A friend and I have a sale twice a year of our garden art. We set up little areas that look inviting with some props like wooden chairs for display.
Another thing that helps make people know that it is a garden art sale and not a rummage sale is that our signs are cut out of plywood to look like a watering can. She painted them silver and wrote garden art sale on them with an arrow pointing the way. When we advertise we say to watch and follow the watering can signs. We have had many comments on them and how they brought people to our sale.

wonderful ! Thank you !

If I were doing this (and I'm kinda jealous that you are gutsier than I) I would make sure that nothing is set out on tables.... tables say rummage to me.
I'd also make sure that the sparkly stuff is in the sun.
If you have a tree lawn (that space between the street and the sidewalk) make sure you have some bigger eye catching items there.
good luck.

oh, and I'd pot up some hanging baskets and other pots of annuals, with some of the art in it and sell it together.
I'll bet if you watched the free page on craigslist or freecycle you could get the pots and dirt for free. So you'd only have to buy the annuals.
and since you seem close to me, be sure to tell me when and where it is so I can stop by.... lol

How exciting - I'd do that if we weren't in the boonies a mile and a half off the highway. Might do it anyhow.

I think if you just start making stuff from now til then and think about the look you want you'll get it right. What you make will determine the look. When you make things be sure to make at least 6 of each thing in a similar style. There can be variations but customers like to have a choice. If everything is one of a kind it might look more like a rummage sale. Unless it's high end in which case it looks like a gallery. KWIM?

You might find some second hand shelving for display - watch Freecycle and Craigslist for interesting inexpensive display possibilities. Paint everything the same color or all different funky colors whichever is your style and suits your "product" line. I think you can use some tables but make sure you use risers to display items so they are at different levels. Upended plant pots can work.

Do some research on where you can buy plants in bulk if you do baskets or pots. Keep your costs down as low as possible. You might start some from seed.

Watch for second hand mirrors both to sell and to help your displays. They can be easily decorated as garden mirrors. They are often available really cheap and can be embellished with mosaic, paint, or all sorts of bits and pieces.

Find out if it's necessary to get a permit from your town.

Visit any garden decor shops in your area for ideas on how to set things up. You might also see if they do consignment. Might be an easy way to test the market for your creations. At the least it will show you how they price things.

My advice would be to have a tent for your cash counter (in case of rain) and make sure you have people to help and guard against shoplifting. Keep your house doors locked at all times.

All the best and please keep us posted on how your "business" is progressing.

Signs should read "Unique Garden Decor" or "One of a kind Garden Art" Then have a nice variety of totems, birdbaths & feeders, teacup feeders, BB or whatever!! Good Luck!! Jan

Oh Toomuch that sounds like fun. I too wish I had enough guts to do it. But I REALLY like the idea of signs that look like a watering can. That would draw attention. I may have to think about doing something like that too. Course I would have to have mine in the winter or I couldn't stand the heat being outside. Something to think about.

Donna in Florida

I have been thinking about doing the same thing!!!
But I also have been procrastinating about making things.
All of you have given me a lot of ideas tho, and I will
think, and try harder! LOL
I live on a US highway, so there is lots of traffic.
I have a tent.
The only problem with the area where I would have it
is that things won't stick in the ground easily, because
it used to be a gravel parking area, and is hard packed.
I would need to get flowers back in my boat (see my
web page)which I haven't done this year. Mine would have to be in November,
because I will be in Indiana most of September and October.

www.members.cox.net/nonacook

Would it be possible for you to also give you prospective shoppers a little tour of your garden with your creations in it? Set it up as an 'Open Garden - Unique Garden Art for Sale'.

That's what I'm thinking of doing.

Nothing sells an item better for me than seeing it set up in the garden.

nonacook - re: gravel parking area. When I do the farmer's market I fill a pot with sand, put an artificial plant in it and stick a stake totem or glass flower in it. Gives me a place to 'plant' the item as well as showing buyers what it might look like in a garden.

Laura, that would work fine for my garden, but I want to do like Shabbybeach did and have a BUNCH for sale. There is an auger here, but it is too heavy for me to use, and I don't want to disturb a bunch of places for more weeds to some up. I will have to think a lot about what and how to do it.

