Handmade Helps Out is a group of crafty types who have joined forces to make raising money for the Red Cross and Wildlife Victoria more effective. Heaps of craft item sales and auctions are listed on the site with proceeds going to bushfire victims, as well as other ways crafty people can help out.

Have a look through the items, perhaps something will catch your eye. Think about the birthday and other gifts you will want to give this year.

My own felt hanging auction is still open until tomorrow evening, you can bid on it here. In addition to donating the entire proceeds to the Red Cross, I will donate an equal amount to Wildlife Victoria.

I have just returned from a couple of hours at the RRR studios in Melbourne this morning sorting some of the toiletries that are being donated so generously by RRR listeners.

When I arrived there were a couple of trestle tables in the perfomance space with donations already over and underneath them. By the time I left the room was like a warehouse and donations are still pouring in.

If you're able to drop items off this afternoon, there is a need for NEW underwear.

Other needed items are nappies, baby wipes, pads (including incontinance and maternity pads), tampons, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, soap. Clothing and food donations are not being accepted as part of this drive and additionally, all items must be new and unopened.

More information here: RRR Toiletries Drive Wednesday 11 February

Well done and thank you to Clem Bastow who is coordinating the drive and arranging a convoy of vehicles to carry the goods which will leave for affected areas tomorrow.

This felt wall hanging is being auctioned to raise funds for the victims of the horrendous Victorian bushfires of February 2009.

Bidding is open as of now and the auction will close at 10:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time Sunday 15th February 2009.

The entirety of winning bid will be donated to the Red Cross Victorian Bushfires 2009 Appeal. A copy of the receipt as proof of donation will be sent to the winning bidder.

The hanging will be posted free of charge to the winning bidder if within Australia or at cost to overseas locations.

TITLE: "The dark forest moon rising in the last misty evening before the living shroud walks. With cobwebs." Felt Wall Hanging.

MEDIA: Merino and Leicester wool, silk threads and fabric, soy fibres. Cotton backing.

DESCRIPTION: A wall hanging handmade using a wet felt method. Wet felting involves the agitation of raw fibres using soap and water until they bind together into a single piece of fabric. Other than the cotton backing, no sewing or glues were used in the formation of this panel. Due to its somewhat random and unpredictable nature, wet felting results in entirely unique pieces.
This panel shows a gnarled tree with a full moon rising behind. The white foreground 'cobweb' hangs free, giving extra dimension to the work. Silk threads (some of it reclaimed sari fibres) give a sheen and a hint of colour. See here for more detailed images.
The panel measures 40cm (15.5 inches) wide and 38cm (15 inches) high. A pocket in the back allows insertion of a rod (dowel or stick) for hanging, as seen in the photo. For ease of delivery a hanging rod is not included, however coordinating yarn will be, if you wish to copy the hanging method shown. Alternatively the panel could be framed by someone familiar with textile arts.

MINIMUM BID: $5

HOW TO BID: Simply leave a comment on this post with the amount of your bid. Be sure to check back often as you may be outbid, especially towards the end of the week.

You must leave a valid email address when you post your comment so you can be contacted if you win. I solemnly swear not to use any email address for nefarious purposes or pass them onto third parties.

If you have any questions regarding the auction item or the auction process please email me: rachel AT mechanicalcat DOT net.

Thank you and happy bidding!

THIS AUCTION IS NOW CLOSED. THANK YOU TO ALL THE BIDDERS!

There are now 84 confirmed dead in the bushfires that continue to burn across the state of Victoria tonight. Hundreds of homes have been lost, and hundreds of thousands of hectares of beautiful bushland and farmland destroyed.

It's almost impossible to comprehend. I'm sitting not a 45 minute drive from the devastated Kinglake area, yet I can't even smell the smoke.

Here's what I'm going to do:
Make a donation to the Red Cross Victorian Bushfires 2009 Appeal
Donate blood within the next couple of days.
And I'm going to offer up a felt piece originally made for a different charity auction (it was not bid on at the time).

In the next post I will call for bids for the hanging and the high bidder at the time the auction closes gets the goods and the entirety of their winning bid will be donated to the Red Cross Appeal. I'll even cover the postage.

So please spread the word, and look out for more details in the next post.

My story The Girl in the Cupboard has been published at ticon4. It's free. It's not too long. It's not too scary. Did I mention it was free?

I'd really like to know what you think of it, so please leave a comment over there for Russell (wonder-editor) to read, or here if you just want to say Happy Birthday ;-)