Blokes & Sheds - Mark Thomson

Mark is the Author of Blokes and Sheds, and Makers Breakers and Menders he is also the Director of the Institute of Backyard Studies. 

Mark lives in Adelaide. 

What’s the best thing about garage sales?

The chance you might find absolutely anything. 

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

An enormous collection of false teeth. 

What goes on in your garage?

The personal compost of my life story. 

Whose garage would you most like to go to?

Nikola Tesla’s. 

What would be your dream garage sale find?

A first edition Raymond Chandler novel. 

What’s the most treasured possession in your garage?

The Random Excuse Generator. 

Who would be in your dream garage band?

Miles Davis on trumpet, Django Rheinhart on guitar, Sly and Robbie as the rhythm section…for a start. 

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

Nobody - second hand shoes never for - I know. 

What’s the best tip for ‘Garage Sale etiquette’?

For the seller - worry about having as little as possible at the end of the day i.e. flog it, don’t hold on to it. And for buyers - make it nice and gentle for sellers to part with their dear possessions. Make them smile and they will probably sell things cheaper. 

What’s your top sustainability tip? Is there a way somebody can usefully reuse that stuff you would throw ou? Somebody somewhere almost certainly wants some of your old stuff so use the Internet to find it a loving home. 

Find Mark on the internet:

The Institue of Backyard www.ibys.org also check out the exhibition The Lost Tools Henry Hoke www.cockatooisland.gov.au/events/calendar.html

The Obnoxious Owl Garage Sale

Just wanted to shine a quick light on a special garage sale happening in Perth - the Obnoxious Owl Garage Sale. 

Check it out here. 

Hosted by the inimitable (yet do they try!) trendsetter/blogger/writer Tammy Croucher, the Obnoxious Owl Garage Sale Trail is sure to fairly…special. 

“I’m thinking put-put golf, lemonade stands, smoke machines, wading pools-just the usual things you’d find at a garage sale”, says Tammy. 

Tammy even has some tips fot the day:

• Make sure you withdraw some $$$ and then go buy a coke or something because stall holders are like Big Issue sellers…they expect change! $50 notes are just going to cause problems
• Wear something that you can easily slip off and maybe wear swimmers underneath, this ain’t Myer honey - there ain’t no changerooms. 
• Be prepared to rummage and show up with an open mind and some imagination

Check the article that appeared in the West Australian newspaper

(Image Michael O’Brin WA News)

Meet the man of many titles but only one garage, Darryl Nichols AKA ‘Le Gran Fromage’ AKA Captan AKA Garage Sale Trail Executive Director AKA Dazzla

Darryl is the Founder/Executive Director of the Garage Sale Trail*

Darryl lives at Bondi Beach. 

What’s the best thing about garage sales?

Garage sales are a great way to de-clutter, make a little pocket money, connect with neighbours and friends as well as have a little fun. Oh and o ourse they save useful things from going to landfill. 

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

A pristine gatefold copy of James Brown’s ‘Big Payback’ on vinyl. I love heavy funk!

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

A vintage 1963 Jaguar that was for sale for $3k with the motor in the back seat.

What goes on in your garage?

We have a communal garage that our Captains share on Ben Buckler in which we keep everything from camping gear, fishing equipment, a wide selection of surfboards and shred sleds, paddle boards, tools and stuff. 

Whose garage sale would you most like to go to?

MMmmnn maybe Mark Thomson, author of Blokes & Sheds. There’s a man that knows and has seen some serious sheds and garages. 

What would be your dream garage sale find?

One of Jake Burton’s early snowboards handmade in his Vermont garage in 1977. That’d be a sweeeeet find. 

What’s the most treasured possession in your garage?

That would have to be my well-loved Eric Koston skateboard from the mid 90’s. So many memories…

Who would be in your dream garage band?

It’d have to be Miles Davis doing a live performance of “Kind of Blue”. 

*Daz is also known as Le Gran Fromage, Captain, Daz, Dazzla, Dazzarola and I’ve even heard ‘Chief’, do you have a special name for Darryl Nichols?

“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.

There are 7.4 million garages in Australia, what if every one of them had a garage sale on the same day?

