend was busy doing her "promotion" for ME and before I got out of the restaurant, I had sold $64 worth of doll outfits and handed out quite a number of the business cards my friend had made up for me. WOW! It was so much fun and very gratifying to get such a positive result of my "hobby on steroids." I never did make it to Clementine's because it was nearing 3:00, but I plan to stop down there tomorrow.
Tom called on his way home from work and I was very excited to give him the news. He said, "I guess I need to make some more hangers for you tonight." I said, "Yup. And maybe another clothes rack, too." This is just so much fun! He had stopped for a haircut and beard trim on his way home from work and was telling his hairdresser about the doll clothes thing that I was doing, She told him "Oh my gosh! I have women coming in here all the time wanting to know WHO makes clothes for those dolls!" She said she would LOVE to have a display in her shop and that I should call her tomorrow. Seems like when it rains, IT POUTS!
Unfortunately, my inventory is now getting pretty low and since I am NOT going to "mass produce" maybe I should focus the next week or so on sewing Christmas theme items....I have some seasonal fabrics left -- but I'm lacking for time. So we shall see what happens and how much I can do in the little time between now and Christmas.
In other news, my realtor called yesterday. Said the prospective buyers want to come here AGAIN on Thursday morning. Good gosh this will be the FOURTH TIME they have been here! I asked if they really needed to come inside again because I am about half done decorating for Christmas and need to do a good regular cleaning before Saturday's party. Well, she called their realtor and got back to me. Yes, they do want to come back in the house to "run water and flush toilets." I don't know what that's all about, but my guess is they may want to avoid the cost of a home inspection. Here in Maryland, a home inspection is the prospective buyer's option and NOT REQUIRED. Fine with me. I bought this place 24 years ago without one and nothing has ever been a problem. All the improvements that have been made during my tenure here were done RIGHT so there's no question about the integrity of the structures, heating and air conditioning systems or anything else. I've got one of the best wells in the area and my septic system has never been a problem, either. She said they also want to walk the property line AGAIN. I find that sort of silly as the only thing we have is a Plat Map -- and they are "cryptic at best." I said, "There USED to be wooden stakes in the ground at the corners, but that was 24 years ago and I'm sure they have all rotted by now." My fences are all new and were put on the same lines as the old ones, so I'm assuming that they were 18" inside the property boundary. I have never had anyone raise a question about where the boundaries are here and most people won't pay to have a new boundary survey done if it's not necessary (only required IF there has been an off-conveyance or easement -- which there has not been).
So I guess I will spend tomorrow cleaning and trying to finish up my holiday decorating, running the vacuum and tidying up -- NOT my favorite thing to do in a rush. Which means no time to sew. Oh well...if it means I get a bona fide contract of sale for Christmas, that will be the BEST gift of all.
I will keep you posted! Keep those prayers going and fingers crossed, too!
Replies
Wow! You go girl!
thanks for the newsletter!
You are really busy lately, aren\'t you? I am so happy about the silent auction results as well as your own sales. You never know what is going on in the minds of other people; they are strange! Believe me! Hugs and love. Neesie
I hope the buyers are satisfied. They sound a little picky but i understand that it\'s a big purchase and so many people get swindled on home sales so i understand . I hope they are at least pleasant about it. Good luck :)
Wow! How exciting! Lots of luck with the house and the new business. Enjoy!
All of this is so exciting!!! I\'m so happy for you and I can hear the 100 mile a minute thinking coming out of this journal. You are charged up girlfriend!!! Loving it!
I am so excited for you. You have found your passion and are living it. I can only imagine how excited you are. And your right, when it rains it pours and it sounds like the demand for your clothing is really strong. Listen, if you ever wanted to sell these on the internet...there is a site called ETSY.com that caters to exactly what you are doing. Although it seems like you dont even need this since the demand is so high right where you are. You are doing phenominal and I am happy for you!