In search of size 39 Texan Boots, meet Dee Coleman

Deanna Coleman is the Head of Marketing and Communication at Greater Sydney Partnership. 

She is also the Author of the blog Cook my Way www.cookmyway.com.au 

What’s the best thing about garage sales?

Meeting new people and rummaging through other people’s lives,it’s like an open door to their worlds. And besides where else can you fina pristine condition kimono for like $15, like the one I found on Frederick St last year in Bondi. 

What’s the best thing you’ve ever bought at a garage sale?

A par of 80’s aviator Ray Bans with brown leather piping around the lenses, and a box of early 80s cassette tapes which were perfect at the time as the old Volvo I was driving only played tapes. I reman really, good sunnies and tunes, absolute life saving material. 

What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever seen at a garage sale?

A man trying to sell parrots and ge was pretending that they could talk. 

What goes on in your garage sale?

I don’t have a garage but if I did I would hope that it would be put to good use brewing some home made amber nectar. 

Whose garage sale would you most like to go to?

Elizabeth Taylor’s, imagine the frocks and sunglasses and all that costume jewellery. 

What would your dream garage sale find be?

Pre-loved Texan cowboy boots in 39, just lost mine recently and they’re hard to replace. 

What’s the most treasured possession in your garage?

My imaginary E-type Jag. 

Whose second hand shoes would you most like to walk in?

My Great Grandmother’s, she came out to Australia form Scotland and they lived in a tent for two years in Sydney whilst they built their home and apparently she did most of the work whilst her husband was out building other people’s houses. I’d love to go back in time ans see what life was like for early immigrants to Australia. 

What’s your best tip for ‘Garage Sale Etiquette?”

Don’t try and sell anything that will make you cry if someone actually buys it. 

What’s your top sustainability tip?

Bokashi bins for composting. What would you do in an apartments, creates amazing plant food for your indoor plants and saves filling landfill with all sorts of nasty leeching chemicals. 

“I’d like to see all the animals and trees that didn’t quite make it out of the workshop”, Ben Peacock on God’s garage sale.

Ben is a Writer of Stuff and Creative Director of the Garage Sale Trail. 

Ben lives in Bondi. 

What’s the best thing about garage sales?

Having a nosey at other people’s stuff

What’s the best thing you’ve ever bought at a Garage Sale?

The backpack that I have traveled with for 18 years

What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever seen at a Garage Sale?

People selling their stuffed pets is kinda odd

What goes on in your garage?

If I had one my parents would probably stuff it full of boxes of their stuff in revenge for all the years I did that to them.

Whose garage sale would you most like to go to?

God’s. I’d like to see all the animals and trees that didn’t quite make it out of the workshop.

What would be your dream garage sale find?

Guitars, surfboards and a new fridge just when the old one breaks down are always on my list.

What’s the most treasured possession in your garage?

If I had a garage in Bondi that would be a treasure unto itself.

Who would be in your dream Garage Band?

Michael Franti, Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Cash.

Whose second hand shoes would you most like to walk in?

My Grandad’s

What’s your best tip for ‘Garage Sale etiquette?’ (For example, what time to turn-up, making it look neat, prices, etc.)

Stick prices on stuff and a mirror for the girls.

What’s your top sustainability tip?

Ride a bike. That will be one less car on the road trying to run the rest of us bike riders over.