Category: Collecting

At local farmhouse auctions and sales, you will often find some type of salt and pepper shaker collection. I have seen very large china cabinets full of salt and pepper shakers. Often, the shakers have a state, a travel destination (Niagara Falls, e.g.), etc, printed on the side. Some were sold as souvenirs and told the story of your travels. Or, friends and family would bring back a new item for your collection. Of course, I had to jump on the band wagon, and it’s another great collectible!

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S&Ps are a great collectible for the beginner or most seasoned veteran. These are mostly from the 50s and 60s. They are whimsical, clever, and downright fun to collect! Many collectors are more specific – dogs, cats, chickens, holidays, etc. Others, like me, just buy what’s cute or funny. Some people collect singles, but often the pairs tell a story.

You will find many of the more whimsical pairs were made in Japan. They have easy marks to discern and you can research marks, colors, etc. These are about 2” to 4” tall. So, for a collector with limited space they are great!

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The shakers above are a little different channel for collecting. Many of these are made by Fire King, McKee, etc. Some are extremely difficult to find, and you may spend a lifetime looking for a specific shaker. They are also generally much more expensive than figural salt and peppers. Again, probably from the 50s and 60s, they were often part of a larger spice set or range set, which included a grease jar, flour shaker, sugar shaker, etc.

You can find salt and pepper shakers everywhere. Antique stores, thrift stores, garage sales, etc. If you’re new to collecting, this is a great place to start! Have fun!!

Jackie

The weather is warming up. Spring is here. All signs that garage sale season has returned. We have two big barn/garage sales a year. Our favorite weekend activity is going to garage sales. We were able to hit a few garage/estate sales last weekend and picked up a few items.

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First things first. Check the weather. I realize it’s difficult to forecast the weather a week or two in advance. However, you can get an idea of your chance for dry/warm weather.

Get organized. You will need to start setting up and planning your garage sale at least a week in advance. Get plenty of tables. Ask a friend to borrow some if you don’t have enough. Start sorting your items. Clothes, kitchen items, tools, games, toys, books, etc.

Pricing. You need to price as many of your items as you can. Even if you don’t get everything priced, it will give people an idea of your pricing scheme. I’m often asked, “How do you decide on a price?” People are not coming to your house to purchase items at full on retail prices. They’re looking for a bargain. My strategy is pretty simple. How badly do I want to keep the item? Am I willing to drag it back in my house and store it for another 6 months or longer.

Advertising. Write up your advertisement. Include items or phrases that will make people want to come to your sale. Include name brands that will entice people to come. Clothing is mostly NOT enticing. In fact, I do not sell clothing at all anymore. However, I do sell jewelry and accessories and you can use that. For example, Brighton, Rustic Cuff, Coach, Kate Spade, you get the picture. Use phrases/words like farmhouse, country, rustic, retro, deco, primitives, etc. Of course, only use these words if you have these items! Place your advertisement in as many places as you can. I only go for the free options any more. Craigslist, Marketplace, Facebook pages, etc. Join Facebook pages that might be helpful to your garage sale. I also create flyers and try to put them around town on bulletin boards and windows. Use photos if you have them.

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Pre-sales. Sometimes you will have friends or family come by for early sales. If this happens and they buy all the good stuff, it can kind of hurt the rest of your sale. If you list premium items, and they’re all gone by the time the sale starts, your customers might not buy anything at all.

Sale day. Have plenty of cash for change. You need to decide if you’re going to take checks. I normally do, but only for amounts under $100. I also take PayPal and you can use other cash apps. Put out your signs early enough, preferably the night before. Write big enough on the sign so people can actually read it! Give good directions. Open on time. Don’t be late or everyone will leave. They’re not going to sit there and wait on you. I don’t have a problem with people opening early, but some people do. If you’re out setting up early and you say no early sales, that’s fine. But when people tell you they’ll be back, they probably won’t be. You might lose some sales. Be prepared to negotiate. Some people will throw out ridiculous offers. However, most people are reasonable and just like to get a little better deal.

Post sale. When you’re done, decide what you want to keep. You can take left overs to Good Will or another thrifting store. Please use discretion. They don’t want your trash!

Good luck with your garage sale! Jackie

Thrifting is EXTREMELY popular with both young and old. It’s basically shopping for gently used items at a discount price. It’s a way of life for me.

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I’m often asked about the best thrifting experience. Thrifting can take place at a garage sale, flea market, thrift store, auction, etc. To me, the best thrifting experience is a garage sale. My best garage sale advice is start early (but not too early), map out your route BEFORE you leave home, take plenty of cash, and have a great time. Don’t be afraid to ask for a better price. The worst they’ll say is no. You can find garage sales on Facebook, Craigslist, or there are several garage sale apps.

So, I asked some of my fellow garage salers, what was their best/most meaningful garage sale find. The answers were surprising. One of my friends mentioned one of her first finds, in the bottom of a large moving box of treasures, was a shiny item. Digging in, she found a Chase chrome Bakelite napkin holder. The start of a SUPER Art Deco collection. I had to think on this for a while. Mine was a collection of Belgian movie posters. I found these at a huge garage sale and they’ve been on my wall ever since. I love them! My husband bought the Gaymer’s Cyder jug at a flea market over 40 years ago. It was the item that started it all!

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Once, someone asked me, “What do you buy at a garage sale?” I was puzzled by this question, and told him, “Everything!” My garage sale experiences have been great. I’ve met a lot of new people, made life long friends, bought tamales, fried pies, fresh fruits and veggies. I’ve bought LOTS great stuff and also some not so great stuff.

Thrifting is like a treasure hunt. You have absolutely NO idea what you will find. I often go to sales and don’t buy anything. But as long as there’s plenty to look at, I’m happy!

Later this spring, I’ll give you some great suggestions for having your own garage sale. And, more info on thrift and antique stores, auctions, and more.

Jackie