Auction Items List

Houston Council of the Blind

2025 Holiday Auction

1.   Christmas tree of gifts, black zip tote

This beautiful and colourful Christmas tree was conceptualized by my son and partner in crime, Robert Waechter. The tree is framed on the left by a roller ball cane and on the right by a white rigid cane. They form the outside of the tree. The star at the top of the tree is created from the two straps of the white canes. Cute and clever, right?

The inside of the tree, however, is filled with piles and piles of gifts, all varied sizes, all different bright colours, each tied with a bright yellow bow – with all distinct kinds of bows! Each gift was hand drawn.

We know you will love and enjoy the tree as much as we loved creating it!

Our zipper tote is 15 x 20”, it has a full zip top, and a zipper pocket on the inside. There is a gusset on the bottom so that the tote can stand upright and not flop over. This sturdy 100% cotton canvas tote is so sturdy that you can put two gallons of milk in it. (Which one customer did in an emergency!)

Do not wash just spot clean.

Donated by: Blind Girl Designs

Tricia Waechter

2.   $50 Gift Card to Starbucks and a Table Lamp

Take a friend and enjoy your favourite cup of coffee while you cozy up with this decorative table lamp.

2A- Starbucks was founded on a love for high-quality coffee. Coffee is our heart. But people are our soul. We are woven into the communities we serve. Our stores are gathering spaces for conversations, connection, and joy, where our baristas share their love of coffee with customers every single day.

2B- This lovely table lamp comes with a black lamp shade. It sits on a metal base that is a dark bronzy black colour with a classic design. It has multiple sections an ornate detail giving it a traditional vintage look.

Donated by Cuqui Soto and Denise Caldwell

3.   $25 gift card to Bath and Body Works

You can choose from a variety of bath and body products for both women and men.

Donated by: Gayle Metoyer

4.   Wine Basket Celebrate a relaxing evening with a bottle of Cabernet

Celebrate a relaxing evening with 2 bottles of Cabernet

Here is a nice wine basket to help you enjoy a relaxing evening for two or just for you. It has 2 bottles of Cabernet wine along with wine glasses and snacks.

(Wine cannot be shipped; Wine Must be picked up.)

Donated by: Barbara Schneidler and Cuqui Soto

5.   Big TEX Basket  

We take great pride in our products and packaging and are confident that you will find our Glazed Pecans to be the best tasting pecans that you've ever tasted! Every item is carefully cooked and packaged by hand to ensure that you receive candies worthy of the Sweet Taste of Texas name. Our candies include all types of pecans with sugar & spice, pralines, turtles, clusters, fudges and much more for the holidays!

Donated by Sweet Taste of Texas

6.   Beautiful Hawaii Carolina blue hoodie

Aloha From Blind Girl Designs! 

Welcome to the Hawaii Association of the blind fundraiser!

The very first thing that you will notice on this print is that there are four white tactile honu swimming across the print. The Honu is a Hawaiian sea turtle, which is not only present today, but also very ancient, they are etched in petroglyphs in stones around the islands. 

The honu represent resilience, wisdom, and a connection to the natural world.

In big white letters, all the way across the top is the word Hawaii. We actually purchased this font from a Hawaiian font designer and inside of each letter are beautiful Polynesian drawings, and in fact the okina symbol (you will find it between the two i’s in Hawaii, and you will also find it in braille between the two i’s in Hawaii) came as part of the alphabet. Beneath the big word Hawaii is Hawaii in tactile braille.

To the left of Hawaii starting at the top of the print and going all the way down to the bottom of the print are beautiful, yellow hibiscus, and behind the hibiscus, there are little green leaves. Next to the hibiscus on the far left is a white cane running from the top of the print to the bottom.

My white cane runs from the top left all the way across the top of the word Hawaii. Running across the bottom of the print in white tactile braille, it says “Hawaii Association of the Blind.” It does not say it in words, but it says it in braille! 

We are excited about this beautiful print, and if you are not from Hawaii, likely you have been there, wish you would have been there, or are hoping to go someday! Grab a little bit of Hawaii here and let us support the Hawaii Association of the Blind! Mahalo! 

This hooded sweatshirt comes in youth size small through large, adult sizes small through five XL, tall sizes large through three XL. The winner gets to pick their size.

It is a standard pull over hoodie fit with a large front pocket and large hood with a drawstring. It will shrink extraordinarily little if put in a hot dryer. Wash and dry inside out to protect the ink and make nice and fluffy on the inside!

Donated by: Blind Girl Designs

Tricia Waechter

7.   $25 Sweet Granny Bees Gift card

Sweet Granny Bea’s Dessert Shop

Home-made desserts like “Granny’s”

Desserts can be shipped.

