The Blog at Bruce Littlefield's Garage Sale America - Companion website for the book 'Garage Sale America' http://www.garagesaleamerica.com/blog/ en-us http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 60 Copyright 2007 Bruce Littlefield I hope this finds you happy.This summer has been busy!  In addition to typing my fingers to the bone on my children’s book, a film script, and a memoir, I took a road trip in the Airstream for SAVEUR and showed how to create outdoor rooms for entertaining in THIS OLD HOUSE. I write to announce a once in a lifetime event… my End of Summer GARAGE SALE SPECTACULAR!LABOR DAY WEEKEND AT EDGEWATER FARM(For details, write me.)If you can’t make the sale, but still want in on the action, search my name “Bruce Littlefield” on eBay listings for some of my cross-country FUN FINDS…But I Hope to SEE you for the treasures Labor Day Weekend!Until next time, do me a favor and have some FUN. http://garagesaleamerica.com/blog/garage-sale-guru-hosts-garage-sale-spectacular Sun, 24 Aug 2008 05:54:00 MDT I received an interesting email from a friend on how the rebate check should be spent to further invigorate the American economy. It goes like this: As you may have heard, the Bush Administration said each of us would get a rebate check to stimulate the economy. If we spend that money at Wal-Mart, all the money will go to China. If we spend it on gasoline it will go to the Arabs, if we purchase a computer it will go to India, if we purchase fruit and vegetables it will go to Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala, if we purchase a good car it will go to Japan, if we purchase useless crap it will go to Taiwan and none of it will help the American economy.We need to keep that money here in America. The only way to keep that money here at home is to spend it at yard sales, since those are the only businesses still in the US. http://garagesaleamerica.com/blog/how-to-use-your-irs-rebate-check Tue, 13 May 2008 09:30:00 MDT People often ask whether they should keep something or get rid of it. And then they want to know whether something they are willing to let go of is worth buckaroos.  My answer is really simple: there is someone who will buy anything, so value is the fair price of an item to both buyer and seller. The question you have to ask yourself: is it worth more to someone else than me?  Translation: I want what you don’t want, but how much is it that you don’t want it for?Sometimes we think things are more valuable than they actually are, like our Beanie Baby collection. But guaranteed someone out there is missing Inky the Octopus in their collection, and it’s more valuable to them than to the guy who has three. Other things, like our grandma’s costume jewelry that we’ve laughed at for years, may be worth a small fortune.But how do we know if it’s trash or treasure?MARKINGS — look carefully.  I once scored a pair of Tiffany votive holders for $1 and a rare Hull Gingerbread Man cookie jar for $5, just by wiping off some dust and looking on the bottom. China is the mark of death.  A man once tried to sell me a gorgeous tin toy robot that he said was his father’s.  I examined it carefully and under the lip on the bottom it said Made in China.  When I pointed it out to him, he said he thought his dad had been to China during the war.Gold and silver.  Gold is marked 14k, 18k, 24k, but realize that only a metal test can actually determine the gold content.  The same applies to silver.  Silver hallmarks often provide details about the metal content and even identify the maker of the piece. Sterling, for example, became the standard in the U.S. in the late 1800s when Tiffany & Company introduced it to their customers. Sterling is .925 or 925 parts per 1000.BOOKS. There are numerous collectors guides—from coins to Barbie. There’s also a book called Garage Sale and Flea Market Price Guide, which lists the going price on thousands of items.  