...or your bake sale, especially if they're one and the same.
So, we had decided to have a small yard sale/bake sale, pitch the ol' EZ up tent that we have for craft fairs, and have a fun Summer afternoon with some friends this weekend.
I thought we we off to a good start. We invited some friends (including the Prairie Dog) to join us and sell some old castoffs.
I made a cute flier.
I baked all of the following all Friday afternoon, while Josiah read Dorothy Parker, Aimee Bender, and Thomas Pynchon short stories to me:
-Mini Lemon-Poppyseed Loaf Cakes
-Enormous Chocolate Chip Cookies
-The Best Brownies
-Those insane Peanut Butter sandwich cookies from this post
And, dang. Nobody came. Except this early-bird professional yard-saler who came 30 minutes early and tried to bargain with me on $1 compact discs.
Worse than that, we witnessed the killing of one baby bird (which we had been delighting in while we were out there) and the maiming of another by one of the wily cats that lives in our apartment building...which kinda brought the mood down even more. Okay, way more.
The day got better when we gave up around 3 pm, and I think that was our last yard sale attempt maybe ever. Oh, well...we would've never known had we not tried!
And, hey...the poster was darn cute, so that's something.
xoxo
Comments (50)
you live in my old neighborhood! i lived near boulevard for a couple of years. we had a yard sale a few weeks ago and we set up and had our signs up by 8am and i couldn't believe the amount of people that were up that early looking for bargains. so sorry yours didn't work out. i totally would have stopped by if i had known about it, i probably wouldn't have bought anything seeing as how we are trying to scale down too ;) but perhaps you could have signed my (yours really) pattern from sublime stitching.
bethie · July 16, 2008 at 11:48 AM
I'm sooooo upset- I was actually IN Athens on Saturday. I can't believe I missed out on all that baked goodness- I probably drove right by you. Do you know Sean at the Deville Apts?
la sha (loveaboveall.etsy) · July 15, 2008 at 11:27 PM
Oh my goodness! Seriously, are your neighbors nutso? Do they not know what treasures MUST hve been lurking in your cast offs? For reals, you couldn't have PAID me to stay away! I am so sorry no one came...lame Georgia! LOL, they don't deserve you, Oregon is a much more deserving state!
Shannon · July 15, 2008 at 10:31 PM
That is so weird - I can't imagine no one comeing to any sale - they are huge here in texas
alissa · July 15, 2008 at 06:26 PM
Bummer! I would have definately come too, but Australia is a little far..... I'm betting you had loads of cool stuff. Good luck with packing, packing, packing... not so much fun.
Chelsea · July 15, 2008 at 06:00 PM
dman, I can't believe nobody came; I mean that one cute a flier.
xx fanny
fanny · July 15, 2008 at 05:31 PM
Sorry about the sale and the baked goods, I would have come even without goodies. And so sorry about the baby birds...I grow catnip for the occasional Toms that wander through...they get too silly to chase birds after that ;-)
Florence · July 15, 2008 at 04:19 PM
:( so sad - I would have jumped on the chance to stop by your yard sale!
Malinda · July 15, 2008 at 02:45 PM
what a shame! i certainly couldn't have resisted such a darling yard sale sign, not to mention the prospect of baked goods!
amy c. · July 15, 2008 at 12:24 PM
cutest yard sale poster EVER!
kate · July 15, 2008 at 11:47 AM
I would try again, because obviously you are not wanting to pay to have everything shipped across the country, just to have a yard sale in a hipper, more yard-sale friendly atmosphere!
My tips?
Start/open no later than at 8am
Purchase HUGE UGLY signs from the Dollar Store...you know what I am talking about, the florescent orange ones!
Advertise it as a MOVING SALE...people will think there will be deals to be had and WILL show up
Give your lovely flyers to FRIENDS & FAMILY and advertise it to them as a "Wine & Cheese" garage sale.
Having friends/family around, also helps with watching of tables...the security, if you will, and helping with sales.
