15 Original Works of Art

When we first started planning the Kidzu Gala, I think I was most excited about the live auction. The lots we've put together are amazing and the excitement of a live auction is thrilling for anyone to watch!

But slowly but surely, the paintings and pieces have started to come in for the silent art auction and the items are truly amazing.

We are now up to 15 original works of art, including an amazing piece by Jane Filer that I would kill to have hanging in my house and some pretty cute art submitted by the same artists that have a piece on Grey's Anatomy next week!

I like to play around with the brush now and again myself, so I took my current obsession with flag buntings and created a cute piece perfect for a fun family room or little girl's room. I hope someone buys it! I've titled it "Bunting Birdies".

See you Saturday night!

Wendy

Kidzu Planning Committee

SWEET!

The Sweet Dreams After Party is gonna be SWEET!

We've made an unbelievable spread, and we're calling it 'The Candy Bar'. Foster's Market has been unbelievably generous in sponsoring all of our candy needs...we're shooting to make it feel like a Willy Wonka Dream Land! Without the chocolate river. Of course.

Kristian Bawcom of Four Corners has created some amazing candy-inspired drinks...all 'grown-up', of course...orange dreamsicle martinis, and even a Butterfinger drink (!!!) to name just a few.

Aside from our standard bar service, Billy Goat Brewing Company will be pouring their delicious MicroBrews for our After Party guests as well. We've selected two of our favorite Ales for our Dream Partiers to choose from.

I haven't gotten to taste the desserts myself, but the girls sent me some photos of the tasting experience...and the only caption was 'MMMMMMmmmm'....from what I understand, the desserts that will be served are something right out of this world! If they taste half as good as they look, I can't wait!!

All of this set to the back drop of the Franklin Street Band. Bring your appetite and your dancing shoes!!

And NOW....A Stolen Post from Allison's Facebook Page.

I am floored!!!!

If you are going to this amazing gala Saturday night to benefit Kidzu, you're going to DIE over the piece donated by William Travis. Specifically for us, hand crafted by Travis himself, a $2000 rose gold and sterling silver ring, with jewels selected after casting to get just the look he wants. I love him; I just fell in love with this man all over again.

So, are you going to be there, or what?!

We're ALL making sacrifices for this thing.

If I had to choose the mantra of the Gala Planning Committee this year, it would be this: "It can work, BUT WE'LL HAVE TO PAINT IT!" Truthfully, we've gone through more paint than you can imagine and have worn ourselves out with painting everything we can get our hands on. I actually think I have sustained a mild spray paint injury in my right index finger! But, I keep telling myself: THESE are the sacrifices we MUST make for fabulous party decorations!!

As for my dog? He too has suffered...dutifully providing faithful companionship in the dark, cold, un-carpeted basement (aka Gala Paint Headquarters) for weeks and weeks on end. Poor Arnold has had paint splatters on just about every part of his body, and in just about every color. I think he will certainly be ready for this party to come and go!!

We DO have a few more days. But the painting, the planning, the hard work of it all...it is ALMOST over. And, I, for one, will miss his little blue paws. I think he looks GREAT in turquoise.

Golden Touches

 We've got a little something up our sleeves with these cute Golden Books at the gala!Thank you wonderful 

Christy Barnes. She appeared on my doorstep with 40!! Golden Books for a kidzu gala crafty project. 

Christy can't attend next Saturday night but wanted to contribute to the event. 

Oh, I just love my sweet friends. 

Thank you, thank you.

Mary Lloyd

Kidzu Gala Committee

Chihuahua and Chickadee

What an awesome gala job I have!  For the next 7 days I get to house  the fine art donations for the silent auction.  It's an art lovers  
Christmas at the Preble house.  "Chihuahua and Chickadee" by Bethany Bash was added to the Gala collection.  Something about Chihuahua  
speaks to me.  There is a sweetness in his little eyes...a great deal  of tolerance for his bird friend perched atop his head!  I just want  
to give Chihuahua a big squeeze.  I adore this lovable peace.  Thank  you, thank you Bethany for such a divine contribution to our auction.

Mary Lloyd

Kidzu Gala Committee 

Dream Gala Emcee - Mick Mixon

We are thrilled to announce the Mick Mixon - voice of the Carolina Panthers - will be the emcee of the Kidzu Dream Gala! A big thank you to Mick for making the night even more magical!

Believe it or not...

All of THIS will be turned into beautiful, glamorous decoration for the Dream Gala:



You'll have to come and see it to believe it!!

Kidzu Gala Auction

When putting together a charity event, you learn many new skills. One of the first things you'll learn is how to ask someone for something - and - you'll be amazed at how generous people can be when asked. 

One of the most exciting elements of the upcoming Kidzu Dreams Gala is the live auction portion of the evening. With the generosity and support of many local vendors and individuals, we've created some very exciting and original dream packages you won't find anywhere else. Here's just a couple of the dreamy packages you'll have a chance to bid on during the gala:


A Tar Heel's Dream
Do you have a UNC fan in your family? This will be the experience of a lifetime for that special fan. 

