My Great American Tag Sale Was a Huge Success!
Everyone is still talking about it, this morning - my first-ever tag/garage/yard/estate/get-rid-of-it Great American Tag Sale!
This weekend's event was a huge success. We sold thousands and thousands of items including furniture, tableware, art, linens, clothing, plants, decorations, holiday, kitchen, clothing, and so much more. The Great American Tag Sale kicked off with a lovely early evening cocktail party and preview, and then over two days of glorious sunny spring weather, we welcomed van loads of excited shoppers to my Bedford, New York farm. Everyone who attended found treasures. And all for a great cause - ticket proceeds are going to New York City's Mount Sinai Martha Stewart Centers for Living. It took a large team to put it all together, but we all did it, and it was a great time!
Here are some photos, enjoy!
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- On the day preceding the Great American Tag Sale, I hosted a cocktail party and preview outdoors on the courtyard of my stable located at the end of this long Boxwood Allee. The day was just perfect – blue skies and mild spring temperatures.
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- Here I am with Dr. Albert L. Siu, who was instrumental in developing the Mount Sinai Martha Stewart Centers for Living.
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- We served Martha’s Chard, my new wine with 19 Crimes. I hope you’ve had a chance to taste it. It is so smooth and delicious.
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- We also served cocktails using Belvedere Vodka and Belvedere Lake Vodka, Casa Dragones Tequila on the rocks, and Snoop Dogg’s Cali Red, also from 19 Crimes.
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- My friend Chef Pierre Schaedelin from PS Tailored Events and his team prepared lots of wonderful bites for our guests. The appetizers included these roasted country ham in buttermilk biscuits. Our ham is from Loveless Cafe. (Photo by Pierre Schaedelin)
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- They also include giant jumbo Mister Spear asparagus with crispy parmesan and lemon zest, Mr. Spears green asparagus soup shots, cheese gougéres, marinated salmon from Purdy’s Farmer and the Fish wrapped in buckwheat crepes with horseradish cream, endive roquefort blue cheese with caramelized pecans, double baked potatoes with broccoli and sharp cheddar cheese, mini quiche with melted leeks and poached quail eggs, and of course pigs in a blanket.(Photo by Pierre Schaedelin)
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- All our small bites couldn’t be served fast enough – everything was so delicious. (Photo by Dominic Benevento)
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- We also had a seafood buffet of delicious oysters and shrimp. (Photo by Mike Krautter)
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- Our wait staff shucked the oysters for all the guests. They were so plump and flavorful. I always order oysters from Copps Island Oysters in Norwalk, Connecticut. (Photo by Mike Krautter)
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- These large, fresh shrimp are courtesy of Purdy’s Farmer and the Fish, a farm shop and restaurant here in Westchester, New York. (Photo by Mike Krautter)
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- Guests also walked to my Hay Barn set up with a tent filled with a sampling of premium items for sale.
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- Here is a beautiful framed photo of my old corn crib – for sale.
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- Art work was hung on wall panels for guests to see, while other collectibles were displayed on long tables.
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- Here are some of the Jadeite pieces – they were snatched up right away.
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- It was a busy morning before the tag sale. Mercedes-Benz provided four Sprinter 15-passenger vans for us to drive guests to and from my farm from the nearby John Jay Homestead. Here are the vehicles washed, cleaned and ready to go.
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- The side walls were removed from the tents. We had several large tents at the tag sale from Stamford Tent & Event Services.
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- With just 30-minutes to go, Chris Hessney gathered all the sellers and support staff for a last minute meeting.
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- Samantha Frisoli, who helped organize much of the inventory, checked that every item had an appropriate tag.
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- Here’s antiques expert, Vincent Manzo, ready to help shoppers and answer questions.
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- Tibby Gordon and James LaBorne stopped for this quick photo as they placed last minute items on the tables.
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- The Great American Tag Sale started right on time at 9am sharp.
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- I welcomed the first guests as they arrived and walked around sharing stories about some of the pieces up for sale. It was great to meet so many interesting and enthusiastic tag sale shoppers.
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- Here are Haden Spenard and Areesh Haq from Chris Hessney’s team – they organized many of the logistics of the event. (Photo by Dominic Benevento)
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- Shoppers entered the main tent where we displayed all kinds of pottery, and lots of chairs, cabinets, rugs, tables, and so much more.
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- Christopher Spitzmiller was also at the Great American Tag Sale. Here he is with his new chairs!
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- Shoppers took home many items! I think these two were very happy with their purchases.
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- Shoppers loved all the yellow ware – pieces went so quickly.
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- I sold many, many books – some of my own, and some of those I’ve collected over the years.
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- Here are Dominic Benevento and Chris Hessney taking a selfie! (Photo by Dominic Benevento)
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- Shopper also loved all the rugs and runners!
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- Here are Bernie Wong and Dennis Landon, two of my biggest fans and Instagram friends. They purchased many, many things from the sale.
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- And here is Andrew Ritchie, another dedicated fan and founder of the Martha Moments fan blog and Instagram page.
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- Auctioneer and antiques expert, Frank Kaminski, tagged these glasses – SOLD!
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- And here’s Jim Klinko, my old friend and antiques dealer in nearby Westport, Connecticut. He’s been eyeing this piece for himself.
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- Day 1 was a great success. I am so glad to be able to give proceeds to New York City’s Mount Sinai Martha Stewart Centers for Living, whose mission is to advance the quality of eldercare and to reshape the public’s perception of aging and provide outpatients with whole patient assistance, including medical examinations, advice about diet and exercise, and caregiving.
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