Website: sweetgrannybeas.com

Donated by: Sweet Granny Bees

8.   $50.00 Starbucks gift card

Starbucks was founded on a love for high-quality coffee. Coffee is our heart. But people are our soul. We are woven into the communities we serve. Our stores are gathering spaces for conversations, connection, and joy, where our baristas share their love of coffee with customers every single day.

Donated by: Leslie Spoon

9.   .  Tech Bag

*TREND LOGIC multi-Charger

Six-foot cord charges 3 devices: For iPhones, Android phones type C devices.

Handy for home or travel.

*Solar Charger

Be prepared for power outages with this solar charger!

Suitable for charging iPhones, iPads, Android phones, GPS devices, cameras, etc.

Solar Charger

Charges in direct sunlight.  Suitable for charging iPhones, iPads, Android phones, GPS devices, cameras, etc.

*Super water-proof and dustproof * Strong Shockproof and drop resistance.

Donated by: Peggy Garrett:

10.                 Sports Day Fun Basket

For that sports day event. Enjoy a Case of Modella Beer, a popular pale lager Mexican beer brewed since 1926! It is known for its light taste and you can add a twist of lime. along with a beer mug, some other good snacks and treats will make game day a favorite!

(Beer cannot be shipped; Beer must be picked up.)

Donated by: Barbara Schneidler and Cuqui soto

11.                 At Home Spa Basket

This basket contains A   stress relief candle, a blanket, socks, face masks, eye masks, bath salts, bath glove/towels, and bath tray all in a decorative basket. 

Donated by: By Lavae, Lisa Cooper

12/ Kendra Scott necklace & earrings

This Elisa necklace with purple mother of pearl from the Kendra Scott collection is a timeless piece known for its delicate design and vibrant color. It features an oval-shaped pendant set with a genuine purple mother of pearl stone, offering a luminous and iridescent look that adds a touch of elegance to any outfit. The necklace is crafted with an adjustable gold chain, making it versatile for layering or wearing alone as a statement accessory. The EMILIE HUGGIE EARRINGS also has matching dainty purple gemstones pierced hook gold earrings. This classic Kendra Scott set is perfect for both everyday wear and special occasions, exuding both charm and sophistication.

Donated by Kendra Scott Jewelry and Mack Smith

13.                 Pretty fall tree prints purple hoodie.

Tricia Waechter

Oh, we were just in the great Northeast and the leaves were turning! I just love to fall with the wonderful smells, the pumpkins, and the leaves, turning from green to yellow and orange and red.

This inspired our autumn tree print. We have created three colourful trees in a cluster. The sturdy trunk of each tree is a different white cane (clever, right?). As the tree branches out, the branches sprout from the sturdy white canes.

The first tree has an oval shape and beautiful yellow leaves with brown branches. The second tree is fiery red leaves again with of course, brown branches sprouting from the white cane, and the last tree is also oval, but a little bit wider, and it is that beautiful orange colour that we see only during the fall season. Think pumpkins, nature’s original orange colour!

Altogether with beautiful contrast backgrounds from the t-shirts and hoodies, this is just a beautiful print.

We hope you enjoy this Blind Girl Design as much as we enjoyed creating it. Feel free to crack open a hot cocoa or a spiced cider to celebrate!

This unisex hooded sweatshirt comes in youth size small through large, adult sizes small through five XL, tall sizes large through three XL. 

It is a standard pull over hoodie fit with a large front pocket and large hood with a drawstring. It is cotton/ poly and it will not shrink if put in a hot dryer. Wash and dry inside out to protect the ink and make nice and fluffy on the inside!

Donated by: Blind Girl Designs

14.                 A tin of Homemade Glazed Pecans

Enjoy these delicious homemade glazed pecans. They are a special holiday treat.

Recipes are available upon request.

Donated by: Noelia Dillingham

15.                 $50 Amazon Gift Card  

It is time to enjoy your holiday shopping with this Amazon gift card. Treat yourself or give as a stocking stuffer.

Donated by Cuqui Soto

16.                  Holiday Shoppers Delight bundle

What a fantastic way to kick off your holiday shopping with these stocking stuffers and treats. This generous bundle includes $25 gift cards from Starbucks, American Express, Amazon and Pappa’s restaurants. You will also get a Flat Pouch Set - a set of three all-purpose zip pouches for organization and travel. (Kelly Green, Navy, and Olive Green colours). They are made of recycled nylon and machine washable. Add this delicious fragrance to your home with a long lasting 8.1 oz Nest Fragrance Pumpkin Chai Candle. Treat yourself to a scrumptious treat at the end of day with a box of Rustic Bakery Snowflakes (Vanilla Butter Cookies) Enjoy your holidays!

