Garage Fail

Saturday Lara and I along with another vintage loving friend had our Garage Sale.  As you might have already guessed from my title - it was a big old FAIL.   

We did everything right.  Clean items?  Check!  Useful items? Check?  Clothes hung up? Check? Items Priced?  Check!  (You knew that though) Ads in the newspaper and Craigslist?  Check!  Signs on the corners?  Check!  Customers? Nope.  I can only guess that it was the crushing heat and humidity that was once again on the docket.  By 6:30 am, I was a wringing wet mess as we were setting up.  We had our first customer at 6:20 (our opening time was 7:00 and I do not like early birds, but we were nice and let them shop) so we thought we were off to a good start. But, the customers just trickled in all day, there was no rush or crowd ever.

This sale on the hill has always been known as the "Hilltop Sale" and for as long as I can remember, people have flocked to the Hilltop Sale in droves to shop.  In the past there were fifty sales or more up there.  Yesterday I took a drive around and only found four other sales in addition to ours and Lara's neighbors.  Who (good for them) all but sold out and shut down about noon.  We had decided to stay out for the afternoon "rush", but in never came, so we all sorted out donations and things to keep and then loaded up the cars.  

We did sell things - just not the mad rush we were expecting.  I honestly thought I would have one box to pack up to take to Goodwill.  I ended up with four suitcases full plus a couple boxes.  I did keep about three tote bags full of things that are still booth worthy (Pyrex and some vintage stuff) and the vintage Bassinette.  

Photo time!

Lara put out so many cute things.  And at really, really great prices.  Like CHEAP.  That frame held a tiny dress with wee little kitties embroidered on it.  SO CUTE.  A girl bought it, thank goodness, or I would have had to have rescued it.  Darling.  

Oh, the dickering.  I hate the dickering.  That wicker hamper was $2.00.  Dude offers $1.00.  Lara says she's set on the $2.00 (this was after far too many low ball offers).  The guitar was $3.00.  A guy offered $2.00.  Really people?  I had an old primitive stool priced $15.00 because I expected a little dickering (Would you take $10?  How about $12?  Deal and then we would hug and jump up and down in circles while they shouted in glee over their new fabulous primitive stool) but not the $5.00 offer thirty minutes before we were even scheduled to be open.  (Grumps).

I loved all these old wooden crates and boxes.  I think she ended up keeping them for the Junk Ranch. In case you haven't heard - about a week before the Junk Ranch, Lara and her little family came home and found a SNAKE barreling at them in the house.  IN THE HOUSE.  Since then, she has vowed to practically live in an empty house to keep the snakes away.  A pest guy told her that the snake probably came in looking for mice so that really drove home the whole - GET RID OF ALL THE THINGS idea.  Which, is really quite understandable if you think about it.  

The tin dollhouse wass mine.  I brought it back home, set it on a table in the front yard and put birdseed in the rooms.  I have been entertained all day watching the birds in there.  So, good thing it didn't sell. (That's what she tells herself, anyway).  I may have sequestered that Irmi lamp and a few other cute things at the sale.

Miscellaneous stuff from each of us.  Those safety pin baskets are the thorn in my side.  I will sell those things,  DAMMIT.

Cute view from the street.

Everything here went to Goodwill, I think?

I sold a good amount of vintage linens to one lady that was thrilled to find them.  That was a bright spot.  I had them priced stupid cheap though.

Lara's twins spotted their bicycles at the curb from inside the house and, boy, they were NOT HAPPY about it.  Lucky for them they didn't sell.  But, I think they might have gone to Goodwill.  Shhhhh.

In sales, we flopped.  But it's always a nice day spending time with Lara and hanging out with her kiddos.  One of our favorite IG friends came to visit and shop so that was a fun part of the day.  We also escaped to a few sales on our own and together where I found some pretty good stuff. I did make some money and I cleared out a good amount of junk.  So it wasn't a total fail.  But, DUDE.  That heat.  UGH.  

I have vowed not to break a sweat for the next three days.  I have been sweating for three weeks and I am OVER IT.  Plus, I am still sick so that has not been fun.  Tomorrow has been declared an INSIDE Air Conditioning day with lots of cough syrup and maybe some cookie baking. Just what the doctor ordered.  

Dr. Shara, that is!