Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Virtual Yard Sale Giveaway...

When I was growing up, my parents took their yard sales seriously. (They still do to this day, actually.) We'd wake up early on the weekends, driving around keeping an eye peeled for handwritten neon posters and the infamous arrowed black and white signs with red-lettering. We'd search out treasures, hunt for deals, and in the process meet the neighbors. Each of the kids got a dollar in their pocket and we could buy whatever we wanted with it.

When it would come time to do our own yard sale, we'd plan it around a big cleaning event like mucking out the storage shed, emptying the barn, or clearing out the porch. We'd have a couple of items that we'd spend extra time on, making special and hopefully ready to go to the right home at a fair price. But we also had giveaway piles and bins designated "dime boxes", where everything in the box – no matter what it was – cost a dime. You had to sell a lot of ten cent bargains to see any decent money, but it was less about profit and more about making space and passing along the thrill of the Find. Sometimes we'd hide a really cool toy or handicraft in the dime box amongst the inexpensive knickknacks, so that a kid like us who only had a dollar to spend could take home a real prize and not spend it all in one place.

Going into this Virtual Yard Sale, I'm carrying all those memories and applying some of those homespun principles. Besides making a little extra money, part of the reason why I'm having this Virtual Yard Sale is to purge the studio AND share some really great finds. I'm featuring lots of artist-made pieces at severely discounted prices in hopes that they will go to a good home and possibly introduce the buyer to a new artist or reacquaint them with an old favorite.

So, here's the deal...

If you help me "hang signs" around the internet, I'll enter you to win the above stash of artist beads and jewelry-making components. You can mention the sales in the Ebay shop, the new additions to my regular Shop, the Quick Fire Giveaways happening all week long, this giveaway, the fifty $10 Lots to appear in the Sale section of my Shop or even the Thursday Giveaway scheduled for tomorrow courtesy of Eclectica Beads. Just add a comment to this post with your act of social media kindness. You can blog, tweet on Twitter, or update your Facebook status (or any number of ways to get the word out) about any or all of these great events. Don't forget to leave a separate comment for each "sign" posted, for all your chances to win.

And... if you're the winning bid on an Ebay auction or place an order in my Shop during this Virtual Yard Sale, you'll automatically be entered to win! And if that wasn't enough... for every $10 you spend, you'll earn an extra entry (i.e. spend $80 in a transaction = 8 additional automatic entries)!

Here's what you'll win:

1. Ceramic components, Keith O'Connor.
2. Electroplated lampwork glass, Denise Billups Walker.
6. Fine pewter, Green Girl Studios.
7. Dyed jade, Bead Trust.
8. Metallic lucite leaves, The Hole Bead Shoppe.
9. Etched shells and wood, Lillypilly Designs.
10. Silver-plated chain, Michael's.
11. Flexible beading wire, Soft Flex Company.
12. Ceramic components, Melanie Brooks of Earthenwood Studio.
13. Ceramic button, Lisa Peters Art.
16. Czech glass, Raven's Journey.
17. Natural Brass charms, Vintaj.
18. Silver-plated bezel bracelet, Jill MacKay collection.

This giveaway, with a retail value over $200 is open to all blog-readers, including international readers. The winner of this prize will be randomly drawn on Friday, July 1st at midnight EST. Anonymous comments will not land this prize, make sure you leave your name and email address if it doesn't already appear next to your name. Don't FORGET to include your random act of social media kindness promoting any or all of the great events taking place this week! (You do not need to leave additional comments for your automatic entries.)

74 comments:

Nally said...

Woohoo! What a great Yard sale! (Gone placing arrow signs :)

Nally said...

I blogged about it.

Julie T. said...

I have "liked" of Facebook...for a couple things...
And in a day or so I'll place an order. I just ordered a couple things yesterday and now I see your new items!!! I have to have either the flying fish or the peacock. :)

I am drooling over everything though...ahhh decisions...

Charlene said...

Tweeted it!

Joanie Hoffman said...