The national Garage Sale Trail officially launches today at Sydney Town Hall

Tuesday March 1, 2011. Join Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP, and a raft of figures from the worlds of fashion, culture, business, art, media, sport and sustainability for a sneak preview of Australia’s largest garage sale tomorrow at 10.30am, today March 1 at the Druitt Street entrance to Sydney Town Hall.

Ms Moore will launch the award-winning Garage Sale Trail project that will be held in communities across Australia on Sunday April 10.  It originated as part of the Bondi Sizzle Community Festival in May 2010 and due to popular demand is going national. Thousands and thousands of garage sales will pop-up as a fun way for 27 local council precincts to promote sustainability, community and creativity.

Tomorrow, amid a quirky ‘Australiana’ styled garage sale a diverse bunch of garage sale aficionados including Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP, Author of “Blokes and Sheds” Mark Thomson, Actor/Model Annalise Braakensiek, ocean rower and environmental campaigner Roz Savage, Author of “What’s Mine is Yours” Rachel Botsman and Artist & Dinosaur Designs Co-Founder Liane Rossler will officially launch the Garage Sale Trail.

“At its heart the Garage Sale Trail is about celebrating community and culture in a way that’s fun and involves everyone from high profile business people and sports stars to schools, community groups and the creative community,” said Garage Sale Trail, Executive Director Darryl Nichols “The only thing better than getting new stuff, is getting rid of your old stuff.”

In NSW leading councils including the City of Sydney, Waverley, Woollahra, Randwick, Warringah, Parramatta, Liverpool, Blacktown and Lane Cove will officially host the Garage Sale Trail. Sellers all over Australia are encouraged to register their garage sale for free on the Garage Sale Trail Map at www.garagesaletrail.com.au. Those looking to bag a bargain can log onto the Garage Sale Trail website and browse registered sales by postcode or by interest like books, clothes, kids toys or music.

Participants are encouraged to donate 10% of their takings from the day to the Garage Sale Trail’s official charity partner Keep Australia Beautiful.

Tuesday March 1 at the Druitt Street entrance to Sydney Town Hall.

·       10.30am: Introduction and launch by Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP

·       Roz Savage, British rower and environmental campaigner who, in 2010, became the first woman to row across the Pacific will talk about where stuff ends up i.e. the ocean and in landfill (1-2mins)

·       Mark Thomson, author of Blokes and Sheds, will bring a household item he has recovered from the street and talk about its usefulness/repair it. (1-2 minutes)

·         Author of “What’s Mine is Yours”, Rachel Botsman will talk about how social media (Google Maps, Facebook, Twitter) is being used to reinvigorate real communities for the Garage Sale Trail (1-2 minutes)

·         Artist and Dinosaur Designs Co-Founder Liane Rossler will show an item that reflects ideas of creativity and re-use (1-2 minutes)

·         Model/Actor styled by emerging designer/stylist Krystel, Annalise Braakensiek will talk about sustainable fashion and making the most of vintage bargains in your wardrobe (1-2 minutes)

·       Garage Sale Trail Executive Director Darryl Nicols will wrap-up the event by thanking everyone

·      11:00am Questions from the media & photo opportunity.

Other talent available for interview for print & radio:

·       Wallabies Captain Rocky Elsom  (NSW/ACT)

·       Krystel, award-winning stylist dressing Annalise in vintage (NSW)

·       TV Presenter Yumi Stynes (Melbourne)

·       Channel Ten Newsreader, Natarsha Belling (NSW)

·       Author of “A Collector’s Year” and panel expert on the TV Show “The Collectors”, Professor Adrian Franklin (TAS)

Download the Garage Sale Trail App!

Want a hand finding the best sales on the day? Our friends at Vodafone have just the app. The Vodafone Compass has every garage sale in Australia listed. It gives you voice-guided turn-by-turn directions to help you find garage sales on the day as well as restaurants, shops, bars, ATMs and other cool things you might want to find. Download it from the app store. Free for the first month! Available for iPhone, Android and Blackberry vodafone.com.au/compass

Register your sale at http://www.garagesaletrail.com.au

Stay in the loop www.facebook.com/GarageSaleTrail

Follow us on Twitter @GarageSaleTrail

Jess Miller, 0409 490 711 jess@garagesaletrail.com.au