Donated by Carla Vigilante

17.                 Laptop Computer with JAWS, ZoomText, or Fusion

The standard refurbished laptop computer has                     •      Intel Core i5 Processor or higher
•      8 GB Memory
•      240 GB Solid State Drive
•      fourteen″ Screen Size
•      Internal WIFI, Speakers, Webcam. Select your screen reader - JAWS, ZoomText or Fusion to install.

Donated By: Computers for the Blind

18.                 3-D love red hoodie

But the greatest of these is love.

My mom and dad famously have little notes and reminders, as well as sayings and verses in frames, painted on rocks, and on cards. One of my favourites is “faith, hope and love - but the greatest of these is love.”

This just always resonated with me, philosophically. I have always said that my legacy is love, not a material thing - just love.

This is a 12 x 12 tactile white print shaped like a heart. On both the left and the right side of the heart shape, the statement “faith, hope and love but the greatest of these is love” is in 3D tactile ink in clean bold letters. 

Beneath the letters are the same words in braille. The centre of the heart has one word, LOVE. It is large and, in a font, called American typewriter. Underneath it loves is written in tactile braille. 

Enjoy your Blind Girl Designs and spread some love!

This hooded sweatshirt comes in youth size small through large, adult sizes small through five XL, tall sizes large through three XL. The winner gets to pick their own size.!

It is a standard pull over hoodie fit with a large front pocket and large hood with a drawstring. It will shrink extraordinarily little if put in a hot dryer. Wash and dry inside out to protect the ink and make nice and fluffy on the inside!

Donated by: Blind Girl Designs

Tricia Waechter

19.                 Two dozen Tea cakes

This is a Southern treat that is a cookie but in a cake form.

You have your choice of flavors: chocolate Pecan, Lemon, and Vanilla!

Donated by: Bridgette German

20.                 Paparazzi Jewelry and $30 Starbucks Gift Card

19A A “PEARLY PEARLS”

2-piece NECKLACE & EARRINGS Set

FROM A GOLD LINK CHAIN STARTING AT THE SHOULDERS WITH A one-half INCH PEARL FOLLOWED BY A DOUBLE STRAND OF PEARLS ALL THE WAY AROUND TO THE OTHER SHOULDER. IT ENDS AGAIN WITH one-half inch PEARL.

EARRINGS 

ATTACHED TO A GOLD HOOK IS A PEARL THAT DROPS AN INCH FROM THE EAR.

19B Starbucks was founded on a love for high-quality coffee. Coffee is our heart. But people are our soul. We are woven into the communities we serve. Our stores are gathering spaces for conversations, connection, and joy, where our baristas share their love of coffee with customers every single day.

Donated By: Cuqui Soto and Barbara Schneidler

21.                 Your

Your Scentsy Gift

One - A silver coloured mini fan diffuser with one scent pod. The device has a USB port to attach to a laptop or an outlet or sits neatly in the cup holder of a vehicle.

Two - Three wax scent bars of your choice.

Three - A rectangular scent pack fragrance. It is just the right size to scent your closet, a drawerful of clothes, your car, hang in your bathroom or carry with you to take care of those annoying hotel smells.

Four - A $15 gift certificate 

Donated by: Karen graves with Sensi.

22.                 Happy dancing penguins with white canes, red crewneck sweatshirt

Introducing our three happy penguins creating a little bit of happy chaos! All three penguins are black and white with orange webbed feet and yellow beaks. Of course, each of the penguins has a white cane too!!
The first penguin is standing on his head with a top hat balanced on the floor. The band of the top hat is magenta, and the top hat is black. The penguin is balancing his white cane with his feet, so the white cane is going horizontally across the print. The next fun penguin is joyously dancing with a Long yellow and green striped scarf around his neck, and the top part of the scarf is blowing high up in the wind. He is holding his white cane at a diagonal, just like we do when we walk. Adding to the delightful chaos is penguin number three who is balancing on penguin number two white cane halfway in the air on one weed foot. In his right flipper is his white cane with the strap flowing in the wind. This is a happy jumble of white canes, penguins, and striped scarves! We absolutely love designing this and we hope you will love your Blind Girl Designs!

These sweatshirts come in unisex sizing, youth, small through large, adult small through five XL, tall, large through three XL. The winner gets to pick their own size.!
This cozy heavyweight crewneck sweatshirt has banded sleeves and bottom. It is made from cotton poly and will not shrink. Please wash this inside out to protect the ink and feel free to put it in a hot tumble dryer to make it nice and fluffy for you! But make sure it is inside out!