Advertise on CRAIGS LIST
List a few items you will have on hand: Furniture, Art & Craft Items, Vintage Clothing....
Advertise to your customer base, that you may have some "seconds", etc available.
Invite someone little & cute to have a Lemonade Stand...set up beside the baking table.
In the case of the added value of the "secret" Wine & Cheese factor at your garage sale, this helps with that late afternoon lull and in our household it wraps up as a potluck..with items warming in the oven and salads set about, as we pack up the remains of the day.
All unsold items get donated:
craft items- children's hospital & schools
clothing-to charities who might resell
household items-women's shelters, etc.
Many organizations will pick up--I keep a list for reference.
I'm not an expert, but I have had a couple of successful sales and am gearing up for another in a few weeks.
Enjoy your next garage sale experience!
janice · July 15, 2008 at 10:27 AM
it's not that athens hates yard sales and portland loves them. i am sure we would have been there if we were in town...!!
missy k · July 15, 2008 at 09:00 AM
You're neighbors are lame, I totally would have gone and eaten all of your treats. :)
Marilyn · July 15, 2008 at 08:56 AM
Hi Emily,
This is off topic to your post, but I just had to share. I finally took my Squirrel on a String original to get framed and had my husband pick it up today. We're stationed in Germany and I took it to the frame shop/craft center we have on post. When the two gals behind the counter took it out of the wrapper to check the framing job, they both dropped their jaws and about choked. My husband explained that I had bought it on the website Etsy and they both said they knew, and one pointed to a button of yours on their apron. She said "Tell your wife she has excellent taste!" and the other was going on about seeing that exact print available on your site and loving everything you do. Needless to say, I'm feeling pretty cool today and that's saying a lot when you're 38 weeks pregnant!! Have a great day!!
Stephanie · July 15, 2008 at 07:34 AM
Hi Emily,
Sorry to learn that your sale was a flop. If I had come across your flyer, I would have come. May I suggest that you try one after you move to Portland. I m Portlander and I must tell you we love to hunt and gather others forgotten treasures. And a baked goody while doing it - a special, special thing.
Happy Monday,
Amelia
Amelia Santiago · July 14, 2008 at 11:24 PM
oh man! no kidding, just yesterday as i was framing my black apple print i thought, "i wonder if emily will have a yard sale before they move. it would be great to go to it." and here you have had one and i knew nothing about it. sad. i so would have gone.
Amy · July 14, 2008 at 09:42 PM
bugger! maybe they were all at my market? as long as they had passports that is? ... sorry sweets
Miss Dot · July 14, 2008 at 09:10 PM
Mary, I totally know what you mean! I spent FOREVER last winter making these cute little snowman cookies for a school fundraiser. Cost me a LOT in ingredients, time, etc. Then they mark them at $3... I had more money in them. *sigh* Oh, well.
It made me sad when the girl's were in daycare that they could only bring store-bought treats. I always envisioned making adorable cupcakes, etc. But my daughter's preschool that she will be starting still allows homemade, so I am super happy about that ♥
GirlieGirl · July 14, 2008 at 08:47 PM
if i lived in atlanta i would have come. you have such style, i'm sure there were great finds there :O) and those baked goods... i'm making the peanut butter cookies for a bbq i'm going to this saturday. i'm sure they'll be a hit. don't give up on yard sales altogether. sometimes it's just not a good yard sale day. next time, in addition to the cutie pie signs that will bring in some shoppers, be sure to put up the run of the mill cardboard sign, too. pretty signs only may signal "expensive" to some. or not.
mrs.deane · July 14, 2008 at 08:14 PM
Drats for your yard sale! What did you do with the baked goodies, particularly the fat chocolate chip cookies which I'm having a craving for as I write this. Better luck next time...and such a cute sign too.
Dy
Dyan · July 14, 2008 at 07:35 PM
My suggestions:
1. Try again in Portland
2. Make a crappy sign on cardboard that says YARD SALE in fat sharpie
3. post it on craigslist
4. post it here
I have done many yard sales in portland and the different communities host neighborhood wide ones, so don't give up yet!! Its always better than throwing stuff away.
good luck!
r.e.d.
