So you have some stuff. Okay, a lot of stuff. And you would like to make a couple of bucks. Great, have a yard sale. Whoa there partner, before you grab a card table and start hauling out your junk, take a few minutes to read this post to make the most of your sale. Take it from Lorrie, a veteran yard sale hostess, a successful sale takes planning, organization, and a little bit of hard work. So read on and have a happy yard sale!
1. Pick a weekend and publicize. When you are starting to think about a sale, the date is the most important part. Stay away from holiday weekends for the most part, as they usually mean people are not around (unless you live in a tourist-y area, then by all means, sale away!) Find out if your community has a village/town wide sale date, and jump in on that. I recommend a two day sale so that you can maximize the amount of people at the sale. Once you pick the date, let the people know. Make posters, hang signs, place an ad in the newspaper, tell friends, tell your friend's friends. Craigslist has a great section to place your yard sale ad, and many local areas have pages on Facebook as well. The more people who know the bigger the chance of profit.
2. Find a friend. What a great way to spend a weekend, hauling out stuff, making money, and sitting back with a friend as the customers roll in. Plus, by combining junk, you have that much more stuff to attract the people. People often "drive by" a sale and look first. One person sales can look small and sad (depending on the amount of stuff you own). A friend or two make the sale attractive to the "drive by-ers". Plus someone needs to be there to help you watch the sale when you are simultaneously haggling with a lady over yarn and doing a pee dance.
3. Plan ahead. One cannot predict the weather, so pop up tents are a necessity when planning a sale. They are great to provide shade on a hot day and to protect your stuff from the elements. You can never have enough tables. When you think you have begged, borrowed, or stolen enough, ask for at least one more! Have stuff to make signs, markers, tape, tags for marking, and scrap paper. You really should have things priced in advance. Nothing is more frustrating to me as going to a sale and not knowing what things cost. I also suggest that if there is more than one of you hosting the sale that you assign initials or colors so that items don't get mixed up when people come up to you to pay. Another thing to consider is the tax man. Check into the rules and laws in your area regarding charging/collecting a tax. In New York State you can't have a sale more than 3 days in a calendar year and you can't make over $600 without collecting sales tax. Look into it while you are still in the planning stages to save yourself a headache later.
4. Organize it and have good crap! I believe this is the most important tip. So often things are thrown haphazardly on a table with no rhyme or reason. I can understand clothing getting messy, but it should be sorted by size and gender ahead of time. I like digging for deals and going hunting as much as the next person, but I will leave an unorganized sale. This is also helpful for your own sanity, grouping all the kitchen stuff together makes it easy to make sales and direct someone to the area if that is what they are looking for. Having good stuff is also important. Items should be clean, free of holes, and in working condition. If there is something wrong with it, that should be stated on a sign so buyers know what they are getting. Sure it's a yard sale and buyer beware, but providing good quality items makes for happy customers (important if you ever want to have another sale in the future).
5. Price realistically and have a check out area. eBay is a fabulous tool to use as a pricing guide if you have antiques, but be realistic. If you think you can get $500 for you old record collection then sell it on eBay, you are unlikely to get that at your yard sale. The object is to get rid of stuff, not just have it on display for the day! So, try and be fair with your prices and be prepared for people to ask for bargains. It is a good idea to have an area that people must go to in order to check out. You don't need a cash register, but a cash box or tackle box to keep money in is a good idea. An apron can work if you are walking around. Theft can sometimes happen unfortunately, and having a check out area may help. (This is also where friends and extra sets of eyes help). Be sure to write down the items and the cost (especially when having the sale with a friend). That way you can tally up the total at the end of the day.
6. Get change, bags and boxes. You can never have enough change. Ones and fives are handy and if you are dealing with 25 cent items, make sure you have coins. Also make sure you have a calculator if you are bad at math like me. :) We save bags for a few weeks from trips to the grocery and other stores. Having bags is especially helpful if you plan on doing a clothing bag sale. To save time on pricing each clothing item, hand a person a bag and tell them to fill it for $3 or what have you. Boxes are handy for bulky items or dishes and such. Also, having tissue or newspaper on hand for breakables is a great touch. People tend to spend more when you provide things for them and they can really fill a bag.
7. Be prepared for a long day. I am not going to sugarcoat it, sometimes running a yard sales sucks. It is a lot of work, it's hot, sweaty, people ask for reduced prices and paw through your stuff, and you are tired from setting up early. Knowing this up front will help you through it. Keep yourself hydrated and make sure you have snacks. You may have a little down time, especially midafternoon, so bring a book, crossword, or other amusement. This is where friends are fun! They can deal with the unruly badgering lady who wants yarn for 10 cents and not 25, they can help lift the heavy stuff, and they can watch your stuff while you pee. Friends make a yard sale day go much faster!
8. Decide on an "exit" plan. What are you going to do at the end of the sale? You don't want to put all that stuff back in your house now that you have cleaned and organized! Don't hang on to the leftovers. Contact a local charity and see if they do pickups or have hours to drop off donations. Some people put boxes outside for free at the end of a sale as well. Whatever you do, plan ahead so stuff doesn't sit in the garage until the next sale!
and lastly~
9. Have fun! It can be fun meeting people and haggling for deals. It's exciting to watch stuff leave and count the money in your pocket! So smile, give the old lady a break on the yarn, and when it is all said and done, take your friend out for ice cream with the profits!
Thursday, August 20, 2015
Friday, August 7, 2015
Garage Sale Junkie: How to Shop a Sale
This past weekend marked the annual Village Wide Garage Sales here in the little town of Lowville, NY. We have participated each year in the sales by having a huge parking lot sale. We put out a ton of items that we have stowed in the back, and we sold them at low prices. Lorrie's big idea this year was box lots. She put together at least 20 boxes of collectibles, dishes, antiques, whatever. For one price the lucky buyer got a whole box of goodies. It was a new thing for us, pretty successful, and also helped us to clear out a lot of inventory from the back, leaving us with lots of room in the back! Don't worry, we took turns manning the sale so that we could take a peek at all the other cool sales that were going on as well...
