I had the same experience. I made a lap sized quilt and even paid to have someone quilt it so it would look great! I thought it was to be a raffle but the person in charge decided to "auction" it off. It was a small dinner and the resulting money earned did not even cover the cost of the quilting. The bright side is that the winner really loved and covets the quilt and it has a good home where it is appreciated! :P

My Quilt Guild had a silent auction. I don't know if this is common practice but the rules stated that if the item does not sell, the person who made it could buy it back for $10! I decided I would not participate....... :shock:

That has happened to me also. I made a quilt and donated to a fund raiser for a 12 year old with cancer. I don't remember what I put into it, made from jelly roll, and it was auctioned off for only $25.00. I was upset also, but you just have to let it go. I don't think people stop to think how much work goes into making a quilt. Expecially people who don't sew or quilt.

JoyceL

I would donate the cost of making a quilt, then, if you have a quilt that matches a theme for them and say, you can "show " this quilt, but not auction it. Even say its NOT for sale. I would say, before the end of the event someone will just HAVE to have it, can't live w/o it, lol. Then, you sell it for a fair price and donate that money too! sharet

I agree with ptquilts - give a cash donation you feel comfortable with and TELL them WHY you no longer wish to donate your quilts.

Perhaps if they understand how much it costs both in materials & time to make a quilt - they will be more likely to start their bidding higher.

Um I am wondering if someone was "selling" at the auction.........as in ............now look at this wonderful quilt, look at all the piecing, wonderful fabrics and so on and so forth..............If people don't sew they are not educated on how much investment into a project a maker does, not just the fabrics, pattern but also the time............and yes, the energy too..................sorry your discouraged........calla

I donated a quilt to the local Santa's helpers auction. It helps raise money to buy coats and toys for kids at Christmas. Anyway, a couple days after the auction, someone called me to tell be how beautiful my quilt was, and it bought $35 dollars. They thought that was really good. I had twice that much in just the materials to make it. I would have been better off to just donate the $35. So, that was the last one I will donate for an auction.

This topic makes me wonder, are you allowed to write off on your taxes the amount it costs you to donate? Or, is the donation even allowable?

I find giving to a silent auction gives you the opportunity to say what would be a good bottom price.

Linda,
Yes, you are allowed to deduct the value of the quilt, but the deduction only reduces your taxable amount by a little. If the value was $300 for example, you could still be in the same tax range and pay the same amount of taxes. So it depends!