Garage Sales

Pete Flack asked:


This article will tell you how to earn money shopping at garage, tag, rummage and yard sales. It will show you how to make going to sales a profitable part time business as well as buying things for your home and personal use.

First thing to plan is what you want. Do you need something for the home such as garden, kitchen, tools or outdoor chairs? Why not go to a sale save money and when you buy these items at not only do you save money but you also save the environment also. Maybe you are a collector of something. Personally I have seen antiques, coins, vintage, stamps, memorabilia, records, toys, advertising and anything else you can possibly thing of. Keep a mental note or write a list of things you maybe want. Also good things to pick up are broken jewelry; the price of gold is at an all time high. If you sell on eBay go to http://pulse.ebay.com/ to find out what’s selling on eBay the best or what’s hot.

Then locate the sales by newspapers not only the major papers in you are but the tiny ones you get in the mail or stores such as super markets and Laundromats. Pay particular too these little publications because these hidden sales is where you may find that rare item or items at a great price. Also keep your eyes open for signs and announcements of sales. Also listen for sales. Another place to look is on the internet particular you will find undiscovered sales on Craig’s list and if you live on Long island New York you can go to the author’s website longislandgaragetagsale.com where you will also find links to various web sites.

Then when you locate the sales draw a map so that you can go to as many sales is possible. With gasoline prices at an all time high plan your day as efficient as possible by going to sales that are located close to each other. Remember if you go to sales where the item you want is too expensive at the end of the sale if the item is still there at the end, the price might be right. Remember at the sale the price of everything is negotiable.

After you come back to your home with all you finds. Now comes the time where you can make a few bucks. If you collect things go to the places where you buy them and offer to sell what you got. Plus you can also list things on eBay or Craig list.

Remember do this as a business. Do not spend to much time at any one sale the idea is to hit as many sales as possible. You are not at sales to make friends do not worry about getting things to cheap that’s what you are there for. Don’t pay more than 25 percent if you are reselling collectables. Follow this article you will save money and the enviorment good luck and god bless.



WESLEY

Madeleine M Langlois asked:


Diy Christmas Table Decorations, Make-it-yourself holiday tabletop.

Miy Project creation and Photo by: Madeleine M Langlois

My “Christmas in Paris” theme is based on a composition of blending the old with the new. My grandmother’s table was always set with the finest bone china and antique silverware. Oil paintings, painted by my grandfather, graced the walls. Her holiday décor was fashioned with stylish satin ribbons, shimmering crystals, and an exquisite white Christmas tree, decorated with but a few striking ornaments. Place cards, Christmas crackers and a personalized centerpiece coordinated the whole ensemble. She always used fresh greenery and flowers to garnish her home.

Copyright Miy Decorations © 2006

For more Miy decor projects visit www.maddylane-decor.com

Even thecolour palette that I selected was nostalgic; a combination of bright turquoise, greens and blues with soft pastels in similar hues amidst accents of silver, angelic whites and chocolate brown. As a young girl, these unusual combinations of Christmas colours made quite an impression on me. My table this year is an homage to my grandmother who is now 98 years old. You could say that style influences along with traditions are also passed on through generations. With this specific concept in mind, the table I chose is a cream-coloured dining room set by Tommy Bahamas. This set was very close in resemblance, shape and style to the look I wanted to recreate. Even though this particular set is more intended for a Bahamian plantation, which is much en vogue, it worked beautifully to accomplish my goal.

The square-patterned taffeta table runners are in bright iridescent colour blocks of emerald greens, deep-sea turquoises and opulent blues. The organza centre panel runner is a soft pastel aqua shade. The runners are all trimmed with luxurious satin borders. The main table cloth is a sheer underskirt in a delicious café-au-lait colour. It is edged with a multi-coloured trim made with fun-fibre wool.

For the place setting for four, I chose the Rochelle Platinum collection by Noritake - fine white china, trimmed with an exquisite silver-dotted textured border. I transfered images of the Eiffel Tower, in tones of deep turquoise, to the center of clear plates. Using clear plates allows the bright image to stand out on the white background of the china.

Beneath the place settings, sit lovely silver charger plates with beaded edges. The glasses are from the Grossgrain collection by Vera Wang. Tiny white dots and fine stripes line the borders of the shapely glasses. For the water glasses, I transformed plain glasses (picked up at a rummage sale) with turquoise and green stripes using glass paints.

I wanted a chic, yet fun centerpiece with a different twist. I used a crystal, square-shaped cake stand and filled it with assorted pearls, green and silver balls, and placed a pillar candle at the center. To decorate the hutch and the buffet I used fresh greenery, supplied by Westmont Florist, to make graceful arrangements. Eucalyptus sprigs, pine and willow branches, Queen Anne’s lace and Ornitogalums are refined with silver angel hair accents. The vases are accented with marble-pattern squares, blending assorted shades of blues and greens.

The crystal candle holders are bejewelled with a crystal beaded fringe, which is repeated throughout the theme. The tea-light candle holders are edged with a white feather frill. Two frosted glass votive lamps are embellished with clear micro beads in shapes of Eiffel Towers. I revamped an old chandelier to coordinate with the setting. I painted it silver, added fine details such as: crystal bead fringe, fancy white and silver fuzzy wool, draped with pearls, lavish ribbons, and crystal pendant jewels (taken from other items that I recycled).I created a mini art gallery incorporating mainly photographs with assorted art mediums including a painting of the

Eiffel Tower, lit up with tiny rice lights. Photo montages are made with panoramic pictures of Paris placed over canvases covered with patterned rice paper. Two canvases were covered with textured wallpaper and bordered with satin ribbons. My teenage son Spencer made his contribution to the mini gallery with a graffiti sign of Paris using oil pastels on canvas.

For the finishing details, the backs of the chairs were decorated with a blue satin bow, a crystal bead tassel and a pine branch surrounded by a silver wire swirl accent. I applied family photographs onto self-hardening clay to create an advent calendar tree and attached them onto a white feathered tabletop tree. A coordinating feathered square wreath centers a grand round mirror.

The Christmas tree: An Eiffel tower shaped tree made out of willow branches is gracefully trimmed with a fluffy white feathered boa. Tiny glass balls and paper ornaments are decorated with feathers, crystals, micro beads and sequences.I made a simple garland using a spiral silver wire, a few pine branches, silver holly shapes made with foil and a silver wire to spell the word Noël. I made mini Eiffel Towers out of wire for the place card holders. Fake chocolates were made with clay.

The gifts were uniquely wrapped in shapes of bonbons, and frilly purses using assorted papers, pictures, fabrics and ribbons left over from the items created for this theme. Wire monograms, old-fashioned labels, and fun-fur were also incorporated in some of the pretty wrappings. Hand-made greeting cards were customized using similar materials, and also micro beads, silver foil, fuzzy wool, shrink film designs and sequins. There is so much more to describe, a Paris travel souvenir tray, a cake candle, hat boxes, a lavish picture throw, and more.

The decorations that I created for my theme table, even if they seem quite elaborate, can easily be recreated with very few craft supplies, available in arts and crafts and fabric stores and many various remnants from around your home. Make your holidays special, personalized it!



JEROME