Volunteer Inspiration
One of things I love most about this job is working with the AMAZING volunteers who make the Garage Sale magic happen. This week, I got to work with Katie Pichette, a regular volunteer at TGS. We spent the morning sorting and displaying treasures. We got a big donation of beautiful, sparkly doilies (yes–they have silver thread in them!). Instead of burying them in a basket, Katie had the inspiration to display them in our front window by hanging them from twine and clothes hangers. Check it out. How beautiful is that:
Don’t let the display stop you from buying one that catches your eye. Sales go to support the redistribution of housing goods to neighbors in need. So come on over and check out the display. Whose dresser couldn’t use a funky new-to-you doily?
After tackling the doily project, we turned our attention to some great mid-century chairs in the store. If you’ve been in lately, you may have stopped to admire the lines of these great chairs. However, the shredded upholstery isn’t a big selling point.
Again, our rockstar volunteer Katie, had a genius inspiration–find some kitzchy fabric and recover the seat. We dug up a screw driver, staple gun, and some funky fabric from an old apron. Voila! A funky, good-as-new chair/piece of art. You can’t really see it in the picture, but the teal fabric has a pocket in it. Done reading? Tuck your book in the pocket for the next time you’re ready to settle down for a good read in this great chair!
After seeing her creative repurposing skills at work in the TGS, it came as no surprise to hear the Katie has a background in sustainability and material repurposing! You can read more about Katie’s work on her blog: reclaiming value .
So, it’s official, we’re giving Katie a Garage Sale Store volunteer title–
“Super Amazing President Volunteer of Repurposing the Too-Well-Loved Objects Into True Treasures”
We hope you stop in soon to see what Katie has created! And if you want the chair, come and get it! It’s for sale at a smokin’ price–$25!
Interested in joining the Garage Sale Store Volunteer Team? Shoot me an email (jessica@communitywarehouse.org) or visit me at the store on Sundays and Mondays from 10 AM-4PM.
Happy Thrifting!
Mother’s Day Inspiration
Hi! I’m Jessica, and I’m the new Garage Sale Store Manager!
If you’re like me, you put Mother’s Day shopping off until the last minute (again). I spent some time exploring the shelves of treasures in the Garage Sale Store, and I found some great Mother’s Day gifts!
Pick up this gorgeous, hand-crafted tablecloth, and then hunt through our teapots and teacups to make your Mother’s Day Tea Party complete!
Or, check out the display at the front of our store. You’ll find lots of great Mother’s Day gifts. Some inspiration you might find here:
- vases waiting for fresh-cut flowers
- picture frames waiting for pictures of the grandchildren
- beautiful floral journals
- ceramic popcorn tubs that could be presented with a DVD of mom’s favorite flick
- books specially selected for moms
- note cards to create a heartfelt Mother’s Day message for mom
- a beautiful wood jewelry box (with 4 drawers!)
Another idea! Celebrate Mother’s Day by taking mom out to lunch and then stopping by our Garage Sale store. Nothing says ‘I love you’ like a great meal and some great thrifting! I’ll be working this Sunday, so stop on by. Let’s celebrate moms and treasure-hunting at the Garage Sale Store!
Hot Times & Spring In The City
All indications are that we’ve got a great weekend in store and it is going to be warm! I might finally get that lingering damp chill out of my trick knee even …
And to counterbalance the heat the Garage Sale is cool, or at least cool at an affordable price.
Here are a few things that caught our collective eyes (multifaceted, like an insects) this week.
This Moroccan influenced upholstered chair is a feast for the eyes.
An upside-down Tasmanian devil plate, just the way we saw it on the shelf. It’ll go nicely with someone’s (but not mine) bad spring-break tattoo from 1991.
It’s a shelf load of stuff! Great stuff, cheap stuff, stuff that will be even cheaper on Sunday.
Two vintage chairs imported by Moreddi. They need work, including some gluing and/or other creative repair.
Tisket, tasket, basket.
More Stuff!
Another chair and one of the bikes and a heap of games and umbrellas to keep the sun off our pasty rain sodden loveliness.
Coming attractions!
White things and other stuff that looked cool
Hello world! Here is a selection of some of our favorite items currently residing in the Garage Sale.
Someone apparently donated my VHS collection when I wasn’t looking. Some of my all time favorites! 50 cents each!
SO MUCH WINE!!! You’re going to need it for your movie marathon. $35
The fish bowl is just plain cruel. That’s why I love it so. $5 Piggy soup tureen without a ladle $5 as found. I think it’d make a cute flower pot.
Google cooler (or warmer) with a car adapter. I would store all my baby sized vodka bottles in there. It’ll fit right under your desk. $15
This weeks sale: All books buy 3, get 3 free. Yes, we have THAT many books right now. Come help’a warehouse out!