Cait, that sounds like a good idea, but since we are right on the hiway (even with a 6 ft. chainlink fence)I am sorta afraid to let a LOT of people tour the area. Somebody came over the fence and took some butternet squash one year.

Kathy- Go for it, girl!!!
Like the commercial says "Just do it!"
Life changes when we least expect it, don't wait another year thinking about it. If it's something you've always wanted to do, do it while you've got the strength, energy and opportunity.

We used to refinish/redo furniture and resell junk/antique stuff, at some of the antique shows that they hold up there in WI and IL at the fairgrounds in the summertime. We did that for a few years and when we were quitting I was lucky I had a house right on Hwy. 173 in IL (with an old barn!) and my son and I yard saled out of it all summer almost every weekend. It was the most fun I ever had making $.

That's a very excellent idea about the watering can (or what ever you choose) sign. It instantly says that something different is going on here. Make this your 'first annual' sale. Use the same sign year after year and people will come to identify it with you. Maybe tie it in, with the same thing such as a watering can shape or a picute of a watering can on your price tags and/or business cards.

The things you make (how did you put it? just threw together, lol) that you've posted pictures of on here are really, really nice. The houses you painted for your Garden Junktion Village were just great, and it took you no time at all. You're a natural at it, you're very talented, people will come looking for you.

It's good for you to have a goal in mind when winter starts, too. Good luck with it and have fun!

oh, btw, Donna in FL- I was thinking the same thing. I've been wanting to have a little old yard sale but it will have to wait until fall. It's just been TOO darn hot! I am SO ready for a little cooler weather:) The other Donna in FL.

I have been playing with the same kind of idea. I want to start doing occasional sales with both my stained glass, as well as my garden art.

I have been thinking of using the area leading to my studio as a display area for my garden art. I was planning to decorate up some 5 gallon buckets and fill them with sand to display things like plate flowers and teacup feeders. The totems look pretty with pots of flowers bunched around them. A boat or canoe or something similar planted with flowers and displaying some of the art would be pretty. I am making garden ladies to use in my studio to display my necklaces. I am making headobard benches to use as a sort of fence to line the path to the studio and direct people in the direction I want them to go. My garden is my front yard so everyone already sees my stepping stones when the come into the driveway. I will also have some of those standing up in the studio. I really love the watering can sign idea! I have been trying to come up with an idea to get people to the sales without them thinking it was a garage sale. That is a wonderful idea. I agree that display will play a big part in letting people know that it isn't an ordinary yard sale too. Give it a boutique kind of look. use vinettes to display your art in ways that someone would be able to use it at home.

Make a large but classy sign to draw attention at the time of the sale. I agree that making them out of plywood or some kind of repurposed "junk" would draw attention as well as show that it isn't a yard sale. Posterboard sings scream yard sale...not art sale.

I look forward to seeing pictures of what you come up with. And an update on how the sale goes would be wonderful too. Good luck!!!!!!

~Micki~

You have some GREAT ideas !!! I 'm writing things down as I think of them . I got a list going ! LOL

I don't know from the seller's experience what tips to give you but I sure can tell you from the buyer's experience.

How to get me there ... I really like dee54's idea of the signs. When you make signs that are meant to be seen by motorists, PLEASE make the print BOLD and BIG! I don't know how many times I noticed a sign, only to be unable to read it because the print was too faint and/or too small. dee54's idea of a different shaped sign like the watering can is a great eye catcher. People will follow the signs just to see where they lead.

How to get me to stop ... have things for sale in front of the house. My girlfriend and I won't bother stopping at a home where the driveway is too long and we have to walk to get to the sale. We are both more apt to stop if the merchandise is near the curb. And have a lot of stuff displayed. If I see a sale that looks like a carnival with a variety of merchandise, I will stop and look. Colorful flags, balloons and signs all catch my attention. Make sure you have some big pieces that will glitter and twinkle in the sun or are bold and colorful.

You got me, now what to do with me? Offer not only a variety of different merchandise but also offer a variety of prices. I might not be able to buy a $50 birdbath but I'd really like that $8 whirlygig thing or a $10 flower pot. Even small items selling for a couple of bucks will draw sales.