Your Virtual Yard Sale is on my FB page! fun!!!

debi said...

Ok maybe I was suppose to leave my comment here. Andrew I blogged about your yard sale today. debi Beads of Colour.

Cillaw said...

Great Idea.
I'll blog about it right now.
Cilla
www.tellyourgirlfriends.com

Karen Firnberg said...

Andrew,
I posted your "yard sale" on my facebook page.

Joana said...

Facebooked about this. And I will keep sharing. the pieces in your shop are all mouth watering. I want them all! :D
Jana

rockcreekcreations said...

I've tweeted your shop! Of course if I could swing a purchase I would, so hopefully someone else will from my tweet!

Shizuka said...

What a wonderful yard sale! I've posted on my FB wall!


Shizuka

BeadsForever said...

Love this idea. I shared on facebook.

germansoulmate said...

I like the story behind this virtual yard sale. Things with memories.

I put a sign on my FB.

Sheri Karobonik said...

I tweeted skaro964

Sheri Karobonik said...

I tweeted skaro964

Sheri Karobonik said...

I posted on facebook.

kmemho said...

posted on my facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/kristen.m.ho

Tammy said...

Just posted a blog entry and used one of your photos- hope that's okay:
http://jewelrymaking.about.com/b/2011/06/23/a-virtual-jewelry-yard-sale.htm

Charlene said...

Blogged about it - http://thebeaddreamer.com/blog/2011/06/23/andrew-thortons-virtual-yard-sale/

CraftyHope said...

Tweeted it!! (I'm @CraftyHope on there too)

CraftyHope said...

I put up links on my FB page (http://www.facebook.com/CraftyHopeJewelry) about your yard sale!

somethingunique said...

Hi Andrew, once again another amazing giveaway!! you are an awesome generous man!!
I blogged
http://somethinguniquebylana.blogspot.com/2011/06/andrew-thornton-yardsale-ebay-auction.html

somethingunique said...

Hi Again,
i face booked 3x idk where 2 of them went i am still trying to navigate facebook LOL but here is the one that showed up on my page
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home
thanks Andrew i hope i win my 2 bids !!
ttfn Lana :)

Anonymous said...

I shared on fb! http://www.facebook.com/silver.dreams.design

CraftyHope said...

I blogged about it!

craftyhope.blogspot.com/2011/06/jumping-on-abs-challenge-bandwagon.html

peggy aplSEEDS said...

what a wonderful giveaway!
i tweeted about your sale http://twitter.com/#!/peggyapl/status/84090778636394497

Elif said...

I tweeted :)

@sevgijewelry

Elif said...

posted to my facebook page:

www.facebook.com/sevgijewelry

peggy aplSEEDS said...

your giveaway is on my sidebar

darbyscloset said...

Andrew, you are so cool.. I love the "yard sale" concept! So much more pleasing to the ears than "garage sale"...ugh!
Thanks and I am off to Ebay!
Darby

caulkwoman said...

Oooooh..... seriously cool stuff!!

Rita García said...

Awesome choose
virido@gmx.at

Cind Driggers said...

Andrew,Andrew,Andrew! What a great giveaway to help me on my mission! I posted an advertisement for all your deals on stringsattahedcindi.blogspot.com.
Will post on Facebook later today.

Cyndi L said...

FB'd it today and it will post on Beading Arts tomorrow morning :-)

Anonymous said...

Hurray! What a great yard sale and giveaway. Going to sprinkle the news all over the internet...

Anonymous said...

Added the giveaway news to my business Facebook page!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pine-Ridge-Treasures/205451472805925

Anonymous said...

Added the news to my personal Facebook page! (Lisa Lodge)

Anonymous said...

Added the news to my blog on Artfire!

http://www.artfire.com/users/pineridgetreasures/blog/andrew-thornton-virtual-yard-sale-fabulous-jewelry

Anonymous said...

Posted about the virtual yard sale on my Blogger Blog (which also gets posted to The Hive)

http://pineridgetreasures.blogspot.com/2011/06/andrew-thornton-virtual-yard-sale.html

lunamin said...

