The Hedgespoken Auction preview

Welcome Hedgebidders to the one and only Hedgespoken Auction! Here before us today for preview are a wonderful selection of artefacts, stories, jewels, paintings and other handmade delights of the eye and imagination, given by a vast array of creators and supporters of Hedgespoken, from Dartmoor to Delaware, beyond and inbetween. They’ve all been generously donated to help raise funds for our Hedgespoken project, and we’re so very grateful to all who have contributed. Now it’s your turn! Browse these treasures and decide what you’d like to bid upon. Underneath each item will be listed its auction time slot for you to put in your diary and get bidding!

Broadly, we’ve grouped the auctions into four days like this:
Sunday 23rd November 7.30pm (GMT) – Objects of wearable beauty
Monday 24th November 7.30pm (GMT) – Wordcraft
Tuesday 25th November 7.30pm (GMT) – Creations and experiences
Wednesday 26th November 7.30pm (GMT) – Visual artworks

Each afternoon for the next four days, we’ll publish a blog post with links to all the items for auction that evening and a reminder of what’s on

There’s a guide at the bottom of the page as to how it all works – we’ve put the guide on a separate page here too so that you can keep it open to avoid perplexity during the auctions!

First up, we have the most exquisite handmade scrolling story panorama or crankie made by folk artist, puppeteer and maker of olden storied crafts Joanna Hruby (who also appeared in our Hedgespoken film as the deer!). The Unicorn Returns is a moving panorama (otherwise known as a ‘crankie’) – a hand-cranked picture performance within a cassette box! Inspired by the mysterious, 15th Century Unicorn Tapestries and Peter Beagle’s cult novel, The Last Unicorn, this animated box uses early cinema techniques to take the user through an ancient forest in search of the fabled unicorn. Featuring high quality digital prints of original watercolour-painted scenery, this is animation at its simplest, and perhaps most enchanting. Turn the handle to let the journey begin… A rare, one-off, handmade creation of wonder, this.

Bidding will start at £30.

Auction time: Tuesday 25th November 7.30pm (GMT)

Next we have some truly beautiful creations in various media by our talented artist friend Marieke Ringel.

First, a little tea bowl (approx 9cm x 9cm) fired in a woodfired anagama kiln with woodash dripping down the side.

Bidding will start at: £20

Auction time: Tuesday 25th November 7.30pm (GMT)

Next from Marieke we have four lots, each consisting of a pair of unique and beautiful pairs of handmade porcelain earrings in varying shades of midnight blue, with silver-plated fixings.

Bidding will start at: £5

Auction time: Sunday 23rd November 7.30pm (GMT)

Bidding will start at: £5

Auction time: Sunday 23rd November 7.30pm (GMT)

Bidding will start at: £5

Auction time: Sunday 23rd November 7.30pm (GMT)

Bidding will start at: £5

Auction time: Sunday 23rd November 7.30pm (GMT)

Next from Marieke is a wonderful little Sacred Mother print of an etching, mounted on 3mm board, ca. 6cm x 6cm

Bidding will start at: £5

Auction time: Wednesday 26th November 7.30pm (GMT)

Also from Marieke is a fabulous print of a Horse etching on board, 14.5cm x 10cm

Bidding will start at: £5

Auction time: Wednesday 26th November 7.30pm (GMT)

Next from Marieke is an original screenprint of a fox in blue, 16.5cm x 16cm.

Bidding will start at: £8

Auction time: Wednesday 26th November 7.30pm (GMT)

And the last item from Marieke is an original screenprint of a fox, in green rose, 17.5cm x 17cm.

Bidding will start at: £8

Auction time: Wednesday 26th November 7.30pm (GMT)

Next up, we have a truly stunning piece of work from artist Charlotte Hills.

This is a needle-felted puppet of exquisite beauty and time-consuming craft – Mr Fox (whom you can also see here unclothed to appreciate his workings!)

