[Woodcarver](Donating carving) was Whotchacorv',n???????

[Joe Dillett]

> I haven't carved since I had  open heart surgery last December!  I am 

> still

> having some problems with my  lungs but it has nothing to do with the 

> surgery.

> i hope to get back to carving  sometime in the near future!

>

> Carol Robertson

> Whetstone, AZ

> Please visit my website:  www.searchingsearchingsearching.com

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Hi Carol,

I pray that you get your health problems resolved and have chips flying very 
soon. I know it is very, vary difficult to create when you are not feeling 
well. And many of us need to create or else.

I've just finished a mantel, with the history of Somonauk, for a silent 
auction for the Fox Valley Older Adults. As artist we get called upon often 
to donate to worthy causes. This is great except when the item we donate 
doesn't bring in squat. Not only is it bad for the people we donated it to 
but it hurts our marketing image which tends to bring down the value of our 
work.

Many artists donate because it is good for their image and also to improve 
the value of their work. When an artist donates to a cause and the item 
doesn't bring over the value of the work that artist will not donate to that 
cause again. Below fair value is what I've seen happening to many benefits 
especially when woodcarvings are donated.

I'm trying something new this time. First I'm using this benefit as an 
educational tool to let the people know how badly the Fox Valley Older 
Adults need the money. I'll do this by displaying this mantel in different 
businesses in the area along with information on the Fox Valley Older 
Adults. Than I'm being upfront in trying to recoop some of my costs. (Many 
of us would be much more willing to donate if there was a chance of us 
getting most of our costs back. No rule says we need to donate the total 
value of the item.) The fair market value of this mantel is $1,200 
wholesale/$2,000 retail. On the silent auction sheet I list the retail value 
at $2,000. I also state that $800 of the selling price comes back to me to 
cover some costs and materials. I believe that this will give the public a 
better appretiation for the value.

I'll let you know after September 11th, when the auction is finished, what 
it sold for.

Joe Dillett
The Carving Shop
645 E. LaSalle St. Suite 3
Somonauk, IL. 60552
(815) 498-9290 phone
(815) 498-9249 fax
http://www.thecarvingshop.com
jdillett at thecarvingshop.com
http://www.carvingmagazine.com Carving Magazine web site and Readers Forum
http://community.webshots.com/user/joe_dillett
http://www.citizenactions.org
http://www.safeguardsystemsinc.com
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