Apocalypse is nigh - should I start knitting?

[neadods]

There are so many charity auctions running right now, and all for causes I want to support. I'm starting to think that I should have, I dunno, a pool of things that can be dipped into when disaster strikes.

But what? It would have to be something that could be wholly created or partially assembled in advance or produced very quickly - not something that takes time or thought because to be blunt, I'm not necessarily going to have time or thought to spare when the need strikes. (Japan's pressing need while I'm entirely wrapped up in my own drama is a very timely example.)

Personally, I'm troping toward things like the "rainy day care package" or recipe collection for help_japan (and a box of recipes went for a really high bid for help_haiti)

On the other hand, it seemed like "I live in this place" theme packages were doing really well for Haiti, but the "DC Christmas" basket I offered got a single pity bid.

This is why I'm a suck salesperson. So, I'm crowdsourcing. What kinds of things would get you to *bid* and compete to bid, and at what price point(s)? Because the point here is to raise money for a cause and obviously I don't know how to offer something that does that.

Major skills are knitting, cooking, quilting, and writing (by which I mean technical writing, if anyone wants to bid on having something explained clearly). Gift box assortments can be done, but advice on what items to offer would be appreciated.* Customization for a person or a fandom do-able.

Comments

[redpanda13.livejournal.com]

Speaking just for me (and as someone within handing-off distance), I'd be interested in a bunch of mysteries you thought were good, baked goods --unusual bread, maybe cookies or a pie. Quilts take time, but I once paid out for a quilted landscape wall-hanging; that might not take long to do. Maybe a bunch of themed CDs or DVDs you don't need to keep, excess zines, excess fan art....

[wendymr.livejournal.com]

I saw a LOT of bids on a pair of TARDIS mittens, and lindenharp's Fourth Doctor scarf is currently going for $40. So why not knit something of interest to fandom? How about a Watson-sweater-style scarf?

[jennetj.livejournal.com]

I always thought the baskets you put together for Prepare for Faire sounded cool. I put my two usuals in - a box of Shakespeare and an hour of geek time. No bids for the geek, but Shakespeare's up to $35.

[brewsternorth.livejournal.com]

I for one would be interested in a Watson!scarf.

[taffimai.livejournal.com]

I went "Oooooh" over those TARDIS mittens too!

[taffimai.livejournal.com]

Maybe it was the xmas part of the basket that didn't attract the bidders? Maybe try again with postcards?

[taffimai.livejournal.com]

I'd have bid on the geek if you were a DC local!

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I think you *have* all the mysteries I think are good. I'll bear the baking in mind, though.

As for excess zines - I offered an original BatB costume for Haiti and it went for a song. And that's the fandom I have the most excess zines in - I'd like to make enough for the charity to be worth the mailing of the zine, y'know?

[neadods.livejournal.com]

The scarf's up to 40? Not bad.

The problem with a project that big (Who) or complex (Watson) is that they'd have to wait for the *next* disaster, but they're do-able. (I'd have to even learn how to do mittens, but TARDIS anything... a TARDIS lap blanket may do well.)

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I'll have to look around and see what I can do to rebuild a Shakespeare basket.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

Possibly... but the whole point was that all of the DC-only places (White House, Library of Congress, Supreme Court, NSA, etc) have new ornaments every year. It's something that can only be gotten in this area; that was sort of meant to be the attraction.

[wendymr.livejournal.com]

The item doesn't have to be ready to ship immediately. Some writers, for example, are warning bidders that fic won't be ready until summer. If you don't start the project until someone buys it, you can offer them the ability to customise! Choose your own colour! Choose your size! Specify the length/width/whatever! Now that's worth bidding on :)

[dune-drd.livejournal.com]

A recipe box sounds extremely fun! Make it fandom-themed somehow and it could get even more moneys

[neadods.livejournal.com]

It still rather depends on my life not falling to pieces in large sections, as it still seems so prone to do. I don't mind customizing small pieces, but a Who scarf or a Watson scarf is tens of hours of knitting - and I only touched needles once since Gally, for example.

That said, I have an idea, but I'm letting it marinate before I unveil it.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I'm trying to think of what might be Sherlock-related. Gingerbread corpses instead of gingerbread men?

[fabricdragon.livejournal.com]

either themed recipes...
(maybe baked goods, or "quick for parties" or something)
(os, crock pot recipes are always a BIG deal, as are common ingredient things, like "garlic" or "chicken")

or offer knit items in team colors..

if you can knit a name into something, thats always cool. or words...

[fabricdragon.livejournal.com]

gingerbread corpses. instructions for making a gingerbread house (222B Baker street)

also? how about a marzipan pipe?

(or a knit "deerstalker hat")

scour the books, does the house landlady make cookies? what about brandy? i remember mention of brandy or something in the clubs.. perhaps "gentlemans club brandy cookies"

[dune-drd.livejournal.com]

Gingerbread murder weapons. Cookies in the form of nicotine patches, a study in pink cookies...

[neadods.livejournal.com]

Themed recipes I could at least whip up quickly. Knitting not so much.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

There is such a thing as pink lemonade bars...