The sale got me thinking about yard sales in general, and how much we love them, but how sometimes to the novice they can sometimes be a bit daunting. I mean you walk up to a stranger's house where all their stuff is on the lawn and you paw through it, then offer a price (or pay what they ask if you aren't into dickering) and leave with a used lamp, suit, or who knows what.
So here are just a few tips to help you on your next garage sale adventure!
1. Plan your attack. Use the newspaper in your area and look for the sale ads that sound appealing. Check Facebook for a garage sale site in your area (not the ones that you can buy from, but the ones with just yard sale listings). Know where you would like to go and what you "need". I love the community wide sales because there is more bang for your buck (buck being time in this case). You can hit many sales in the same area and even compare prices at each one. Also, we all know where the "fancy" part of town is. Check when this area is having a sale, people here have very nice things, and usually low prices. In our area we have Fort Drum, which is full of military families. Usually they are moving or being deployed, so there are great deals to be found on furniture and much more in this area, usually at very low prices as they are motivated to get rid of it.
2. Look for the bag sales. If it is clothing you want, a bag sale is the best option. We had clothing both days of the sale, and sold more the second day because we offered this type of sale. A whole bag of clothes for anywhere from $2 to $5.... yes please!
3. Go early? Buy late? I have mixed feelings about what the correct answer is on this one. Many people say in their sale ads that they do not allow early birds into their sale. It is a bit frustrating to be finishing a cup of coffee and see cars park outside or people pawing through your stuff when it isn't all set up yet. Early can work in your favor to get the first choice at items. Perhaps you did your homework, there was something specific you wanted, so you can be the first to get there and get it. Be aware though, you will most likely be paying exactly what the seller wants for it without much dicker room. Early in the day means there are many more people they could sell it to, so they are less likely to move on the price. Late arrivals can find deals galore. But, that could mean that the items have been pretty picked over all day longs, so the deals may not be that great. I prefer to be a late garage sale person to pick up cool items to DIY and get good prices.
4. Bundling/Dickering. Sometimes a deal can be made if you are buying more than one item. I hardly ever go to a sale and leave with one item, so this is usually not a problem! When you have multiple items, it is acceptable to ask for a little deal, maybe a dollar or two off. Which brings us to the next point, dickering. I am a firm believer in dickering at a yard sale. Most of the time the items are the homeowners own items. They don't want to cart that stuff back into the house, or they would have left it in there to begin with. So they are motivated to sell it at a reduced price as well. But, I do ask you to be realistic and not insulting. If an item is marked $10, for example, a reasonable counter is $8 or maybe $7. Asking for $3 is probably going to get you some mean looks and a no budge attitude. Be pleasant, smile, and make small talk, and then make your offer.
5. Have supplies. If you are making the day of it at a community yard sale, it is good to have some necessities with you. You may consider some of the following: wipes, hand sanitizer, bags, newspapers, pen/paper, bubble wrap. Also, bring snacks and water to keep you fed and hydrated! You may even want a wagon. That way you can park your car in one area, and hit multiple sales without making multiple trips back and forth.
6. Have fun. It can be a lot of fun seeking out cool finds and getting good deals. You never know what the next sale may have and you just might find the thing you always wanted! Enjoy talking to new people and maybe seeing some new places. Garage sales can be lots of fun!
Have any suggestions or questions? Have a hint to help a fellow garage sale junkie? Please comment below and let us know your thoughts! You can always visit us in person Tuesday through Friday 10am until 6pm and Saturdays 10am until 3pm.We are located at 7504 South State Street in Lowville, NY. Or email us at our entwinedtreasures.com site.
The sale got me thinking about yard sales in general, and how much we love them, but how sometimes to the novice they can sometimes be a bit daunting. I mean you walk up to a stranger's house where all their stuff is on the lawn and you paw through it, then offer a price (or pay what they ask if you aren't into dickering) and leave with a used lamp, suit, or who knows what.
So here are just a few tips to help you on your next garage sale adventure!
1. Plan your attack. Use the newspaper in your area and look for the sale ads that sound appealing. Check Facebook for a garage sale site in your area (not the ones that you can buy from, but the ones with just yard sale listings). Know where you would like to go and what you "need". I love the community wide sales because there is more bang for your buck (buck being time in this case). You can hit many sales in the same area and even compare prices at each one. Also, we all know where the "fancy" part of town is. Check when this area is having a sale, people here have very nice things, and usually low prices. In our area we have Fort Drum, which is full of military families. Usually they are moving or being deployed, so there are great deals to be found on furniture and much more in this area, usually at very low prices as they are motivated to get rid of it.
2. Look for the bag sales. If it is clothing you want, a bag sale is the best option. We had clothing both days of the sale, and sold more the second day because we offered this type of sale. A whole bag of clothes for anywhere from $2 to $5.... yes please!
3. Go early? Buy late? I have mixed feelings about what the correct answer is on this one. Many people say in their sale ads that they do not allow early birds into their sale. It is a bit frustrating to be finishing a cup of coffee and see cars park outside or people pawing through your stuff when it isn't all set up yet. Early can work in your favor to get the first choice at items. Perhaps you did your homework, there was something specific you wanted, so you can be the first to get there and get it. Be aware though, you will most likely be paying exactly what the seller wants for it without much dicker room. Early in the day means there are many more people they could sell it to, so they are less likely to move on the price. Late arrivals can find deals galore. But, that could mean that the items have been pretty picked over all day longs, so the deals may not be that great. I prefer to be a late garage sale person to pick up cool items to DIY and get good prices.
4. Bundling/Dickering. Sometimes a deal can be made if you are buying more than one item. I hardly ever go to a sale and leave with one item, so this is usually not a problem! When you have multiple items, it is acceptable to ask for a little deal, maybe a dollar or two off. Which brings us to the next point, dickering. I am a firm believer in dickering at a yard sale. Most of the time the items are the homeowners own items. They don't want to cart that stuff back into the house, or they would have left it in there to begin with. So they are motivated to sell it at a reduced price as well. But, I do ask you to be realistic and not insulting. If an item is marked $10, for example, a reasonable counter is $8 or maybe $7. Asking for $3 is probably going to get you some mean looks and a no budge attitude. Be pleasant, smile, and make small talk, and then make your offer.
