Geneva business to host Blankenship fundraiser

Wool and Company, 23 S. Third St. in Geneva, will hold a silent auction to benefit the family of Dorie Blankenship on Friday, May 8 to Sunday, May 10.

Blankenship worked at the store for most of the past five years, and if you were lucky enough to be helped by her you will have certainly come to appreciate her creative genius with all things fiber.

Her husband, Jeff, died suddenly in February. The store is having a fundraiser to benefit the education trust for their four children. The silent auction items will be arranged in store from Friday morning until Sunday at 4 p.m. when the bidding will end.

Several items are available for online biddding at www.woolandcompany.com/blog, including: a hand-knit Fiesta shawl; a quilted tote bag; a Vera Bradley large duffel bag; and a limited edition, original matted photo "Unfinished Object" by Hope Greene.

Among the auction items up for bid are: a hand-knit baby sweater; a Plymouth afghan kit; a hand-sewn purse; a Vera Bradley garment bag; a handmade sterling silver bracelet; a ceramic dish and pedestal signed by Gail Pittman; a skein of Wollmeise yarn direct from Germany; a skein of 100 percent cashmere; a hand thrown pot; a bag filled with yarn, needle and patterns; a barn-raising afghan made by store and guild knitters; a "pamper" basket; a hand-knit alpaca sweater jacket; a sterling Silver Knitting bangle; two skeins of Sock Hop hand spun; and a Plymouth Baby afghan kit

The store wishes to give special thanks to Peggy Rauhaut, Kate Kaplan, Hope Greene, Val Adelsheim, Jodee Debates, Plymouth Yarn Co, Knitting Fever, Cascade Yarns, Carla Hibbard, Judy Jasper, Christie Stotko, Mary Halfpenny, Emily Parsons, Jane Combs and Sweet Tooth Candies, Galena Cellars. For details, call (630) 232-2305.