Charlotte writes of her Mr Fox:

The theme of the trickster runs very deeply through the mythology of most human societies. From Loki, to Brer Rabbit; from the Native American coyote spirit to the Monkey King in China. We need the trickster animus to express the outcast.
 Through the folklore of Europe run the stories of Reynard the fox, Isengrim the wolf, Tybalt the cat, Chanticleer the cockerel and Bruin the bear. Fast talking and clever, tricky and dishonest, Reynard is a reflection of our clever and unscrupulous selves. We need him to find an easy way, to take the blame, to show up our own vanities.

Bidding will start at: £35

Auction time: Tuesday 25th November 7.30pm (GMT)

Next up we have a wonderful illustrated story book by Susan Hill, Illustrated by Valerie Greeley signed by both artist and author.

Valerie says:

I was specially commissioned by Susan Hill (best selling author of The Woman in Black) to produce a new series of illustrations for her new edition of “Can it be true?” published by Long Barn Books. 
ISBN 978-1-902421-58-2

This is a small hard backed book with a dust jacket adorned with gold foil decoration. It has 40 pages, illustrated throughout. The book is a perfect size for filling a Christmas stocking. The illustrations have a country theme; foxes, rabbits and hares decorate the pages of this prose poem, suitable for children and adults alike.

The book is a first Long Barn Book edition and has been signed by the author and the illustrator and so may become collectable.

Bidding will start at: £1

Auction time: Monday 24th November 7.30pm (GMT)

And a second beautiful book from illustrator Valerie Greeley. If you don’t know her intricate and exquisite work, do go and browse her etsy shop, blog and website.

Valerie says:

When my children were little I wrote and illustrated “White is the Moon”. This picture book was first published by Blackie and Son Ltd and became a best selling title around the world. Eventually it went out of print so this year I decided to publish it myself as an Acornmoon Book.

It has 32 pages and is illustrated throughout in full colour. The text is in the form of a rhyme, which takes the reader on a journey through night and day and features animals, birds and plants such as owls, frogs, seals etc. Each page is linked to a colour, making this the ideal picture book for a primary school child. I will also send a free PDF by email, which features four printable pages to colour.

This is a brand new signed edition, with matt and gloss lamination on cover and added guide to the illustrations at the back. ISBN 9780992747305

Bidding will start at £1

Auction time: Monday 24th November 7.30pm (GMT)

Next in line we have some wonderful fabric storytelling doll-making kits created by Imogen di Sapia, who also keeps a story-craft blog here and an etsy shop here.

Here’s what Imogen says about these lovely creations:

Here is a make-your-own kit for a storytelling character doll / puppet in the Steiner Waldorf tradition.

Your kit contains the following;

Cut wool felt pattern pieces (body, hat and base; hand rolled / dyed wool felt)
Skin tone cotton tricot (head)
Stocking-net (for inner head)
Hair (Leicester wool fleece 10g)
Velvet cape fabric
Printed cotton cape lining
Embroidery thread lengths
Cotton thread lengths
Stuffing fleece (40g)
Wooden bead (for nose)
Paper / fabric flowers
Set of illustrated instructions

*You will need to provide; hand sewing needles and pins*
*Adult supervision required when sewing with young children; suitable for ages 7 + to sew)

This doll when made is approx 20cm tall; the photos show and example of how the finished piece will look.

It is an easy doll to sew, full instructions will be given, plus access to how-to photo tutorials and videos on my blog.

You only need two stitches to make this lovely doll; running stitch and blanket stitch

The first of these four is Little Red Cap or Red Riding Hood:

Bidding will start at: £25

Auction time: Tuesday 25th November 7.30pm (GMT)

Second we have Vassilissa the Brave:

Bidding will start at: £25

Auction time: Tuesday 25th November 7.30pm (GMT)

Next we have Merlin The Green Man:

Bidding will start at: £25

Auction time: Tuesday 25th November 7.30pm (GMT)

Last is Gandalf:

Bidding will start at: £25

Auction time: Tuesday 25th November 7.30pm (GMT)

Next up we have a lovely little original pencil and watercolour illustration by Tonya Baumhardt, titled A Small Offering.

A Small Offering

pencil drawing/watercolour painting by T.L. Baumhardt

materials – pencil and Windsor & Newton watercolours on Arches 140 lb. coldpress watercolour paper.

size – approx. 7 3/4 inches x 10 3/4 inches.