5. Have supplies. If you are making the day of it at a community yard sale, it is good to have some necessities with you. You may consider some of the following: wipes, hand sanitizer, bags, newspapers, pen/paper, bubble wrap. Also, bring snacks and water to keep you fed and hydrated! You may even want a wagon. That way you can park your car in one area, and hit multiple sales without making multiple trips back and forth.
6. Have fun. It can be a lot of fun seeking out cool finds and getting good deals. You never know what the next sale may have and you just might find the thing you always wanted! Enjoy talking to new people and maybe seeing some new places. Garage sales can be lots of fun!
Have any suggestions or questions? Have a hint to help a fellow garage sale junkie? Please comment below and let us know your thoughts! You can always visit us in person Tuesday through Friday 10am until 6pm and Saturdays 10am until 3pm.We are located at 7504 South State Street in Lowville, NY. Or email us at our entwinedtreasures.com site.
Saturday, July 25, 2015
Don't Rain on My Parade: One FREE Way to Get Publicity
Running a small business can be hard, with a zillion things to do, no one to do it but you, and limited cash to do it. Word of mouth is great, especially in a small town like ours, but that will only get you so far. If I had a dollar for each time someone came in and said "I didn't even know you were here? How long have you been open?", I would have PLENTY of money to spend on advertising! So sometimes, you have to get creative to find ways to advertise and not go broke doing it.
This month's big idea: a float in the Lewis County Fair Parade.
For those of you reading this blog that are not local area residents, the Lewis County Fair is a VERY big deal here! The parade is 2 1/2 hours long and features local bands, businesses, and community groups. Of course it also has a vast array of farming equipment, fire trucks, and more candy than trick-o-treating at Halloween! The fair has been a community staple for almost 200 years, and the best part, entering a float is FREE!
In the small business world, free is a very good thing! Over 2,000 people come to the parade and sit along the parade route or in the grand stands at the fairgrounds and see the floats as they pass by. That is a far better reach than our Facebook site has ever had. But, we have certainly learned a few things with this first time float, and it will make for an even better showing next year. I would like to share a few things with you about the parade float process this year, and how we intend to make it even better next year. If you are lucky enough to have a fair or other community event in your area, perhaps you can learn from our trial and error as well.
1. Think your business is too small? Find a partner! The absolute best thing I did this year was call on a friend to sponsor a parade float with our store. As soon as I found out the float was free (unless you wanted it judged to win money), I called my good friend Christy who owns The Old Meat Market Gallery right down the road from us. She features handmade items by local artists, and her style and store type was a perfect mesh with ours. (Not to mention she has 6 kids, and I knew that brood would come in handy!) Finding a partner store for the float cut expenses, legwork, and construction time, as we had someone to rely on. Christy picked up the candy, got the giant roll of heavy paper for the signs, and enlisted her children and their friends to help on the evening of the parade. Not to mention, it was more fun sitting with a friend and laughing as we doled out candy.
2. Have enough candy! Kids love candy. Adults love the candy. Who doesn't like free candy? The problem is that the parade route is about a mile long or so... that is a lot of people. if you think you have enough candy, buy more! We started buying a month or two before the parade from Sam's Club so we could buy in bulk and stockpiled it at the shop. But, we still ran out a little more than halfway through the parade. One reason was that the kids went a little crazy with the candy throwing (we will chat with them about that for next year). The other reason was we clearly underestimated the amount of people in attendance. Our saving grace was a bubble machine when the candy ran out!
4. Have fun! It was a blast being a part of the parade and the Lewis County Fair. Waving at people, seeing faces we knew, and then seeing new folks read our signs and see our float. Who knows, maybe they will remember our float and make a point to stop in to see us. I cannot say enough about supporting your local community with events such as this one. It was very low cost to us, gained us a ton of exposure, and was fun to boot. Check out your local Chamber of Commerce for a list of events and how you can get involved.
The group of us cannot wait until next year, when we will have a bigger and better trailer, more kid "volunteers" to toss out candy and blow bubbles, and of course, more candy!
This month's big idea: a float in the Lewis County Fair Parade.
 | |||
| A small parade float makes a big statement |
 |
| Lewis County Fair, since 1820 |
1. Think your business is too small? Find a partner! The absolute best thing I did this year was call on a friend to sponsor a parade float with our store. As soon as I found out the float was free (unless you wanted it judged to win money), I called my good friend Christy who owns The Old Meat Market Gallery right down the road from us. She features handmade items by local artists, and her style and store type was a perfect mesh with ours. (Not to mention she has 6 kids, and I knew that brood would come in handy!) Finding a partner store for the float cut expenses, legwork, and construction time, as we had someone to rely on. Christy picked up the candy, got the giant roll of heavy paper for the signs, and enlisted her children and their friends to help on the evening of the parade. Not to mention, it was more fun sitting with a friend and laughing as we doled out candy.
2. Have enough candy! Kids love candy. Adults love the candy. Who doesn't like free candy? The problem is that the parade route is about a mile long or so... that is a lot of people. if you think you have enough candy, buy more! We started buying a month or two before the parade from Sam's Club so we could buy in bulk and stockpiled it at the shop. But, we still ran out a little more than halfway through the parade. One reason was that the kids went a little crazy with the candy throwing (we will chat with them about that for next year). The other reason was we clearly underestimated the amount of people in attendance. Our saving grace was a bubble machine when the candy ran out!
3. Know the theme and stick to it! Every year they make a big deal out of choosing the theme for the fair. This year the theme was "Family Fun for Everyone". It was difficult to make it fit our float, but at least we tried. We picked things at the fair that also were things we have at the shops (like knitting, old farm tools, etc.) and placed them on the table in our float. As we watched other floats go by (we saw a lot of the parade go by us) one of the main questions that popped in our heads was "What does THAT have to do with the theme?" Of course this matters more if you are going to be judges I suppose, but it also should look like you wanted to be a part of the parade and not just an advertisement for your business. We started very simple this year, and hope to make it bigger and better next year.
 |
| 2 great places to shop local |
4. Have fun! It was a blast being a part of the parade and the Lewis County Fair. Waving at people, seeing faces we knew, and then seeing new folks read our signs and see our float. Who knows, maybe they will remember our float and make a point to stop in to see us. I cannot say enough about supporting your local community with events such as this one. It was very low cost to us, gained us a ton of exposure, and was fun to boot. Check out your local Chamber of Commerce for a list of events and how you can get involved.
