Rosie Holiday Blog

A quick rendition of a holiday classic with a little Rosie flair....... Be safe, be happy, be joyful, and be blessed.

12 days of Christmas ..according to the Secondhand Rosies

On the first day of Christmas, the Rosies gave to me a bag sale at the Salvation Army
On the second day of Christmas, the Rosies gave to me 2 crocheted rugs and a bag sale at the Salvation Army
On the third day of Christmas, the Rosies gave to me 3 vintage pins, 2 crocheted rugs, and a bag sale at the Salvation Army,
On the fourth day of Christmas, the Rosies gave to me 4 velvet elvises 3 vintage pins, 2 crocheted rugs, and a bag sale at the Salvation Army,
On the fifth day of Christmas, the Rosies gave to me 5 gypsy rings , 4 velvet elvises, 3 vintage pins, 2 crocheted rugs, and a bag sale at the Salvation Army,
On the sixth day of Christmas, the Rosies gave to me 6 rubber stamps, 5 gypsy rings, 4 velvet elvises, 3 vintage pins, 2 crocheted rugs, and a bag sale at the Salvation Army,
On the seventh day of Christmas, the Rosies gave to me 7 cookie cutters, 6 rubber stamps, 5 gypsy rings, 4 velvet elvises, 3 vintage pins, 2 crocheted rugs, and a bag sale at the Salvation Army,
On the eighth day of Christmas, the Rosies gave to me 8 vinyl albums, 7 cookie cutters, 6 rubber stamps, 5 gypsy rings, 4 velvet elvises, 3 vintage pins, 2 crocheted rugs, and a bag sale at the Salvation Army,
On the ninth day of Christmas, the Rosies gave to me 9 beanie babies , 8 vinyl albums, 7 cookie cutters, 6 rubber stamps, 5 gypsy rings, 4 velvet elvises, 3 vintage pins, 2 crocheted rugs, and a bag sale at the Salvation Army,
On the tenth day of Christmas , the Rosies gave to me 10 silver spoons , 9 beanie babies, 8 vinyl albums, 7 cookie cutters, 6 rubber stamps, 5 gypsy rings, 4 velvet elvises, 3 vintage pins, 2 crocheted rugs, and a bag sale at the Salvation Army,
On the eleventh day of Christmas, the Rosies gave to me 11 mismatched plates, 10 silver spoons, 9 beanie babies, 8 vinyl albums, 7 cookie cutters, 6 rubber stamps, 5 gypsy rings, 4 velvet elvises, 3 vintage pins, 2 crocheted rugs, and a bag sale at Salvation Army,
On the twelveth day of Christmas, the Rosies gave to me 12 linen napkins,11 mismatched plates, 10 silver spoons, 9 beanie babies, 8vinyl albums, 7 cookie cutters, 6 rubber stamps, 5 gypsy rings, 4 velvet elvises, 3 vintage pins, 2 crocheted rugs, and a bag sale at Salvation Army.



From: “Yard Sale Santa” reads the tag on close to half the gifts I have ready to pack for Christmas. These gifts are all second hand, but top shape, and they were expensive when new.
This is a tradition, created by me (“RosieW.), to add to the fun of our family Christmas.
This year I am especially excited about my stash of second hand gifts, but I dare not give anything away about these treasures until “The Day”, but I do promise some pictures. I have too many family members reading this blog.
Of course, the red, 8 pound item, found last week at Goodwill will be one of the main features (that one for grandson).
I’d encourage everyone to give this idea a spin. What relative will diss’ you when they receive something Patagonia, FLAX, LLBean, or Grammaci? And if they do, then they are total “Thorns”….you can tell them the Rosies said so!

Stay warm, be safe, and blessings to all.

South African Scraps

See what I mean by overwhelming. This is my new fave shop. It’s huge and the people are nice and it’s a total mess. It kind of looks organised in this pic, but trust me, it’s not. I love it.

Editorial Note: Rosie P. here, I wanted to take a minute and introduce our first guest rosebud columnist corresponding from South Africa, my dear friend, Rosebud Joanna. Jo and I met 9 years ago at the Blue Springs Cafe over a piece of foot high meringue pie--their signature roadside dish. Blue Springs Cafe is located in Highland,IL right off of I-70 halfway between Effingham, IL and St. Louis, MO. Joanna can be described as a woman with a deep affection for hot cinnamon rolls, live music, funky clothing, kitty cats, and thrift stores. Joanna is one of my fabulous women friends that I have been honored to meet through my husband and his gang of childhood buddies. Back in the day, we shopped the Tri-fecta of thrifts in St. Louis--a Goodwill, St. Vincent De Paul, and a mega Salvation Army store all within 3 blocks of each other in downtown right off of the St. Louis U campus. Those winter days of almost a decade ago, we donned our secondhand wool coats and hand knit scarves to hunt some of the local and largest faves in the area. Those were the days. When Jo left for the Peace Corps she entrusted me with her collection of books called "The Family Creative Workshop" published in 1975, volumes of handmade craft ideas and "hippie" art projects that were "back to the earth". She also gave me some of her houseplants to sit--I am glad to say they are still alive. Thank you Joanna for taking the time to provide us with your distant and exotic tales of "repurposing" fabric scraps in South Africa. Happy Hunting Jo!



