Happy NieNie Day, everyone!

Here are the specs of our auction:

We will be auctioning two items in this post. Please specify which item you are bidding on when you make your bid.
I will start the first bid for each item in the comments section below.
Bidding for each item ends on Sunday the 31st at 10pm PST.
Increments by at least $1 please.

First up for auction: A Pair of Wishes

Send your wishes to the Nielson family & wear them too.

This auction is for a set of our women & men’s Dandy tees. Screen-printed by hand on American Apparel shirts.

The women’s tee features a light gray dandelion on a lapis blue tee. Available in sizes XXS - XL.

The men’s tee features a black dandelion over white & ash stripes. Available in sizes XS - XL.

Each shirt is unisex & suitable for both men & women alike. The blue tee is slightly more tailored, thus we refer to it as “women’s.” We will print on any size you choose. I will email the size charts to the winning bidder so the appropriate sizes can be ordered.

Again, if you win this auction, you will receive both shirts! If you’d like to bid on this shirt set, please leave a comment on this post, including a way for us to get in contact with you once the auction is over (in case you win!). The winning bidder will send their money directly to the Stephanie Nielson Fund via PayPal, using the donation button below.

Next up for auction: Grace Kismet

This plush was lovingly constructed for this auction. The body is made out of a repurposed soft chenille blanket & the face is jute with embroidered eyes. A dove applique is featured on the front & the back is adorned with a chenille flower.

If you’d like to bid on this Kismet plush, please leave a comment on this post, including a way for us to get in contact with you once the auction is over (in case you win!). The winning bidder will send their money directly to the Stephanie Nielson Fund via PayPal, using this donation button.

**Once money has been transferred, the winning bidder should email us their donation confirmation/receipt & we will send the shirts & plush off in the right direction. Postage will be provided by us.**

It has been officially dubbed “NieNie Day!” Please send your thoughts & prayers to the Nielsons & their families. Again, I’ve added a donation button to the bottom of my sidebar if you are interested in helping financially.

Feel like doing some more shopping? Peruse this fine long list & see what other supporters are offering up for auction! Now I am off to do some bidding!

It is hard to know how many people frequent this blog.  When I started it I was sure it would just be a stomping ground for rants that only Anthony would see.  Along the way, I’ve come to be surprised at how many friends or family members have referred to something I mentioned here.  It is humbling.  At times I feel exposed as I write, but in the end I am happy for the outlet & glad that I am etching out a tiny home on the interwebs.

I am thankful for the opportunity to feel connected with artists, crafters, mothers around the globe.  I feel touched when I read blogs & experience that spark of familiarity, to know someone living so far away, or so close, as I’ve come to discover, has or is going through some similar dilemma or happiness.  When there is a problem to be faced, I see the outreach of followers who rally to help in any way they can.  While I am feeling so saddened by the story I am about to share, I am comforted in knowing so many friends are eager to help.

Stephanie Nielson keeps a blog at the NieNieDialogues.  She & her husband, Christian, live in Mesa & have four small children together.  A week and a half ago, Stephanie, Christian, & their flight instructor were involved in a serious plane crash.  The flight instructor passed away that day, & Stephanie & Christian are receiving care at Maricopa Burn Center.  Her body is 80% burned, his 30%.  Their medical bills are expected to reach into the millions.

I stumbled across their story & her writings by accident yesterday afternoon, & since then I have been entrenched in her anecdotes about her children & husband, their family vacations, photos of the beautiful home she’s created…she is enlightening & inspirational & makes you realize that the simple things are what make life so good.  Here is my favorite entry of Stephanie’s (of those I’ve read so far).  The fact that this family resides just a town away makes the tragedy strike even closer to home.

You can read more about Stephanie at her blog & get updates on her & Christian’s condition at her sister’s site, cjanerun.com.

I’ve been touched by their story & their family’s strength, & Anthony & I have decided to participate in the fundraising movement that is sweeping the NieNie blog community.  Thanks to Gabrielle at DesignMom, auctions are set to be held on numerous sites, beginning tomorrow (Thursday the 28th).  I will post our auction items here tomorrow morning & bidding will be open through the weekend, ending on Sunday the 31st.  More details will follow with specs as I can’t wrap my mind around all the bits & pieces right now.

As I said, I am not at all sure of my readership, but I want to help so badly.  This is a try, we’ll see how it goes.  If you or anyone you know would like to hold an auction, please do so or spread the word.  Direct them here.  DesignMom will have a post up tomorrow of all the blogs participating in the love.  I’ve added a button to the bottom of my sidebar for donations to Stephanie & Christian’s recovery fund.

I hope to see you back here tomorrow morning when the auction begins!