And don’t forget my book, GARAGE SALE AMERICA, a hilarious cross-country adventure to find the things America loves to buy, sell and collect.INTERNET. Google a description of the item and see its history and, perhaps its selling price on eBay. Though it makes me crazy, cell phones are an active part of saleing either to call a friend to check a price or to use web based browsers to see what an item is selling for on sites like eBay and craigslist.APPRAISERS. If you have an item that has been passed on from generations or you have been told is a treasure, take it to an appraisal house before selling it. Appraisers can be found on the Internet or in the Yellow Pages.YOU. The bottom line is that the buck stops with you. You name the price you’re willing to accept for someone to take it away, out of your life forever. And though some things are priceless, sometimes you just have to let it go! http://garagesaleamerica.com/blog/trash-or-treasure Mon, 14 Apr 2008 08:00:00 MDT As you go about your spring cleaning, Jay Blotcher, collector of 1966 Batman merchandise and Mary Wickes memorabilia, has an article in HUDSON VALLEY LIFE magazine on making money off your discards. He quotes me with this economy's sage advice: "Drag it to the lawn and people will pay for the privilege of carting it off." http://garagesaleamerica.com/blog/making-money-off-your-discards Mon, 31 Mar 2008 22:00:00 MDT It’s time people! Like a car needs a tune-up, your house needs a spring cleaning. So, I thought I’d give you a little encouragement to GET THE JUNK OUT of the house. This means everything in a box. Everything shoved underneath your bed.  Everything in the attic.  Come clean, people!Here’s my RULE OF FINGER: if you haven’t used it in the last year—figure out a way to use it in the next day or point it toward the door.Here's a HELPFUL HINT: While you’re cleaning out, if you’re storing something in a box, label it! If you still have your neighbor’s saw, return it.  If you have the old coffee maker hogging space in the kitchen cabinet, it (and all of its ilk) needs to move on.The CHALLENGE:  If you’re really hardcore take every thing out of a room and rebuild from the floor up, from rug to chairs to art to tchotchkes. Believe me, this is the single best way to get a “designer look” to your home.  If you haven’t moved in a while, try it sometime.  It’s both excruciatingly painful and delightfully rewarding.  You’ll find things you always wondered what happened to, and things that you never knew you had. Only put back the things that have a place, biggest pieces first.  If you have a “collection,” display only your best 1/3.  Definitely let go of the bottom 1/3.  The middle 1/3 could be saved for rotation or sold for profit.Next time, how to make money off your stuff when you decide to finally let it go. http://garagesaleamerica.com/blog/spring-cleanup-how-to-clean-out-your-junk Tue, 25 Mar 2008 02:18:00 MDT I just signed an urgent petition calling on the Chinese government to respect human rights in Tibet and engage in meaningful dialogue with the Dalai Lama. This is really important, and I wanted to bring it to your attention:After nearly 50 years of Chinese rule, the Tibetans are sending out a global cry for change. But violence is spreading across Tibet and neighboring regions, and the Chinese regime is right now considering a choice between increasing brutality or dialogue, that could determine the future of Tibet and China.We can affect this historic choice. China does care about its international reputation. Its economy is totally dependent on "Made in China" exports that we all buy, and it is keen to make the Olympics in Beijing this summer a celebration of a new China that is a respected world power.President Hu needs to hear that Brand China and the Olympics can succeed only if he makes the right choice. But it will take an avalanche of global people power to get his attention. Click below to join me and sign a petition to President Hu calling for restraint in Tibet and dialogue with the Dalai Lama and tell absolutely everyone you can right away. The petition is organized by Avaaz, and they are urgently aiming to reach 1 million signatures to deliver directly to Chinese officials:http://www.avaaz.org/en/tibet_end_the_violenceMay people everywhere live happy and free! http://garagesaleamerica.com/blog/tibet-end-the-violence Wed, 19 Mar 2008 11:48:00 MDT This past weekend a fresh dusting of snow was on the ground when in a move only an addict would make, I rolled out of bed and jumped in the car in order to be the first to arrive at the season’s one and only “Moving Sale.”I had seen the sign announcing the momentous event in a fleeting drive by the night before and spent my slumber dreaming and drooling over the treasures I was sure the Earliest Sale of the Year would behold. “Moving Sales” are hit or miss, since some bewildering people want to tote the treasures with them when they move and leave their junk behind.  But in the last days of winter, I’ll take what I can get, like an alcoholic drinking Thunderbird and liking it.  My hope was that these Moving Outers were definitely going to want to unload all their heavy Pyrex and cumbersome antique clutter, and, of course, they wouldn’t want to drag that old weathered leather club chair to a new house. In my off-season desperation, I overlooked the obvious.  