It was already in Polish, now in English ...
I already have an idea for the use of stones ...
I like the FB and publish the link.
aga.lunamin(at)gmail.com

M-ixes Jewelry said...

Woah! Awesome! =D) Mx

Debra Beach said...

Hi there! Just tweeted about your virtual yard sale! :)Debra Beach djdesign@triad.rr.com

Debra Beach said...

Hi there! Just posted on my personal facebook page about your virtual yard sale! :)Debra Beach djdesign@triad.rr.com

Debra Beach said...

Hi there! Just posted on my facebook business page String Bead Studio about your virtual yard sale! :)Debra Beach djdesign@triad.rr.com

hotglassbabe said...

Super cute idea! I posted on my FB about it! :)

hotglassbabe said...

Just posted on my business FB page about it. :)

hotglassbabe said...

Tweeted about it! :)

hotglassbabe said...

Hi, I just blogged about your Virtual Yard Sale Giveaway on my blog. :)

Nikki (bastillebleu@wi.rr.com)

DLGray-Wurz said...

Shared on my FB wall and Bead Indulgences wall.

Smokincute said...

Left an add on my facebook status!

Anonymous said...

Posted on my Facebook.
Carrie
Carrie@brilliantbeads.com

wizardewu said...

Posted on my Facebook status:
http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=223845514312768&id=100000413913778
eugeniewu at gmail dot com

wizardewu said...

tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/wizardewu/status/84404386394148864
eugeniewu at gmail dot com

HeARTworks said...

Hi Andrew! I love a Great yard sale! It's on my sidebar! ! Patsy.paterno (at) gmail.com from
HeARTworks

HeARTworks said...

I tweeted about this as patsypat. ! Patsy.paterno (at) gmail.com from
HeARTworks

Έφη said...

Posted on my Facebook status:

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002215544329

efisotiriou@hotmail.com

cw whitedogjewelry said...

Andrew, great giveaway, once again! The story of your family's yard "saling" is great. ' nice to have those memories and pass them along as well.
Chris
khakit@verizon.net

Creations by Kari said...

Great giveaway! Love your pieces as well Andrew! Much love all :)
creationsbykari1@yahoo.com

Patsymom said...

I put up an arrow on my facebook page!! :) fun stuff!!!!

Lynn said...

Fun. Great Idea. Heard about it on a number of diff blogs.

anita mester said...

I'm off to post some signs. Anita

sue said...

I posted on my facebook and I sent out some personal emails via my comcast account as well: dannylions@comcast.net
Thank you...

Unknown said...

I am going to put on my blog and on my facebook when I get home tonight.

Shannon Chomanczuk said...

woah! I just shared on fb :-)

Sandyquilt5 said...

also shared on FB a few weeks ago; will repost now

Ann said...

Great idea, Andrew! To this day I love to go to garage sales. Now that I am back in Kansas, they have great garage sales on Thursdays.

Just put it up on my Facebook. Have a great day!

Ann
mycriticaleye.com

KayzKreationz said...

Just tweeted about your Yard Sale Giveaway.

http://twitter.com/KayzKreationz

Deborah Lambson said...

Yard sales..LOVE them. Tweeted you here:

http://twitter.com/sw_designs

~Deborah

Alice said...

Love the concept (eventhough I don't like real garage sales)

I shared this on my FB page:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/

Alice

Unknown said...

Free b2b importers directory for list your handicraft supplies business.

Anonymous said...

Posted on my Wordpress blog!
http://pineridgetreasures.wordpress.com/2011/07/01/andrew-thornton-virtual-yard-sale-giveaway/

Beetique said...

I put on facebook and twitter.

Anonymous said...

twitted :)

darbyscloset said...

Thank you Andrew! You have some of the very best creative ideas and I love playing along! Thanks so much for sharing so much of yourself with all of us! I hope I can return the pleasure...someday...somehow!<3
Darby