Staging The Laundry Room

In case you need updating, I am on hiatus from the Little

House In The Ozarks.  The hardwood floor guys are doing 

their thing + it was raining, so I headed back to our northern house.

I will work on cleaning + staging this house for the next couple of days.

So today I did some staging in the pantry.

I bought these galvanized tubs at Walmart over the weekend.

They are going to be used for laundry at the new place,

but I am taking advantage of having them now.

They were about $13 each, so very reasonable

compared to other vintage-style laundry options.

 I also purchased the two drink containers on the top shelf

in the photo above.  They were very reasonable too.

 "The Pantry"

(aka laundry room)

has so much great storage.

I am going to miss it.

Spring Planter Sorting

I know spring is on it's way when I start to sort my planters
that I am going to sell my succulents in.

In the past I have "prettied up" my pots in different ways. Click to look at

red & green paint here and  stamped ones here.

But this year, if I do anything at all, it will be the "whitewashed" look.

I already have enough planters that I don't need to scrounge for more.

Next step....planting!

It's a little early in the year,

but nature is telling me that it is time.

Making A Potting Area While The Sun Shines

I shared in an earlier post (click here) that I had collected (hoarded) vintage rusty items for early spring sales.  When I was able to get that area cleared, it was time to begin prep for spring planting. 

I enjoy collecting vintage containers to use as planters for the succulents that I grow.  After July every potential planter that I collect gets carefully stored (more like piled and crammed) in the garden shed or anywhere else I can find space.

So in the early spring I need to confine all these containers to one easy outdoor spot to access.  Last year I used the area in back of my garden shed for that purpose, and it worked out so well that I will be doing that again.

Since there is no permanent shelving back there, it is pretty much composed of whatever shelves were in my winter stash pile.  Then I spent the afternoon gathering up all of the containers I had stashed. 

And as always...still room for the "spectators" by the basketball court.

Family Affair Junk Reorganization

In-laws are coming tonight.  They are from a different part of the country and only visit every few years (we usually visit them).  So it is important to make a good impression (really, just to not make a bad impression). 

So this week I cleaned up my outside "work" area

and disguised it as a patio.

 

My sons and daughter-in-law arrived yesterday.  The guys are great for heavy lifting, and don't whine like they did when they lived at home.  So...we saved the back porch and antique shed reorganization for them.   Let's call it a family bonding activity.

My antique shed is only 8x10' but it is amazing how much can be stuffed into that space if you go about it methodically.

And the back porch...

words cannot express how much I enjoy looking at

(and sitting on) it when it looks like this.

Don't be too impressed -- the other half of the back porch still looks like this.

Getting My Garden Junk All In A Row

I know that it is only the end of March, but spring has officially sprung.  People will be getting the green thumb bug before we know it.  I sell a TON of succulents in vintage containers in the spring.  I definitely needed to streamline my assembly process this year. 

 

Starting with the containers.  I have been accumulating some since last summer. (And painting some, click here to see my painted tin can planter project and here how I made mossy terra cotta pots.)

My junky planter collection was overwhelming my compost / potting area. 

So, I made a new area behind the garden shed for the rotating planter collection.  It will be easy to spot the size and style I am looking for without having to dig through boxes and storage.  Since I actually want the planters to age / rust, it is perfect leaving them out in the weather.  EEEE...I can't wait to start digging in the dirt.

I even have a little area for treasures that help fill out  a sparse planter.

I still have room for courtside seating, for the neighbor boys who come over to use the basketball court (or just for me to sit and soak up the sun.)

My Vintage Peanut Butter Jar Collection

It is a meager collection.  A humble collection.  One that I may never add to.  One that is virtually worthless.  My Sessions peanut butter jar collection.

When I was growing up I was a very picky eater.  But I never snubbed a PB&J sandwich.  My thrifty mother bought huge jars of Sessions School Days peanut butter.  I practically lived off the stuff.  I don't know if it was just sold in the Midwest, but when I left for college I had to adopt other brands.  By the time I was married and settled, School Days PB was gone. 

