Garage Sale 2012

So, this past weekend I held my very first Garage Sale.
Setting up was fun, and my son enjoyed planning how he would display his Little People that he was selling.

It was SO hot... and humid!  My little Entrepreneur filled the cooler with frozen juice pouches and water bottles and made a few bucks selling those, and snacks he lugged around in a bin.
He also attacked every person, welcomed them to the sale and handed them my business card.
I love that kid!

We got rid of alot of stuff, though not all the stuff as I had hoped to.  That's how it goes though.

My manager at the check-out counter.

This dresser is my work station in the garage.  I do small projects on it, and store alot of junk, tools etc on it while I am working.  Last week as I slapped chalk paint on the kiddie table/chairs set [SOLD!], I decided to also chalkboard the back of this so I could write on it.  It worked out great, especially after we hoisted it up on the 2 small dollys so that we could roll it around.  I'll be adding real, attached wheels to her, and trick out the top with fold down sides to give me a bigger work surface, and generally spiff her up 'cause it worked a charm!

I got alot of great comments on the dog/doll beds.

I also got some kids trying them out... ugh!  So signs went in them to please not sit/lay in them.

None of these items sold.

I got these chairs for free from a man I bought the caned dining chairs from.

These are not something I would normally want, but he practically begged me to take them, and I figured fixed up I could donate them... but I just can't wrap my mind around this style and fix them up.  I guess I'll have to, since they too are still here.

I got one offer on these tables but it was for what I paid for them before I repainted them and glued them so I declined.  I may just use them in my house.

I got alot of compliments on this, but no offers.

Some said it was too large [though it's really a small china cabinet], and that they just didn't need one.

You can see on the counter of the hutch that I had a display of the rescues brochures, and many took those and also donated directly via the donation can I had out.  I also sold one bottle of fly spray, and between those and the 10% I give the rescue, we raised $55 for Equine Rescue Resource over the whole weekend.  Not as much as I had hoped for, but more than I could come up with out of my own pocket, so I'll take it!

SOLD!

Whew!  But alas, for almost what I have into it between purchasing it, paint, time [sanding the top was forever] and then the caned Heat Register metal in the upper doors and new screws all around because many stripped upon removal and were garbage.  Is it worth it to get rid of it, gain space and also make a neighbor happy?  I think so.

The real win of this weekend was the shot in the arm of people gushing over my stuff... asking me how I did this or that, telling me I should teach a class on how-to, and just appreciating the creative side of this venture.    To me these creations are 'easy', what to do to them just comes to me.  I am learning that not everyone has that creative vision... and that this ability has value.

I had a couple people stop by who do home staging, and hopefully they will get in touch if they have a space they could use a piece of my furniture in.  I also met a very nice couple who has a nearby Antiques and Collectibles store, and they said they would like a small item for their shop.

Wouldn't that be great?!

We also had several neighbors stop by, and out here in the woods it's rare to see your neighbors.  It was great to meet people, to swap stories and get a sense of community with a person instead of a bear/coyote/snake.

So, I still have several items to list on Craigslist, to clear space in the garage... but we also have more space upstairs now, and it feels good not only to get rid of things, but to sell/give items to people who appreciate them.