"Art does not reproduce the visible, it makes things visible in the first place."

Paul Klee, 1879-1940

Thursday, January 03, 2013

Yesterday's pile

This is what went out yesterday. Believe me when I say that this is just a scratching of the surface of what has already gone out and what will go out in the future.  Just a day, a single day...arghhh. There are two actual groups in my purges at the moment (this does not include any clothing or fabrics or yarns, books, etc.):  new or newer or non-collectibles, and collectibles/antiques.  The newer/non-collectibles go in the give-away or swap meet pile in the garage.  The collectibles/antiques get wrapped and put into boxes to be sold at some point.  Which presents its own issues...how the hell do I get rid of it all...?  I don't really want to pay for a booth in an antique shop, nor do I want to get all involved in eBay, Craigslist, or the like.  I could have a yard sale (which I do intend to do at my house in NY for those things there that I'm purging.)  But here in El Cajon, out here in the boonies, a garage or yard sale is not a great solution.  We don't live in a neighborhood, a sale of this kind would not attract anyone way out here.  I'm just not sure what to do.  Consignment?  I may just get so sick of the whole thing that I will donate it all and some lucky thrift store will get a hell of a bonanza one of these days.  Cuz there is a LOT of nice stuff in the things I'm getting rid of.  A lot.  I just don't want it any more. I'm done.

6 comments:

Rian said...

Those things would sell well on eBay, but I understand your reticence to get involved in that--I wouldn't either. Craigslist, no. Bigger items can go to consignment (the store gets half), we've done consignment and it's easy. If you take them to a thrift shop you can get a tax deduction, which adds up in your favor. And fairly simple, too. What if you held an estate sale?

DebbyMc said...

Yes, DD and I have been talking about maybe having a sale after all...but the traffic here, well, there just isn't any so we'd have to advertise...I'd almost rather give it away...but there is just so much of it. This blog post was just a scratch, and none of the good stuff... I was just clearing out a shelf or two in a cupboard and snapped the pic.

jenclair said...

I have the same problems. Getting rid of stuff is a time-consuming process, deciding what will stay, and what will go...and then! How will it go?

I begin, but then I get lazy. I try to foist some of it off on the girls, but they have their own problems with clutter. :/

Karen said...

I have a similar pile. Good luck! That's a tough process.

Debra Dixon said...

If you donate it to thrift stores that return their proceeds to your local community, I always see that as a win-win. Many thrift stores are now posting the higher ticket items on their own eBay accounts so they can make more money for their philanthrophy efforts.

You could also try etsy for the truly vintage items.

Debra Dixon said...

I thought of something else--every year the local Special Ed dept at the HS has a silent auction for the Special Olympics team. They call me for a donation, usually a quilt.

A few years ago the post office lost a mail carrier and one of the clerks asked me if I had anything to donate to her fundraiser. I had some unwanted (new) wedding gifts I gave her.

There may be some organizations in your community that would like some of your items for silent auctions or fundraisers. Generally it's nice if the organizations have some variety in their offerings.