2005 Slient Auction

Bid on any number of the following items at GASP’s 2005 Benefit Event on Saturday, October 1. (No online bidding). More details here.

More items will be added up until the event date! If you would like to donate an item, please contact the GASP office at 412-325-7382 or mjackson@gasp-pgh.org.

  1. For your next special occasion, consider a distinguished bottle of wine from the acclaimed Freemark Abbey vineyards. This 2000 cabernet sauvignon, for which small Cabernet “berries” at around 23 Brix were carefully selected, was held at the Napa Valley winery for extended bottle-aging to ensure superior quality and drinkability. It comes complete with wood wine crate. (Courtesy Roger Chilton; valued at $68)
  2. Enjoy a museum outing to Pittsburgh’s North Side. Visit the exhibit areas, planetarium and submarine with two one-time general admission passes to the Carnegie Science Center (expiring 2/06)… and explore pop art with two one-time general admission passes to The Andy Warhol Museum (expiring 8/06). (Courtesy Carnegie Science Center and The Andy Warhol Museum; valued at $48)
  3. The Christmas season will soon be upon us, and here is the perfect creche scene. Hand-carved by Faith Woodcraft, this 17-piece manger set is from Peete, Laguna, Philippines. (Courtesy a Friend of GASP; valued at $48)
  4. Would you like to hear an expert’s opinion about your environs? Take a landscape walkabout of your place with landscape architect Al Seppi, and start planning your new, improved exterior. Receive tips on beautification and making the most of what you’ve got. (Courtesy Joseph Seppi and Son; valued at $240)
  5. Have you thought of using lighter fluid as fuel? Last year on ABC’s The View “Twelve Days ’til Christmas” countdown, lifestyle expert Korey Provencher highly recommended this old-fashioned (yet new) stocking stuffer: a hand-warmer. The boxed, chrome-plated hand-warmer, which comes with a felt case, uses lighter fluid to create heat. If that doesn’t keep you warm enough, layer on this 75% silk/25% wool hand-woven scarf, crafted by GASP Board member Beth Toor. Hand wash; dry flat. (Courtesy Beth Toor; and a Friend of GASP; valued at $100)
  6. Ease all your cares away with a 90-minute massage by the first person in the Pittsburgh area specializing in Thai massage, an AMTA-certified massage therapist. This venerable, interactive form of body therapy combines yogic stretching, acupressure along energy or Sen lines, and meditation. The client remains comfortably clothed. The office is in Shadyside. (Courtesy Joan Adibi; valued at $80)
  7. A layette for the fashionable newborn in greens and blues, 10 pieces in all! The cutest monkey print decorates a Bon Bebe 100% cotton knit long-sleeved, footed snap-front playsuit and is repeated on a matching cotton receiving blanket that reverses to a solid color. Two short-sleeved 100% cotton knit bodysuits by First Moments snap down the front; one is striped, the other a truck motif on a blue background. Flame resistant 100% polyester solid color long sleeping gown has elasticized hem and a matching pair of turn-cuff socks by Terry. An alphabet block print hat completes the ensemble. All in size small. (Courtesy Shelagh Goulis; valued at $24)
  8. This handled backpack is outfitted with everything you’ll need for a cozy picnic for two: break-resistant plates and glasses, sturdy silverware, a cutting board and cheese knife, and a clever folding can open/knife/corkscrew. A detachable vinyl-lined wine bottle pouch is included and is filled with a bottle of Charles Shaw 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon. An extra vinyl-lined, roomy compartment is another nice feature. (Courtesy a Friend of GASP; valued at $40)
  9. Abandon the malls and big box stores to chose $30 worth of merchandise from E-House. You’ll be glad that you shopped at the South Side’s environmentally friendly general store with organic, recycled, and all-natural inventory. (Courtesy E-House Company; valued at $30)
  10. Treat up to 10 privileged guests to a private guided tour of The Society for Contemporary Craft, which presents the best of crafts from across the world through changing exhibits and educational programs. Good for one year, this private tour voucher includes an in-depth exploration of an exhibition of your choice. Located in the heart of the Strip District. Included, too, is a 7″ “kitten tail” striped flame-blackened cherry wood spoon, handcrafted in Jonathan Simon’s Kempton, PA workshop. Simon got the spoon-making idea the day he improvised a wood utensil after forgetting to put a spoon in the lunch bag he took to his apprenticeship to a furniture maker. For more than 25 years now cherry wood utensil craft has supported ten employees and five Simon children. (Courtesy The Society for Contemporary Craft; valued at $100)
  11. These chic accessories, both boxed, will put a sparkle in her eyes. The Montefiore silverplate business card case comes with a flannel storage bag. The case, which can hold 15 to 20 cards, is engravable. The bead crochet rope bracelet in shades of coral, which will fit any wrist, contains over 750 seed beads hand-strung on nine yards of filament (Courtesy a Friend of GASP and Jacquie Ferrency; valued at $44)