Enjoy your Blind Girl Designs! 

Donated by: Blind Girl Designs

Tricia Waechter

23.                 For a Warm and Cozy Treat

Warm and Cozy blanket in holiday reds and greens

Red mug

Box of winter wellness tea w/ six Doterra assorted honey sticks

5ml bottle of Doterra “Holiday Joy” essential oil

Box of Trader Joe’s peppermint JoJo’s

6 handmade assorted greeting cards

Donated by: Hayley Agers

DoTERRA Wellness Advocate

24.                 Avon Package

Skin So Soft Bath Oil

Skin So Soft Shower Gel

Skin So Soft Body Lorion

Skin So Soft Beauty Bar Soap

Skin So Soft Roll-on Deodorant

Skin So Soft Original Bath Oil Spray – 5 fl. oz

Avon Shower Brush

Donated by: Lucille Nuru

25.                 Starry angel glow in the dark printed Barry hoodie

This beautiful tactile angel is in the centre of the print. The body of the angel is made from seven white canes with the handles of the white canes and straps at the very top and then fanning out at the bottom.

The head of the angel is a circle and above that is an oblong halo. This angel has beautiful, gigantic wings that are solid. We made solid wings so that when it goes in the dark, it will be really obvious. 

Surrounding the beautiful white angel are a field of stars, small, medium, and large that are scattered all over the entire print. Some of the stars are outlines and some of the stars are filled in. Of course, all the stars glow in the dark.

We were so excited to make this print after the positive reaction to our three sweet angels print and we hope that you will love this as much as we do!

This hoodie is cotton/ poly, but do not size up because there is an extraordinarily little shrinkage when washed. Please wash inside out in cold wash and hang to dry or tumble dry inside out.

Available in sizes youth small through large, adult small through five XL, tall, large through three XL. All sizes are unisex. The winner gets to choose their own size!

Enjoy your Blind Girl Designs!

Donated by: Blind Girl Designs

Tricia Waechter

26.                 A Tote for you and a Treat for your pet

Teach Love, and Inspire and Bloom Zippered Tote Bag by Blind Girl Designs

A- This black tote has a 13 X 9-inch-wide print and braille TEACH, LOVE, INSPIRE & BLOOM. In the middle of every letter o, is a heart. The colours are pink, coral, purple, and yellow and all the flowers have petals and inside are contrast colours. This tote has an inside zipper pocket and a strap you can sling over the shoulder. Do not wash.

Donated: Tricia Waechter,

Blind Girl Designs

B- $25.00 PetSmart gift card

A gift card for your pet. Give your pet all their favorite goodies & treats for the holidays!

Donated by Sara Freeman Smith

27.                  $30 Starbuck Gift Card and Paparazzi Jewelry

A.  Starbucks was founded on a love for high-quality coffee. Coffee is our heart. But people are our soul. We are woven into the communities we serve. Our stores are gathering spaces for conversations, connection, and joy, where our baristas share their love of coffee with customers every single day.

B.  Donated By: Cuqui Soto and Barbara Schneidler

C.   

B. STUNNING iridescent

Encased in sleek silver fittings, dramatically oversized white rhinestones delicately link into twinkly tassels that taper off into a jaw-dropping fringe below the collar with an adjustable clasp closure and matching earrings. 

28.                 Private wine class from Total Wine and more

You can become a Rockstar among friends and family with this package for your wine lovers. Taste a variety of our premium, hand-selected wines, and discover hidden treasures from the wine region of your choosing. choose from a list of popular wine classes, such as Wine 101, Vive La France, and California Uncorked, among others. This two-hour tasting can be a seated style class or casual walk around and will accommodate up to twenty guests. Now that is what we call  a Texas-sized wine tasting!

 This certificate can be used wherever there is a Total Wine & More store and will expire in October 2026

Donated by: Total Wine & More

29.                   $100Taste of Texas Gift Card 

The Taste of Texas Restaurant sets the standard in steakhouse excellence, serving only perfectly aged Certified Angus Beef®️️, the finest steaks and prime rib available. Owners Nina and Edd Hendee opened the restaurant in 1977, and it has since become a Houston landmark. The Taste of Texas is world-renowned for steaks, an award-winning wine list, great service and Texas hospitality. Restaurant reservations are only available online and open 30 days in advance. We also welcome walk-in parties for 12 or less. Proper Attire Required.

Donated by: The Taste of Texas