A $1,000 (Longaberger) Basket Case…

Evey year I get like this. We’re three weeks out, and I start to worry about the MV Big Flea.

Will we have enough stuff to sell? (The warehouse looks a little empty to me.) Will we reach our fundraising goal? (We still have $11K to go.) Will it rain on April 30th?

In other words, I’m basket case.

But baskets seem to be our business lately. 95 Longaberger baskets, to be precise. That’s what we recently received as a donation; I was shocked to see how much they sell for on Ebay!

So that’s exactly where we’ve listed our collection for sale . Is $1,000 for 95 baskets a pipe dream? Stay tuned (and thank you to our generous donor, who remains nameless).

Remember, this Saturday is one of our last Shop N Drop days. Stop and unload a few items, or browse through our marvelous merchandise and buy a few things you don’t need. We’re located at 719 N Saint Asaph Street in Old Town and open from 2-4pm.  All the cool kids are doing it!

Saturday’s Haul Breaks Record!

Last Saturday was rocking at the at the Big Flea Shop N Drop. Our store manager Cynthia Webster reports record sales and strong donations. You can see a small fraction of our items below.

Even with all this support, we still need donations! Our goal is to raise $17,000 so far we’re at $6,250. If we’re going to reach it, we need furniture, household items, sporting equipment and kids gear. And plenty of it.

To donate your items, please visit our Shop N Drop location any Saturday in April from 2-4pm. We’re located at 719 N St. Asaph Street near Trader Joe’s. We’ll also pick up your stuff, just contact Cynthia Webster at websterbigflea@gmail.com.

New Neighbors Donate Canoe and Kayak!

Someone will be paddling in style, thanks to the generous donation of an Old Town canoe and a kayak to the Mount Vernon Community School PTA’s Big Flea. The donation comes from a family whose only tie to MVCS is a desire to help a local school.

Cathy Burke and her husband Kevin moved to Alexandria only in September, relocating from King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Their two children, now in college, attended public schools. “We believe in the value of public education to local communities and society in general,” says Cathy.

When their children were younger, the Burkes often brought the watercraft with them on family camping trips along the Schuykill River in Valley Forge National Historic Park. Cathy says she and her husband and kids had fun times with their canoe and kayak, but that they hadn’t used them in more than a year. “Seeing them idle in the garage was often a bittersweet reminder of how quickly our children grew up.”

The Burkes decided to donate the canoe and kayak to a worthy cause, but first they had to choose a charity. They first learned of the Big Flea when their neighbor’s house was being used as a drop-off point for donations. But it wasn’t until later that Cathy noticed a Big Flea announcement on a neighborhood listserv, offering pickups for large donations.

She thought about her old canoe and kayak. She liked the idea of helping her neighborhood school, and she loved the convenience of simply e-mailing websterbigflea@gmail.com to arrange for someone to pick up her items. She had found her worthy cause.

The sale of the Burkes’ canoe and kayak, along with other Big Flea proceeds, will allow the MVCS PTA to continue supporting student field trips, after-school clubs, classroom projects, and other school activities.

“We’re glad we could help to supplement and enrich the programs at the local elementary school in our new neighborhood” by donating the items, says Burke. “We hope that the new owner enjoys using them as much as we did.”

Schedule a Big Flea Van Pickup Today!

Have a pile of junque?  Then schedule a Big Flea Van pickup!  Contact Cynthia Webster at websterbigflea@gmail.com.

Check Out Our Junque!!! Saturday’s Haul.

Great news!  We sold $1,051 worth of merchandise on Saturday, March 26!  This brings our grand total of sales to more than $5,000!  Our 2011 fundraising goal is $17,138 so we still have a long way to go!

We definitely need more donations!!!  We especially need furniture, kids/baby gear (strollers) and other “big ticket” items.  To donate your items, please visit our Shop N Drop location any Saturday in April from 2-4pm.  We’re located at 719 N St. Asaph Street near Trader Joe’s.  We’ll also pick up your stuff, just contact Cynthia Webster at websterbigflea@gmail.com.

And make sure to visit our Shop N Drop location where you can purchase any of the items we have for sale.  Many thanks for your ongoing support!

Check Out These Legs!!!

OK, so the headline is pretty much a gag.  I mean table legs, of course (what a dirty mind you have). The MV Big Flea has been collecting a TON of furniture over the last few weeks, some of it pictured below.  Click on the “For Sale” sign at left for more deals!