SOUTH AFRICAN SCRAPS
Ok, here goes. My love for thrifting was born in Effingham, IL and started at the mother of all thrift stores, Second Hand Rose. That place was a treasure trove of all things polyester, funky and old. I loved the organised chaos, the old ladies manning the money box and even the smell of old dirt.After college I moved to St. Louis, MO, which was a gold mine for thrift stores, running the gamut from super organised Goodwill to random run-down buildings in the shadier parts of downtown and south St. Louis. Of course the shadier stores were my fave, not only for the haphazard way of “displaying” the goods (because this make it more like a treasure hunt!), but also for the oh-so colourful people who frequented these places. Visiting the old standards and hunting for new promising stores was my favorite pastime.Fast forward to present day. I now live in South Africa with my South African husband and two little boys, in a little, rural northern town called Polokwane. I was placed here in 2004 as a US Peace Corps volunteer and here I am now six years, a husband and two little boys later. Life is good…except for the complete lack of thrift stores. Ok, there are second-hand shops full of awesome old furniture, knick-knacks, records and books in Afrikaans. However, there isn’t the traditional thrift store; the one with all that stuff plus linens, sets of dishes and most importantly, clothing. Ok, to be fair, there is one thrift store in town but it isn’t even worth trying to parallel park my truck for. So I’ve gotten my fix in other places, such as so-called China shops (shops owned by Chinese people selling cheap stuff imported from China), second-hand shops (this could be another blog) and most recently, fabric scraps.Yes, fabric scraps. South African culture is rich in traditional fabrics with which they make traditional clothing. There is a place in my town called Indian Centre - so named because most of the businesses owned by Indian immigrants. This is a shopping plaza used solely by rural-dwelling South Africans, and an occasional Peace Corps volunteer. It has a taxi rank in the middle (public transport hub) and around the perimeter are shops. The shops are home to crap made in China, bulk tasteless snacks (for repackaging and selling at schools) and fabric shops. Lots of fabric shops. And I know every one and can write a book about the service and selection of each one. I have trawled these shops many times, often with a baby strapped to me. Because I think I may very well be the only white person to frequent this place and thanks to the cute babies I bring along, I know most of the owners and workers in the shops.Fabric scraps. So with the seemingly mass production of traditional clothing by women working from tiny little chipboard enclosed rooms located above the fabric shops, there are then, of course, lots of discarded scraps of fabric. I’ve been dying to do something creative with the traditional fabric and fabric from other parts of Africa, however, two little boys and a full-time job made it neigh impossible to dig my heels in and get started. However, a seed was planted and it had time to germinate and grow while I waited patiently for my little ones to become more independent. And now the time has come to pick that fruit, so to speak.My craft of choice (for now) is quilting. My mom is an avid quilter and I made my first tie quilt from my farmer Dad’s old blue jeans. Now, a few years later, I again will be salvaging discarded yet reusable material to make something new and awesome. I believe the term for it is “repurposing”.All I had to do was ask a seamster (male seamstress?) I know for his scraps. He came out with a wonderful bag of goodies. I was addicted. Awesome stuff for free! The process that follows is a little like the nesting women do before a new baby arrives: Sorting (yes, Mom, I’m sorting!), washing, untangling – which, thanks to the agitator, involves much time, patience and a pair of scissors. Then I hang them to dry (thanks to the South African sun we don’t need a clothes dryer) and iron them. This is truly a labor of love because these aren’t nice large, square pieces of material, some are quite small or misshapen (I’ve found full sleeves, bottoms of pants), so ironing and folding are time consuming jobs. Don’t even get me started on the cutting process. Eish.With the assistance of my mother in law, we sorted the material into four potential quilts. It was really cool to see the different patterns and colors come together. Going into a regular fabric store is overwhelming, there are so many possibilities and combinations. However, with the random assortment of off cuts from wedding party attire, traditional dresses, aprons, etc., I had but a few choices, which made it almost effortless. Like they were calling to me to be on a certain team.So now I’m in the throws of a Team Traditional Brown single-sized Rail Fence quilt and Team Colorful Purples waiting in the wings, with Team Blue Red Yellow to follow. And yesterday I got another wonderful bag of goodies from my old friend Diana, which is waiting patiently on my ironing board what I mean by overwhelming.

Pictures of my most recent trip to Indian Centre follow:



This is me going back into the shop at Indian Centre from where I was given a large bag of goodies. I forgot to take pics for you all, so we went back. Note that I’m parked far back from the actual parking spot. I’ve been parked in too many times, so I’ve learned to create some havoc of my own by making sure to avoid that situation.

Inside A1 Curtains and Fabric - going up the stairs to see my friend Diana. As you can see, the place is a bit of a mess. There’s a new owner, though, an Indian Lady, to whom I felt like I needed to pay an entrance fee. The previous owner, an Indian guy, was always nice and welcoming, never stared too hard at my parcels from other stores, unlike this new lady. Maybe it’ll be a clue to her to get better stock. Anyway, Diana works above her shop.

Hopefully she’ll use the rent increase money to get a better variety of fabrics : ) So these ladies upstairs pay (as of January 2011) R450/month (that’s about $70) for rent. It’s really not too expensive considering an outfit like the one she has on below (standing) could cost anywhere from R600 ($90) and she seems to be pretty busy.

This is her cube. There is space for about six cubes in this upstairs area. And almost every upstairs and downstairs within Indian Centre is like this. All with women and men churning out clothes.

This is Diana rocking an awesome new twist on traditional attire. She’s got the typical head wrap and she’s using the trad fabric, but she’s mixed it up by piecing together different patterns and adding the oh-so-cute jacket with ruffles. Her friend is seated. Looking at her outfit makes me wonder if she wasn’t going to create another such masterpiece with the bag of scraps she gave me. I asked for something, therefore she wanted to give it to me. As a thank you I will have to commission her to make me that traditional skirt I’ve been meaning to have made.

And here’s the bag of fabric from Diana hanging out to dry. The little legs in the background belong to our youngest, Jesse.

And here we have my quilt top made from my first batch of scraps.

Let me take this opportunity to thank my fabulous husband for putting up with me taking over a corner of his music room and for not getting exasperated when I’ve forgotten that we have children who need looking after. Also to two Peace Corps volunteers, Beth and Paula, for assistance with dumpster diving, picture taking and general crafting togetherness.

The Law of Attraction?

Bippity Boppity Boo, has it EVER happened to you? Call it “Law of Attraction”, “Cosmic Ordering” or just dang luck, but there seems to be abundance in positive thinking when it comes to hunting for something second hand.

“IF YOU EVER SEE……..” .Only half in jest, my friends beg my attention with mournful requests for certain items, and nine times out of ten the coveted item will be found. And needless to say, “throwing it out to the universe” has become ritual in our family.

I am currently looking for a good leather belt, and size 12 Crocs, for my son in law, as well as Sinatra on vinyl for the guy who styles my hair, and for the next few years ANYTHING Hollister will be a hit with my pre-teen granddaughter.

Years back it was a beautiful tweed “city coat” for my friend’s husband, and to this day, at dinner parties it’s inevitable that she’ll point to me and say….”If you ever want……”

There seems to be a different ethos within the thrifting community shifts the universe toward sending us what we need. Could this be because most people who find joy in thrifting are not greedy, but simply creative people who love the “hunt” and who feel great joy in sharing with others. Again,“The Law of Attraction”?