Spend some time in Tar Heel heaven. Watch a practice session of the UNC basketball team, with a guided tour of the men’s locker room, then watch an ACC game (4 tickets total), ending with an autographed basketball from Coach Roy Williams.  Courtesy of Tar Heel Sports Network and an Anonymous Donor.



Capture the Dream
If you've never seen the inspiring and magical work of Corey Williams, check out her website at www.coreywilliams.com. She's graciously donated this photography package, so get your number ready to bid on this experience any family would cherish.


Capture your real-life dreams with a year of photography sessions from Corey Williams Photography. Corey has offered a year's photography experience including a family portrait sitting, Christmas sitting, birthday party coverage or sitting, 4x6 proofs package of each sitting, 150 Christmas cards, and a framed 11 x 17 print.




Kidzu Dream Slumber Party
Imagine your child getting to spend the night at his/her favorite museum with nine best friends!

It's the ultimate in slumber parties - an overnight party in the Kidzu museum, complete with movies, snacks and surprises! This package includes a cake donated by a local bakery, printed party invitations customized for your child, party goodie bags and food and snacks from Four Courners in Chapel Hill!


 And that's just a sampling of the great packages we've put together!

See you there!

Wendy

Kidzu Gala Planning Committee

A Sneak Peek at The Dream Gala Menu

Yesterday, Pam Gustafson (with two of her gorgeous kiddos in tow) and I went to Raleigh to see David Casteel at Mitchell's Catering. What fun! Pam had her kids in tow and we got to sample and see some of the beautiful menu items that will be on offer at the Dream Gala.

My favorites - an amazing thin slice of duck with a blackberry in a lovely sauce, served on a tiny spoon. The braised beef, which was fork-tender and mouth watering on top of truffled sweet potatoes. And I can't even begin to describe the desserts. Wow! French toast bites topped withNutella, mini creme brulees, key lime pie bites, homemade whoopee pies filled with pudding. And I have a major, serious, and indisputable weakness for the cheesecake pops. Buy your ticket now, join us on April 9th, and you'll see exactly what I mean. Delicious!

You can see the dinner menu on our website at www.kidzugala.org. But the Sweet Dreams After Party menu is a secret! Enjoy your sneak peek!

Corey

Corey Williams

Chair, Kidzu Dream Gala 2011

Kate Long Stevenson

A fabulous artist from South Carolina, Kate Long Stevenson is donating a piece of artwork to the Gala to benefit the Kidzu Children's Museum. She is a celebrated painter, well known for her figurative and abstract paintings.

In my humble opinion, she is a total master of the brush stroke. What at quick glance looks to be a hasty, dripping, push of paint ends up forming the exact curve of a woman's neck...or the delicate slope of a perfect shoulder. My favorite part about her? She is totally un-fearful with color. I'm posting some of my favorite examples, but you can see more of her work here.

Wahhoooo! A painting donated by Jane Filer!

Yes, people...THE Jane Filer.

Many years ago, I used to be a student in a few of her painting classes at the ArtsCenter in Carrboro, and I got to drool as I watched her paint her masterpieces right there in front of me.

And then I would quietly return to my painting, titled "Still Life with Apple and That's It"

Lucky for you, I will not be donating any painting of MINE to the auction...but SHE has graciously agreed to donate a piece of her marvelous artwork to the Kidzu Dream Gala! That means it will be up for auction, and IT CAN BE YOURS!! (But first, you have to come to the party.)

Maybe you haven't heard about her latest endeavor in the Triangle...a HUGE 45-foot mural at the RDU International Airport. I had the privilege of seeing it (through my car window) earlier last week when I was picking my mother up at the airport. I was doing the loop, waiting for her to get off the plane, and I pulled up to the curb of the new terminal to peek ever so stealthily inside. Just seeing it from the street blew me away!! If that guy with the whistle wouldn't have yelled at me to 'MOVE I!', I would have camped out there all night and left my mother to fend for herself at the baggage claim.

Okay, okay...I'm exaggerating. I would have at least called a cab for my mom first.

You should definitely stop by the airport and have a peek if you're in the neighborhood. Her work is astounding! .

Lucky for you, I won't be submitting ANY of my paintings to the auction this year. But Jane IS!!

Getting the ball rolling...

The Kidzu Children's Museum Dream Gala is on April 9, 2011...and we are busy, busy, BUSY trying to make it a spectacular event!! We're going to try and be good about posting on this blog (in the midst of the chaos) to keep everyone in the loop. This event is going to be like NO other event in town...not your typical 'fundraiser-ish' dinner! From our hand-made 'toy collage' centerpieces to our 'Candy Bar' dessert drinks (for grown ups) at the Sweet Dreams Afterparty, you'll know that we've thought about EVERY detail. Please stay tuned to read about our progress...and make a suggestion or two, if you'd like?

To make the dream of this Museum a reality, we need people like you! The Kidzu Dream Gala needs sponsors...people who are interested in investing in the future of our children and our community. And that's YOU, right? Pleas e-mail any one of us if you are interested in sponsoring this FUN event, OR if you're interested in attending. We'd LOVE to see you there!!!