Mueller Makers and Doers: Getting Organized with Karie Winfree

It’s an all too familiar story: my guest room closet had become the place where things I might use again went to be forgotten. Clothes that no longer fit but were still in great shape, random home project leftovers, and a few “I’ll deal with that later” items had completely taken over.

With the Mueller Neighborhood Yard Sale coming up on Saturday, November 8, I decided I had the perfect reason to tackle it.

Getting Started

Before diving in, I reached out to our neighbor Karie Winfree, owner of OM Organizing, for a few pointers. Karie is an absolute pro at helping people get organized without the overwhelm, and her advice made a huge difference for me.

After reviewing her process and discussing my goals , we pulled everything out and sorted it into piles: keep, donate, sell, and recycle. My bed disappeared for a bit but by the end, we could actually see what I owned.

What to Do with Everything

Stuff to Sell
Most of what I plan to sell is clothing, so for the neighborhood yard sale I’m keeping pricing simple:

• Standard clothing: 5 items for $1

• Higher-end branded clothing: 2 items for $1

• Jeans and pants: $1 per pair

I’m keeping my expectations realistic. I’m really just hoping to earn a little extra cash to support my Farmer’s Market cookie habit while giving good clothes a second life.

Karie’s Plans for Everything Else We Found

• New clothing items
  A few unworn pieces, some new with tags.
  We’ll sell these items locally at Uptown Cheapskate, Style Encore, or Still In Style. You can get cash or credit to spend!

• Home-project supplies
  Small paint cans, spare light switches, and electrical odds and ends.
  You can recycle paint and electrical items in working or non-working condition at Austin’s Recycle and Re-Use Center.

  For spare light switches, head on over to Habitat for Humanity. They accept home furnishings, tools, home hardware and building supplies (I’m looking at you stack of leftover tiles in the garage!).

• Unwearable clothes
  Stained, damaged, and personal items.
  These shouldn’t hit the sale table or local donation bin. Instead we’ll recycle those old threads at the green textile recycling bin located in front of Blanton Elementary at 5408 Westminster Dr. Or, the Recycle and Re-Use Center also accepts textile items in their Goodwill bins, even if they have seen better days.

• Empty prescription bottles
  Remove labels, rinse, and recycle in your bin or repurpose them for small hardware or craft storage. If you have half-full bottles or expired medications, the Walgreens on 45th and Guadalupe has a medication recycling bin next to the pharmacy so they can be disposed of responsibly.

• A few keepers
  The handful of sentimental or useful items that earned their spot back in the closet. There’s room for them now!

  We’ll put these items away in lidded and labeled bins so you can find them easily. Tip: keep photos and memories in an archival/ acid free box for future preservation. Cardboard boxes break down and degrade over time (and are NOT acid free), so toss those in the recycle bin!

Ready for Yard Sale Day!

If you’ve been thinking about getting organized, definitely reach out to Karie at OM Organizing. I’m so glad I did. This project has been taking up way too much of my brain space for months now and it was done in under 3 hours!

I especially appreciate Karie’s thoughtfulness when it comes to making sure things don’t end up in the landfill if they can be reused or repurposed in ways I hadn’t considered. She’s even coordinating many of these drop-offs, which is so helpful.

Now my closet is cleared, my sale items are sorted and priced, and I’m ready to join the Mueller Neighborhood Yard Sale fun!

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Fall 2025 Mueller Neighborhood Yard Sale FAQ

• When is the yard sale?

  Saturday, November 8, 2025, from 8:00 a.m. to noon.

• Who organizes it?

  The Mueller Neighborhood Association (MNA) hosts the community yard sale twice a year—once in the spring and again in the fall. It’s a fun way to declutter, meet neighbors, and give your unused items a second life.

• How do I participate?

  Simply set up your station in front of your home on yard sale day. The Mueller Neighborhood Association (MNA) promotes the event, so the foot traffic will come to you.

  You can also fill out the participation form before November 5, 2025. This ensures your location and items are included on the official map and online listing prepared by the MNA so shoppers can easily find you.

  Sign Up Here

• What if I don't have a yard?

  The MNA has reserved Ella Wooten Park as a shared selling area for apartment and condo residents or anyone without a yard. You can Sign Up Here.

• Will there be a donation pickup after the sale?

  Yes! After the sale, local thrift partners will pick up donations at Jesse Andrews and Ella Wooten Parks for a quick, eco-friendly way to pass along anything that didn’t sell.

• Tips for a successful sale:

  • Group similar items and label clearly

  • Keep prices simple (round numbers or bundle deals)

  • Have small bills and change

  • Venmo, Cash App, or Zelle are easy options for digital payments

  • Have fun and enjoy the morning with your neighbors!