As I type this, our donation total sits at $275,000. Considering that this is only the beginning of our third week, we are absolutely blowing the doors off this year.
So far we’ve talked a lot about the good work Heifer does by supplying animals to families. But we haven’t talked about the fact that Heifer does a lot to improve the lives of women all over the world too.
Pictured here is Maria Elsa Castellanos Rios, who started the Southern Cashew Enterprise Association in Honduras with the other women who wanted to contribute to the local economy through help from Heifer International.
Heifer knows they need to invest in the entire community, and that means investing in women. According to Economist.com “In emerging markets, women reinvest 90% of their earnings in their families and communities—which means that investing in women is an investment in our collective future.”
Guys, I hate to break it to you. But our numbers aren’t nearly that good. All the research shows that in a similar situation, men typically reinvest only 30-40% of their earnings in the household.
Because Heifer is playing the long game, looking to make families and communities self-sufficient, independent, and sustainable, Heifer typically works with women. In many communities, they form women’s self-help groups. Later, those groups go on to help other women in other communities. And so on. And so on.
And that’s an awesome thing.
* * *
We’re always happy to feature some of the cool art that comes into the fundraiser. This year we’ve got crafts, original art, and jewelry, along with some more traditional signed prints. They’re all going up for auction for those who will love them, so jump in if you see something you need.
- Auction: Limited edition 2014 Beyond Words calendar. Signed by all 14 featured authors.
This calendar features the authors Holly Black, Gail Carriger, Cassandra Clare, Tessa Gratton, Lauren Kate, Gregory Maguire, Brandon Mull, Lauren Oliver, Christopher Paolini, Patrick Rothfuss, Brandon Sanderson, Maggie Stiefvater, Tad Williams, and Brenna Yovanoff. There were only 100 of these signed callendars produced, so they’re are extremely limited and rare.
If you want one of these collectors items, head over here and bid.
- Auction: A full set of 8×10 prints from the 2014 Beyond Words calendar. Each signed by the author.
We also have a full set of the photo prints from the calendar. Each photo is signed by its author (or authors, in the case of Maggie Stiefvater, Brenna Yovanoff, and Tessa Gratton).
These are printed on high quality photo paper, and the full bundle of 12 photos can be yours if you bid over here.
If you’d rather only have one or two of these pictures, you can buy them individually over in The Tinker’s Packs.
- Auction: A Kingkiller Chronicle sterling silver charm bracelet. Featuring over 40 charms.
(Click to embiggen. Seriously.)
A fan named Noël spent some serious time and money (and time, did we mention that?) assembling so much Kingkiller symbolism your head will spin. There are over 40 charms on this sterling silver bracelet, most of them are sterling as well, a few are silver plate, and some of them are pewter.
(This is only about a *third* of the charms. Seriously.)
The list of all of the charms is viewable on the auction, and honestly? It’s a little staggering. Even if you’re not looking to bid, you should head over o the auction and check out some of the other pictures we have of this truly one-of-a-kind piece of art.
- Auction: Limited Edition “In Relig Oran” Poster. Signed by Neil Gaiman and artist Michael Zulli.
This was donated by Neil for our IndieGoGo fundraiser this summer, and the person who purchased it immediately emailed us and said to keep it and use it for another fundraiser. I don’t know what it is with Neil Gaiman’s stuff, but it has a tendency to come back to us over and over again…
There were only 750 of this poster produced, and this one is number 210. If you want it, head over here and bid on it.
- Auction: Map of Yggdrasil from the Iron Druid Chronicles. Signed by Kevin Hearne and artist Priscilla Spencer.
Priscilla Spencer is very talented at drawing maps, and she lovingly donated this one to us. If you’re at all a fan of the Iron Druid Chronicles, then you’ll know how nice it’d be to have this map nearby while reading Trapped. Plus, it’s really beautiful.
If you want this all for your own, bid here.
- Auction: Map from Shadow Ops. Signed by Myke Cole and Priscilla Spencer.
Priscilla donated three maps total, and the second is the map from Myke Cole’s Shadow Ops series. It has beautiful detail, including detailed sketches of monsters and other creatures.
If you’re a big geeky fan for Myke Cole and/or Priscilla, you should probably bid on this over here.