Bidding will start at: £25

Auction time: Wednesday 26th November 7.30pm (GMT)

Next we have some lovely little oil paintings on canvas by Ronnie Harvey (another Bedford truck dweller!).

The first is Cherry blossoms in May – 12″ x 9″. Oil painting, varnished. Painted in 2011:

Bidding will start at: £10

Auction time: Wednesday 26th November 7.30pm (GMT)

The second painting is In among the rape fields – 12″ x 9″. Oil painting, un-varnished. Painted in 2010.

Ronnie says:

These three trees are in the fields near where I live and walk by each day with the dogs. They stand alone and when the yellow of the rape fields are behind them, I decided to paint them.

Bidding will start at: £10

Auction time: Wednesday 26th November 7.30pm (GMT)

Third we have Nine – 12″ x 16″. Oil painting, varnished. Painted in 2009:

Bidding will start at: £10

Auction time: Wednesday 26th November 7.30pm (GMT)

Fourth is The owl tree – 14″ x 8″. Oil painting, varnished. Painted in 2009.

Ronnie says:

There is an old tree in the next field to where I live where the owls live, I saw some baby owls in it one year. We always called the tree the fairy tree and my kids used to go and sprinkle fairy glitter there and leave the fairies chocolate when they were younger. The leaves are painted in copper and gold.

Bidding will start at: £10

Auction time: Wednesday 26th November 7.30pm (GMT)

Next in the auction, we have a novel about a wandering storyteller by Alison Layland:

Someone Else’s Conflict: a novel by Alison Layland

Paperback, 324 pages, signed by the author

Jay, a wandering storyteller, uses his stories to hide and escape from the guilt of mistakes made during his involvement in the Croatian War of Independence 20 years ago. When he meets Marilyn and finds the chance of love and an opportunity to settle, he begins to confront his ghosts and attempt to be honest. But his past catches up with him in the form of Vinko, a young economic migrant, with devastating consequences. A novel of trust and betrayal, love, loyalty and honour.

Bidding will start at: £3

Auction time: Monday 24th November 7.30pm (GMT)

Next up are some sweet little earrings handmade by Deborah Rowan.

First, some amethyst sterling silver earrings with Thai silver bells:

 

Bidding will start at: £10

Auction time: Sunday 23rd November 7.30pm (GMT)

Second, a sterling silver pair of earrings with bone skulls and rainbow moonstone:

Bidding will start at: £10

Auction time: Sunday 23rd November 7.30pm (GMT)

Third, a sterling silver pair of earrings with pale aquamarines and Greek “evil eye” amulet beads:

Bidding will start at: £10

Auction time: Sunday 23rd November 7.30pm (GMT)

And for our next trick – an incredible trick riding lesson in Somerset brought to you by the folks at Steamhorse and Mooncat Musings (also truck dwellers!)

They say:

The lessons are called ‘CBC’ lessons – Confidence, Balance and Coordination. The winner must be able to ride (walk trot and canter) and be at least 12 years old with no major movement impairments (bad back etc). They must also have a fair degree of physical fitness and weigh no more than 12 stone fully clothed. Lessons are carried out on one of our trick trained horses, on a lunge rein (so that I’m in control of the horse) in our all weather floodlit riding arena.

We are based near Timsbury, Bath.

Bidding will start at: £25

Auction time: Tuesday 25th November 7.30pm (GMT)

Next in the auction, we have been offered two fantastic items from author Carol Anne Strange:

First, a year’s subscription to Carol’s creativity project – Musevine

Carol Anne says:

Muse Vine (1 year’s Membership worth £30)

“Every month, you receive a Creative Assignment from Muse Vine. Every month, you are invited to explore the assignment theme to spark your imagination and inspire your creative practice using whatever art medium you wish.”

Muse Vine is a web-based family of art-loving folks, creative rebels (nice ones), artisans, crafters and makers. We create together, drawing on a fresh theme every month. The results are diverse, surprising, and imaginative, and every creation is valued and meaningful on so many levels. We create for ourselves and / or for others. We create something to keep, gift or sell. Ultimately, we create because we feel compelled to do so, and because it’s fun!