Recently a “Rosebud” told the story of finding Tiki Lights for a wedding at a Yard Sale after searching all the retail outlets in Boone. It was a great, and inexpensive find, and just made the day! You can’t help but wonder sometimes about this synchronicity.

The Pea Coat, most beautiful, authentic, made in Boston and mint condition, was found last week in the Goodwill in Black Mountain. My intention to find one had been “out there” for about a month, and I must admit that I am always filled with wonder and disbelief when something is manifested.

I do believe that the magic wands that bring us this abundance will remain fine tuned if we stay in a place of gratitude for the abundance we create. Happy hunting!

One Leg of a Girdle

( Editor's note: Though the Rosies are from two different generations, they share very similar stories that both began by giving to others through volunteer work. This is Rosie W.'s story of her time in Washington state.)

One leg of a girdle, and parts from an old Army fighter plane were some of the “treasures?” one could dig up in the authentic, and often spooky, attic of the Mission Building at St. Mary’s Mission in Omak, Washington. The school, Paschal Sherman Indian School, was located on the Colville Reservation in eastern WA.

This is where I spent some time in the early ‘70’s as a volunteer for the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, and where my husband and I spent our first years of marriage in a tiny room off the back of the boy’s dormitory.

The attic became my haunt. Donations came in regularly, and it was fun to rummage through the odd assortment of boxes from individuals as well as government surplus items.

It was there I found the old cedar chest that I trekked back across the country. At one time it was used as a coffin for one of the nuns who died years ago….short German nuns they were! There is still an inscription in faint pencil script on the inside of the chest which notes that “Sister ?” died October 18, 1920 in the evening. There is a faint list of witnesses too.

The attic also manifested a source of refrigeration for friends who were living off the grid. This was Army surplus, and the only problem was it had “Human Blood” stamped all over the outside, and it became quite the conversation piece in their home.

Folks sent toys for the children as well, but sadly some donations were in such poor shape that we staff had to trash many an item. It still makes me smile to remember the day the smaller girls had a “rebellion” in the Army Quonset hut that served as the gym, and began tossing all the “white honkey” dolls off the balcony. They deserved better, but we all learned to “make do”.

I taught sixth grade in a converted garage with all furnishings being cast offs from the outside world. In the end, none of this mattered. We were a small happy bunch who lived with the children 24/7. There was a pet coyote, lots of singing, dancing, community meals, playing and love.

And one leg of a girdle remains my best example of a donation gone awry.

The Attic--one of my first loves

Over the weekend, I had a blast from the past come down to Boone to visit. Some old friends of mine from Berea, KY rented a cabin on top of Snaggy Mountain and settled in for what was winter’s first hint of a show. They came to celebrate my friend’s 40th birthday and they filled me in on the “goings on” in Berea—an old stomping ground of mine. Let me invite you into a bit of my history….. following college, I spent a year working/volunteering as an outreach social worker in Eastern Kentucky with the Christian Appalachian Project. I lived in a community of individuals in a roadside converted motel and had my own office attached to a large thrift store. The thrift store was named “The Attic”. Oh, the Attic….how I loved the Attic. Rene was the manager of the Attic. She was a beautiful southern woman, whose parents were missionaries and had raised her to be altruistic. She was also a single mother and drove a red convertible. You could tell she had lived a bit on the wild side somewhere along her life’s journey. Rene headed the bunch. JC was a chain smoking local who worked in the warehouse, loading and unloading, sorting, managing, and driving the big donation trucks around the mountain towns. He had a fast grin and a thick drawl and was as kind as the day is long. Ingrid and Becky worked the front of the house. Ingrid was from Germany originally. She had lived in Eastern Kentucky most of her adult life, but never left her accent behind and distinguished herself by having an Eastern Kentucky twang with a guttural German sound behind it. Ingrid was as sweet as pie. Becky was a local lady who loved the social aspects of working at the Attic. She knew her customers by name, they were neighbors, distant relations, or fellow church members or all three. Becky loved to talk and wanted to retire from the Attic as her career of choice. I was the lone social worker in the building, who came and had morning coffee with the group at 8:30 every morning to discuss details of the day. The young outsider who was “let in.” They accepted me as a Yankee among them and allowed me to cut my teeth in their presence. Furthermore,I had my own account at the Attic. As a volunteer, I was paid $100 a month in the form of a stipend. This money did not stretch far, even in those days (the early 90’s). So, I would often find treasures at the Attic that I could not resist, but had no money to buy. The folks there would just add it to my bill. They were very generous and understanding of my ongoing financial status. Why did I love the Attic so much? They had an entire wing dedicated to vintage clothing. ( see the picture above---I could almost smell the vintage clothing just by looking at the picture) They also had brand new clothes as well as gently used clothes for all ages. Households, shoes, and bedding were staple items in the store. Everything there had been donated to the Christian Appalachian Project. These donations were local as well as national---therefore, the merchandise did not necessarily reflect the local styles of the region, which is more typical than atypical if you think about it. Seriously, you never knew what you would find at this store. I bought an antique couch, steamer trunks, afghans, clothing, pottery, jewelry, etc….. all from the Attic. I should have just proclaimed that I would work for nothing because the majority of my paycheck would go right back to the organization. The Attic was also a community resource. People could get vouchers for school clothes, winter coats, professional clothing, etc. Families who experienced house fires could come to the Attic and shop for free. Victims of domestic violence, families in severe poverty, those attempting to gain employment….the Attic was designed to be a safety net of physical resources. They could clothe a town with the amount of clothing you could find in that store and in the warehouse. I am certain that over all of its years of existence, this thrift store brought thousands of smiles into the world.

Before I left my post in August of 1995 to return to graduate school, I made the Attic a sign out of a mosaic of used stamps. It was my farewell gift to them, my coffee group, my mentors, and my way of life as a volunteer. Many life lessons for a young Midwestern woman were learned under the roof of the Attic.

According to the Berea Citizen Newspaper, the Attic closed its doors this past September. The landlord has yet to find another renter and it is currently boarded up with a sign outside. Wish that I could rent it……. The power of the memories of that building will always hold a dear place in my heart and I wanted to share its story with you. If you have any stories you would like to share about your favorite thrift store or a thrift store that has played a large role in your thrifting development, we encourage you to tell us your story. As always, happy hunting!

