Annual Barn Sale slated for Nov. 5 at J.B. Wells barn

The fourth annual Barn Sale is right around the corner, scheduled for the first weekend of November, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, at the J.B. Wells show barn.

This fun community event has grown each year. Vendors from across the state – from Nederland to Colorado City, Glen Rose to Rivera and points in between – will be at the J.B. Wells show barn displaying their creativity and unique finds for the shopping pleasure of Gonzales Countians. Many Gonzales residents will be sharing their talents as vendors as well.

The event started from an article that sparked an idea for event organizer Suzanne Sexton. About five years ago, she read a story on a barn sale in the Northeast that highlighted local vendors and their wares. It sounded perfect for the Gonzales area, and she gathered some friends to help organize and promote the first sale at her barn in November 2008. The first sale hosted mainly local vendors with about five from out of town.

Word has now spread far and wide as Sexton and her sister-in-law, Tracy, known as “the Girls at Rusted Gingham,” have made contacts through friends, friends of friends and a lot of vendors at other antique and trade shows, including Warrenton/Round Top.

The Nov. 5 sale is expected to feature a wide array of selections, from antiques, vintage retro furniture, vintage kitchen ware, painted chicken nesters, woven shawls, hand-painted crosses, decorated clothing, head wraps, honey, jams and preserves, silver coins, pillowcase dresses, repurposed jewelry, hand strung jewelry, collectables and Christmas.

“Basically, we go with antique, unique, handmade, remade and otherwise made stuff,” Sexton says. “This list is just a sample of what will be under the barn. We want there to be a wide variety to choose from, and for it to be a great shopping experience.”

There’ll also be food. Several vendors with snack items, sweets and homemade breads will be on hand, and the concession stand will be run by the Gonzales County A&M Club, which is hosting a Tamale and Chili Fandango Fundraiser. The club is pre-selling tamales $9 per dozen, with proceeds going into the scholarship fund to send local students off to college. Tamales will be sold the day of the sale for $9 per dozen, as well as a menu that includes choices of one, two or three tamales, chili and Frito pies. Call the Guadalupe Valley Veterinary Clinic at 830-672-8676 to pre-order.

This year, the Girls at Rusted Gingham are hoping to help fill the local food pantry. Canned goods or other non-perishable food donations will be accepted for $1 off admission. Entry to this year’s event is $3 for adults ($2 if you bring two canned goods), with children under 18 years old free. The stock-the-food-pantry emphasis will help the community in time for the holidays.

Sexton likes to promote Gonzales for all the out-of-town shoppers who are coming. Last year, Laurel Ridge Christmas got in on the fun by having a drawing for a Lynn Haney Santa. This year, The Inn at Laurel Ridge will be giving away a one-night stay in the historic home. Laurel Ridge Christmas will also be giving away a 25th anniversary Lynn Haney ornament. The Hearty Gourmet will be giving away a great gift, too. Shoppers can sign up for the prizes by visiting each business located next door to each other on St. Joseph Street. Both drawings will be held around 4:30 p.m. Nov. 5 when the barn sale closes for the day.

“Our desire is for all shops in town to welcome out-of-town guests anytime they are here, and to make them glad to be in Gonzales,” Sexton says. “The hope is that shoppers and vendors that come from out of town will appreciate our historic and beautiful downtown, and leave with fond memories that make them want to come back.”

There will also be a giveaway from The Junk Gypsies, a trio of Texas gals in Round Top who have recently signed on with HGTV to promote using “junk” and funky antiques to decorate homes, demonstrating another way of salvaging items from the past and making them functional today. The Gypsies have been salvaging for years, and their customer base loves their design work. Now the rest of the world will be able to see it, too.

“We hope you can come out and visit with the Girls at Rusted Gingham and all the other vendors at the Barn Sale Saturday, Nov. 5, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.,” Sexton says.