We had our community yard sale yesterday and if I heard one more person ask me for guns, jewelry, gold, or silver I didn't know what I was going to do. Whenever anyone asked me I said I didn't have any of those, but if I did I'd keep them. Most folks offer a pittance for anything we're selling so I put this Betsy Ross Orange Pekoe Tea tin back in the house. If it's Betsy Ross tea it must be high grade tea; after all she's holding the American flag. There isn't any tea in the tin. We noticed it was packaged in Little Rock, Arkansas; that must be where we got the tin.
Then there are those who are buying hardback books and call someone and give them the number on the back of the book to see if they are worth anything. No matter what that person offered I wasn't going to take it. Later I made two more mugs. I decided they looked plain so I textured them with a eucalyptus seed pod I got in California. Every time I use the seed pod a little more gets embedded in the clay and I can smell the eucalyptus fragrance which reminds me of California. The pod is almost worn out now.
I pressed a little too hard with the pod and the texture can be seen on the inside of the mug. Oh well. Almost everyone coming to the sales are just looking or they're dealers. I did sell some fabric, knitting supplies, ceramic ornaments, pendants, and magnets, and a few odds and ends and I made about a hundred dollars for the day. One woman has commissioned me to make drawer pulls for her new kitchen and will come back to purchase a dish set for a wedding present. So all was not lost during the sale.
I put these forties and fifties road maps back in the house too. I think their historical value is worth more than a dollar. We decided selling at the local flea market is more lucrative than a yard sale; more people come by, and not all are dealers. Gary found more coins to roll up and took half to the bank to get dollars which totaled almost $300; that was just the quarters. He's been saving coins for years and it's paying off now. Ha. This weekend we're volunteering at the Celebration of the Arts in Inverness; more about that later. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.
after having a yard sale for Lee's belongs i know just what you are talking about. Anything for a quarter....that tin is great and the maps- i would love to look through them. I love maps.
ReplyDeleteAfter last years garage sale, I swore I'd never, ever, do it again. If I ever mention, in my blog, that I'm having one...any and all are welcome to send ma a cyber smack!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on making some money. Better than nothing. I used to sell my books at Xmas craft fairs, but no longer have the energy to do so. It's agony to sit on a cafeteria stool all day...
ReplyDeleteI love old tins and maps. Great mugs, too.
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking lately of throwing all my coinage into a pot and seeing what I come up with in a year. Might be interesting.
i bet the inside of the mug is cool... lot's of Jeff's impressions in clay create a texture on the interiors of the pots as well. it makes the piece all the more interesting.
ReplyDeletei too would be annoyed at people making phone calls to determine values at a yard sale... what happened to the days where you just bought it and if it was worth more it was a bonus?
That Betsy Ross tin looks so vintage and might be worth something. People do expect to pay very low prices at yard sales, but it's a good way to make a little bit of money in your own yard.
ReplyDeleteThe maps are great- Must be facinating to look through them. By the way, I finally figured out how to reply on my blog. Decided tonight to put on my patience cap and give it another try.
ReplyDeleteMelissa
Hi Meredith, thanks, it always amazes me what folks will offer when they know that a quarter won't purchase much of anything nowadays, if we didn't need the money we'd donate the stuff.
ReplyDeleteHi Turquoisemoon, thanks, well we do what we can, but I do have a hard time holding my tonque sometimes.
Hi Gigi, thanks luckily I can sneak inside every so often since we were in our front yard.
Hi Teresa, thanks, I am amazed at how much Gary had stashed away in plastic bottles and small boxes, great news.
Hi Michele, thanks, well now I don't feel so bad at the wonky interiors. I think so many folks are scammers nowadays especially here in Florida, the ones offering the least are driving the nicest cars.
Hi Marguerite, thanks, yes I like that tin and didn't notice Gary putting it out there. It is a good way to make a few dollars, I just hate it when we need the money and folks are trying to make a profit off of what we are selling. I don't mind if they are keeping it for themselves.
Hi Melissa, thanks, oh great you figured it out sometimes these things take time. I'm kind of old hat now, but I can remember at the beginning, so much to learn.