The group of us cannot wait until next year, when we will have a bigger and better trailer, more kid "volunteers" to toss out candy and blow bubbles, and of course, more candy!
Friday, July 17, 2015
Old School... Revamp a school bench
I suffer from what could be called UPS, Unfinished Projects Syndrome. I have a million things started at all times, and then I get bored and move on to a different project, sometimes before the other one is finished. Ok, more often than not before the other one is finished. For instance, I promised that I would have the cigar box doll house done with new pictures... I have this...
Yup, that is as far as I have gotten. But the new project that took over, was so much more exciting, I promise. And, I finished it! Well, mostly. It just needs a coat of clear coating to protect it from the elements and it will be all set! So, without further ado, let me tell you about the newest DIY project, upcycling an old school desk seat into a garden bench.
Back story: A consigner came in with an old school desk and bench. We had it over the customary 3 months, and when it came time to pick it up, he told us we could keep it. Not willing to send it to the dump, I decided to give it new life. The two pieces went together awkwardly, so splitting them up into two distinct pieces seemed like the way to go. I have another cool idea for the desk, and I promise to post it soon. (after the fair and that crazy debacle, but that is next week's blog!)
The Steps: First, I washed the whole thing down and wiped it clean. I used sandpaper to rough off what was left of a finish and then wiped the whole thing down again. I then used painter's tape to protect the wood around the legs. After years of neglect, the legs needed new life, so I spray painted them with black spray paint. When using spray paint work in a well ventilated area and apply a light coating to avoid runs and drip marks.
It took two layers of paint, waiting for each layer to completely dry. It was also difficult to get into all the little areas. I did end up getting some paint on the wood, but it didn't matter too much with the overall design of the project.
The second step was my favorite part. In the back room of the shop, I found a very worn an tattered copy of Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe. There were some pages missing and the cover was ripped off. I torn out pages in random shapes and sizes, and used mod-podge to put them on the seat part of the bench. I mostly centered the book title page on the bench and the rest was just a creative flow.
I continued this on the bottom of the bench as well, even though it isn't seen that often. The tricky part of this was corners, as you have to plan the folds so that there are crisp clean folds and no bumps. It is easy to move the pieces when they are first wet, and don't be afraid to layer the pieces on top of one another as well to get the desired look. Don't stress over placement or if the type is all facing the same way, let it flow and try to relax, the design will come as it will.
It was a little sad at first, tearing up a book, but I then realized it was already in bad shape and this project would allow it to "live" again in a new way!
In the next step, I allowed the mod-podge to dry overnight, and then began work on the top of the bench. I chose an ombre-like design in blue. I used blue tempera paint, white tempera paint, and an old brush. To create the design, it is important to remember you don't want perfect straight lines. I began at the top with the blue in its pure, out of the bottle color. I applied the paint haphazardly on the top. This wood was very porous, so it did change the color of the paint. Before the paint was dry, I added a bit of white to the blue, and added another haphazard row. Doing this while the first line was still wet allowed for easier blending.
I continued in this manner, making the blue lighter and lighter as I worked my way down. It isn't perfect, and it isn't meant to be! Using an old paintbrush allowed me to feel free to really smudge the lines and the product of it was almost a sea/ocean look, which does flow with the Robinson Crusoe motif. I did the back side of the top in the same manner.
The almost last step was to add the quote from the book. I did a little research and found one that I liked, and added it to the front of the bench back. I used small Sharpie marker to write in in blue and in black. I could have painted it as well, but I thought the Sharpie would be a much cleaner look. Two tips: make sure the paint is completely dry and use a brand new sharpie! The wood can be hard to write on, so I did practice on paper as well as writing it out in pencil first. You may not have the best handwriting and wish to use stencils or decals for this.
The final step is to add a clear coat of a sealant to protect it from the elements. That way the bench could be used outside in a garden. It could also find a place in a library. As is, it does require an anchor to keep it from falling over (it is the seat's design), so bolting it into place would be the best idea.
I don't think it will take it long to find a home, and I cannot wait to start the desk part!
Please leave us any questions or comments, we would love to hear from you! Visit us in person at Entwined Treasures 7504 South State Street Lowville, NY. WE are here Wednesday through Friday from 12pm until 7pm and Saturdays from 10am until 3pm. Other questions? Contact us at entwinedtreasures.com or on our Facebook page as well.
 |
| Unfinished cigar box dollhouse |
Yup, that is as far as I have gotten. But the new project that took over, was so much more exciting, I promise. And, I finished it! Well, mostly. It just needs a coat of clear coating to protect it from the elements and it will be all set! So, without further ado, let me tell you about the newest DIY project, upcycling an old school desk seat into a garden bench.
Back story: A consigner came in with an old school desk and bench. We had it over the customary 3 months, and when it came time to pick it up, he told us we could keep it. Not willing to send it to the dump, I decided to give it new life. The two pieces went together awkwardly, so splitting them up into two distinct pieces seemed like the way to go. I have another cool idea for the desk, and I promise to post it soon. (after the fair and that crazy debacle, but that is next week's blog!)
 |
| The beginning of a beautiful idea |
The Steps: First, I washed the whole thing down and wiped it clean. I used sandpaper to rough off what was left of a finish and then wiped the whole thing down again. I then used painter's tape to protect the wood around the legs. After years of neglect, the legs needed new life, so I spray painted them with black spray paint. When using spray paint work in a well ventilated area and apply a light coating to avoid runs and drip marks.
 |
| One leg almost completed |
It took two layers of paint, waiting for each layer to completely dry. It was also difficult to get into all the little areas. I did end up getting some paint on the wood, but it didn't matter too much with the overall design of the project.