  12. All ready for Santa’s cookies, this 10″ diameter Royal Norfolk china plate is bordered with festive poinsettias and comes complete with a gift certificate for a dozen “gingerbread men and women” gingersnaps. The companion wood-bordered, snowperson-motif trivet from Hallmark with a 6″ ceramic tile insert will give Santa a place to rest his hot toddy. Holly-bordered Longaberger Pottery 12-ounce mug is safe in the microwave, dishwasher, oven, and freezer. (Courtesy a Friend of GASP, Trea Graham, and M. Jackson; valued at $24)
  13. Chase away those winter blues during seven days at a Clearwater Beach, Florida apartment for two. Exit the private, palm-filled garden and in less than 5 minutes you’ve walked to a beautiful white sand Gulf beach. (Or head north to Caladesi State Park for a nature walk, or loop around to dining and music spots on the Jolly Trolley.) Two sofa beds and walk-in closet, minimalist kitchen facilities, large porch; 20 minutes from Tampa. (Courtesy Fran Harkins; valued at $360).
  14. Use these two Quantum Theatre tickets to see a Wednesday, Thursday, or Sunday performance of either The Voluptuous Tango or The Human Chair. The former runs from November 25 to December 11 and humorously rewrites history according to the law of the tango. In the latter play, which will be performed in February at the downtown Reese Building, a great craftsman creates a beautiful chair with a secret: he’s hiding inside it. (Courtesy Quantum Theatre; valued at $52).
  15. Perfect for the sports fan–show your team spirit! Giant Eagle showed theirs when they sponsored this official Craig Wilson Bobble Head Doll. This collector’s item–in the original box–is from the Pirates 2005 PNC Park Exclusive Home Game Promotions. You’ll also receive a framed 8″ x 10″ photo of Steeler Hines Ward (signed, but not personally) (Courtesy Anonymous and the Pittsburgh Steelers; valued at $24)
  16. The Cult of Mac, written by “Wired” news journalist Leander Kahney, illuminates a culture of Apple Computer devotees, still alive and well as of a year ago. This hardcover in-depth study examines Mac users and their unique and creative culture–from those who get Mac tattoos to those who furnish their apartments in empty Apple boxes. (Courtesy Carolyn and Bob Schumacher; valued at $36).
  17. Gotta get Gund? This charming 14″ toy stuffed bear by Gund is outfitted in a trendy crocheted muffler. Manni has adorable big suede paws and extra-soft faux fur. The bear is paired with two long-sleeved, footed, 100% cotton knit playsuits that have snap fronts. Both have unisex coloration: the Bon Bebe sleeper with a star-and-moon print on white; the Just One Year sleeper featuring chicks on solid yellow. Size medium–fits babies weighing 13 to 17 pounds. Additionally, Carter’s “Rattling Toes” combine toys and clothing in washable socks with a bear rattle on one foot and a duck rattle on the other foot; size 0 to 12 months. (Courtesy Shelagh Goulis and Stainmaster Carpet; valued at $38)
  18. Think of the good date you can get for the opera, since you’ll be able to give him or her more than six months’ notice! First tier tickets for two to the Pittsburgh Opera production of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Cosi Fan Tutte. Save the date! Tuesday evening, May 9, 2006. (Courtesy Pittsburgh Opera; valued at $168)
  19. Four brass deer, approximately 6″ in height, could grace your mantelpiece or other area in need of serene decoration. Two of the herd are grazing while the others are majestically alert. One pair adorn bookends and the others are a pair of candleholders. (Courtesy a Friend of GASP and Trea Graham; valued at $24)
  20. “What the heck is an ulu?” is a question posed by the Alaska Cutlery Company, makers of this finely crafted “blade, block, and bowl combination” with 6″ blade and 7″ bowl. The stainless steel blade (an ulu–pronounced oo-loo) is an adaptation of the cutters used by ancient natives of the Arctic–now being rediscovered as a modern kitchen convenience. The blade curvature perfectly matches the bowl of the chopping block, which is crafted of kiln dried Alaskan Birch and American Walnut. (Courtesy Anonymous; valued at $32)
  21. Explore the rivers! Four passes from America’s premier riverboat company for admission to any regularly scheduled Gateway Clipper Fleet sightseeing cruise (Lock ‘n’ Dam Adventure Cruise, Sunset Sightseeing Cruise, Family Fun Cruise, or the Good Ship Lollipop). (Courtesy Gateway Clipper Fleet; valued at $48)
  22. Part I: A literary hardcover about the revival of English magic, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell won the 2005 Hugo Award for best novel. According to The Washington Post, author Susanna Clarke “channels the world of Jane Austen, the Gothic tale, the Silver-Fork Society novel, military adventure a la… Patrick O’Brien, romantic Byronism and Walter Scott’s passion for the heroic Northern past.”