Come by our Shop N Drop store this and every Saturday in March and April.  We’re open from 2-4pm on Saturday and located at 719 N St Asaph Street in Old Town.  And just remember, Shop N Drop means you can drop off donations AND buy some stuff you don’t need.  We can also PICK UP your junque! To schedule a pickup, please contact our Curator Cynthia Webster at websterbigflea@gmail.com.

See you on Saturday!

We Sold a Rare CD Single for $300!!!

The MV Big Flea is happy to report that is has sold a rare promotional CD single for $300.  The CD single was donated by Mount Vernon Community School Parents Mike and Paige Grainger.

The CD single is by  Pearl Jam and was released in 1992 before they hit the big time.  The CD was produced in extremely small quantities and is considered extremely rare by collectors of the band’s material.

It was sold to a Pearl Jam collector in the United Kingdom who stated that he was “exceptionally keen to add this to my collection.”  Click here to see the buyer’s extensive collection of Pearl Jam material.

I am wondering how Mike and Paige are going to react to this sale.  My guess is that they had no idea that a rare CD was lurking among the 350 compact discs they generously donated to the Big Flea.  Also included in the lot was a rare promotional disc by the band XTC that we are currently selling on eBay.

What do you have lurking about in your attic??  Even if you think it’s junk, please consider donating it to the MV Big Flea and helping to fund education and enrichment programs for Alexandria city public school students.

$10 Raffle Ticket Can Win You a Classic Convertible!

Now’s your chance to win a fantastic classic 1986 VW Cabriolet convertible!  Received as a donation, the MV Big Flea has decided to raffle off this treasure for $10 a ticket, or 3 tickets for $25!  It’s a great opportunity for a student to win a great car “on the cheap” or for a family to obtain a fun car to drive around town.

The VW Cabriolet was purchased in Alexandria and has had just two owners.  It has been meticulously maintained at Yates Automotive in Del Ray and is in excellent mechanical condition for it’s age.  The car has approximately 125,000 miles and has a 5-speed transmission.  And it’s FUN to drive!

Tickets will be available for purchase every Saturday from 2-4pm at the MV Big Flea Shop and Drop located at 719 N St. Asaph Street in Old Town.  For more details, or to purchase tickets, please contact VP of Moneygrubbing Kim Winters at kimberly.winters@verizon.net.

What have you got to lose???

Big Flea Starts Collecting on November 13th!

Don’t even think of tossing anything out before the holidays!

Alexandria’s most popular fundraiser is gearing up for another successful run and we need your junque!  Last year, we collected a tractor-trailer of treasures and raised $25,665 for the education programs of Mount Vernon Community School PTA.

We’re gearing up for the 2011 Big Flea, which will be held on April 30th.  We will hold two “Shop N Drop” days in 2010: Saturday, November 13 and December 11.

They’re a perfect time to clear clutter and nail down a final 2010 tax break (all donations are tax deductible).  Click here for a 2011 schedule and other important information about this year’s event (suitable for framing).

To donate on November 13, please bring your items to 114 E Raymond Ave (b/w Mt. Vernon and Dewitt Avenues, at the back of the Suntrust Bank parking lot).  We will hold additional “Shop N Drop” days in Jan-Feb and every Saturday in March and April!  Click here for our 2011 schedule of important dates and FAQs.

“The 2010 Big Flea exceeded all our expectations,” said Big Flea wordsmith Joseph LaMountain.  “We crushed all our fundraising records and had a record volunteer and shopper turnout.  I’m looking forward to another fantastic event in 2011, but we’ll need your help to make it a success.”

For more information about donating, or scheduling a pickup, contact Cynthia Webster at websterbigflea@gmail.com.  Thank you for your support!  Now let’s get the bug!!!

MV Big Flea & The Fleaview are THIS WEEKEND!!!

After months of planning, collecting, cajoling, begging and pleading the BIG day is just 48 hours away!!

We hope you will join us on Saturday, April 24 for the 4th annual MV Big Flea and on Friday for our special preview event called The Fleaview.

