As I continue to downsize, I'm selling some of my better quality collectibles and have actually turned my entry way and other areas of my home into a little shop! I've had a great response so far and have sold chairs, a dinette set, dishes, lamps, paintings, books and multiple other unique items. I have offiically begun the process of packing and sorting and I keep finding even more stuff I am willing to let go of. So this is my latest flyer for Craig's List. Especially great are those two cabinets, I hope will find good homes. If you are in or near Atlanta and would like to check it out, please email me to make an appointment!
Oh and if you are looking for a great rental in this area, mine will be ava Nov 1st. It is without a doubt my favorite home EV-ER and comes with the best landlords & neighbors! More details and pics to come but if you are really interested let me know! You can also check out my flickr sets for more pics.
Oh and check out this interview I did for a sweet new-ish blog: Inward Facing Girl.
As I continue to downsize in anticipation of my move west, I become more willing to part with treasured pieces. After stalking Craig's List obsessively to get a handle on what I might find in my rental price range, it is clear I will not have near as much space. So here are a few special pieces that I truly hate to part with but the time has come.
I found this mid-century Thonet china cabinet in L.A. back in the early 90's. Made from plywood, Thonet perfected the bending of it into its design. However because plywood is "bendable" it is also delicate and it is rare to see one in such good condition.
This cowboy is a vintage decanter that makes room for shot glasses along his sides. I saw this in a shop window in NYC many years ago and had to have it.
On the "to go" list is this beautiful salmon pink chair I found while living in Athens. The original 1950's upholstery is in great condition as are the springs and cushion.
I love this large danish modern cabinet but at 53 inches wide I am pretty sure I won't have room for it. I currently use it in my office because of its great storage space, it would also make a great media cabinet.
Interested in Buying?
If you are in or near Atlanta and would like to purchase any of these items, see a list of other items up for grabs and/or make an appointment to hunt through my personal collection then click the handy button above. Think of it as a by appointment-estate sale!
Tomorrow is my big sale and I have spent the entire week getting ready. I am a veteran of these types of sales and early on in Pie history I did a post on throwing a successful yard sale. So I present an updated version with few more suggestions for making your next sale great.
My Top Yard Sale Tips!
1. Advertise! Take some pics and make a fetching flyer, you can upload it to flickr, or the like and then it makes it very easy to set up ads on Craig’s List since you will need to repost it several times, twice the day before, AM and PM. There are also a lot of other sites you can advertise on for free like yardies.com. Signs are also important, even if they are just in front of your place, make sure you put them where traffic can see them easily. Be sure to go back and take them down after the sale is over!
2. Do not wait till the last minute to get organized, the better prepared you are, the better your sale will be. Place like items together and uses boxes and bins to hold them so it is easier to move them out to your selling area. A clothing rack is very handy and tables. It might be worth it to invest in a sturdy folding table, I have one and find many uses for it.
3. Clean as you go! As I go through my house and pull out the items I will sell, I have my vacuum right by my side and also clean dust off the items as well as the space where they once sat. The nicer your items look to buyers the more they will pay.
4. If you're flying solo see if you can find a buddy to team up with, it makes it much easier. Especially if you need a bathroom break.
5. A big time saver are pre-printed pricing sticker sets like this one from Avery. Just try to remember what you priced stuff at. People have been known to "switch" stickers and it is easy to forget when you're busy and distracted.
6. I like to have one little box to organize the stickers, sharpie, tape, staple gun and anything else you need for setting up.
7. Have some bags and a little trash can at the ready, if you have a lot of breakables, some newspapers, tissue paper or bubble wrap are a good idea.
8. Go to the bank the day before and get plenty of singles, fives, tens and also quarters if you need them. And have some kind of purse or fanny pack (if you must) so you can keep it all on you. Also keep your most valuable items close by... sadly people do steal.
9. Set your time table and stick to it. Early birds are annoying but to be expected, I once had a guy show up the day before! If you have a way to close off your selling area till you are ready, that is helpful.
10. Have handy coffee, snacks, cold beverages, sun block and a little background music is a nice touch and will make the lulls more pleasant.
Also, be realistic with your pricing. People go to yard sales in search of bargains. In most cases you will not get what you paid, if you are looking to profit, then sell it on eBay or etsy. I found even more great advice and some funny stories on yardsale queen. My favorite tip was she never lets people in her house, if someone needs a bathroom she politely points them toward a public option.
Wondering how to score great finds at your own local sales? Check out this helpful feature with Cari Cucksey of HGTV's "Cash & Cari"... on the topic. She is an estate sale organizer and has a her own store in Northville, Michigan called Repurpose.
Here is my groovy flyer just in case you missed it. If you are any where near Atlanta I hope to see you here!
For many years I have collected teapots. I think I am drawn to the whimsical yet functional design that has endless incarnations. I had quite a few at one point but sold or gave away most a while back. Since moving south I have have revied the bug and added a few new finds over time.
This beautiful chinese example is very old and in beautiful condition except for the handle which is missing a rattan wrapping. I got it for a bargain price at Scotts.
This Roseville Pottery teapot is maybe my favorite. It has a kind of pumpkin like shape that looks right out of a fairytale cottage.
I scored it along with the a creamer and sugar on eBay and aside from a minor amount of grazing the entire set is in mint condition. I have only seen one other set and it sold for 3 times what I paid.
Another older Asian style teapot I picked up for just $6 at an estate sale.
Maybe coffee is more your cup of tea? This deco set is by famed British designer Susie Cooper.
Another gift, which makes me love it all the more, this tiny camera teapot, though not vintage is wonderfully charming. I used the lensbaby composer to create this post.
Time to announce the winner of the Lensbaby giveaway, congrats to Ayenia! She was commentor #105 chosen via random.org. Lensbaby was so impressed with the response they upgraded her prize to the Double Glass Muse. How cool is that? The system bag goes to Facebook poster, Laurie Ann.
I love a good find but a cheap good find is even better! These unusual enamelware shot glasses above, possibly from Poland, were an estate sale bargain. I scored a set of six for just $8. Yes, the red star below is a Christmas ornament but so pretty, I leave it on a cabinet door all year round. I bought it aPottery Barn after holiday sale for 50% off. The blueMcCoy cup was a $6 thrift store find...so rare they can sell for over $100. The 1930's school photo below is both charming and haunting...$5 and it rest on a set of vintage billiard balls I paid $10 for.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011 at 5:00AM