The Secondhand Baby Shower

“Thrifting for Hank”, read the cake which was decorated with one red rose. And “thrifting” we did, as the Rosebuds showered Rosie P. with second hand abundance at Tuesday night’s “Second Hand Shower”.
Let this event stand as a model for breaking the traditional mold of the baby shower and embracing the notion of re-gifting, and the joy in the “hunt”.
Sincere appreciation to Rosebud Wendy for keeping an organized list of gifts during this event, and to Dawn, Jeff, and Pamela for help with set up.

Rosie P. left the shower with a car full of treasures:
*Piles of clothing (onesies, outfits, a blanket, and overalls) from Dawn and Jeff

*Snowsuit from Nancy

*Pregnancy swimsuit and a handmade blanket from Sutton and little Lillon

*Two piece sweater set from Lisa

*Striped 3 month onesies from Margaret T.

*Frog costume for Hank’s 2011 Halloween, and the book “My Aunt Rosie” from Pamela

*”Bag-A-Baby” and a handmade brag book from Wendy

* Organic and locally made soap and lotion from Val (From Green Mother Goods)

*Sippy cup, onesies, and corduroy pants from Amy M.

*Picnic Basket, wooden roll toy, wooden bear toy, Happy Baby food grinder, Puff the Magic Dragon book/cd, from Rosie W.

*Sensory toy, “Rock Star” hat and onesie, and socks from Anna Banana

*Athletic outfits and bathing suits from Freida

*White noise machine from Christina


And the best gift remains the new friendships made within our “Thrifting” community. Hank is in for a wild ride! Blessings to all. Rosie W.

Ingredients for a successful fundraiser yard sale

As many of you who have followed our writings know, we have a long
history of shopping at the church rummage/relay for life/humane society...etc.
garage sales. We have also had the honor of using our unique talents to steer,
manage, consult with and direct large fundraiser sales. Mind you, this is not
for the weak of heart. Organizational/fundraiser sales are a great deal of
work.
About 6 weeks ago, I received a phone call from my mother-- a staunch non-garage
saler herself--but a recent convert GW thrifter nonetheless. She serves as
a board member for a local organic garden cooperative back in Illinois. They wanted to host a benefit
garage sale in order to raise the funds to buy a new tractor for their garden.
She needed a crash course in how to successfully conquer a fundraiser garage
sale and she needed broken down into simple steps. Amazing--she accepted the
challenge and I was so proud of her! I now became her mentor and provided her
with advice to negotiate the ins and outs of this daunting task. So, I decided to share the same info

with you, our readers, in order to benefit all non-profit, organizational garage sale fundraiser folks
out there who need a heads up, a direction to be pointed in, a pat on the back,
and a large does of moral support.
You may be asking yourself, what does she really know? My story
started back in the days when I was a Youth Minister at Sacred Heart Church in
Effingham, Illinois. A large Catholic town, the church hosted an annual
picnic--which was a huge social event. Along with the picnic came the annual outdoor

church rummage sale. Being a youth minister, one of your job responsibilities was to be able

to manage the church rummage, using the youth with their exuberance and strength to complete
the majority of the physical labor involved in set up, collection, display, and
take down. As well as, teaching the youth about pricing, selling, organizing,
bartering, making money, working as a team, and feeling vital in the overall
sense of community. As a life long garage saler, I welcomed the challenge of
being in charge of something this big. We had a large tent, ongoing publicity (
as we were attached to the picnic), a large base of donation support, and the
space with parking to have it. It was almost like a pre-packaged event and I
was somewhat of a figurehead more than someone who had to spearhead the event.
So, I learned some of the ropes without having to take too many risks. This was
an uncommon way to learn, but an extremely valuable one in that it allowed me
to gain an overall insight of the inner workings of such sales.

When I moved to the mountains, the organization I worked for joked about having
a fundraiser garage sale for an in-house charity that we supported. I told them
that I would love to do that and we have held 7 consecutive sales thus far. This is the forum in
which I have developed the recipe for the sale........almost now creating a
pre-packaged sale of our own.

Key Ingredients
1. A committed group of individuals--steering committee, volunteers, workers
(10-15 individuals) I have found this to be vital to the overall success of the sale!

2. Place to store, sort, price items--the closer in vicinity to the actual sale
venue the better. This will cut down on the work that it takes to move the items. Determine and announce collection
dates.
3. Place to have the sale--with parking considerations and high visibility
4. A large base of folks to donate items---who support the cause and you know
you can call on them for items.
5. Insist on the "No Junk Rule!"
6. Someone who knows how to price--reasonable prices (remember to have prices
marked or indicated on a sign and don't forget to have start up change)
7. Access to tables or other display options--get items off the ground as much
as possible and organize the shopping experience.
8. Good Advertising--signs, newspaper ads, craigslist,etc.----use catchy words
and describe some unique items---not just households, clothes, and something for
everyone.
9. The dollar bag/half price sale for the last hour--this moves items quickly
and should be advertised. Quick and easy money!
10. Arrange for a pick up of leftover items---help the local thrift store by
having a group of volunteers to box up leftovers and help load them on the thrift store truck.


With this in mind, you should begin planning 3-4 months prior to the sale. This
let's folks mark their calendars and commit their time. This also allows you to
schedule a rain date if needed and gain commitment for that weekend as well.
This timeline allows any hiccups in the planning to be reconciled by the
planning committee and worked through. Believe me, alot of things can go wrong
and you need to be able to meet with the steering committee and create
alternative/back up plans.
The first one is the scariest and after that, it gets easier every year.

So, I shared this information with my mother and she had a very successful
fundraising experience. Her organization made over $1200 on their first sale.
They did not allow clothing , only items. This is a decision that the steering
committee will have to make. I have seen successful sales with and without
clothing. Congratulations Mom! I am very proud of you. I know you always said
that it skipped a generation, but now I am wondering if it was just a recessive
gene that you had the whole time and just needed to water to make it grow.

The Secondhand Rosies have written more in-depth descriptions of some of the 10
steps throughout their blog over this past year. For further reading, please
refer to www.secondhandrosies.blogspot.com or feel free to get on our Facebook
fanpage and ask us questions.
Wishing you great success!