And please clearly mark the price on the merchandise! I have no idea what unique handmade items are worth. To me, a glass totem is a good buy at $15 but you might be expecting $35 to break even. If something isn't clearly marked, I just assume it is too expensive. I find that a lot of people aren't hagglers so they won't bother negotiating a price with you. If you are unsure of whether your prices are good put up a sign telling people you are willing to haggle or are flexible.

Do you want me to come back next time? Hand out inexpensive business cards or flyers letting people know when your next sale is or at least it will help them remember where you are and what you sell. Plus it is a great way for them to share your location with others if they have the address. People might not be able to afford something you are selling now but will come back to a future sale with money in hand. My problem is, I forget the address!

If some of your garden pieces shouldn't be kept outdoors year round or if it requires special care, be sure to let buyers know. I hate when I buy something, not realizing it requires special care, only to have it break or come apart. You could include care instructions with the purchase.

But for me? All you have to do is email me the date, time and location and I'll be there with my wallet! lol

Good luck!

Bear with me here for a second... take your watering can sign, and tip it just slightly. Put it on a stake, and cement that stake into a flower pot. (fill the flower pot 1/3 of the way up with concrete)
Fill the rest of the pot with dirt and then plant a few annuals in it.
You could even get something to simulate water coming from the "can"-- something that would catch the sun and shimmer... I guess i'm thinking of that stuff people use to stuff gift baskets. Its like christmas tree tinsel.
Now your signs are easy to move and you won't have to pound anything in the ground. You have also added something flashy to draw attention to it.
(and some cities (Milwaukee for instance) will remove your sign if its pounded in the ground or taped to a pole)

Also, I have some silver forks in my basement that I keep meaning to turn into a windchime, and I know I'll never get to it... would you like them?

Becky, if the sign looked that good I'd steal the sign! lol! Just kidding ... well maybe. he-he It does sound like a great idea. Like I said, the more glitter and flash the better.

Forks ? Did someone say forks ???? LOL
In fact - I have this "sculpture" in my head that needs lots of silverware to make. Becky -- I will take them for sure if you don't want them !! Let me know what I owe you for postage - I'm on a big time silver wear quest ! LOL

One note .... if you email me - I have a temporary e mail address since my new provider can't get mine to work yet .
( and I thought I was dumb ! ) LOL

It's KathyLev@myway.com till further notice.

I love Becky's idea of the sparkling water coming from the watering can. I think I would use faceted glass beads though. I think the stuff for gifts might get yucky faster and if you are going to put that much work into your signs, you are going to want to be able to use them more than just once or twice. I think Jeannespines did a watering can tipsy pot with the beads not too long ago. I might be wrong on the person but I am sure that I have seen one on here this summer.

Great Ideas for Too Much Glass. Seems to me you have the right location, location, location!
Smickerdoodle, I love your idea, I may just fly over there and check it out, LOL

Good Luck

Nanagrandma

Wow! Lots of great ideas here! And I'm planning some "road trips" for next summer! ... so smicker, toomuch, dee, mzclassic, nona, garden2, etc. etc. GJers!...I'll put you on my trip list! (ahhh, cait, I'll dream of being at yours!)...and becky, I'll just pop in & enjoy your GJ & gardens!

The few tips I can offer are:

DISPLAY...must be very attractive & not too cluttered, seeing flowers & gardens draw me in... &very important, clearly priced (as luna said)

DATE OF SALE/EVENT...the same date every yr ... like I go on the "Garden Walks" or "Pond Walks" or "College Hill Arts Festival" or "Greene Herb Festival"...I know it's the 3rd Mon. of July...or whatever each event is! So I'm one that will plan that & go back each yr. The "Pond Walk" uses signs that are all the same...a cut-out of a fish...and I look for that each yr...great idea that draws you to the place (like watering can idea from dee)

Yup, watering can, was mine, smicker...here's a pic from earlier posting:
{{gwi:146019}}

Have fun, toomuch!...and all you other GJers, I'm with garden2garden, "Go for it!" Jeanne S.
p.s. Nice to have a big coolor of ice water & some paper cups...our hot summer days...and a waste basket by the cooler...very appreciated!

Bumping this up