Membership to Muse Vine includes a themed Creative Assignment every month in a downloadable PDF containing inspiration, ideas, resources, insights, and prompts to assist you in your creative exploration and development. There is the option to submit your creative assignment project to be posted on the Muse Vine blog. Members of the Muse Vine family are keenly supported in their creative development. Where required, your creative work will be featured and promoted via the Muse Vine website so that more people are able to discover what you do.

More details are available on the website at http://www.musevine.co.uk

Muse Vine is offering a year’s membership (normally £30) to the winning Hedgespoken Hedgehammer bidder.

Bidding will start at: £9

Auction time: Monday 24th November 7.30pm (GMT)

And secondly from Carol Anne Strange, a signed copy of her novel Light Weaver:

Carol Anne says:

Light Weaver (signed paperback novel)

Light Weaver, by Carol Anne Strange, is a contemporary story with a fantastical twist set in the English Lake District. Inspired by nature, it’s an original tale about love, healing, and a questionable reality.

Book Teaser:

Strange and inexplicable things are happening in the Lakeland fells … light orbs dance over mossy crags, symbols miraculously appear in grassy lowlands, and Cali Silverthorn keeps disappearing into other worlds.

Mobile librarian, Tom Philips, is captivated by free-spirited Cali, but is struggling to make sense of her remarkable abilities and the escalating strangeness impacting ordinary rural life.

As beliefs are challenged, Tom and Cali’s love becomes the only constant in a questionable reality as they face the heart-breaking realisation that Cali may soon disappear for good.

More Details:

The novel was quietly published on a shoestring budget in 2012 and has been finding its way to beautiful readers everywhere via whispers on the breeze.

The author will post out a personalised, signed paperback copy of Light Weaver to the winning Hedgehammer bidder.

Carol Anne says, ‘I’m thrilled to be supporting Rima and Tom in their next grand adventure. Hedgespoken is a wonderful way of bringing more magic into people’s lives. ‘Tis just what is needed!’

Bidding will start at: £4

Auction time: Monday 24th November 7.30pm (GMT)

And next we have a really stunning handknitted shawl by Freyalyn Close:

The shawl is a rich gold with coppery and green hints. Simply knit garter stitch shawl, with a saw-tooth edging. Knitted from a handspun blend of wool and mohair with a beautiful bloom over the fabric.

Bidding will start at: £20

Auction time: Sunday 23rd November 7.30pm (GMT)

Next up we have some wonderful and rare books by Catherine Cooper.

Catherine says:

I used to be a teacher but due to ill-health I had to take early retirement. Not being ready for that, and desperate to get back into school, I started writing. The credit crunch hit just as I’d finished my first book, needless to say, no one was willing to take a chance on an unknown author and it was completely rejected. Not to be deterred I self-published. I was told this would be the ‘kiss of death’ for any author but I only needed to get back into school so it wasn’t a problem. The following is a timeline of events…

2006 my teaching career of 29 years ended.

2009 I self-published my first book, The Golden Acorn ~ The Adventures of Jack Brenin

2010 I self-published Book two, Glasruhen Gate.

2010 Entered and won Brit Writers Best Story for Children and Brit Writer of the Year (with The Golden Acorn)

part of the prize was a contract with a mainstream publisher who re-packaged the first two books and signed me up for the rest of the series.

2011 We signed a contract with a Hollywood film company (after they’d read my own first edition book and not the reprint!)

2011 Book Three, Silver Hill was published

2011 The series was tipped to fill the Harry Potter void

2012 Book Four, The Lost Treasure of Annwn was published

2013 The Golden Acorn was chosen as a National Literacy Trust guided reading book for all KS2 children and a ‘must have’ for all library shelves.

2013 Book Five, The Oak Lord was published

2013 The Book of Dragon Lore was published

2014 The Legend of Howling Hill was written and made into a hand made book for a world wide unique prize (soon to be published as a paperback)

2014 I became a Patron of Reading

None of the above was planned!

I still have in my possession one of the first editions, of which only 1000 were ever printed. Here is a link to three used copies that are for sale at the moment on Amazon. There are similar priced used copies on ebay too.