The second step was my favorite part. In the back room of the shop, I found a very worn an tattered copy of Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe. There were some pages missing and the cover was ripped off. I torn out pages in random shapes and sizes, and used mod-podge to put them on the seat part of the bench. I mostly centered the book title page on the bench and the rest was just a creative flow.
 | |
| Mod-podge bench top |
 |
| Mod-podge bench bottom in progress |
 | |
| Finished bottom |
 |
| A closer look at the writing on the bench |
 |
| Blue Ombre Back of Bench |
The almost last step was to add the quote from the book. I did a little research and found one that I liked, and added it to the front of the bench back. I used small Sharpie marker to write in in blue and in black. I could have painted it as well, but I thought the Sharpie would be a much cleaner look. Two tips: make sure the paint is completely dry and use a brand new sharpie! The wood can be hard to write on, so I did practice on paper as well as writing it out in pencil first. You may not have the best handwriting and wish to use stencils or decals for this.
 |
| Added quote from book |
I don't think it will take it long to find a home, and I cannot wait to start the desk part!
Please leave us any questions or comments, we would love to hear from you! Visit us in person at Entwined Treasures 7504 South State Street Lowville, NY. WE are here Wednesday through Friday from 12pm until 7pm and Saturdays from 10am until 3pm. Other questions? Contact us at entwinedtreasures.com or on our Facebook page as well.
Saturday, July 4, 2015
Helpful Hints to Shop the Thrift without Regrets
This holiday week has not been conducive to getting any DIY projects completed. We have been putting out new items, attending auctions, and of course getting ready for a holiday B-B-Q. So the cigar boxes are on the back burner for now, (A little summer grilling humor). I have also find another project to occupy my mind at this moment, so stay tuned for a cool school desk redo!
We decided to give you some helpful hints in how to shop a thrift/consignment store like ours. Our place is pretty full and it is easy to feel overwhelmed sometimes when shopping. There are so many deals everywhere you don't know where to look first! So here are just a few hints to help you get the most from your shopping experience.
Pre-planning: Hints while you are still home:
1. Ask yourself, "What is my Style?" Are you a shabby chic? Modern? Minimalist? Rustic and/or primitive? Look around your house and decide what you are drawn to. Decorating magazines are helpful to thumb through for ideas for your home, and they can give you some great DIY tips. Knowing the look you like will help to curb any impulse buys. Nothing is worse than getting an object home only to have it sit in the box or bag because it doesn't "go" with your stuff!
2. Know your budget. I could go crazy in a thrift store. So many good buys, but the good deals can add up fast. Keeping an idea of what you are willing and able to spend will help you to keep the "eye on the thrifty prize" and decide what you want to buy and what you can walk away from.
3. Make a list, bring a list, and stick to it (kinda). I have to do this to keep myself from snatching up 16 tiki torches, just because they were a "good deal". My list has my "unicorn" items (those things I am always looking for, but elude me), as well as the items I need to get. But, being flexible is okay too. Sometimes you get lucky and come across an item you didn't even know you needed! (a list just tries to limit those "finds" and their impact on your wallet!)
4. Peruse the Facebook or Store Website. Research is key! We here at Entwined Treasures do our best to update our pictures to entice our repeat customers to return for that item they just have to have! We post almost daily, and sometimes have surprise sales or deals exclusively for our Facebook fans. This is good news for you, and it gives us an idea of who is seeing and reading our posts. With a couple of clicks you can scan pictures for things you like and find out about any deals as well!
While you are at the shop:
5. Come the first day after the store has been closed. This goes along with #4 too. Once you have researched and found the items you like, speed is the key! We spend our "days off" rearranging the shop, shopping for the shop, or putting out new items for the shop. It is best to come into the store the day after we have been closed to see all the new items and get the first pickings!
6. Take your time, really, we mean it! We have stuff everywhere! Hanging, on the floor, on shelves, pretty much anywhere you can possibly have stuff. Do more than one sweep around the store, and budget your time accordingly. Look high and low and then look again. Remember looking is half the fun!
7. If you don't see it, just ask! There are a ton of things in the shop, but there just isn't room for everything. We have a ton of things in the back, like A LOT. So, if there is a specific item you are wishing for, ask! We may have just the thing you are looking for and we would be happy for any help to clean out the back room! (If Lorrie will part with it, that is!)
8. Think outside of the box. Pinterest is a great thing! There are so many ideas for redoing old things in unique ways. We have a lot of old things, that's for sure! As you look at a rusty old piece, ask yourself what you could do with it, and what else it could be used for. A little bit of paint, some innovation and the sky is the limit. If you need a little inspiration, check out our other blogs on this page for DIY ideas, and check back with us often here, as we plan many more in the future!
And lastly:
9. Come by often! Things are always changing here! We never know what a consigner may walk in with, what we may uncover in the back room, or what we may find at an auction. We try to change things around a lot to bring folks in often. We also move items quickly, so the more we move, the more we put out. Check back with us to see what is new. Facebook is the perfect way to keep up with the deals, the new items, and of course store hours (those pesky "real jobs" keep getting in the way of "normal" hours!).
Do you have any suggestions that make your thrift shop trips a success? Leave us a comment or suggestion!
Visit us in person at Entwined Treasures 7504 South State Street Lowville, NY. Here Wednesday through Friday from 12pm until 7pm and Saturdays from 10am until 3pm. Other questions? Contact us at entwinedtreasures.com or on our Facebook page as well.
We decided to give you some helpful hints in how to shop a thrift/consignment store like ours. Our place is pretty full and it is easy to feel overwhelmed sometimes when shopping. There are so many deals everywhere you don't know where to look first! So here are just a few hints to help you get the most from your shopping experience.
Pre-planning: Hints while you are still home:
1. Ask yourself, "What is my Style?" Are you a shabby chic? Modern? Minimalist? Rustic and/or primitive? Look around your house and decide what you are drawn to. Decorating magazines are helpful to thumb through for ideas for your home, and they can give you some great DIY tips. Knowing the look you like will help to curb any impulse buys. Nothing is worse than getting an object home only to have it sit in the box or bag because it doesn't "go" with your stuff!
 |
| A magazine is a great source of inspiration |
2. Know your budget. I could go crazy in a thrift store. So many good buys, but the good deals can add up fast. Keeping an idea of what you are willing and able to spend will help you to keep the "eye on the thrifty prize" and decide what you want to buy and what you can walk away from.
