I’ve got all my stuff piled in the garage, ready to sell at the Frugalista Flea Market this weekend.
What do I have? Well, l’ll show you. I have lots of dishes and cookware, for starters. And many purses, scarves and boxes of costume jewelry. I’ll sell several unfinished projects, like brand-new lamp bases waiting for wiring. Those club chairs? They’re for sale, too. How much? Make me an offer.
Perhaps the most difficult thing to part with doesn’t even belong to me. It’s a set of Bruce’s mother’s dishes.
We’ve lugged these around since Bev Greenberg died 12 years ago. For three years they’ve been boxed up outside Bruce’s shop in all kinds of weather. The dishes held up fine.
It’s not as if these are family heirlooms. In fact, they’re oven- and microwave-proof, with a tropical motif. But Bev Greenberg picked them out, and that’s part of why it’s so hard to sell them. The thing is, they don’t go with our stuff, and besides, I have more dishes than I need already. And we’ve offered them to everyone in our family. No luck. Nobody wants them.
Goodbye to Bev’s dishes, a place-setting for 8.
Moving along, have you seen our Frugalista Signs around Redding?
That’s me below, spray-painting a sign, with a little help from a stencil I made in my welding class.
Many thanks to my fellow welding students, and special appreciation to our fearless teacher, Elin, and special gratitude to Robert (that’s him, below), who helped me hold down the metal so it wouldn’t buckle during the plasma-cutting. (No brag, but I took this photo with my left hand while I used my right hand to help Robert hold down the sheet of metal.)
Granted, as proud as I am of that stencil, the signs do look a bit funky. I know that.
But keeping with the spirit of the Frugalista Flea Market, it cost less to make our own signs than spend a bunch of money on professionally made ones.
Gosh, we’re getting down to the flea-market wire here.
All the early bird Cypress School loaner-tables are reserved.
However, here’s the good news: some spaces remain for those who want to bring their own tables and sell stuff.
We’d hate to hold the sale without you. Twenty dollars rents indoor space for the whole weekend and gives exposure to scores of shoppers.
This is our first Frugalista Flea Market. We have no idea how many people will show up, but we hope you’ll be there, and will stop by and say hi.
We do know there are many competing events around the north state Saturday and Sunday, but our philosophy is that one event can lead to another.
As long as you’re already at the Redding Certified Farmers Market, you may as well cross the street to Cypress School and attend our Frugalista Flea Market.
And as long as you’re stopping by our flea market, you may as well see what’s happening at that Dog-A-Thon, and anything else that’s going on.
Until then, maybe you’re wondering what to expect, and what you’ll find for sale at the Frugalista Flea Market. Well, I already shared a few things I’ll sell.
And I know at least two antique dealers will be there. And a few crafts people (hi, Constance!) will be there, too. And people who’ve downsized (hello, Shelly), and friends who are dumping stuff to earn money to pay for things they really want, like vacations (hey, Joanie).
Please, Frugalista Flea Market sellers, tell us what you’re selling . . .