    Part II: When two students at Antioch College, distressed by the discarded paper trimmings at their work-study campus printshop jobs, were inspired to turn the waste into decorative bookplates, Antioch Bookplate Company was born. Most of these self-adhesive bookplates, which safeguard the return of books (or CDs or DVDs) that you lend out, are by the Antioch company. A total of 75 of these little works of art depict either a stylized sun; a book-lined old study–the classic “Library” by the artist Gibson; or “The Great Wave,” the best-known woodblock by Japan’s best known artist, Hokusai. (Courtesy Mary West, and a Friend of GASP; valued at $44)
  23. Help yourself to a little “R&R” with two tickets to hear vintage blues artists Paul Rishell and Annie Raines on acoustic guitar and harmonica at Carnegie Lecture Hall in Oakland on February 25, 2006. These consummate musicians were recognized in 2005 with the WC Handy Award for Best Acoustic Blues Recording. In the meantime, listen to this bewitching CD of the music of Earl Bostic, a technical master of the alto saxophone. While Bostic was an accomplished jazz musician in the ’30s, by the ’50s he found fame with a string of jukebox hits featuring a driving, heavy rhythm and blues beat and a sound that could be either smooth and romantic or aggressive and bluesy. The CD includes two of his hits from the 1951 R&B Top Ten–Flamingo was number one that year. (Courtesy Calliope: The Pittsburgh Folk Music Society, and Copacetic Comics; valued at $64)
  24. A criss-cross bracelet to dress her up for those very special occasions–roll these dice, and who knows what will happen? (Both items are boxed.) Sparkling black glass beads make up this medium-size bracelet handcrafted for your honey in the Bulgarian tradition. The set of four pewter romance dice, exclusive from Red Envelope, suggests that you “prepare to roll the dice on your relationship.” (Courtesy Jacquie Ferrency, and Anonymous; valued at $60)
  25. Tune up and tone up your body! A GASP member has a 90-minute session of shiatsu bodywork for you, in an East End location. Based on Japanese massage techniques, no oils are used, and the client remains clothed. (Courtesy Elizabeth Donohoe of Shiatsuworks; valued at $48)
  26. “Quack up” your favorite six-month old with this “billed” knit ducky hat from Old Navy Baby! Matching short-sleeved, lap-shouldered bodysuit sports the ducky logo on a tiny breast pocket. Four additional short-sleeved, lap-shouldered bodysuits are made by Carter’s–so trusted that it sells 10 products for every baby born in America. All five bodysuits and the hat are 100% cotton with reinforced snaps and expandable necks. Made for babies weighing about 20 pounds, in unisex accent colors on white. (Courtesy Shelagh Goulis; valued at $24)
  27. The Golem’s Mighty Swing and Four Sides, Eight Nights: A New Spin on Hanukkah. Set in the 1920s, the first is a paperbound story of the Stars of David, a Jewish baseball team of bearded barnstormers who travel the country taking on local squads. When the team’s season is jeopardized they bring to life the Golem, a legendary Jewish monster that they hope will ensure their success. James Sturm’s visit to the sometimes not-so-good-old-days, which was named Best 2001 Graphic Novel by Time Magazine, is appropriate for adults and mature teens. The hardcover book about Hanukkah, aimed at 8- to 12-year-olds and written by Pittsburgh author Rebecca Tova Ben-Zvi, will be a fun addition to your family celebration. How is a dreidel like a fire drill? What does “The Hammer Song” have to do with Hanukkah? Who was Gerolamo Cardano, and what did he know about playing dreidel? Read this clever book and find out. (Courtesy Rebecca O’Connell, and Copacetic Comics; valued at $32)
  28. Solve your bag storage problem! Useful as well as attractive, this hanging basket is woven from natural, wine-colored, and teal-colored dyed reed. GASP board member Marla Ferrency handcrafted the basket, which is 8″ in diameter and 12″ tall. It is specifically designed to fill with plastic bags you’d like to recycle, which then can be dispensed through a slot in the bottom. (Courtesy Marla Ferrency; valued at $50).
