With 35 out of 56 vendors reporting we've received over $1500 from the benefit bazaar! Combine that with contributions from individuals and we've raised over $4000! Our current goal is now approximately $15,500! Stay tuned for future fund-raising efforts.
P.S. If you want to make a contribution through PayPal, please mark it as a gift -- that way they don't take a chunk out of it as they do with donations and payments.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Monday, November 2, 2009
What Kind of Wheels Does Henry Need?
Over the past couple of weeks I've had a few well-meaning individuals contact me with alternative suggestions to solving our transportation dilemma, none of which was appropriate to the needs of our family. I realized that a little clarification on what we're aiming for and why would be helpful. While advice from a seasoned veteran is always welcome, sometimes there are just too many hidden factors for a person outside the family to understand their needs.The cost of our van conversion is covered by a program Henry qualified for earlier this year, but it will not cover the cost of the actual vehicle. As a single parent who has only been able to return to work full time as of this past March, I am unable to finance this purchase. As far as I know there are no funding sources that will help with purchasing a vehicle, so we have turned to family, friends and the wider community to help us raise the funds.
Because the conversion is so costly, the vehicle needs to have a lot of life in it as well as suit our needs (safe, reliable, fuel efficient, long engine life) as we'll be driving it for a long time. I've narrowed the field down to a used Toyota Sienna or a Honda Odyssey. These are not the cheapest vehicles on the market, but they are the best fit for us. A good candidate for conversion would be a 2006-2009 model, in excellent condition, with less than 35,000 miles. If you know anyone with such a vehicle who wants to give us a sweet deal, send 'em our way!
So, while I could take the $5000+ we have raised and buy an old and out-of-date, gas guzzling converted van that doesn't fit our needs that might last a few years (and forgo the brand new, warranty covered conversion), or I could settle for a late model Dodge Caravan that, while significantly cheaper will have considerably less engine life, I'm thinking about the best use of our resources and the best solution for our needs in the long-term. That's going to require more $$ upfront but will save $$ down the line by reducing fuel, repair and replacement costs.
Dia de los Muertos
My pal Shawn Gascoyne-Bowman organized a little fundraiser at Someday Lounge's Dia de los Muertos celebration today and raised $200 in donations to Wheels for Henry with her homemade sugar skulls! A parade featuring Lions of Batucada led by a caravan of hearses marched down 4th Ave. to Someday for indoor festivities where the kids went crazy with glitter glue pens decorating the sugar skulls.
When Shawn isn't making macabre crafts, homemade hula hoops, or hosting soirees, she does other cool stuff like promoting and celebrating kid's art and organizing fun cultural events. Her cool kids are often happily involved in her shenanigans (see above). Such a lively, lovely, and creative bunch! Thanks, guys!
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Thanks, Everyone!
The Wheels for Henry online benefit bazaar is officially over but the Wheels will keep rolling until we meet our goal! Thank you to Mary Hayward of KitKnitty for organizing and running the show, Kate Bingaman-Burt for illustrations, plus all our vendors, shoppers and donors! We've raised over $2500 in 2 short weeks (and that's before vendors make their contributions)! More events are in the works, please get in touch if you have any bright ideas of your own!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Vendor Profile: sparklegarden
sparklegarden
Shop description: Sparklegarden features artisan handmade precious metal and gemstone jewelry, personalized items such as guitar picks and pet id tags, bridal/bridesmaid jewelry, and dream necklaces.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Vendor Profile: Ayun Halliday
Ayun Halliday
Shop description: Dare to be Heinie! Read the East Village Inky! Ayun Halliday has been chronicling her family's daily life in NYC and beyond in this award winning, handwritten, hand illustrated zine for over a decade! If you've got 'em all (because you shop at Reading Frenzy, as well you should) or would prefer to upgrade Henry's ride via one of Ayun's self-mocking autobiographies (The Big Rumpus, No Touch Monkey, Job Hopper, and Dirty Sugar Cookies) or her recently published kid's book, Always Lots of Heinies at the Zoo, you can paypal her directly at ayun@ayunhalliday.com .
You can buy zines from her Etsy shop.
People can also paypal her directly to ayun@ayunhalliday.com
$3 per East Village Inky zine
In stock issues are 15-20, 22-27, 29-30,32-36, 38, 39, 41, 42
and/or
$15 per autographed book
The Big Rumpus
No Touch Monkey!