Until next time, Happy Hunting!

The "Yes" Sale

The “Yes” Sale

Socks and coats have replaced the carefree Summer garb for those of us out and about early on these Saturday Fall mornings. Yup, the season will soon come to a crashing halt by Halloween.

This said, Rosie W. shares some more “editorial commentary” about the sales that scream “Yes” with clever ads providing details of goods and great directions.

*No Early Birds*: Too bad, “Flippers”

*Clothing $2 a Bag : How can you go wrong? Stuff and stuff for all your friends

*Pottery*: Can’t resist.

*Treasures*: The hook is baited!

*Hand Made Jewelry*: Oooh lala….see you there

*Neighborhood/ Multi Family/ Community Sale/ Merging households/ Church* : MEANS BIG!!!! So no sense driving around when you can find so much in one place

*20 + years of Attic Treasures*: Now, if it said Basement…..but thumbs to an attic full of goodies.

*Houseplants*: Usually an indicator of other gems

*Old wicker, wrought iron, and sets of old china*: Grandma’s things? A must see!

And my three top picks, all from Charlotte in recent weeks:

***3 family yard sale, with $2 pony rides*** Family fun!

***Final move – over 50+ years accumulated. Can’t take it with us*** Enjoy retirement, and we’ll take the Fiesta Ware!

***The ultimate way to ‘go green’ and recycle is to buy used items. Our annual Polkville Yard Sale*** Community with an Eco Conscience….I’d go just to support their values.

Rosie P. chiming in with a few more catch phrase items that have "caught" my eye...........

quartz crystals, old wooden boxes, vinyl albums, custom handmade jewelry,western boots

A funky hand painted dresser and art deco coffee table with silver legs--out of Asheville, NC.

Weaverville, NC: A '63 VW bug, paintings, frames, and bookshelves.

Architectural pieces, wrought iron, and old advertising racks--here I come Todd, NC.

And it is a true shame that we did not save the fabulous ad from this summer from the sellers on the corner of Bend and Straight St. in Boone. They advertised not only a wide variety of odd and intriguing items, but also live bluegrass music and juggling. For those of you who have been following our FB page for a while, you will remember that this is the sale at which Rosie W. knocked on the door and roused the sellers to put out their treasures. They would win our "best local ad of the season" trophy if we actually had one to give.

Keep up the good work sellers! Everyone looks for different key words that interest them. We would love to hear from our readers and invite all Rosebuds to comment on things that they cannot pass up checking out. Happy Hunting!

The "No" Words

Rosie W. here offering some “editorial comment” about certain buzz words in yard sale ads that tamp down my expectations for said sale.

*Hunting/fishing items: “Not Sarah”

*Xmas items: “Enough, overkill!”

*VHS Tapes: “Dinosaurs”

*Almost new country items….:”Ahem…like ducks with bows? No thanks”

*Whatnots/Knickknacks: “Dust”

*Home Interior: “Not my taste, boring and probably made in China”

*Muzzle Loader: “Again, not Sarah, and try the Pawn Shop, dude”

*Large Bird Cage: “Huh? Just how large IS this bird?”

*Coach Bags, and Nine West Shoes: “Retired and giving up the Marlo Thomas ‘professional’ look”

*Canned Food: “Is this a sign of the times? Try food pantry donation folks or just throw away if old…..ick!”

*Nordic Trac: “A White Elephant of the Yard Sale circuit….we found ours at the dump”

*Stuffed Animals: “Fleas, drool, mold and dust…..”

*Beanie Babies, Avon Bottles, and other “collectibles” : “If you dig clutter…”

Rosie P. would like to add some further comments after reviewing local and regional craigslist ads.

Out of Jefferson ,NC---Canned Foods and seasonal decorations. I am pretty certain that this topped my list of garage sales that I had no interest in perusing. Yikes! Naturally, I found that the term "seasonal decorations" can be said in a wide variety of ways, such as " Christmas and fall decorations, decorative holiday items, holiday decor, and just plain Christmas." All were used to describe the offerings of sellers across the region. Rosie W. and I agree on this one. Maybe we are just both naturalists/minimalists when it comes to Santa and the holiday season.

I also agree with "antiques and collectibles" statement. If they are so interesting and sought after, then the seller should identify them for the buying public. These terms do not make me circle a sale and put it on my list. I am also a little bit wary of the "homemade goods" that are advertised. This is a personal preference, but it kind of creeps me out. I am not supportive of selling food, donuts, hotdogs, popcorn, brownies, cookies, etc. at sales. The only time I find an exception to this rule is a church sale with a kitchen where you can see and smell them cooking the food. This erases any mental images I have of someone cooking the food in their homes with who knows what going on in there.

Electronics, crafts, and pocketbooks. These are just a few more to add to my list.

ODDS and INS --out of Asheville, NC. This just cracked me up and I had to share it !

Our next blog will focus on key words or phrases in ads that catch our eye and make us add them to our Saturday morning lists. We would love to hear from you and know which catch words turn off your interest. Happy Hunting!

BUM Fall Bazaar Sale

On the eve of the BIG sale at Boone United Methodist, we’d like to offer a few hints for easier hunting because the sale itself can be quite overwhelming. You will find stations with items covering the entire campus of BUM, and that includes outside.

Here’s what to expect:

The entire hall in the left wing will be divided into stations offering the following:

BOUTIQUE

CHILDREN’S CLOTHING

WOMEN’S CLOTHING

MEN’S CLOTHING

ACCESSORIES

FURNITURE

ELECTRONICS

Outside you will find larger items and odds and ends like lampshades, grills, gardening supplies.

In the Commons Area (place where Spring sale is held) you can expect to find small household items, books, and food to eat on site or baked goods for takeout.

The doors open at 8am and you can be sure that the line will begin to form by 7:30 am. In line you will see some of the Boone “regulars” along with some dealers and “flippers”. So be prepared to beat the latter two in your hunt! And we’ll be cheering for all the Rosebuds!

Make sure you can be as “hands free” as possible as you dive into all the stashes of goods. Rosie W. will be wearing a fanny pack that has the Altoids can stuffed with small bills, and using a rolling cart to haul tomorrow’s treasures.

Leave the sandals at home to avoid a toe crushing experience and wear comfortable shoes and clothing.