A little birdie told me we will be reopening on Mondays
Or rather a human sized birdie named Ed talked to me about bringing back Mondays to our weekly schedule. It’s a minor schedule change for me, and a huge win for both the Warehouse and Monday-loving Garage Salers. Stop by this Monday and say hi, I will be there all day. Tell me you are super duper excited to shopping on a Monday and I will give you a special discount. It pays to read the blog!
Now, for this weeks goodies:
What classic Portland home wouldn’t be complete without a grandfather clock. This one needs a little lovin’, so if you know clocks and love projects this is an opportunity you can’t pass up! Don’t know the first thing about clock repair? I say it makes a lovely decorative piece regardless of its ability to chime.
Need a project that comes with all the instructions? Show off your recycling chops by making your own paper from recycled paper like junk mail, newspapers and used up grocery lists. I was soo tempted to snag this one myself, but those who have talked to me long enough know that I have more projects than any one person needs. So please, grab this fantastic deal (it’s still in the shrink wrap!) so I don’t have to avert my eyes every time I look at that shelf. 
Like to make things out of foods instead of old paper? Cooking up a whole chicken is a great way to save some cash (if you use it all week, that is). What can you do with the extra dough once you’ve taken home this rotisserie?
Spend it at The Garage Sale of course! Maybe you need a snazzy new side table, some new cookbooks to go with that rotisserie, a fancy old timey looking phone, a container shaped like an apple or a ceramic parrot.
You really need that parrot.
How about a new book to read? Who doesn’t love reading a story set in their own city? Check out this book by a local author:
And you’ve probably seen them on the Estate Store blog (if not, you need to see this), here they are, 17 GI Joes and a bag full of armaments. You can pretend you are buying them for your children, we won’t judge. In fact, you might just win the coolest purchase of the day award.
Check back in a bit for another post about customizing a serving tray, making a serving tray and ideas for what to do with all that glorious glassware on sale right now.
It’s Half Day At The Garage Sale
April 7th is the first Sunday of the month and that means that Garage Sale items are 1/2 off. Hooray!
Here’s a little preview of what’s there.
It’s the end of March already?!
Time sure seems to fly in the early part of the year. I can’t believe it is the end of March already. We’ve got some great new stuff in the store to help you wrap up quarter one of 2013.
Easter is just a few days away, have you found all your basket goodies? No? Well, have we got the selection for you. There is kid stuff everywhere, come on in and find your last minute basket fillers.
And here are some of my favorite things that came in this week. The Twist Board, which is crazy amounts of fun. I recommend dancing on it. And second, a sweet Elvis lunch box. It’s in perfect condition too! Impress your coworkers with your classic taste in music and stylish lunch containment device.
You may have noticed that I have used a number of trays in these photos. That’s because I am going to be posting a neat project for adding some pop to your trays with various reusable inserts. Stay tuned for details!
Have a beautiful last week of March and I will see you in April!
Spring is the time of plans and projects…
Whether it’s spring cleaning, gardening, crafting or other projects, Spring is the time for it. Speaking of projects, did you know that March is National Craft Month? We may not be SCRAP, but we do have a sampling of curated craft supplies. New this week: bags of beads for 50 cents each and vintage recipe collage collections for three bucks. What kinds of creative projects will you come up with?
Here are some other new items you will find (unless someone snatches them up first) in the store this week:
We have moved our card rack out of the store (don’t worry, we still have cards for a quarter) to make room for more furniture. I love this green chair. It would be a perfect spring time reading chair either on the porch or under a tree. And if you need reading material, well, you know where to check first!
Did you know that we are on Facebook? Come on over and give us a Like. You may just get access to secret sales and Facebook only deals.
It’ Ain’t Easy Being Green
In recognition of St. Patrick’s Day, all green items are on sale! Save 25% on green dishes, books, candle holders, ceramics, linens and more. Come down this week and take advantage of this unique sale. Wear green on Sunday and save an additional 5%. Just let us know you read about it on the blog and the savings are yours.
So what’s new this week? Plenty of green, that’s for sure. You have to come in and see this amazing collection of ceramic pieces in green, yellow and cream. Which collection is your favorite?
That’s not all we have this week, here is my favorite: ducks! (Seriously, someone buy these before I do.)
Need to prove you are a Portland hipster? Well, have we got the supplies for you.
And last, but certainly not least, you have to see these fun little goodies. Is that a Lego pen? Why yes, yes it is.
Now for a few reminders:
- The Table + Chair Affair is just around the corner. Have you picked up your tickets yet?
- We are on Pinterest!
- Like us on Facebook and get access to special deals.
That’s it for this week. Until next time!