Job Hopper
Dirty Sugar Cookies
Always Lots of Heinies at the Zoo.
Check out her Amazon page to learn more about her books, but remember to buy them from her directly for the proceeds to go to Wheels For Henry.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Vendor Profile: Obsessive Consumption
Obsessive Consumption
Shop description: Kate Bingaman-Burt makes her painfully mundane purchases, well, irresistible or at least gives us something to make us feel less self-conscious about how frequently we spend to fill the void.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
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Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Vendor Profile: Little Cottage Pillows
Little Cottage Pillows
Shop description: Decorative pillows using a variety of hand techniques including, dyeing, painting embroidery & quilting on organic cotton and filled with organic cotton fill.
Vendor Profile: SNAP Design
SNAP Design
Shop description: One of a kind hand-made shoulder bags, laptop cases, totes, accessories, date planners and more!
$1000 and Rising!
Just a quick note to say that we've crossed the $1000 mark for donations in just one week ($1052.82 to be exact)! That's more than 5% of our goal and doesn't include any proceeds from the benefit bazaar! Donations from $5 to $500 have come from all over the country and as far away as the UK! I can't stop using exclamation points!!! Thank you!
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Vendor Profile: Tripper Dungan
Tripper Dungan
Shop description: My paintings are three dee when you look at them with chromadepth 3D glasses. Each piece comes with a complementary pair.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Vendor Profile: Discomedusa Design
Discomedusa Design
Shop description: i am art school grad, retraining in microbiology, taking a little detour to enjoy being a parent and make jewelry for (some semblance of) a living! my designs alternate between an aesthetic i think of as 'industrial-organic' and clean modern lines.
Vendor Profile: Jessi Taylor
Jessi Taylor
Shop description: Everything you see here is handmade, individually, and that means that no two things are ever exactly the same, and nothing is "perfect". I love that!
Vendor Profile: Livvie Lee
Livvie Lee
Shop description: My shop consists of some aprons, headbands, and skirts mostly for little girls.
Vendor Profile: Kenton Beadworks
Kenton Beadworks
Shop description: Kenton Beadworks is a one woman shop. I have been creating handcrafted jewelry for over 10 years. Quality affordable jewelry is difficult to find; so I have started this endeavor for others like me who crave exceptional quality jewelry at an exceptional price.
Vendor Profile: Rumpos-Big Imagination
Rumpos-Big Imaginations
Shop description: Rumpos sells mixed media playscapes for children depicting the natural world--small sourced and all natural fibers.
Vendor Profile: Auntie Rumpos
Auntie Rumpos
Shop description: Auntie Rumpos sells housewares and personal goods handmade from vintage and small-sourced all-natural fibers.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Vendor Profile: boolah baguette
boolah baguette
Shop description: Lovely things for babies and children - handmade from soft, mostly recycled fabrics.
Vendor Profile: Woolie Originals
Woolie Originals
Shop description: Woolie Originals is donating a portion of their brick & mortar sales to Wheels For Henry. Please check out their website to see where to buy or to commission a work.
Vendor Profile: Una
Una
Shop description: As with most creative endeavors, Una began as a brainchild. When the line eventually launched at the end of 2007, the idea was to stitch not-basic pieces in organic cotton or reclaimed fabric and then trim it with vintage buttons, lace, or a simple screen print. The other objective was to focus on small-scale, local production. For the most part, it's me. One girl. When I chose the name, Una, I selected it because in Spanish it is simply the female form of "one". But in Latin it also means "in one together". A much more powerful notion and not as lonely as I originally thought it might be. By producing and selling my pieces locally, I have had the opportunity to connect with the community on a more intimate level, meeting a lot of inspiring people along the way.
(It is after all, about the journey.)
Vendor Profile: Two Sarahs
Two Sarahs
Shop description: I make screenprints, etchings, and waxed screenprinted blocks. I like to use images of birds and animals, floating heads, teeth and bones, and the American Sign Language alphabet.
Vendor Profile: Sprouthead
Sprouthead
Shop description: I make illustrated zines with poetry and writing, hand-made prints, bookplates, stationery, pins, and clothing. And for those in the Halloweeny mood, I've made some paper masks and I'm offering Inspiration Card Readings (like tarot readings) from a set of symbolic cards that I created.
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