This early edition of The Golden Acorn is a very sought-after book, and is Catherine’s last ever copy!!! It has been illustrated by Catherine’s husband Ron Cooper.

If the bidding exceeds £500, Catherine will include the second first edition book of this series, Glasruhen Gate, of which only 500 were printed:

Bidding will start at: £20

Auction time: Monday 24th November 7.30pm (GMT)

Next we have another sweet offering from Ronnie Harvey – some of her handmade doily Dew Drop bunting, perfect for weddings, hearths and kitchen dressers! Eight flags, with 16 clear hand sewn-on Quartz crystals. The bunting comes with an explanation of the crystal properties, the vintage doilies are all white and the bunting 1.76m in length, the ends have ties.

Bidding will start at: £5

Auction time: Tuesday 25th November 7.30pm (GMT)

Next we have a beautiful hand-carved wooden necklace by Geoff King of Woodland Treasures:
Moon and Stars
Carved from Scottish Rowan
33mm diameter, slightly domed

Bidding will start at: £20

Auction time: Sunday 23rd November 7.30pm (GMT)

Next up, we’re honoured indeed to have been offered for this Hedge-auction, a year’s subscription to the incredible and unparalleled mythic-mail project Elk Lines by wonder-writer Sylvia Linsteadt.

If you haven’t yet come across Sylvia’s incredible wordsmithery, you’re in for a treat. Her writing is a wild-pawed beast which will stalk your dreams…

On offer in this auction:

One Year Subscription to Elk Lines, With Accompanying Hand-felted Story-Case, by mythweaver Sylvia V. Linsteadt of Wild Talewort

Elk Lines, a Wild Tales By Mail project for adults, is a rewilding of the old Hungarian version of “The Handless Maiden” tale, set on the Point Reyes Peninsula of Northern California. Each of its eight installments make up one continuous novel, and are mailed (with a wax-seal and hand-drawn stamps!) to arrive upon the eight seasonal festivals of the year, in the old Celtic tradition: Lughnasadh (August 1st); the Autumn Equinox (September 21st); Samhain (November 1st); the Winter Solstice (December 21st); Imbolc (February 1st); the Spring Equinox (March 21st); Beltane (May 1st); and the Summer Solstice (June 21st). My own hand-drawn “map” or “songline” of the season will accompany each installment, to further root you into the landscape of Point Reyes and the lives of the plants and animals who dwell there. (value: $96.00)

Hand-Felted Story-Case: Hand felted, hand-sewn, hand-embroidered story case with eight pockets to hold your entire Elk Lines collection! This story case is sewn with lake-blue corduroy pockets, and embroidered with antlers to guard your tales when they are all buttoned in. The wool is local, sustainable merino and jacob from nearby coastal sheep farms. Made with love and song outside in the garden, as the birds sing and the weather shifts and moves. (value: $99.00)

TOTAL VALUE: US$195.00, OR £125.00

Bidding will start at: £55

Auction time: Monday 24th November 7.30pm (GMT)

Next we have a truly beautiful hand-painted pendant by artist June Uriagereka:

June’s work is really stunning, as you’ll see. This auction is for a hand painted barn owl pendant. It´s painted with acrylics on wood and measures 3.8cm in diameter.

Bidding will start at: £20

Auction time: Sunday 23rd November 7.30pm (GMT)

Next we have some very delightful needle-felted animals by Jenny Barnett. These are small needle felted wool sculptures, about 12 – 13 cm tall…

Firstly, a sweet little hare:

Bidding will start at: £20

Auction time: Tuesday 25th November 7.30pm (GMT)

Secondly, a fox (the chicken in the picture isn’t getting involved in this auction – he’s just watching!)

Bidding will start at: £20

Auction time: Tuesday 25th November 7.30pm (GMT)

Next up, is an enchanting and beautiful piece of silversmithing by jeweller Claire Dean of Where The Wild Roses Grow:

Claire says:

I would like to offer a little silver book/grimoire pendant for your auction.

I will make it to order for the winning bidder and can inscribe a few favourite personal words or a dedication (chosen by the buyer if they wish) inside the front and back covers. It will be made from pure silver, have a 3mm moonstone on the front, will have tiny real recycled paper pages, will be fully openable, and will hang from a fine silk ribbon (again the winning buyer can choose the colour from the ribbons I have available). The tiny key and padlock charms are fine silver too. It measures approx 1.8 x 1.5 cm and will weigh approx 4-5gm.