  29. Believe it or not, natural gas bills for home heating are predicted to rise 70% this winter! Now is the time to take advantage of this Certificate for a Healthy Home Energy Audit. Trained professionals, scheduled at your convenience, will provide an assessment of your current energy consumption and the indoor air quality of your home. They will recommend solutions that can save you money and create a healthier environment. (Courtesy Conservation Consultants, Inc.; valued at $125)
  30. These items come direct to you from an inspiring women’s cooperative. Handmade by Women of the Cloud Forest, who collected and strung these polished seeds from the jungles surrounding them in Costa Rica, this three-piece jewelry set also features cobalt blue glass beads. The necklace is 18″ in length. The dangling style earrings are for pierced ears. (Courtesy Amy and Michael Sobkowiak; valued at $24)
  31. You’ll experience a wonderful family holiday tradition when you exchange this voucher for two tickets to the Pittsburgh CLO’s production of A Musical Christmas Carol. Performances run December 9th through December 23rd at the Byham Theater in downtown Pittsburgh. Also included is a candle-lit spinning chime decoration with which to deck your halls. (Courtesy a Friend of GASP, and Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera; valued at $80)
  32. You’ve hit the trifecta of babydom with this soothing mobile and sleep positioner to facilitate baby’s sleep, plus a front carrier so that baby can travel in style. Colorful images scroll across the screen of the Leapbaby Dreamscapes Soother, which attaches to the crib rail and features a night-light. Audio selections of more than 10 minutes each include lullabies, a poem, a song, and a story. The Basic Comfort sleep positioner, with dual flame retardant foam wedges and a machine washable, 100% cotton, snap-on cover, positions children newborn through 6 months old in the recommended sleep position. The royal blue and gray Infantino Cuddly Rider front carrier allows babies 8-26 pounds to face either toward you or away from you. Special side openings make it easy to get the baby in and out. Nylon carrier has 100% cotton knit lining and polyester fiberfill, and can be machine-washed and -dried. (Courtesy Rachel Filippini and Marla Ferrency; valued at $60)
  33. Get yourself organized with this geometric leather patchwork purse by Michael Stevens purse that features two separately zippered large compartments. The neutral color handbag, which will complement many of your favorite wardrobe pieces, can be carried with or without the shoulder strap. The lining is fabric, the hardware is brass, and there is an interior pocket. (Courtesy Sue Seppi; valued at $32)
  34. Focus on a contemporary play of substance and ideas with two tickets to any 2005-2006 City Theatre production on the main stage or Lester Hamburg Studio Theatre. Choose from Crowns, Tuesdays with Morrie, Hearts are Wild, Pyretown, Opus, Talking Heads, and Honus and Me. (Courtesy City Theatre; valued at $80)
  35. In both of these works of fiction (in hardcover) a young woman afire with scientific curiosity must come to terms with romantic fantasy. Astronomy, politics, and romance join forces in Two Moons by Thomas Mallon, whom John Updike has called “one of the most interesting American novelists at work.” In Servants of the Map, the most characteristic theme of Andrea Barrett’s stories is the happenings in that borderland between science and desire. The title story of Barrett’s book was selected for Best American Short Stories in 2001. (Courtesy Copacetic Comics; valued at $48)
  36. This lovely example of traditional Bulgarian bead crochet was fashioned by a breast cancer survivor–a trained jewelry-maker who initially handcrafted these as special gifts for her treatment team. The striking bracelet in shades of violet and purple is a piece anyone could be proud to give. Containing over 750 seed beads strung on nine yards of filament, it has the advantage of fitting all sizes of wrists. (Courtesy Jacquie Ferrency; valued at $36)