You may want to re-read our earlier blog, “Label Whores”, to get a sense of what clothing is most valued, and to avoid paying a high price for a WalMart brand item.

Everything goes half price on Saturday, and you can often unearth some great finds that have been overlooked in Friday’s madness, so don’t despair if you miss the first day.

Thrift away, Rosebuds!

Our Mission Statement

After months of questioning coupled with a great deal of contemplation and discussion, the Secondhand Rosies would like to submit their unique mission statement to the world. We are hoping that this will dispel any rumors regarding our intentions and will allow us to just "be" the crazy pure hearted women that we truly are. Enjoy!

"What the Rosie's are NOT"

* A store or business
* "Flippers" who ransack sales to resell for profit
* Personal shoppers for the public
* Part of any "get rich quick" scheme
* Antique dealers

Call us crazy! But we are only in this for fun and to share and celebrate
our passion with others. We welcome you on board for the ride, and we
hope that our "Mission Statement" below gives you the road map for our
journey.
Our goal is to assist and promote non-profit organizations in their
attempts to fundraise through the resale of items, such as running thrift stores,
hosting annual organizational sales, or just organizing a first time garage sale.
We strive to provide ongoing commentary on the local
garage sale/thrift store/resale scene and promote discussion regarding this subculture. We attempt to use personal insight and life experience to detail the social aspects, motivations, and habits of the modern day hunter gatherers among us.

Happy Hunting!

Rosie W. &Rosie P.

The BIG SALE: Survival Guide and History

The Big Sale

Rosie W.’s Guide to the Legends Sale

*Get in line before 8am if you need excitement
*Wear comfortable closed toe shoes
*It’s good to bring your own sturdy bag or rolling cart
*Don’t carry a purse. Use a fanny pack or a wallet in a pocket.
*Prepare for heat and humidity inside

Now, where to begin?
OUTSIDE:
The outside area is usually jam packed with plastic containers, plastic racks, and other storage items as well as dishware and leftover dorm food (phewy, no ramen noodles for the Rosies).
The outside area that faces Red Onion is usually where the furniture and rugs are displayed.
INSIDE:
Front right: costumes, makeup, wrapping paper, jewelry, odds and ends.
Front left: posters
Mid left: big draw here with electronics, fans, and assorted “musts” for dorm rooms, so you will be in competition with new students and their parents.
Middle/middle: Clothing. Lots of clothing, prepare to dig and bump elbows. Some of the clothing may be in piles on the floor.
Middle right: usually shoes, but last year it changed a bit. This is a stage area, so you have to climb onto this platform, and it can be chaotic.
Back: Tons of bedding and linens. Again, prepare to dig.

Bathrooms are in the very back of this space.

Prices are usually cut in the late morning.

Remember that proceeds go to various local charities, so don’t fret if you over stuff. There’s always someone who could use one of your treasures.
************************************************************************
On the eve of the BIG SALE at ASU, I, Rosie W., wanted to look into the history of the sale as well as the community involvement component. Over 350 volunteer hours were accumulated in order to put on this year’s sale.
This information was gathered using the following three web sites with much of it taken directly:
http://act.appstate.edu/pagesmith/189
http://act.appstate.edu/bigsale
http://act.appstate.edu/pagesmith/192
“This event is open to the whole community and benefits the energy efficiency initiatives of 4 local organizations and a scholarship for ASU students. This year's energy efficient mini-grants recipients are: Western Youth Network, Mountain Alliance, Holston Presbytery Camp and Retreat Center, and Appalachian Child Development Center.”
BIG Sale Fun Facts:
Over 65 TONS of material was diverted from landfills last year
· $13,500 was raised to benefit the energy conservation initiatives of four local community partners*
· Over the past 10 years, thousands of students, staff, faculty, and community members got amazing deals on carpet, furniture, electronics, and so much more!
http://act.appstate.edu/bigsale
This event has a long history spanning over the last decade. “The BIG Sale was started in 2000 by a student, Natalie Knight, who realized the large amounts of "trash" that students were throwing away at the end of the school year. She started by collecting items herself and donating them to OASIS, a domestic abuse shelter. The volume of stuff became too much for her or OASIS to handle so she hooked up with a group called Dump and Run, a national organization that helps organize events like The BIG Sale on college campuses.
The following year, in 2001, was the inaugural BIG Sale in the form that it is today. The first sale took place on Duck Pond Field and raised $3342.27 for Watauga Department of Social Services Foster Care program.”
The event has continued to grow over the years with an expansion not only in the funds that were raised, but also in the scope of the local non-profits that benefit from it. The following details were taken directly from the web page http://act.appstate.edu/pagesmith/192.
2002: $3100 for Watauga 4-H
2003: $3700 for Stop the Litter! Initiative
2004: $5300 for Mountain Alliance and for New River Earth Institute
2005: $6300 for Legal Aid of North Carolina (Boone) and High Country Amigos
2006: $7100 for Juvenile Crime Prevention Council and Hospice
2007: $10,400 for Ashe County Partnership for Children, Hunger and Health Coalition, The Children's Playhouse, and The Hospitality House
**2007 marks the first year of the "Go Green to Save Green" mini-grant program for improving energy efficiency in the facilities of our community partner organizations.**
2008: $11000 for Mountain Pathways Montessori School, Mountain Alliance, WeCAN, and Legal Aid of North Carolina (Boone)
**Beginning in 2008, in addition to the energy efficiency mini-grants, proceeds from the BIG Sale also contribute to an on-campus fund established to promote international service-learning.**
2009: proceeds will benefit the Health and Hunger Coalition, The Children's Playhouse, Mountain Alliance, and Sugar Grove Developmental Dayschool
http://act.appstate.edu/pagesmith/192
ASU runs a program called Don’t Throw It Away and this is the collection point beginning for the Big Sale.
How does it work?
Students are asked to donate items in good condition that they would normally throw away at the end of the year or that they don't need anymore. Mostly anything is accepted! From shower caddies, lamps, and futons to clean carpets and non-perishable food items.
These items are dropped off in designated boxes located on the first floor of each residence hall.
Items are picked up nightly during the final exam period by wonderful volunteers. Volunteers are comprised of students, staff, and community members.
Items are transported to Legend's where they are stored for the summer to be sold at the beginning of the fall semester at The BIG Sale.
http://act.appstate.edu/pagesmith/189

In conclusion, this sale is one of the highlights of the High Country garage sale season. Its benefits permeate the local community and environment on multiple levels. It is truly an EVENT worth attending. Hope to see you there. Happy hunting!