The MV Big Flea will be held at the Mount Vernon Community Center, 2701 Commonwealth Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22305.  The event is indoors and it will be held Rain or Shine!  Here are our hours of operation:

8:00am – Early Admission ($10 entry fee)
9:00am – General Admission (free)
12noon – Everything 50% off
2:00pm – Everything FREE

Please note that we do not accept credit cards and only accept checks from individuals that we know.

If you want a sneak peek at our items for sale, then come to the Fleaview on Friday between 7 and 8pm.  Also held at the MV Rec Center, the Fleaview is also a party with food, beverages and entertainment.

Remember, MV Big Flea and Fleaview proceeds benefit the Mount Vernon Community School PTA’s enrichment and education programs.  We hope to see you this weekend!

5 Gems Hidden Among the Junque….

Looking for a great bargain?  We’ve got them!  And to make things even more interesting, we’ve decided to offer ridiculously low prices on 5 great items at the MV Big Flea!  We call them our “gems among the junque.”

We’ll place these items in plain view with all our other treasures.  If you’re the first one to find it, it’s yours!  What better incentive to come to The Fleaview or early admission to the MV Big Flea!

Here’s our super duper bargains:

1. Sex in the City DVDs (Seasons 1-6) – $9 (retail value $100+)

2. Vintage Longaberger Basket – $19 (retail value of $100+)

3. Vintage Coach Shoulder Bag – $9 (retail value $65)

4. French Crystal Bowl (w/tag) – $9 (retail value $59)

5. Lego Bionicle (Battle of Metru Nui) – $9 (retail value $59)

Of course, we’ll have many other gems among the junque.  So don’t miss The Fleaview this Friday for a sneak peek at everything that’s for sale and, of course, the Big Flea on Saturday morning!

We Don’t Even Know What We Have!

You know what I like best about the MV Big Flea?  We never know what’s going to be for sale until the day of the event!

For the last few months, we’ve been collecting great items.  We’ve posted many photos, and sold a fair number of things too.  But we have 10X as many things in storage, many of which we have not even examined ourselves.

How many things?  How about a 10′ x 10′ x 20′ room completely filled with boxes?  How about another space, the size of a family garage, crammed with boxes and other items?

On Friday, April 23 all these boxes will be unloaded for the very first time.  Their contents will be spread throughout the MV Rec Center and offered for sale on Saturday morning.  Don’t miss your chance for a wonderful bargain!

OMG…The MV Big Flea is This Weekend!!

Get ready for Northern Virginia’s biggest flea market fundraiser, the MV Big Flea!!!

For the last three months, parents at the Mount Vernon Community School have collected thousands of treasures.  On Saturday, April 24, everything will be sold at the MV Big Flea.

All the proceeds will be used to support education and enrichment programs at the school.  We have hundreds of great bargains on everything you need and want!  Click here to see items from last year’s event.

And don’t miss The Fleaview on Friday, April 23 from 7-8pm.  The Fleaview gives you a sneak peek at all the items that will be for sale on Saturday morning.  But it’s also a party with food from the Evening Star restaurant and others, and special entertainment!  All proceeds benefit the MV Community School.

The MV Big Flea opens for early admission at 8am on Saturday, April 24 ($10).  General admission (free) begins at 9am.  At noon, everything is 50% off its marked price and at 2pm everything is FREE!!!

For the Alexandria Patriot

This item, and many more, will be available for sale at the MV Big Flea on April 24th!  We hope to see you there!

Two Antique Chairs Added to the Mix

In the last ten days, the MV Big Flea has received two really nice antique chairs!

Both will be offered for sale at the MV Big Flea on Saturday, April 24.  That is, unless someone doesn’t snatch them up at our final donation/sales event this Saturday, April 17, at 1219 First Street in Alexandria!

The first is a mission-style armchair from the 1920s (left) in the style of Gustav Stickley.  The chair includes its original finish and its original wood and cane seat.  The remnants of a label on the lower leg indicate that it was made by the Hubbard and Eldredge company of Rochester, New York.

The second chair comes from the Sabbathday Shaker center near New Gloucester, Maine (right).  Hand manufactured in the 19th century, this Shaker-style rocking chair was a very popular style.  It retains its original finish and the cane seating is in remarkably good condition.

If you are interested in either chair, please contact Joe LaMountain at joseph.lamountain@gmail.com or visit us on Saturday between 2-4pm.  Or better yet, come to The Fleaview on Friday, April 23 from 7-8pm to get a sneak peek at the other items we have for sale!