Raquel · July 14, 2008 at 06:49 PM
i would have come!! the baked goodies AND the lovely poster wold not have kept me away. if you have the same yard sale in portland...you will definitely have a line.
btw, so excited about your move to portland. you will love it. i hope to be there after i finish my mfa in philly.
becky · July 14, 2008 at 06:39 PM
Oh Emily. I know how you feel. The company I work for recently had a bake sale for fund raising purposes. Well I went all out. I made all kinds of yummy (and healthy!) snacks. We made a lousy 75 dollars (out of an estimated $1000). Hardly anyone came and the people who did come by kept asking if the baked good were store bought. I replied, “Certainly not! Our students and staff home made these special goodies themselves!” I got angry faces. Rude remarks. You name it. Finally I asked someone why it bothered them so much that the treats weren’t store bought. She replied, “God knows what you kids put in those brownies… marijuana, opium, poison!”
The world has changed. You can’t borrow a cup of sugar from your next door neighbor anymore.
I’d give anything to go back to the times where people trusted each other.
Good luck with the move, dear.
mary · July 14, 2008 at 05:59 PM
We had the SAME experience 18 years ago! We spent more money on the newspaper ad than we made at the sale. I was so insulted that no one liked my crap! We've never, and vow to never, ever have another garage sale.
kelley hart · July 14, 2008 at 05:37 PM
That makes me sad. I love a good yard sale. Especially one with baked goodness on the side.
Stephanie Wheeler · July 14, 2008 at 05:36 PM
what a darn shame! Must have just been an off day, I bet you had some treasures to sell! I know if my mom had known she would have bought most of your lot, she's a true yard sale junkie and she doesn't even haggle!
Gonna be sad to lose you to the West Coast! Hope things are falling into place.
michelle · July 14, 2008 at 05:35 PM
We've had the same thing happen before. Except imagine the drama when no-one shows up to your child's lemonade stand! Geezy, it's the worst. From then on, we just put our junk on craigslist. But, seriously if need somewhere to send the poppyseed loafs......
lindsay · July 14, 2008 at 05:14 PM
I would have been all over that bake sale. Yum! :)
mari · July 14, 2008 at 04:38 PM
I'm not a yard saler but I am a big fan of sweet treats.
I am open to any oversized chocolate chip cookies you have left :)
Helen · July 14, 2008 at 04:34 PM
I have so much sympathy, since I and most of the people I know have done this before. The key is to advertise in a local paper since the serious yard salers all buy the Friday paper and then be ready for really aggressive people to start showing up at 7:15 am. But if I had been driving by, your sign would have made me do a 180!
paula gibbs · July 14, 2008 at 03:47 PM
Aw, thats sad! The poster is really cute though! You know, I'm having a giveaway on my blog right now and I fear the same thing will happen to me.. lol!
Kayla Sheeley · July 14, 2008 at 03:12 PM
I accept rejected baked goods.
elizabeth · July 14, 2008 at 03:01 PM
awww bless... but at least the flyer is super cute.. that has to mean something. I would have come to your yard sale, except for the fact I live in the middle of England, I love yard sales, I miss them, its not an English thing to do, they have car boot sales instead.. a bit like a flea market but normall heald up on the side of a windy hill near the moors. So you come back frozen and sopping wet.
Apryl · July 14, 2008 at 02:55 PM
Oh man, I would have cleared out my change purse for sure if I were near you!
Personally, I never attempt a yard sale unless it's part of our yearly neighborhood-wide one... you should try to oraganize one of those if you can- people come out in droves for those!
And there's always Ebay...
Jessica · July 14, 2008 at 02:48 PM
Anyone who saw that flier would have known it would be a yard/bake sale of great goodness. What happened??? Sounds like it would have been worth it for the baking alone. I hope Josiah's throat has not suffered too much - I always find reading aloud surprisingly tiring. What a guy...! Best of luck with the moving and all it entails.