Why the Church Rummage Sale?

Why the Church Rummage Sale?


I, Rosie P., was recently asked this question by one of our devout Rosebuds and it got me thinking….. typically, when I am making my weekly route, I place the church rummage sale at the top or very close to the top of my list. Is this a rational decision or an emotional one? In my mind, the church rummage has a wide variety of individuals donating to it; therefore, a better chance of striking it lucky. More to sell and all in one place. Seems like a no brainer to me. Also, I appreciate that churches have sales to fund mission trips, new roofs, or as fundraisers for local charities. This all suits my sense of a “good cause.” Sometimes, this assumption does not pan out and church sales can be a big bummer, but I still go. This is the emotional part of the church rummage. Coming from the Midwest, where Catholics and Lutherans abound, the church rummage sale was a part of my religious, cultural experience. It was a very popular way for churches to make money. I grew up on the Illinois side of St. Louis, Mo. in what would now be called a suburb. Thirty years ago, it was just a cozy German Catholic town settled on the bend of the Mississippi River. With a population of 35,000 and over a dozen Catholic Churches, the rummage sale was something that my grandma had marked on her calendar year after year. This was my thrifting boot camp, where I learned not only about the sense of a faith community, but also about the true meaning of the bag sale, how to dig through piles of clothes, roll them up tightly, shove them in a plastic bag, and fill up the trunk of the Chevy Nova with all of our finds. I remember those days with a huge smile on my heart. Of course, I do not hold all church rummage sales in such high esteem as those from my early years.
At times, I would assert that some churches suffer from the annual “Church Rummage Sale Fatigue” (CRSF). I propose that many factors play into fatigue. A bad economy plays a definite role. The same members putting it on year after year, the same households giving to the event, people run out of things to donate and this creates a less satisfying shopping experience for the yard saler as well as less income for the church. This can then create a downward spiral. Anyone who has orchestrated one of these sales knows the importance of good advertising, good pricing, organized display, quality items, and a wide selection. Once the donations begin to slip, it is hard to get back on the right track. Yard salers know that CRSF has set in. Solutions might include an every other year sale with rotating committee members and an ongoing storage space for donations that might fall on the off years.
In closing, church rummage sales will always be close to my heart as they were the avenue that let me cut my teeth as a young hunter gatherer. Even when I think that the church is too small or they are showing telltale signs of CRSF, I will be there with money in my pocket and a hopeful spirit. Happy Hunting folks! I will see you at the next rummage sale.

Rosie W.'s Church Sale Overview

Church sales during the 2010 Season have been less exciting than usual, and I am putting all my eggs in the St. Luke’s basket for Saturday. This church always hosts a sale with little treasures and great variety, although in recent years their decision to eliminate clothing has been a disappointment.
I share with Rosie P. the sentiment about giving a church sale priority over a private sale since it is guaranteed abundance with donations coming from church members. The down side is that I err on the side of purchasing more simply to support a good cause. There’s always someone who benefits from these impulsive moments, right?
So, St. Luke’s , get ready, we’re headed for the dishes, linens, jewelry, and art first, then round it out by viewing this year’s selection of plants and books with a quick sweep around the silent auction and a few munchies from the food booth.
And this sale will be held rain or shine they say……

the Adventures of the Saturday Morning Hunter Gatherers 07/31/10

July 31 dawned with the promise of being a banner yard sale day. Sales galore, and covering them all looked to be the challenge. This soon changed when an early and unexpected cool rain hit the area and lingered for most of the morning.
The Rosies hooked up at 7:45 am at Greenway Baptist after Rosie P. had already scanned Wintergreen and the “Back to School” sale on 105. Sadly, the usual treasures were not to be found at Greenway Baptist Church this year. Both of us left empty handed.
We stopped by Bent and Straight Street only to find empty tents and no signs of life or commerce. But we put it on our list for a “drive by” later.
By the time we reached Dr. Forbes parking lot it was pouring rain, but the sale was in full swing under the front porch. Rosie P. found an assortment of older Fisher Price toys priced at $1 each, and Rosie W. found a brand new Coldwater Creek jacket (price tags still attached) for $1. Kudos, and a dozen roses to these folks for having a sale that offered variety and fair pricing.
Next stop was up Howard’s Creek to a tony new development and a sale down a long driveway. There we found a moose head, “no thanks”, and a few other oddities. But Rosie W. bought some well worn wind chimes for her cabin. Rosie P. would have purchased the old wool blankets for rug making, but they were priced too high.
On to Todd Community park…we figured that the sale would happen under the picnic shelter despite the rain….WRONG…it was cancelled.
We need to throw a few bathroom breaks into this tale by now…..but we eventually made our way back to town and back to Bent and Straight Streets.
Eeeek,no sign of life YET, but the rain had stopped, and their signs were still up. Soooo….Rosie W. decided to be brazen and get these folks going! (30 years of Social Work makes one either brave or stupid about knocking on stranger’s doors). With Rosie P. waiting in the car with the dogs, Rosie W. went looking for the sellers.
“Hello…hello….are you having a sale….” “Uhhhhh, yeah, uhhhh, we’re just waiting…..”
Well, that’s all it took, and these lovely young sellers (students) finally got it together and began hauling out all sorts of treasures.
By far, this was our best sale of the day, and we’re sorry that other Rosebuds may have missed this one due to the late start time.
We were there close to an hour and we amassed quite a pile of assorted goods: Jewelry, vinyl records (25 cents each), clothing, and books (hardbound copy of Middlesex). And we surely made some new friends and Rosebuds! The sellers were delighted to be rousted into action by the Rosies; so much so that they GAVE us a hand stenciled shirt that bears the advertisement for their yard sale. We promise to have this artifact on display at our event on August 11.
A good day, and a trunk full of happiness.