3. Make a list, bring a list, and stick to it (kinda). I have to do this to keep myself from snatching up 16 tiki torches, just because they were a "good deal". My list has my "unicorn" items (those things I am always looking for, but elude me), as well as the items I need to get. But, being flexible is okay too. Sometimes you get lucky and come across an item you didn't even know you needed! (a list just tries to limit those "finds" and their impact on your wallet!)
 |
| Just a little list of what I am looking for right now |
4. Peruse the Facebook or Store Website. Research is key! We here at Entwined Treasures do our best to update our pictures to entice our repeat customers to return for that item they just have to have! We post almost daily, and sometimes have surprise sales or deals exclusively for our Facebook fans. This is good news for you, and it gives us an idea of who is seeing and reading our posts. With a couple of clicks you can scan pictures for things you like and find out about any deals as well!
 |
| Entwined Treasures: the Facebook page |
While you are at the shop:
5. Come the first day after the store has been closed. This goes along with #4 too. Once you have researched and found the items you like, speed is the key! We spend our "days off" rearranging the shop, shopping for the shop, or putting out new items for the shop. It is best to come into the store the day after we have been closed to see all the new items and get the first pickings!
 |
| Com by the shop the day after it has been closed! get those deals! |
 |
| How many items can you count for sale in just this small area?! Taking your time matters! |
7. If you don't see it, just ask! There are a ton of things in the shop, but there just isn't room for everything. We have a ton of things in the back, like A LOT. So, if there is a specific item you are wishing for, ask! We may have just the thing you are looking for and we would be happy for any help to clean out the back room! (If Lorrie will part with it, that is!)
8. Think outside of the box. Pinterest is a great thing! There are so many ideas for redoing old things in unique ways. We have a lot of old things, that's for sure! As you look at a rusty old piece, ask yourself what you could do with it, and what else it could be used for. A little bit of paint, some innovation and the sky is the limit. If you need a little inspiration, check out our other blogs on this page for DIY ideas, and check back with us often here, as we plan many more in the future!
 |
| This may look like junk, but there is something amazing to be made from these old suitcases and a grain cradle! |
And lastly:
9. Come by often! Things are always changing here! We never know what a consigner may walk in with, what we may uncover in the back room, or what we may find at an auction. We try to change things around a lot to bring folks in often. We also move items quickly, so the more we move, the more we put out. Check back with us to see what is new. Facebook is the perfect way to keep up with the deals, the new items, and of course store hours (those pesky "real jobs" keep getting in the way of "normal" hours!).
Do you have any suggestions that make your thrift shop trips a success? Leave us a comment or suggestion!
Visit us in person at Entwined Treasures 7504 South State Street Lowville, NY. Here Wednesday through Friday from 12pm until 7pm and Saturdays from 10am until 3pm. Other questions? Contact us at entwinedtreasures.com or on our Facebook page as well.
Saturday, June 27, 2015
Thinking Inside the Box: Cool Things to do with Cigar Boxes
Part 1
In this week's blog I had some help. School is out, and the neighbor's two girls have been helping at the shop, so naturally I enlisted their creative art skills for this weeks DIY project: Cool things to do with cigar boxes. They worked for pizza and drinks, which is a pretty cheap rate these days! This activity kept them busy for hours, and they enjoyed the painting, the decorating, even taking the pictures for the blog. I highly recommend this activity for any parent with bored kids this summer.
Without further introduction, a few things to do with cigar boxes...
1. Shadow box. Art credit to Colden Pike, age 11.
A great way to be creative and get a unique piece to match your style and décor. We used tempera paints to cover an old cigar box in a base coat. Colden then took pages from an old book and used Mod-podge to glue them to the bottom of the box.
Colden supplied the artistic touches with beautiful roses, and here is the result!
Attach a hook to the back of the box, and you are ready to hang this in any room of the house. Put little knick-knacks in it, books, hang you keys inside, the possibilities are endless.
2. Toy Box. Art credit to Charlee Pike, age 8.
When looking through the boxes, Charlee liked the small wooden one and decided it would be a cute toy box for her small cars and things. Her first step was to sand the wooden box to rough up the finish. She then painted each side a different color, waiting a while in between coats. She painted cute little scenes on each side with her talent to really make it her own.
This idea is simple and allows for a lot of creativity. Perhaps you don't have a little painter, so use scrap book paper instead. Attach anything to the box to personalize it as you wish and store your little treasures.One cute tip is to attach a "handle" to the lid to make it easy to open. Use a button, a toy car, a spool... the possibilities are endless!
3. Travel boxes. (Still a work in progress)
So simple and yet so helpful on those long car rides. Colden painted the sides in a bright red color, which took several coats to cover the cigar box designs.
Then, we painted one lid with chalkboard paint. **A tip, rough up the wood on the cigar box to help with the chalkboard paint, and make sure you remove all the stickers as well! It took several coats of chalkboard paint to get rid of the streaks and make it perfect to write on.
On the other side, we will hot gluea green Lego base. This will give your little rider something to stick their Legos to and build to their heart's content! Then we will just have to add a little latch to keep the box closed and it will be all set. Store all the Legos and chalk inside the box for quick and easy clean up. You could glue a child's board game, magnets for fun, or even paint a small track for race cars. I would make a few of these boxes up for a long trip and hours of fun followed by easy clean up! Stay tuned for the finished product, we didn't have the time or all the necessary materials to finish the project just yet. We will follow up with a part two of projects next week.
4. Cigar Box Doll House. (Still a work in progress)
This project may take a while. It is something I plan to work on with my daughter and personalize it to her tastes. I found six mismatched cigar boxes and started with cleaning them out. I glued them together, waiting for the glue to dry overnight. it ended up that hot glue worked really well, but be careful because with the mess!
I painted the outside, but the inside is yet unfinished, and I will work on it slowly, showing you some of the progress in the next blog. But the idea is to make a doll house that can be easily closed up and stored in a small place. For the second floor, I believe it will be necessary to attach ribbon or string to keep the "floor" from flopping all the way down.