Then I came across a huge old box of PB jars.  I made a small fortune selling most of the jars.  But I couldn't part with the School Days jars.  Only one had a label.  A few years later my dad had a small garage sale, and one of the items he was getting rid of was a large old School Days jar!  I added them to my pantry storage jars (see blog here),  and it makes me smile to see them.

Organizing Bits & Bobs In The Pantry

As I mentioned a week or so ago, I am repainting my pantry -- click here to see.  My house is 120 years old.  I am not a stickler for authentic, age-appropriate furniture and décor -- but I certainly like a vintage vibe at the very least.  And it has to be functional.

For instance, I don't try to hide my new washer and dryer.  But in the past I've used the three shelves above them to display vintage items -- the first few years it was lunchboxes. I would use the lunchboxes for storage, but I could never remember what I had stashed in them.  I'm too old and practical for that kind of thing now.

Two of the shelves I've turned into totally practical and functional shelves for bits and bobs.  All of the jars are clear (or just light aqua) so that I can easily view the contents.  It is amazing how much time and money can be saved when you can instantly see what you have.  I resisted the urge to label the jars because I sometimes trade a jar out to sell it and replace it with another one.

On the shelf above that I have kind of a vintage laundry theme going on.  I can't reach it without a ladder, so that is going to be kind of a permanent (and dusty) exhibit.

My husband and I visited Niagara Falls many years ago and I thought this area was perfect to throw in some vintage Niagara Falls items.

My favorite item on the shelf:  a tiny whisk broom with a whimsical face painted on.

I stuck it in a wire flower frog so that it would stand upright.

Tips On Organizing Estate & Garage Sales

I am helping two friends organize sales during the next two weeks - a moving sale and an estate sale.  More information on those two specific sales coming later.  I love helping friends organize and price estate / moving sales.  I wouldn't want to do it all the time, but once in awhile is great fun.  These tips are for helping friends, it gets more complicated when you are doing it as a business.

Here are a few important tips for estate / moving sales:

• Definitely separate the keep vs sell piles first thing.  If you are iffy then don't sell it.  You can't get it back after it sells.
• Everything needs to be on tables, or at least off the ground.  At a level customers can easily see and reach.
• Organize and display everything BEFORE pricing.  Make it look inviting. Group "like" things together.  The cleaner the better (depends on amount of time you have.)

• Price reasonably so that as much sells the first day as possible.  If you look up what an item is selling for on ebay -- mark price half of that or less.  This is not ebay.
• $1 or more increments.  If something is not worth a dollar, throw it in with other things.  Coins are a hassle. 

• Ideally the first day there are no discounts, second day 25% off, third day 50% off.  If it is only two day sale then some variation.  Know ahead of time what the plan is.  Let customers know what the plan is. 
• Have lots of great signage -- preferably bringing people in to the sale from several different directions.
• Advertise sale on Craigslist, flyers on public bulletin boards, Facebook as well as newspaper.

• Have a "holding area" at the sale.  I always make sure mine is equipped with newspaper and boxes, so that people can wrap and pack their own items.
• There has to be at least two people at the sale at all times.  One to stay at the checkout table.  One to run around and help customers.

• Only one door for entry and exit.  Checkout table by the door. Keep small or valuable items close to the checkout table. 
• Good lighting.  Every light on.  Every curtain/shade open.
• If I am pricing it, I am not buying it.  I just can't figure out any other way to maintain integrity and help with a sale. 

• If you advertise that you are opening at a certain time, do not open early.  If you advertise that you are going to be open until a certain time, make sure you are. 
• If "experts" are called in to give opinions before the sale begins, they should have the option of shopping early (but not purchase anything they are pricing.)

• Don't let anyone shop early, unless they are helping with the sale.
• Have a "Bid Box" for people to leave bids on anything at the sale (along with their name and phone number).  Open it before the 50% off sale and call any winning bidders. 
• Say there is no public restroom available at the house if people ask.  Tell them where the nearest one is.  Making the restroom available has never turned out well.  Enough said.
• Have fun.  Bring brownies.  Stay hydrated.