  37. Take your portable DVD player and favorite movies on the road in this thickly padded Koskin faux leather case. Holds up to an 8″ portable DVD player in a compartment sized 8.75″ x 6.5″ x 1.75″. Included is a DVD of “Waking Life,” described by Roger Ebert as a four star “amazing film that vibrates with life.” The case’s patented Case Logic auto suspension system allows for carefree in-car viewing. An accessory compartment securely holds four DVDs in cushioned slots as well as two additional boxed DVDs. The adjustable buckle attachment allows this DVD player case to easily attach to the seat backs of most cars or between two bucket seats. Installation instructions are included. The director of “Slacker” and “Dazed and Confused” also directed the accompanying DVD, which explores the question: “Are we sleep-walking through our waking state or wake-walking through our dreams?” (Courtesy a Friend of GASP, and Copacetic Comics; valued at $36)
  38. Gerber Beginnings set, primarily blue, of three bibs with extra-soft Velcro closures and one blanket From the Lil Pony collection. All items feature delightful embroidery of a pony down on the farm. The 30″ x 40″ blanket, made of the softest imaginable polyester fleece and satin binding, reverses to a satin back, while the double-weight bibs are 100% cotton knit or absorbent blended terrycloth. Also included are two pairs of white and blue turn-cuff Absorba infant socks. (Courtesy Shelagh Goulis; valued at $28)
  39. Have the feeling you’d like to Thai one on? Do it the relaxing way–with a 90-minute massage by the first person in the Pittsburgh area specializing in Thai massage, an AMTA-certified massage therapist. This venerable, interactive form of body therapy combines yogic stretching, acupressure along energy or Sen lines, and meditation. The client remains comfortably clothed. The office is in Shadyside. (Courtesy Joan Adibi; valued at $80)
  40. This beautiful bracelet of traditional Bulgarian bead crochet ropecraft contains over 750 seed beads hand-strung on nine yards of filament. In colors of the sea, this is a bracelet anyone could be proud to give, and it has the added advantage of fitting all sizes of wrists. (Courtesy Jacquie Ferrency; valued at $36)
  41. This half-bushel market basket is filled to the brim with locally grown organic apples having superior dessert quality. The flavor of these Liberty and Jonafree apples actually improves in storage, so you’ll be enjoying juicy, crisp apples (and applesauce) for many days to come. A wide-mouth quart jar and two traditional honey bears of pure Virginia honey are another fine source of natural sweetness! The honey is organic and has never been heated. (Courtesy Kretschmann Farm and Bill’s Bees; valued at $40)
  42. Express your feelings of gratitude, at Thanksgiving and year-round, with this vanilla-scented candle. From the Demdaco Enlightenments line, the candle is presented in a “thankfulness” theme reusable lidded pottery jar, approximately 6″ high. Complete with box and sentiment from Charles Dickens: “There is always something for which to be thankful.” Be thankful that this premium Nicaraguan New Hope coffee, ground in Pittsburgh by La Prima Express from fair-traded, patio-dried Arabica beans. (Courtesy a Friend of GASP and Howard J. Wein, Esq.; valued at $20)
  43. Aikido is a peaceful practice of self defense. Learn Kokikai Aikido with this voucher for one seven-week session of classes at Aikido Kokikai Pittsburgh, located at the Wilkins School Community Center in Pittsburgh. Classes meet Monday and Wednesday evenings from 7:30 to 9:00 and early Saturday (7:15 am to 8:45 am). The voucher entitles you to attend one, two or three classes weekly. These classes are for adults and self-motivated teens who are not already students of Barbara Litt, who is a 3rd degree black belt. (Courtesy Barbara Litt; valued at $52).
