Well, my garden sale was an absolutely fabulous event made so by the wonderful people who dropped in ... it was a meeting place for old and new customers alike and also of course, friends and family. £130 was also raised for NW Air Ambulance, just from donations in lieu of an admittance fee, so thank you all so much.
Saturday dawned bright and sunny, so I got up early and started lugging furniture around ... I had several big pieces: 3 dressing tables; a Dutch Dresser and plate rack, as well as the usual smaller items of chairs, side tables, etc.
Once the furniture was in place I was able to do my favourite thing ... tittivate!
Even Dotty got a makeover and she was decorated with vintage teasets, old board games and annuals (anyone else remember Princess Tina?) ... there wasn't a moment in the day when there wasn't someone in there, oohing and aahing over everything and singing along to the LP's being played on Millie's vintage record player.
On Sunday, it was a bit cloudy, but I got on with it and it was a bit easier as everything that had been packed away related to a certain area of the garden. At ten o'clock on the dot, I stood back and surveyed the scene ... I thought it looked even better than the day before ... I opened the gate ready for the visitors and the heavens opened! It was coming down so heavily I couldn't even attempt to bring anything in until it calmed down a bit.
On cue, my lovely friend Ruth arrived, and we swabbed everything down with old towels and wrung out the upholstery on my chair seats. The rain came periodically throughout the day, and whilst not as busy as Saturday was still a good day with more lovely people coming through the gate, and some returning for a second visit! I'm sorry I haven't taken any pictures of the customers ... it was so busy I really didn't have the time and all my photos are taken beforehand.
We also had the pleasure of the company of the amazing Miss Becki Fishwick, who serenaded the shoppers on Sunday afternoon. Such a shame we didn't have the beachgoers passing by as we had the day before ...
My stock is now at an all time low, so a great excuse to go treasure-hunting once more! I can actually move in the house, and when Steve returns to work next week, I'm going to give the house a bit of a Spring Clean (well better late than never!) and revamp. Last week I took it easy after all the excitement, and as Steve is off work we've just been pottering about, doing jobs that need doing, and Steve's birthday was on Friday so I made him a cake that I'd been itching to try out after seeing it on t'internet. Didn't turn out quite as imagined but it tasted delicious, which is all that matters really!
Love, Claire xxx
PS: I really need to get a wriggle on ... Betty the Wood Fairy's swap is due in soon ... will reveal all in due course xxx
Hello Claire,
ReplyDeleteWell we are pleased to note that your efforts all seem to have been worthwhile with your sale. Such a pity about the weather but, sometimes, this does mean that there are fewer time wasters and more serious people who really do wish to buy.
We have only experience of one similar sale when we sold nearly all of our wedding presents. Douse that sound too awful? However, like you this did give some hard cash for spending on other treasures. You now deserve a good rest!
Umm, sometimes the 'timewasters' are the people who are amazed by everything and unfortunately cannot afford to buy. Does this mean we cannot look. In my experiences there are beautiful things that are often well beyond my financial reach, or, may I say that some items can occasionally be over-priced. Until we browse we cannot see whether we can afford to buy or not.
DeleteHello Jane & Lance, thanks for popping in! If your wedding presents went to homes that loved them, then surely that's better than spending a long, long time in the loft .... and helped you to buy what you really wanted xx
DeleteHello Susan ... of course you would have been welcome! Lots of people didn't buy ... there isn't always something that you need at that moment ... as long as they put something (however small) in the charity jar I was happy. I would just like to add though, that my stock is very reasonable, and much cheaper than vintage shops sell it for! Thanks for visiting, you're always welcome xxx
DeleteSo glad it went well for you, shame about the Sunday weather but if stock is at an all time low then was an obvious success.
ReplyDeleteThat cake looks wonderful, what a great idea.
Hi Jay, I sold lots of things following the sale too as people rang me up to see if certain pieces were still there, so it was the sale that just kept going! Thanks for your kind comments, they make my day! xx
DeleteHello Claire, Lovely to see your sale went so well. What a great cause you raised money for. I love the fact you had Becki singing, it must have been a lovely atmosphere. I have to say your cake looks far too good to eat, it looks like it should be on display in a window :) Have a lovely week.
ReplyDeleteAli xx
Oh Ali, you're so kind! The cake was meant to be a lot taller, with more Maltesers falling from a great height ... I should have made a smaller cake and then I could have done that ... as it was it had about a day's recommended calorific value in one slice ... xx
DeleteWell done - such a lot of stock and effort. Every piece has taken hours - hunting it down, doing it up and them making it all look so lovely. That cake looks completely awesome - I'm on a diet, which is working, but my sweet tooth occasionally gets the better of me. Happy treasure hunting! Az x
ReplyDeleteHi Az, it is very time-consuming but this is what I have been waiting to do ... I didn't know a the time ... but it's a job I absolutely love! I choose my hours, can fit housework in, go treasure hunting and be at home all day ... I'm so lucky, but it is hard work too! Thanks for calling in, and I'm on a diet too, but August is birthday month in this house xxx
DeleteHi Claire,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your photo's of your sale on Insta! Looks like a lovely day. A shame you live so far away. Would have love to pop over to meet you and have a look at the beautiful things on display.
Madelief x
Oh Madelief, it would be so wonderful if those that lived far away could have come ... it would be a bloggy reunion! Always lovely of you to pop in, you're very welcome xxx
DeleteIt was lovely sitting in your garden on the Saturday (looks like that day was the best weather!)
ReplyDeleteYour things were beautiful, well done on AM money too.
See you soon. debbiex
Thank you Debbie, it was lovely to have you here! See you soon xxx
DeleteI'm so glad to hear of the success of your weekend sale!! Shame about the downpour, but at least everything survived the water. Great ideas with the record player and live singer! What a perfect way to entice people into the yard. You must've been exhausted after all that. I liked the part about you now having space to move in your house again ... Ha!! right up until the next installment of furniture ;) Enjoy your week Claire, it's nice to see you here again! Wendy xox
ReplyDeleteHello Wendy, popped over to you last night for a little catch-up! Love your tales and am definitely going to try to be more attentive ... thanks for your lovely comments, they make me so happy xxx
DeleteI am so glad that it went so well!! You will be glad not have lots of big bits of furniture around the house waiting for the big weekend I am sure. The cake is wonderful!! What a fabulous and fun idea. xx
ReplyDeleteHello Amy, I have lots of orders for big pieces of furniture, but at least they won't be hanging around for long! Lovely of you to drop in, you're always welcome xxx
DeleteNo hurry with the swap, I haven't finished mine yet. I remember Princess Tina I used to buy it as a young girl! Looks like you managed extremely well to dodge the rain and make a good day of it! Betty
ReplyDeleteOoh Betty, I'm really going to have to get going ... seem to be moving in slow motion lately! It's a cold, wet, miserable day today, so I'm going to sit in Dotty and get organised, I promise xxxx
Deletesounds like a great day! Glad you made some money for the air ambulance, such a great cause. Wish I lived nearby I would have definitely come!
ReplyDeleteHello Claire, it's a fabulous charity and as I've seen them in action and know the fantastic job they do, feel they need every penny ... we just never know when we may need them. Would have been lovely to see you, maybe next year? xxx
DeleteCongratulations on your fundraising,the things you had for sale looked lovely! TTFN Pam.
ReplyDeleteWell done with your sale , i wish i lived somewhere that i could do something like that , the fundraising for the air ambulance was really good too , hopefully you might be able to get another couple in before the weather changes , Its a brilliant idea , No expensive overheads , Eileen xxx
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