I may attach it to the wall in her room in the future, and place a table underneath it. This project is perfect to complete with a little one, and allows for so much freedom and creativity. It doesn't take a lot of money, as many miniatures can be made from items on hand. Here is the look we are going for, using vintage miniatures from Lorrie's personal collection:
Check out the many sites online for ideas to make your little doll house a dream. This was a fun project that I cannot wait to complete with my little one and enjoy for many years to come! I can't wait to show you the progress in the next blog as well!
Here are just a few simple ideas that use very little time and money.In part two next week, we will add a few other ideas and updates to motivate you and get you thinking "inside the box" as well. Just visit Pinterest and you will find all sorts of ideas to get your creativity flowing! Do you have an experience decorating with cigar boxes? Have any suggestions or questions? Please comment below and let us know your thoughts!
Want your own cigar boxes, including the painted ones? You can visit us in person Wednesday through Friday 1pm until 7pm and Saturdays 10am until 3pm to take a peek at our stock. We are located at 7504 South State Street in Lowville, NY. Or email us at our entwinedtreasures.com site and we work out arrangements to send them to you!
In this week's blog I had some help. School is out, and the neighbor's two girls have been helping at the shop, so naturally I enlisted their creative art skills for this weeks DIY project: Cool things to do with cigar boxes. They worked for pizza and drinks, which is a pretty cheap rate these days! This activity kept them busy for hours, and they enjoyed the painting, the decorating, even taking the pictures for the blog. I highly recommend this activity for any parent with bored kids this summer.
Without further introduction, a few things to do with cigar boxes...
1. Shadow box. Art credit to Colden Pike, age 11.
 |
| Shadowbox by Colden Pike |
 |
| Book pages inside the box |
 |
| Top design of shadowbox |
 |
| One side of the shadowbox |
 |
| Bottom of the shadowbox |
 |
| Other side of shadowbox |
2. Toy Box. Art credit to Charlee Pike, age 8.
 |
| Toy box by Charlee Pike |
When looking through the boxes, Charlee liked the small wooden one and decided it would be a cute toy box for her small cars and things. Her first step was to sand the wooden box to rough up the finish. She then painted each side a different color, waiting a while in between coats. She painted cute little scenes on each side with her talent to really make it her own.
 |
| Lid and one side of box |
 |
| Another painted side |
 |
| Flower design on toy box |
 |
| Cute heart design on side |
This idea is simple and allows for a lot of creativity. Perhaps you don't have a little painter, so use scrap book paper instead. Attach anything to the box to personalize it as you wish and store your little treasures.One cute tip is to attach a "handle" to the lid to make it easy to open. Use a button, a toy car, a spool... the possibilities are endless!
3. Travel boxes. (Still a work in progress)
 |
| Unfinished travel box |
So simple and yet so helpful on those long car rides. Colden painted the sides in a bright red color, which took several coats to cover the cigar box designs.
 |
| Painting the box red |
Then, we painted one lid with chalkboard paint. **A tip, rough up the wood on the cigar box to help with the chalkboard paint, and make sure you remove all the stickers as well! It took several coats of chalkboard paint to get rid of the streaks and make it perfect to write on.
 |
| The finished chalkboard side |
On the other side, we will hot gluea green Lego base. This will give your little rider something to stick their Legos to and build to their heart's content! Then we will just have to add a little latch to keep the box closed and it will be all set. Store all the Legos and chalk inside the box for quick and easy clean up. You could glue a child's board game, magnets for fun, or even paint a small track for race cars. I would make a few of these boxes up for a long trip and hours of fun followed by easy clean up! Stay tuned for the finished product, we didn't have the time or all the necessary materials to finish the project just yet. We will follow up with a part two of projects next week.
4. Cigar Box Doll House. (Still a work in progress)
This project may take a while. It is something I plan to work on with my daughter and personalize it to her tastes. I found six mismatched cigar boxes and started with cleaning them out. I glued them together, waiting for the glue to dry overnight. it ended up that hot glue worked really well, but be careful because with the mess!
 |
| Use glue to stick the boxes together |
 |
| Arrangement of boxes for dollhouse |
 |
| Painted boxes waiting for the details |
 |
| Adding some detail vintage pieces for show |
Here are just a few simple ideas that use very little time and money.In part two next week, we will add a few other ideas and updates to motivate you and get you thinking "inside the box" as well. Just visit Pinterest and you will find all sorts of ideas to get your creativity flowing! Do you have an experience decorating with cigar boxes? Have any suggestions or questions? Please comment below and let us know your thoughts!
Want your own cigar boxes, including the painted ones? You can visit us in person Wednesday through Friday 1pm until 7pm and Saturdays 10am until 3pm to take a peek at our stock. We are located at 7504 South State Street in Lowville, NY. Or email us at our entwinedtreasures.com site and we work out arrangements to send them to you!
Thursday, June 18, 2015
"Berry" Easy Decorating with Berry Baskets
One of the coolest things about Entwined Treasures (aside from the amazing owners) is that you can get inexpensive supplies to create almost anything you find on Pinterest! When we go to an auction and buy box lots, we may end up with 30 frames, a million buttons, and so much more. We pass the savings on to you, so that you can create your little heart away. Sometimes though, you may look at things and say, "what in the world can I do with this?" This is where we come in! In this blog we will take an item we have lying around the shop and show you how you can change it into something cool and creative to be used as decor, a gift, or whatever you want.
This blog focuses on very easy to find wooden berry baskets. (Well, in our world they are pretty easy to find!)
I like the wooden ones because I like the old antique feel to them, but I think some of these simple ideas could be used for the plastic ones as well, if that is more your style.I also prefer the old berry baskets and not the massed produced ones from a craft store. These simple things took no more than an hour to create, and could be accomplished with minimal cost to you!
Simple Idea #1: Photo Display. I simply took a picture (in this case a postcard because I didn't have a photograph hanging around the shop), and bent it slightly to fit into the box.
Ta-da! Finished in two minutes (it took longer to find the picture actually!)