No one moves in the dead of winter and has a sale.  It defies natural order.  But when you’re jonesing, you’ll believe anything, including a sign that was left behind months ago.  In spite of the obvious, I pathetically drove up and down the road for thirty minutes, hoping beyond growing suspicion that these Moving Outers were still here and just late in setting up.  They weren’t.  They had moved on.  Months ago.  And left their sign up to rot!  Unfortunately, contrary to some seller’s beliefs, these signs do not take themselves down.In fact, they have a half-life almost as long as nuclear waste, and are as annoying as a paper cut.As we enter high season, i have a request, make that a demand: TAKE DOWN YOUR SIGNS, PEOPLE!  We salers are making a pact.  If signs are left up, your home is fair game.  This means we can knock on your door shortly after sunrise, rifle through your stuff, and demand a discount. http://garagesaleamerica.com/blog/signs-of-spring Wed, 12 Mar 2008 09:21:00 MDT Westminster, his rubber chicken, and I send you love and fun wishes!Westminster has entered WeTV.com's search for America's Picture Perfect Pet Contest!Please show your support by voting 10 on Westminster here. http://garagesaleamerica.com/blog/happy-valentines-week Sun, 17 Feb 2008 04:33:00 MST My garage sale kitchen has been listed as one of Rachael Ray's "Coolest Kitchens in America"!!!Check it out!And don't forget to check out my valentines fun on the Today Show!(Saturday, Feb. 9th, 8:30ish am - live from Rockefeller plaza.) http://garagesaleamerica.com/blog/coolest-kitchen-in-america Mon, 04 Feb 2008 05:20:00 MST Happy valentines to you and yours!Wanted to let you know that in the spirit of the holiday i am getting to have some fun on the following shows and sites!This coming Monday, Feb. 4th, Rachael Ray is featuring me and my vintage garage sale kitchen as one of the coolest kitchens in America... (check your local listings).For more details go to: www.rachaelrayshow.comI'll be on the Today Show Saturday, Feb. 9th with valentines fun live from Rockefeller plaza.And, howdini.com will put up my 5 new webisodes next week on valentines fun... I am officially their guru of fun.www.howdini.comIf you can watch, that'd be great.  If not, thats ok too... just know I'm wishing you fun.www.brucelittlefield.comwww.garagesaleamerica.comwww.myspace.com/brucelittlefieldbrucelittlefield.gather.combrucelittlefield.tumblr.com http://garagesaleamerica.com/blog/happy-valentines Sun, 03 Feb 2008 06:17:00 MST NATURE MOMS BLOG names GARAGE SALE AMERICA one of her favorite of the year!"One of the first pages in Garage Sale America made me want to kiss Bruce Littlefield. It was a whole page photo of Littlefield’s Pyrex collection! Did I mention that I adore Pyrex? They are the best for storing leftovers so that plastic bags and tupperware need not enter the house. Although we have some of the same pieces, his collection does put mine to shame so it has spurred some garage sale plans for me over the next few weeks.Garage Sale America follows Littlefield across the country going from one garage sale to the next, meeting new people, and adding to his various collections. It is a very funny read too. I adored all of the stories he collected and all the people he met."Read NATURE MOMS full review HERE. http://garagesaleamerica.com/blog/nature-moms-blog Thu, 10 Jan 2008 11:02:00 MST http://garagesaleamerica.com/blog/happy-new-year Thu, 03 Jan 2008 07:21:00 MST Introducing HOWDINI, the site that tells you HOW TO do everything!Take a look at my tips, are there any that can help you?How to Set a Fun Party tableHow to FInd Flea Market Gifts that DazzleUnique Gift WrappingClever Ways to Top Your Gift PackagesHow to Start a Family Holiday Tradition http://garagesaleamerica.com/blog/bruce-joins-howdinicom-as-the-fun-lifestyle-expert Fri, 28 Dec 2007 12:52:00 MST Go to Kentucky Fried Chicken and VOTE for the best decorated house in America.Pay special attention to the Andersons in Arizona, the Hudgins in Richmond, and the Liquoris on Long Island!Do your civic duty and VOTE!!!! http://garagesaleamerica.com/blog/3-book-families-contest-finalists Thu, 20 Dec 2007 08:10:00 MST Westminster asks that all his fans still call him Westminster, even though the New York Times has given him the stage name Winchester. "I'm named after the dog show", he barked. A rescued mutt named after the foo-foo dog show. Get it? He then accepted a treat when called "Winchester". http://garagesaleamerica.com/blog/westminster-protests Sun, 09 Dec 2007 04:29:00 MST