Auction to benefit Nielson Recovery

If you're avid in the Utah blogging world, you may be aware of a tragedy that occurred a week or so ago. The author of a very popular blog, The Nie Nie Dialogues, aka Stephanie Clark Nielson, and her husband, Christian, were in a private plane crash. They are in critical condition in a burn unit in AZ. The recovery will cost millions of dollars. (Please go here to read details of the situation and to find out more about the Nielsons.) Their four young children are staying with family members while they recover, which may take months.

I've never met Stephanie or Christian. I only heard about the situation because I'm a regular lurker on Stephanie and her siblings' blogs. Though I don't know her, Stephanie's positivity and creativity have deeply affected the way I view marriage and motherhood. Her positive attitude has influenced the way I handle situations on a daily basis. Isn't that what we're trying to achieve as artists? Whether we're writers, painters, songwriters, musicians, photographers...shouldn't that be our highest goal? To better a life through something we've created. Stephanie has inspired that goal in me.

Bloggers all over the blogosphere are joining together and offering items for auction to benefit the Nielson's recovery fund. (Maroon 5 has even joined in!) So, I'm offering my own little auction. Here are the two items I am offering:

#1 The Package:

• An autographed copy of my self-titled album
• An autographed copy of the little eight song acoustic demo I used to sell
• An autographed compilation disc of everything I've ever written that is not included on the first two discs. (Unless the winner wants some acoustic versions of songs from the first album.)
  
• An autographed 18x24 DF gig poster. (I have extras that I need to get rid of.) :)
  
• DF bookmarks

#2 The Concert (for Utah residents only):

• A private concert in your home for your friends and family
  

Ok, here's how it works.

To bid on this item, enter your amount in the comments below. Be sure to check the comments already made and bid higher than the current bid. Check back to continue bidding: I will not notify previous bidders. I anticipate that bidding will close on Thursday, September 4th at 10 p.m. (MST).

*EDIT* Auction has been extended until midnight (MST) Friday, September 5th.

I will post the winning bid on the blog and make every reasonable effort to contact the winning bidder via e-mail. The winner will then make a Pay Pal donation to the Nielson fund, email me their receipt, and I will ship the item to the winner or make arrangements for the concert.

100% of the proceeds will go directly to the Nielson family recovery fund. Shipping will be paid by me. Please bid in increments of dollars (no cents). Let's start the bidding for The Package at $40. The Concert at $100.

If you would like to donate without bidding, click the button below:

Weekly Friday posts

I am going to start posting weekly Friday posts. Why? So you can be updated on the goings on of my music world...and because I enjoy writing and I'd like to challenge myself a little. I am not only challenging myself to weekly blogging...I am also challenging myself to weekly songwriting as well. This week I read a paraphrased article from a Ryan Adams interview. Ryan said that songwriters who don't dedicate consistent time to songwriting aren't songwriters at all...furthermore they are lazy. Ouch. That kinda hit home...just a tad...and tore out my heart and stomped on it. I am not a prolific writer and that is because I am lazy and easily frustrated. My boyfriend challenged me to write a song a week this month and stick with it...even if I don't like the song. So...like a good girlfriend, I accepted his challenge and I've been writing a song this week. I started out hating it...on a normal day that would have been grounds for dismissal. But this is a new week so I let it play out...and now I'm really loving it. It's very different form anything I've ever written.

New song revealed for your listening pleasure.

Today my newest song, Parisian Air, is available for listen exclusively at this website:
www.threewinksstudio.com

A few months ago I played at a house concert in Draper. After the show I got an email from someone who'd seen the show and enjoyed the ONE song I'd played so much that she wanted to use some of my music on her website. It turns out that this person, Stacy Young, is one of the most talented photographers I've ever seen. Stacy is seriously amazing. The photo I have up now on my myspace profile is a result of a photo shoot she and I did a little while ago. Soon the website will be redesigned, featuring one of Stacy's photos. Stacy's work blows my mind. Her colors are so vibrant. You can see more of her work and read a little bit about the song release on her blog
http://threewinksstudio.wordpress.com/

Go take a listen!