— As my students well know, each year I raise a substantial sum to help injured and orphaned wildlife. Partly I do this through specific promotions to raise funds for various wildlife rescues. But I’m always looking for additional opportunities to expand the help I can bring their way.
And just this past month I came up with what I think was an especially fun idea.
One of my very favorite rescues (Appalachian Wildlife Refuge in western North Carolina) was putting on a charity auction. It had brought in donations of all sorts of things, and I got to thinking how cool it would be to include some imaginative gifts based on artwork by some of the artists of our AWAKE group.
So I sat down with a friend of mine to toss around ideas, and while looking through the artwork of AWAKE, we hit upon the idea of making wooden puzzles . . .
My plan was simple enough:
1.) Pick out some really cool works of art that would fit what it was I had in mind.
2.) Have the artwork turned into puzzles.
3.) Enter the puzzles in the charity auction.
And then . . .
4.) Bid so much on the puzzles that there would be no question that I’d win those auctions myself. LOL
Because the idea wasn’t just to jazz up their auction with some cool items, nor simply to help them out with some higher-than-normal donations . . .
On top of that, I wanted to be able to give these puzzles as gifts — back to the artists whose creative work went into making them possible (and so awesome).
Which is why, much to their surprise, AWAKE artists Lauren Martin and Mark Hemstreet will be receiving these slick hand-crafted wooden puzzles next week, either to keep themselves or to give away in turn as presents of their own this Christmas.
But here’s my question for you:
— What could YOU do with one of YOUR works of art to turn it into a great gift this holiday season?
— Or what might you make from your art and donate to a charity that you love?
It’s so easy to simply allow your art to sit safe and snug on your computer or merely share it on your website or on Instagram. What if instead you were to bring it to life in the real world — turn it into a print, a magnet, a puzzle, anything — and allow it to bring unexpected joy and delight to someone else?
Give this some real thought.
It’s extraordinary what can happen when you pair your creativity with your generosity . . .
Do this and see for yourself what kind of magic it can bring to the world!
~ Sebastian
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End note: Remember that you can get creative with the packaging as well. My friend Winslow contributed the two antique cigar boxes we used to pack the puzzles. These were originally owned by her father. They just made the puzzles seem that much more special.