Let my bras pick your brain

[Barb Pelton]

Now that I have your attention...

We are working on a charitable promotion once again for our local United Cancer Assistance Network. For years, we have held an art auction in Oct and donated the proceeds. 2 years ago, we decided to do something different, so we had local artists decorate/paint bras, which we "framed" and auctioned off. They were mainly purchased by businesses, who then placed them in their businessses along with a collection jar, and they served as collection points during the month of Oct. We raised several thousands of dollars, got a lot of press, etc, but boy was it work. Last year, we decided to not do it because my main framer had to take a 6 wk leave of absence for medical reasons.

People were really vocal about missing the event (the auction was quite a party), and weve been asked several times to do it again this year.
Id like to do it again, but with a few changes to make it less work on us.

My biggest problem is how to cheaply and quickly "frame" them. I have an idea, but Im not sure it would be quicker. Heres what we did before:

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Each of these had an easel support on the back that we fashioned out of strips of gatorfoam. the clear boxes were velcroed on so that they could be removed and emptied. We had 50 bras donated, and so we made 50 14x20 frames for them. Much of those were frames that were donated from customers which we spray painted in bright colors. LJ StL also donated some disc mouldings. We had some old dog moulding we cleaned out as well.

IDEALLY, Id like some acrylic bra forms, and just omit the frames, but that would be expensive and possibly not as eye catching. AND, the frames of course tie this all back to us.

thoughts? ideas?

 

[Robin Gentry MCPF]

Okay you got my attention!

Did you pad the bras? Did you sew them down? or are they just hooked like normal around the mat?

I really like the way you have done these. I don't know how you could do it at any less cost.

 

[Randy Parrish CPF]

I would donate a couple frames for the cause and ship them at my expense. I could send chops too.

 

[Barb Pelton]

Robin,
Just a couple of Attach EZ's on each.
A couple of the bras did need padding for added support, and we used 6 " tulle ribbon IN A CO-ordinating color.
The one we display here' I just let people put the money in the cups, and I feel ok because its on our counter and I doubt anyone would steal money out of it. So far everyone has gotten a laugh out of it. The bra is so decorated that it looks like art so it seems to make it fun rather than sleazy in any way.

Wow, Randy, that is awesome!

 

[Cliff Wilson MCPF]

I'm sorry, but I am coming up short on filling out a bra?!

Not much of a time saver, but how about some of Jim Miller's glass enclosures with the top open and spacer flanges on the two sides. Put frames so the flanges slide down in to the rabbit. Actually a little less cost would be to do the same thing with matboard and use the CMC to cut the box out with folds, so it could go kind of fast and would be pretty inexpensive.