- Auction: Map of the Realm of Alera. Signed by Jim Butcher and Priscilla Spencer.
Our third map from Priscilla is a beautifully detailed depiction of Alera from Jim Butcher’s Codex Alera.
If you want this one, be sure to bid on it.
- Auction: A copy of The Fairy-Tale Princess by Wendy Jones. Signed by illustrator Su Blackwell.
This is a beautiful, hardcover book that collects seven classic fairy tales. Beyond the stories, though, is the detailed papercut sculptures that are the illustrations.
This book deserves a loving home. If you want that home to be yours, bid here.
- Auction: Set of Copper Goat Paperweights from Esoteric Garage.
Tait from Esoteric Garage has sent over a lot of copper goodies over the years, and this year’s donation is a set of hefty copper goats based on the Worldbuilders logo. There’s a large goat as well as two smaller ones, and they come with a signed card of authenticity from Tait.
If you want your own little piece of Worldbuilders ephemera, bid over here.
- Auction: Original Iron Woman mixed-media artwork. Signed by Karen Hallion.
Karen Hallion gave us the art behind our beautiful calendar this year, and she’s incredibly well known for her princess/police box mashups. But she does a lot more than that, including this Iron Woman series, where she pens and paints a steampunk character over the pages of a book.
The series is amazing, and Brett in particular is hoping our next calendar can feature this art. This is the original, hand drawn-and-painted art, on a wood panel. If you want your hands on this beautiful piece, bid on it here.
- Auction: Two tickets to Cabaret on Broadway. Includes a backstage tour after the show.
Last year, actor Bill Heck donated two premium seat tickets to see Cabaret, and he’s happily done so again. The show stars Bill Heck, Alan Cumming, and Emma Stone in the leading roles, and you’ll get an exclusive backstage tour after the fact, maybe even a drink or two with Bill afterwards.
If you want this incredible experience, bid on it over here.
* * *
There’s some seriously cool stuff up for auction now, and if you look at the Worldbuilders eBay page you’ll even get a sneak peek of some items we haven’t even announced on the blog yet.
If you’re not into auctions, remember that if you donate directly to Heifer International on the Worldbuilders team page, you’re automatically entered into our prize drawing where you can win over $100,000 worth of cool swag, books, and games.
We’ve got more awesome stuff going up in the store tomorrow, so be sure to come back and check it out.
29 Comments
I must say that I’m terribly curious about the “[picture here]”. Is it refering to the bidding’s pictures, some missing picture or should we just try to picture or own bracelet (in which case I doubt in can be as cool as this one)?
Pat asked me to get a picture for the blog and that was just where he wanted it, but I wasn’t fast enough to beat you, apparently!
Heh. I didn’t actually mean to leave that in the blog….
Oh, I see. I hadn’t thought about that option. Well, me being quicker that you was probably because time difference was on my favour.
Thanks for satisfiying my curiosity!
P. S. Trying to picture a new kind of bracelet it’s been a good and fun exercise: I’ve ended up imaging one made of mist and moonlight.
Speaking of Neil Gaiman’s books coming back, what happened to Stardust last year?
Stay tuned….
The charm bracelet is mind-bogglingly cool.
How long is the fundraiser going on? I need to reshuffle some priorities and make sure to donate before it’s over… ;)
We’re running until Dec 8th.
I was going to make a $1500 donation, but decided to make 150, $10 donations to vote for the llama. I have seen several people kiss a goat for charity, but never a llama. Be gentle ;)
Heh. No worries about going through all that work. Every 10 dollars counts as a vote. So you can do it in a lump.
Pat, you ever think about writing a big old fat check and keeping everything for yourself?
I have to sell a kidney or part of my soul to afford that bracelet.
Are there plans to commission it to have it mass produced for the shop so people can purchase one at a later time?
Sorry. I think this one’s going to be a one-of-a kind….
I suspected as much.
It is one amazing piece of art and I must admit I envy the winner of this auction.
Truly a great work of art by Noël
Happy Thanksgiving to Pat and Worldbuilders and everyone on the blog.
How can that be only a third of the charms when there are already 44 charms in the picture? It’s described as “over 40 charms”. If there are actually 120 charms or so, wouldn’t you at least say “over 100 charms”? (Would that many even fit on a single bracelet?)
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