These sell for £125-150 depending on what extras I put on – they are small but take a long time to make!

Bidding will start at: £50

Auction time: Sunday 23rd November 7.30pm (GMT)

Next, we’re extremely proud and honoured to offer some wonderful hedgerow-inspired wool, made specifically for the Hedgespoken Auction by Cecilia Hewett:

Two skeins of hand-spun wool by Cecilia Hewett, inspired by an ancient hedgerow and designed for Hedgespoken.

At this time of year, the ancient hedgerow gives us a glimpse into its secret world, as the leaves fall revealing the deep hidden pathways of hedge life. But it is also the time when that life becomes more vulnerable: the hunted must burrow deeper to escape watchful eyes, there is no barrier of leaves to prevent pollution by fumes and road salt, and the hedge-slashing machine comes to wreak its destruction. Thinking about a nature note to accompany this yarn, what came to mind was something like an old-fashioned rhyme, a charm of protection perhaps, a prayer, a wish for the safety of the old hedge and all who hide within and shelter beneath.The yarn is 100% wool from British Blue-faced Leicester sheep, in the dusky colours of the fruit of an old hedgerow, hand-dyed by Cecilia.The yarn is designed to be used for wool crafts: weaving, knitting, embroidery or felt decoration. But it would also be happy to nestle decoratively in a beautiful hand-crafted bowl or be worn as a necklace. The smooth yarn weighs 46g, measures approximately 94m and is 15 wraps per inch (a light double-knitting/sport weight). The coily yarn weighs 47g and measures approximately 15m.

Cecilia Hewett is a hand-spinner in rural Cumbria, producing yarns inspired by the detail of her local landscape. To find out more about her work and where it is exhibited and sold, visit http://www.facebook.com/ceciliashandspunyarn. The yarn is not usually sold online – this is a rare opportunity!

Bidding will start at: £30

Auction time: Tuesday 25th November 7.30pm (GMT)

Next, a really beautiful miniscule handmade journal by artist Lynn Hardaker:

A hand bound journal of ca. 1 x 1 inch (2.5 x 2.5 cm), made of tea-stained paper, hand sewn signatures, Florentine marbled endpapers, head bands, leather cover with a mini collage consisting of a fragment of an antique letter and a pressed flower, with a leather tie.

Bidding will start at: £15

Auction time: Tuesday 25th November 7.30pm (GMT)

Next we have a wondrous piece of handcrafted silver talismanic jewellery by Aidan Wachter of Tveir Hrafnar:

Aidan says:

“Up for auction is any one standard catalog piece of sterling silver talismanic jewelry from Aidan Wachter’s Tveir Hrafnar. Items covered by this auction vary in retail price from $85.00 to $150.00 US. Auction includes standard shipping to North America and Europe. As all items are individually handcrafted, expected time to ship is between 6 and 8 weeks after the end of the auction (well, 6 to 8 weeks after the winner decides what they want, and lets me know what it is, of course!- A.W.). Happy bidding!

The winning bidder will chose ONE of the standard designs Aidan offers, examples of which can be seen below:

Bidding will start at: £50

Auction time: Sunday 23rd November 7.30pm (GMT)

Next we have a lovely handfelted Selkie Spirit Crown made by Laura Courtenay:

Made from merino and corriedale wools, this was felted on the last full moon…

Bidding will start at: £15

Auction time: Sunday 23rd November 7.30pm (GMT)

And now for a series of amazing items from members of our creative community of local artists…

This is a beautiful solid silver bee necklace in a hand painted honeycomb box by our friend Angharad Barlow of Atelier Bee:

Bidding will start at: £30

Auction time: Sunday 23rd November 7.30pm (GMT)

Next up we have a really beautiful piece of work from local Devon leatherworker Liz Pannell:

Liz says:A handstitched Field Notes journal cover, with a pen/pencil loop and a notebook refill included, made with full-grain London colour veg tanned leather sourced here in Devon, from the tannery in Colyton where I also have my workshop/studio.
I can offer a ‘voucher’ for someone to redeem against a journal cover- and they can then choose from different colours of leather.

