{GIVEAWAY, GIVEAWAY!} Picker Neighbors . . .

. . . (I should have remembered that everybody clicks on the giveaway posts but it MUST be in the title of the post to catch your eye! If you would like to enter my giveaway, click here.)

Now back to the reason of this post.

You've all seen the TV shows American Pickers and Picker Sisters, right?  Well, my friend/neighbor and I have become 'Picker Neighbors'.  We've been scouring the local auctions, flea markets and antique stores this summer.  And what, you ask, are we doing with all of our fabulous finds?

We are going to try to sell all (at least the ones we can part with) of our goodies.  The very first occasional sale at Miss Maggie's House is this weekend! 

Am I scared?  Am I nervous?  Am I thinking what have I gotten myself into?  Am I wondering why we are going to all of this work when I KNOW no one will want my stuff?  Do I need a little confidence booster here?

YES!

But we are having the best time ever and really, isn't that the point?  Doing what you love to do.  Living out your dream.  Having a reason to go shopping.  And only buying what you love and would have in your own home and hoping someone else loves it too.

Here is how all of this came about:  my friend's husband has a house sitting empty.  I say to my friend Kate in a half joking kind of way "we need to have occasional sales there.  A place where we can occasionally sell what we make/buy/find."  Lo and behold, she thought it was a great idea and pushed me (yes, pushed me hard) to follow through on my suggestion.  AFTER the wedding, of course.  So, here we are.  

We are having this first sale on-the-fly.  We are not necessarily ready (I haven't sewn a thing!) but I think we both knew that if we waited for spring, we would have found a way to back out.  We figure that this occasional sale will announce that we are here and that we have some fabulous plans for the future.  We didn't want to do the 'Christmas' thing so we had to stage this house quickly.  And 'townies' just won't travel to the country when there is snow on the ground!  I have been painting and distressing furniture like crazy and she has some very lovely antique pieces.  I have scoured my 'stash' and very reluctantly have chosen pieces that I think I can live without if they sell.  I can always bring them back home if they don't!  I LOVE MY STUFF!  

Invitations for a 'sneak peek and first dibs' on Friday night have been sent.

(and we have bribed our guests with the promise of wine and snacks!)

An ad in the paper has been published.

We have been working on the house for 2 weeks straight.

We are committed!

Here is a sneak peek for you!

Pricing has proven to be very, very difficult.  I think the purpose is to sell what you are offering but how do you put a price on things you love?  Do we price things low so customers will think they are getting a bargain and come back or do we price things what we think they are worth and maybe have them sit there waiting patiently for a home?  Tell me, how do YOU put a price on your items?

Anyway, wish us luck!

This just happens to be my 200th post!  (yeah for me!)  And I am one follower away from having a nice round number.  Makes my previously mentioned giveaway even more special, don't you think?