  44. Four tickets to a joyous evening of dance–two performances for the price of one–on Saturday, October 8th at East Liberty’s Kelly Strayhorn Theater. The African production features drumming and dance by UMOJA African Arts Company. These popular Pittsburgh dancers, musicians, and costume artists dedicate themselves to disseminating Africa’s rich cultural heritage. A presentation of Odissi dance from Eastern India by a 13-member troupe from the renowned Orissa Dance Academy of Bhubaneshwar will include musicians playing sitar, violin, hand cymbals and pakhawaj percussion. Also dancing in Nritya! Guinena Fare! A Celebration of Dance from Two Continents will be Sreyashi Dey of Srishti Dances of India. (Courtesy Srishti Dances of India; valued at $60)
  45. Maride Carmen, member of a fair-trade project that offers economic opportunities to women in rural Costa Rica, stitched this bag and beautifully hand-embroidered it with a monarch butterfly. Modeled after bags carried by trail guides, this 16″ square olive-colored canvas tote has a Velcro closure, 30″ black web straps, and a zippered inside pocket. The Velcro-fastened 4″ x 6″ outer pocket is the perfect size for your sunglasses (or cell phone or keys). Also butterfly-themed are the two issues of the literary journal Metamorphosis (Volume I, Issue 1 and Volume II, Issue 1) for wonderful reading concerning butterflies and other inspiring topics. (Courtesy Amy and Michael Sobkowiak and Pleasant Hills Library Writers Group; valued at $44)
  46. See Little Sheba at the Little Theater! Here are two tickets to William Inge’s American 1950 Broadway classic Come Back, Little Sheba at the McKeesport Little Theater, any November weekend before Thanksgiving. Congressman Mike Doyle has praised the Theater–located at the corner of Coursin Street and Bailie Avenue in a former synagogue, and now in its 45th year–as “an icon in the arts community of Western Pennsylvania.” The little Sheba of the play title is a lost dog, who does not appear on stage. Our dog Tuffts, on the other hand, has a dog tag to help keep him from straying. This 14″ plush toy dog will be a substantial armful for your favorite child, while the accompanying wee pup is a mere 5″ from folded ears to stubby tail. These are special dealer advertising items for Stainmaster Carpet with Tactesse fiber–”Soft as a puppy, tough as a bulldog.” (Courtesy McKeesport Little Theater and Stainmaster Carpet; valued at $48)
  47. Strip District Alley is the title of this framed, signed Michael Cuccaro watercolor painting. The inspiration for this and other recent works in India ink, coffee, and watercolor on 300 lb. paper has been the neighborhoods of Pittsburgh, which continually draw his attention. Full-pages washes of heavy bright watercolor are overlaid with semi-contour drawing based on life sketches. (Courtesy Michael Cuccaro; valued at $100)
  48. Two tickets to Kennywood Phantom Fright Night, for people over the age of 13, in a wonderful feather-embellished scary spider sack. The tickets are good on a Friday or Saturday night (7 pm to 1 am) through October 29 or Sunday night October 9th (7 to 11 pm). Visit Mystery Midway rides, scary mazes, Walk-About Ghouls, Kennywood Cemetery and Ft. Despair. The bag contains a Kennywood license plate, 10″ glow in the dark Spooky Kooky vampire doll, and blood red battery-operated flashing light/arrow. (Courtesy Kennywood Park; valued at $72)
  49. The SuperCyclone Purse is constructed of a recycled license plate wrapped around 5.5″ baby moon hubcaps. It has a bottle cap closure and 9″ rubber handle, and comes with a signed and numbered Certificate of Authenticity. While the purse adds to a young woman’s appearance, the two coming-of-age novels add to a young woman’s self-image in other ways. Of The Summer of Love, Debbie Drechsler’s paperback graphic novel, Time magazine said: “Young adult fiction doesn’t get any better than this. Full of the frustration, confusion and mystery of growing up, it would make you nostalgic were it not so heartbreaking.” In this hardcover first edition of author-signed Myrtle of Willendorf, friends Margie, Jada and Myrtle are in very different places with regard to their visions of beauty and self-image. “Like adolescence itself,” School Library Journal reported, “the novel is by turns funny and poignant, and the potent theme of the female deity… puts a fresh twist on the journey of self-discovery.” (Courtesy Copacetic Comics and Little Earth Productions; valued at $96)
  50. Beautiful ceramic serving bowl/baking dish in earth tones, this was handmade by a local potter. The 8″ diameter bowl has a food-safe glaze and is oven-, freezer, microwave- and dishwasher-safe, but is not be used over an open flame. (Courtesy Klari Kaufman; valued at $52)
  51. What could be better to look forward to than the promise of a handmade baby quilt in mid-December? Blue, yellow, and bright pink, the 45″ x 54″ cotton flannel quilt has a bright blue border. GASP member Marie Kocoshis is busily finishing this comfy pieced Yellow Brick Road pattern quilt, for the lucky bidder; promised within ten weeks. (Courtesy Marie Kocoshis; valued at $50)