Bidding will start at: £12

Auction time: Tuesday 25th November 7.30pm (GMT)

Next we have another wondrous offering from one of our local community of artists – this is a portrait of Rima by our friend Rex Van Ryn for part of a tarot deck he’s creating.
This is done in ink on A3 card:

Bidding will start at: £30

Auction time: Wednesday 26th November 7.30pm (GMT)

Next we have a stunning pair of handcrafted earrings by our friend and local Dartmoor jeweller Miriam Boy of Silver & Moor:

Up for auction is a pair of handcrafted sterling silver earrings with copper detail, oxidized and textured:

Bidding will start at: £20

Auction time: Sunday 23rd November 7.30pm (GMT)

Next we have two absolutely stunning photographs by our friend Simon Blackbourn, Dartmoor dweller, wanderer and photographer:

First…

“The Road”
Black and white photograph by Simon Blackbourn

The photo will be professionally Giclee printed (by The Print Space) in black & white on Hahnemuhle Photorag paper at approx 30 x 40 cm (12″ x 16″), signed by Simon and delivered in time for Christmas. It has a white border to allow for mounting.

Bidding will start at: £30

Auction time: Wednesday 26th November 7.30pm (GMT)

and second…

“Dartmoor Pony”

Colour photograph by Simon Blackbourn

The photo will be professionally printed (by The Print Space) in full colour on crystal archive paper at approx 30 x 40 cm (12″ x 16″), signed by Simon and delivered in time for Christmas. You can choose matt or gloss finish. It has a white border to allow for mounting.

Bidding will start at: £30

Auction time: Wednesday 26th November 7.30pm (GMT)

And last, but not least, we have an offering from each of us!

This simple, unique Smickelgrim mask has been hand-crafted by Tom Hirons from local Devon oak-tanned leather. Hand-cut and dyed and painted, it’s been finished off with my own secret-recipe Smickelgrim mask-wax. Durable, elegant, incognito. Perfect attire for a Hedgedancer, Hedgeninja or Hedgewooer. Enjoy.

Bidding will start at: £30

Auction time: Sunday 23rd November 7.30pm (GMT)

And here’s a little travelling-home-themed painting by Rima Staines in which a tiny bearded green-and-brown-clad man steers his wagon-house, which is powered by the muscular legs of a dung beetle, driving a side wheel and propelling the house along! …

Beetle-powered

by Rima Staines

oils on wood, 2014

approx 4 inches in diameter, comes with a small hanger and title and signature on the reverse.

Bidding will start at: £90

Auction time: Wednesday 26th November 7.30pm (GMT)

And that’s it!

We’re so happy that so many folks have felt to offer hedgerow/story/enchantment-themed works… and we’re struggling not to want a few of them ourselves! All that remains is to explain how the bidding will work:

How Hedgehammer auctions work!

I’m putting this all on a separate page so that it’s easy to find in the excitement of a live auction – if you’re planning on bidding for something, it might be worth bookmarking that page or keeping it open in a tab or window in case of confusion!

The Hedgehammer auction is not like an eBay auction

eBay auctions count down to a pre-set time and whoever has bid the most when the buzzer goes wins the auction. I don’t like eBay auctions – it’s really all about who gets in there quickest before the bell (and whether they’re prepared to use sneaky software to do it for them…) Do we want this? No.

When I was a young’un, we got most of our furniture (not to mention windows, doors and bricks…) from a fantastic auction near Diss, on the Suffolk/Norfolk border in East Anglia, near to where we lived. Auction day was Friday and it was a Big Event. You could get everything from nails to church spires – my parents would bid all morning and win and lose, while my sister and I sat and marvelled at it all, or drew copious mad drawings in the car park. This is the kind of auction that I like.

Hedgehammer auctions are like auctions in an auction-house, but online

So, imagine that I’m standing behind a lectern, with a gavel (that’s the wee hammer that judges and auctioneers use…) and that you’re all in the house – you’ve looked at the schedule and made a note of the items you’re interested in, and the auction’s about to begin. Here comes someone carrying the item you’re after! How exciting!

