Originally Posted by
quiltingshorttimer
Well, I think I've come up with a way to handle all this--my church is having a regular auction and I'm donating a quilt--but I also plan to bid on it at least at the amount that I know it cost to make/quilt. I plan to claim the material and quilting amount on my taxes for charity and feel my labor is my "work of love" and I won't mind bringing home my own quilt if I actually win it! But with regular auctions, I know that sometimes that bigger bid prompts others to also go higher if they really want it--which is what I hope happens!
It would be easier, and possibly less embaressing to simply put a minimum bid on the quilt and let the church group take it or leave it... and, if they don't want to put a minimum on it, graciously don't back down. This would also be a step on educating this organization on the cost of the materials, and the time involved, in making a quilt.