  52. Crank up your truth detector with The Great Big Book of Tom Tomorrow! Editorial cartoonist Tom Tomorrow (a.k.a. Dan Perkins) is considered by some of the 20 million readers of newspapers that carry his work to be America’s best crafter of political cartoons. Perkins “puts a left-leaning, working-man’s spin on the cruel world of politics and popular culture,” according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, which is among those publishing Tom Tomorrow. As an added bonus you’ll enjoy a bottle of Anti-BS Pills (novelty candy) that promises to cure “individuals who suffer from over exaggeration, tall tales, myths and fallacies… not to mention out and out lying.” (Courtesy Carolyn and Bob Schumacher and Anonymous; valued at $20)
  53. Gift certificate for fine biodiesel fuel! Five gallons of biodiesel will fuel your motoring around town, including to South Side Works to see a movie with a friend. Two discount “reel passes” to the South Side Works Cinema–any one movie, any showing–each reduce the price of admission to just $1. Passes expire September 2006. (Courtesy Baum Blvd. Automotive and South Side Works Cinema; valued at $32)
  54. This certificate entitles you to a Kayaking 101 class for up to two people on Saturday, October 8, 2005 from 10 am to noon. It’s simple–just register online ahead of time, get yourself to the Millvale Training Facility at Millvale Riverfront Park, and Three Rivers Rowing Association will provide instruction, kayaks, paddles and life jackets. You’ll learn safety, paddling technique, and stroke types. It provides an opportunity for TRRA certification, and upon conclusion you should feel comfortable paddling in an urban environment. (Courtesy Three Rivers Rowing Association; valued at $40 per paddler).
  55. Bright flowers adorn this set of three lidded, nested round paperboard boxes, 9″, 7″, and 5″ in diameter, and festively decorated ceramic candlesticks also add to your the colorful decor. A pair of candles is included. (Courtesy a Friend of GASP; valued at $24)
  56. Haven’t you always wanted to visit… Urinetown? Now you can: journey into the future, when our profligate use of water has caused great scarcity. Two tickets to the CMU School of Drama production of “Urinetown, the Musical.” The storyline involves the politically incorrect saga of a Pay-per-Pee toilet entrepreneur who has grown flush by gouging the victims of a terrible drought, and the revolutionaries who rise up against him. This show is performed December 1 through 3 and December 6 through 10, 2005. (Courtesy CMU School of Drama; valued at $52)
  57. Traditional triangle wrought iron dinner bell is hand-forged and custom designed. The 13″ triangle comes with a ringer and a 16″ hanger. (Courtesy Chris Holt, Pittsburgh Area Artists-Blacksmiths Association; valued at $50)
  58. The Halloween season will be here before we know it, and that means Kennywood Park Fright Nights! These two tickets are good on a Friday or Saturday night (7 PM to 1 AM) through October 29 or Sunday night, October 9th (7 to 11 PM). Visit mystery Midway rides, scary mazes, Walk-About Ghouls, Kennywood Cemetery and Ft. Despair. The bonus paperback of short stories, “In the Penny Arcade,” has been described by Esquire as “Masterful… a collection whose very existence is cause for celebration.” Author Steven Millhauser, a 1997 winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, blends the real and the fantastic these in seven stories, including one set in an amusement park. (Courtesy Kennywood Park, and Copacetic Comics; valued at $48)
  59. Beautiful ceramic serving bowl/baking dish in purple-accented pale tones, this was handmade by a local potter. The 8″ diameter bowl has a food-safe glaze and is oven-, freezer, microwave- and dishwasher-safe, but is not be used over an open flame. (Courtesy Klari Kaufman; valued at $52)
  60. MidiFlair recycled license plate purse hand-embellished with Swarovski crystals comes complete with a black velvet storage bag and a signed and numbered certificate of authenticity. Felt lined to protect your belongings, the purse has a crystallized bottle cap closure and a crystal-embellished 8″ rubber handle. (Courtesy Little Earth Productions; valued at $150)
  61. This is the 50th birthday of Liberty apples, named for the trees’ freedom from diseases that enable them to be especially successful grown organically. You’ll enjoy this bounty of a half-bushel of tasty Liberty and Jonafree organic applesauce makins’ and dessert apples. Also included are three glass pint jars of pure raw honey, direct from the hive, just the way the bees made it. This is complete honey, with pollen grains and enzymes along with vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants (one of them, pinocembrin, unique to honey). (Courtesy Kretschmann Farm and Bill’s Bees; valued at $40)

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Wightman School Community Building, 5604 Solway Street, #204, Pittsburgh, PA 15217