Yard Sale Dictionary Terms

As the Rosies were preparing for the first Rosebud gathering at the Watauga Public Library, Rosie P. began to do some research regarding media and the garage sale phenomenon. The easiest information was located through a Wikipedia search and this unveiled the path to the "Yard Sale Dictionary." Somewhere in the past, I have run into these terms before, but they were long forgotten. I want to give credit where credit is due and let you know that the following information was uncovered on August 1, 2010 at www.thundergroundfilms.com/zen/ysdictionary.com. A film was made , but remains unreleased, in 2004 entitled "Zen in the Art of Yard Sailing." These names and definitions were created through that project. If it ever does get released, the Secondhand Rosies will do their best to get a copy of it for the viewing enjoyment of all.

Yard Sale Dictionary Terms

Bake Sale When an angry spouse, ex-girlfriend, or ex-boyfriend sells off their partner's belongings at ridiculously low prices out of spite. A classic example of a Bake Sale is the yardsale scene in Waiting to Exhale. Beaded (aka Munsoned) When a naive vendor is outfoxed by a savvy shopper resulting in a Manhattan. Lawn gypsies thrive and gain pleasure from Beading.Buffing When a vendor makes a point to emphasize even the most minute of qualities an item holds to justify his asking price. The neutralizer of Roasting. Bundling See Grouping. Creepers Drivers that slow down and disrupt traffic in order to gauge a yardsale. D-Man The driver or the wheel man of a yardsailing team, never leaves the car, keeps time, does preliminary sweeps, must be well-versed in the ways of the streets and their currents, and carries the majority of the spending money.
Dan Quayle An unintentionally comedic yardsale sign that may contain misspelled words or inaccurate information. DOE Date Of Excluded; a sign lacking in vital information such as address, date, time, etc. English Channel Two or more simultaneous yardsales across the street from each other. Golden Weekends (aka GW) Weekends that fall on the last two days, or first two days of the month. people generally need money pretty bad during these times in order to pay their rent or their bills. Results in more yardsales and better bargains. Grouping (aka Bundling) A method of lowering individual asking prices by offering to buy several items all at once. Haggling A tug-of-war method of bargaining that usually results in acquiring goods typically at plus or minus 75% of the original asking price. Very time consuming and unprofessional. Jack The raising of an item's price. Knock An attempted outbid on an item in mid-bargain, may result in a jack. Lame Duck An expired yardsale sign. Proper etiquette dictates that these be removed once they are rendered invalid. Larboard The left side of the car.

Lawn Gypsy (aka Dealers aka Early Birds) Someone who pesters the vendor, typically by being too pushy or showing up way too early. A professional yardsailor without etiquette. Known to secretly have second-hand, antique, or novelty shops at which they resell yardsale-bought items at a ridiculous mark-up. Lawn Jockey A name given to a vendor that runs a weekend store. Lost Dog A term used for a sign that resembles a yardsale sign from the distance but isn't. Usually lost pet notices, advertisements, weight loss programs, summer jobs, etc. Mambo Combo A yardsale with two or more vendor parties that may or may not live in the same neighborhood. May be a strictly business partnership between strangers. The end result of piggy-backing. Similar to but differs from multi-family yardsales. Not to be confused with the grip stand. Manhattan A type of transaction in which an item of great worth is acquired for almost nothing in comparison to its actual value. Miracle Mile The white unicorn of yardsales, an extremely rare case in which a steady stream of yardsales stretches on for miles on end. The 127 sale in Alabama is a great example of this. Murphied The unscrupulous act of withholding valuable information from a shopper in hopes of making a sale. Nomad A deceitful lawn jockey that switches locations weekly. Known to squat. Pearl Harbor An invasion of lawn gypsies while still working a yardsale. Perpendicular A driving pattern which allows for questionable yardsales of the day, including DOEs, to be hit only if driving clockwise towards a nearby promising yardsale. Pickers A term that the yardsailing community commonly uses to refer to [unscrupulous] people who turn a profit from reselling yardsale-bought goods. Pros resent being classified as pickers seeing as how it puts them in the same category as lawn gypsies. Prosumer The highest level a bargain hunter can hope to achieve. Recon (aka Preliminary Sweep) Early morning reconnaissance mission for freshly posted yardsale signs or traffic obstructions due to construction or public events.

I pick and chose my favorite ones in an effort to make the list shorter. If you are interested in viewing this in its entirety , it is available at the aforementioned link. I hope that this brought a nice chuckle to your day and a wide smile to your face. As always, we would love to hear from you on the fan page. Which one of these best describes you? Are you a blend of a few characters or are you a pure? Do you think that the author describes the yard sale tactics realistically? Let us know. Happy Hunting Folks!

The History of the Yard Sale

One afternoon, I decided that I wanted to look into the birth of the garage sale. What made folks decide to put their "junk" out in their yards and sell it? Being in my late 30's, I have been going to them for almost as long as I can remember. Rosie W. picked up the addiction in the early 1970's. Well, to my surprise, the entire phenomena began in the late 50's -early 60's . According to an article entitled "Garage sales are a big part of retailing", the author wrote that, " In the 1950's and 1960s America, increased affluence led many consumers to accumulate household goods in excess: concurrently, home -ownership created the venue from which to sell these goods. Suburbia became the fertile breeding grounds of garage sales, where unwanted items found new homes at the hands of housewives. A postmodern adaptation of the mid-nineteenth- century charitable fair or bazaar, the garage sale tapped a national romanticism toward history and nostalgia for used goods. During the 1970's , garage sales exploded into the mainstream consciousness, earning a permanent place in American iconography and legitimizing the concept of profiting from discarded items. " I think that it makes sense that economic prosperity led to over consumerism which led to garage sales. In today's economic times, you see folks who shun mainstream consumerism and shop at garage sales as a way to maintain a more green economy. It is no longer economic prosperity, rather economic disparity that leads folks to shop and have garage sales. Not everyone , of course, but those who may need to provide for their needs in a different marketplace.
Dr. Lori, a television show host of the "Trash or Treasure" program out of Philadelphia writes" An American institution, the yard sale picks up where the French flea market left off. Yard sales brought free trade to the front lawn. Initially, 1950s American suburbanites sold their wares in the self-proclaimed open-aire stores measuring from the threshold to the curb." Nowadays, the yard sale can also be termed a tag sale, rummage sale, garage sale, etc........ it has definitely taken hold in today's culture and is here to stay. If you would like to share your first experience garage saling-- we would love to hear about it. Feel free to post on the fan page and get the discussion started. As always, happy hunting!