Why I love this?: I hate frames. I don't like to open them, mess with matte, and all that jazz. Once a photo is in a frame in my house, it probably isn't leaving... (Yes, I have photos still hanging up circa 1993 with big hair and MC Hammer pants!) Using the boxes as frames makes it easy to change the picture and change the location I place it. No holes in the wall or pesky hanging (Is it straight?!) Group a few boxes together and you got yourself an instant conversation piece.
Simple Idea #2: DIY Knick-Knack Holder. This one took a bit longer to make only because I assembled it in a way that made it easy to take apart. I didn't want to ruin the baskets or do anything permanent.
There is a lot of flexibility here for you to create the perfect piece for you. But let me tell you what I did. I used 6 berry baskets, scissors, and some twine. I had to tie each one together in the corners and then attach the second row.
If you were going to make these permanent, you could glue them together or nail them to the wall in the configuration that you like. This little grouping I put together could sit on a table or be put on the wall. I filled my boxes with neat things from the shop, and you could get very creative with your collection display.
This blog focuses on very easy to find wooden berry baskets. (Well, in our world they are pretty easy to find!)
I like the wooden ones because I like the old antique feel to them, but I think some of these simple ideas could be used for the plastic ones as well, if that is more your style.I also prefer the old berry baskets and not the massed produced ones from a craft store. These simple things took no more than an hour to create, and could be accomplished with minimal cost to you!
Simple Idea #1: Photo Display. I simply took a picture (in this case a postcard because I didn't have a photograph hanging around the shop), and bent it slightly to fit into the box.
Ta-da! Finished in two minutes (it took longer to find the picture actually!)
Simple Idea #2: DIY Knick-Knack Holder. This one took a bit longer to make only because I assembled it in a way that made it easy to take apart. I didn't want to ruin the baskets or do anything permanent.
There is a lot of flexibility here for you to create the perfect piece for you. But let me tell you what I did. I used 6 berry baskets, scissors, and some twine. I had to tie each one together in the corners and then attach the second row.
If you were going to make these permanent, you could glue them together or nail them to the wall in the configuration that you like. This little grouping I put together could sit on a table or be put on the wall. I filled my boxes with neat things from the shop, and you could get very creative with your collection display.
Why I love this? It is simple, easy to make, and can be adapted for any personal style.You can paint them, glue them, put lace on them, even add wallpaper or paint samples to the back for a pop of color. If it was going on my wall, I might even place a small board between the two rows for more stability. I also added rather light objects to the baskets, remember the wood is kinda flimsy.
Simple Idea #3:Decorative Gift Boxes. Take a berry basket and decorate it to your heart's content. The fun part is filling it with goodies for the occasion! Bring it to the shin-dig and be prepared for the oohs and aahs to follow.
Why I love this? I am not a fan of wrapping paper. These baskets are the perfect size for small gifts. Again the sky is the limit to how you decorate them. It could be as simple as lace and ribbon, or use tempera paint like I did to add a special touch. The great thing is that the person getting the gift can reuse the baskets for storage or to re-gift to a friend.
Simple Idea #4: Centerpieces for a Rustic Wedding. With weddings costing thousands, brides are always looking to save a dollar. Use the baskets as a terrific base for the flowers of your choice and top it off with ribbon, lace, or twine to match your colors. The guests will be fighting over who gets to take them home!
Why I love this? Simple, cost-cutting, and a creative outlet. It is a perfect craft for the bridal party to work on together with wine! Please don't judge the cuteness of the baskets on my decorating abilities. I am not a florist, and I was working with items we had on hand at the shop and a time limit! :) I am sure your flower arrangements will turn out much better than my own. For better arrangement ideas do a Google image search and find your inspiration!
Here are just a few simple ideas that use very little time and money. Decorating can be a lot of fun and a creative outlet for your visions. Do you have an experience decorating with these baskets? Have any suggestions or questions? Please comment below and let us know your thoughts!
Want your own berry baskets, included the painted ones? You can visit us in person Wednesday through Friday 1pm until 7pm and Saturdays 10am until 3pm to take a peek at our stock.We are located at 7504 South State Street in Lowville, NY. Or email us at our entwinedtreasures.com site and we work out arrangements to send them to you.
Hope you have a "berry" good time decorating and designing with your very own berry baskets! (Sorry folks, Lorrie wanted me to stick that in there!) :)
Simple Idea #3:Decorative Gift Boxes. Take a berry basket and decorate it to your heart's content. The fun part is filling it with goodies for the occasion! Bring it to the shin-dig and be prepared for the oohs and aahs to follow.
 |
| Painted berry baskets, Girl, Boy, 4th of July |
 |
| Close up of Baby Girl Basket |
 |
| Baby Girl Gift Basket filled |
 |
| Close up of Baby Boy Basket |
 |
| Baby Boy Gift Basket filled |
Why I love this? I am not a fan of wrapping paper. These baskets are the perfect size for small gifts. Again the sky is the limit to how you decorate them. It could be as simple as lace and ribbon, or use tempera paint like I did to add a special touch. The great thing is that the person getting the gift can reuse the baskets for storage or to re-gift to a friend.
Simple Idea #4: Centerpieces for a Rustic Wedding. With weddings costing thousands, brides are always looking to save a dollar. Use the baskets as a terrific base for the flowers of your choice and top it off with ribbon, lace, or twine to match your colors. The guests will be fighting over who gets to take them home!
 |
| Rustic berry basket as base for flower arrangement |
Here are just a few simple ideas that use very little time and money. Decorating can be a lot of fun and a creative outlet for your visions. Do you have an experience decorating with these baskets? Have any suggestions or questions? Please comment below and let us know your thoughts!
Want your own berry baskets, included the painted ones? You can visit us in person Wednesday through Friday 1pm until 7pm and Saturdays 10am until 3pm to take a peek at our stock.We are located at 7504 South State Street in Lowville, NY. Or email us at our entwinedtreasures.com site and we work out arrangements to send them to you.
Hope you have a "berry" good time decorating and designing with your very own berry baskets! (Sorry folks, Lorrie wanted me to stick that in there!) :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)