How to bid

Once an auction is open (and you’ll know it’s open because I’ll tell you in the comments on the page for that item) you can make a bid for an item. That first bid should be at the starting price that’ll be clearly marked on the page – in fact, I’ll open the auction with a ‘any takers at £(whatever the starting price is)’ comment.

After that, you can place a bid whenever you like, for however much you like, as long as it’s at least £1 more than the previous highest bid. Just put your bid in the comments for the item. The highest bid will be in line to win the item, should no one outbid them.

A bid is made by putting how much you’re willing to pay for the item in a comment on the page for that item. Don’t bid if you’re not intending to buy the item – seriously, just don’t do it, please!

Bids in £ only, please – if you’re bidding from another country, it might be worth checking the exchange rate first! When it comes to paying, you’ll be doing it via Indiegogo, which will do all the conversions for you.

‘But,’ you say, ‘someone else might have bid before me…’ Yes – if this happens and things look like they’re getting confused, I’ll add a comment clarifying who’s the current highest bidder. Refreshing your page before you bid might also be a good idea!

When bids dry up and nothing’s happened for 10 minutes, I’ll put a comment on the page for the item, saying ‘GOING ONCE TO (whoever’s top bidder) FOR (whatever they’ve bid)’

After another 5 minutes, I’ll put a comment on the page, saying ‘GOING TWICE TO (whoever’s top bidder) FOR (whatever they’ve bid)’

If there’s no more action for another minute or so, I’ll bang my imaginary gavel and post a comment on the page saying ‘SOLD TO (whoever’s top bidder) FOR (whatever they’ve bid)’

That means that item is sold! You won! :) Or you didn’t :(

In summary:

• the first bid should be the starting price – if no one bids, I’ll drop the price by putting in a comment with the new price.
  
• bids after that should be at least £1 more than the current highest bid
• bids are made by commenting on the item page
• bids are to be in £ only
• after 10 mins of no bids, I’ll comment with ‘GOING ONCE’
• after another 5 mins of no bids, I’ll comment with ‘GOING TWICE’
• after a minute or so, I’ll comment ‘SOLD’ – at that point, the auction’s over – in that comment I’ll put a link to where to pay
• once you’ve paid (within 24 hours please), we’ll email you and the sender of the item
• you get your item within a week (unless it says otherwise in the description)
• Hedgespoken rolls on…

TO KEEP THIS WORKING, MAKE SURE YOU REFRESH YOUR PAGE BEFORE BIDDING – THINGS MAY HAVE CHANGED IN THE MEANTIME!

Yeehah – I won! What now?

In the SOLD! comment, there’ll be a link to the crowdfunding page where you can make a contribution (no perk!) for the amount you bought the item for. Once we get your contribution, we’ll send you the email address of the person who’ll be sending out the item – no, we haven’t got a warehouse full of all the stuff here at the Hedgequarters! We’ll be sending them your email address too, but the sooner you send them your delivery address and details of what you bought, the sooner you’ll get it. Unless it’s in the description differently, they’ll be sending your item out within the week… We ask that you pay for your item within 24 hours, and preferably as soon as you’ve won.

Oh… No one bid…

If no one makes a bid for something at its opening price, I’ll drop the price by posting a new price in the comments – something like ‘ANY TAKERS AT (the new price)?‘ I’ll keep doing that until someone bids and then we’re off until bids dry up and the whole ‘GOING ONCE/TWICE/SOLD’ routine happens.

But I can’t make the time that the auction is on for the thing I want :(

No problem – email us your maximum bid at hedgespoken@gmail.com and we’ll bid sensibly on your behalf up to your maximum bid.

How will I know when an auction’s started?

We’ll post on the blog with each day’s auction items and links to the pages where you can find them. Those pages will go live before the auctions begin, but the auction won’t start until I tell you in the comments. We’ll also be keeping you posted on facebook and twitter.

I’ve got a question…

You can email us at hedgespoken@gmail.com or ask away on facebook or twitter and we’ll do our best to answer asap.

Thank you again to our generous donors of all these wonders!!
Happy bidding and good luck!