Fundraising gala auctioneer Sherry Truhlar

Centerpieces

Burn Notice: Keep fires in check at your charity auction

This post is frothy.  Nothing you don't already know, but a reminder for safety at charity auctions. You'll recall that a couple of weeks ago that most of us living in the USA moved our clocks forward one hour to adjust for daylight savings time. And somewhere in modern history, this "fall back / spring forward" shift has also became the de facto time of year when our local  firemen remind us to change the batteries in our home's smoke alarms.  Change your clock and change your smoke alarm's ... Read On >

Hello Honeysuckle! 2011’s official color packs punch in benefit auction themes

Here’s a bit of froth and fun for my first blog post of 2011. If you're evaluating some trendy benefit auction themes or centerpiece ideas, here’s the color to use. PANTONE® 18-2120 Honeysuckle: the official color of 2011 Until stumbling across this last week, I had no idea there was a color of the year.  (Naive of me.) In addition to paint, the perky shade has already been rolled into Visa cards and wedding dresses. Pantone says that the vibrant color of honeysuckle “lifts the ... Read On >

Venetian masks used as auction centerpieces

At a nonprofit auction, the Venetian masks made for a lovely auction centerpiece. Venice is one of the most popular auction themes I see.  Maybe it's the city's canals, its Carnival, or just the Italian culture in general that seems to capture our imaginations. At every Venice-themed auction I've worked, masks have been incorporated into the decor. At this fundraiser, the masks had a predominant role in the auction centerpieces.  Each centerpiece showcased lovely half-masks. Many of the ... Read On >