Laura · July 14, 2008 at 02:30 PM
Hi there! LOOOOVE your boys and girls. They're almost Tim Burton-esque in my opinion, with a little Mark Ryden thrown in. Makes sense to me, anyhow. Anyway, I was just curious how you print out your doodles. Do you draw them directly on the computer using a program, or do you scan your doodles? Thanks bunches!!!
xxx
Justyna Palasiewicz · July 14, 2008 at 02:14 PM
"Do you know who I am?" you should have said :)
I would have LOVED to have been at your yardsale/bakesale/house! And man, with fliers like that? I'd have been there even in my own town :)
Don't give up yet!
A
April · July 14, 2008 at 02:05 PM
well then no one in athens appreciates you like they should! i would have definately some to buy your stuff!!! that's sad that no one came. makes me wonder if craigslist is the way of the future. sad, i love yard sales!
kirsten Schueler · July 14, 2008 at 01:59 PM
Man! Wish I lived closer, I would have come! I am a terrible yard sale haver, but love to go to them! They are one of my favorite past times! Don't give up on them, maybe the next one will be better!
gregg · July 14, 2008 at 01:41 PM
Once I was at the Grove in L.A. and I saw Aimee Bender at the Banana Republic. I was getting up the nerve to go talk to her when I lost her somewhere in the sales racks and never saw her again.
I did meet her at a reading the week before that, and she was so kind and wonderful.
Amanda Mae · July 14, 2008 at 01:25 PM
well on the bright side you have many delicious goodies in your house . . but that is a bummer. we've had a similar experience and have also given up on such efforts. :(
rachael a · July 14, 2008 at 01:18 PM
I am planning on doing a yard sale in the next couple of weeks. What a bummer :( I would have come if I saw that adorable flier! And I would have soo bought some baked goodies!!
Lisa
Lisa · July 14, 2008 at 12:50 PM
Aw, I'm sorry to hear that your yard sale and bake sale didn't go so well. If I had been around, I would have dropped by FOR SURE for your baked goodies.
Warn us beforehand next time and your locals would be sure to drop by!
Marie · July 14, 2008 at 12:44 PM
aww that's such a shame - the flyer really was super too!
Sophie · July 14, 2008 at 12:32 PM
it seems to get more difficult every time we try to have a yard sale. Your sign was too cute!Their loss! I bet those brownies were delicious!
hobocampcrafts · July 14, 2008 at 11:55 AM
um... I apologize profusely for my boyfriend skinny dipping in the pool... didn't realize you lived at the deville apartments.
And I didn't know about the sale and I'm here in Athens! I would've come for the baked goodies!! :(
Lisa · July 14, 2008 at 11:46 AM
Aww darn! What've ya got?
Jessica · July 14, 2008 at 11:27 AM
I also had my first ever yard sale this past Saturday. It was about 100 degrees by 9am and I had more stuff stolen then bought from me. Needless to say, I will never have another one. But now I will be more aware of how I act when I go to other yard sales,b/c I kind of got my feelings hurt a couple of times. I mean just because a person doesn't want something anymore does not mean that they think it is worthless!
ashley · July 14, 2008 at 11:12 AM
The poster is simply divine! As for garage sales, that's exactly why I don't like them...the pros, the waiting, the everyone wanting a ridiculous bargain...sigh. Our neighborhood does one every year and that brings soooo much traffic through. Maybe we'll try it next year.
sophie · July 14, 2008 at 11:02 AM
Seriously? How could they resist that flier? Geez. We had a yard sale once. I had a fancy manicure kit in a leather case (had two, so thought I'd sell one) marked for one dollar. I'll never forget this creepy (not cute creepy like your creeping bunnies...) guy opening the case and asking 'How much for just the little scissors?' Cat ^..^
Cathy Santarsiero · July 14, 2008 at 10:59 AM