Updated September 4, 2018
I love benefit auctions at local ANG chapters. Many guild chapters use auctions as a significant way to raise funds. For you, as a stitcher, auctions present amazing opportunities to find canvases books, and supplies at a bargain price.
Auctions can be very bad places for your budget, so it’s best to do some preparation before you go. First, look at your stash and know where you have holes and what things you collect.
My friend who came with me collects snowmen, she bought 2. I have been wanting to do a Mindy mini-sock and found one. I have always wanted to try using Sisha mirrors in my needlepoint; the Aspen project pictured below does just that.
The second thing is to know your budget. Live auctions are especially bad for this. I knew what I wanted to spend and got a bagful for only $1 over my budget, including my $15 “splurge” on that Painted Pony SF angel.
Remember what’s in your stash and don’t rebuy or buy back what you donated. I’ve done this. It’s often a problem at local auctions. They shop at the same shops you do, there will be canvases and projects there you already own.
Auctions are wonderful places to buy projects to try something new. If you want to learn a technique, try something by a designer, or try a new thread, the auction is a great place to do this. If the lighthouse cube is $40 you will want to have it professionally finished, no matter what. If it’s $6, you might try to finish it yourself.
As you can see by the pictures from a single ANG Auction (by no means everything I got), I found canvases, projects large and small, vintage books, an intriguing 8-way Bargello mostly done, and a large canvas project bag. Not bad for a morning’s shopping!
About Janet M Perry
Janet Perry is the Internet's leading authority on needlepoint. She designs, teaches and writes, getting raves from her fans for her innovative techniques, extensive knowledge and generous teaching style. A leading writer of stitch guides, she blogs here and lives on an island in the northeast corner of the SF Bay with her family
Where do you recommend selling vintage needlework?
One thing to remember is that currently there is not much of a market for stitched needlepoint. If it is really an antique you should look for antique dealers specializing in needlework. If it is vintage, not antique I would look to sell it on eBay.
Keep stitching,
janet