The Goodwill Outlet Experience

This weekend I decided to visit the Goodwill Outlet. I drove past it on MLK Day while my co-worker and I were visiting our teams doing service at local schools. I saw it and couldn't believe it existed. It looked hoppin'. However, it also looked like just a bunch of bins. I didn't understand how this could actually work. I needed a closer look, so I drove there this weekend to investigate. I wish I had my camera. I walked in and sorta freaked out. It was a bunch of bins with tons of people hunched over picking things up from one and throwing them in the other. This was the process for "shopping" here. Workers would roll in new bins, dump and leave again to get more. I thought of leaving. I may have even started hyperventilating a little. It was very overwhelming and a little sad to me, actually. Then, I thought to myself, "When in Rome" and dug in. Just when I thought I adjusted, I was taken aback. Something was wet. In fact, a lot of things were wet. I did not like this. I moved to the other side of the store. Here, I found more broken, useless, and very dirty things. After about 10 - 15 minutes, though, I was pretty into this place. And, these are two of the four items I walked away with for $4.00 (most items go by weight). FOUR DOLLARS! FOR EVERYTHING!

I'm getting into spray painting plastic things, like these birds on a basket. This was a cream color. Now it's an amazing shade of bright-freakin'-yellow and I love it.

This light is old, pink, gold and black and...awesome. According to the label on the bottom, it was made in Chicago, close to where Tim grew up in Beverly. Tim hates this lamp. In fact, he hates most of my vintage lamps, but I assured him it's going to the office.

Although I've not posted...

I have been SHOPPING! These are just a few of the trinkets I've had to find space for:

My zoo is getting bigger. I love these ceramic animals from Japan.




I've also been able to find another little guy from the same artist that made the two little owls I had from previous adventures. I'm still working on the display of this shabby shelf I found at the Sacramento Antique Faire.



I made my tiny terrariums that I've been talking about. I love them. I need to get more teeny tiny little animals or buildings for inside. Can you find the little doe in the one below?


The placement is also a work in progress. I have a lot of dust collectors, as you can imagine. And, these ones need a little light so finding the perfect home has been a challenge.


Have I mentioned my obsession with owls? Tim is beginning to hate them I think. The one with holes can be placed over a tea light. Love. The other I found at a thrift store in San Carlos - near my brother's house. I made Tim, my brother, and sister-in-law all go to this store on the way to dinner. I was hoping they would find a treasure so as to realize how great going thrifting is. No luck. Damn.



I've started to venture more into the linens. My thought is to use the flat sheets as fabric for various sewing projects. One day, perhaps I'll even stop collecting and start making.

A Few Goodies

And, hello. Happy New Year.

I've recently checked out a few new thrift stores. One was down the street from my one of my favorite Goodwill store. It was called Thrift Center and it was pretty gross. However, I found a few linens I thought were nice. I'm especially in love with the little hand-embroidered mushrooms on the napkins. I just couldn't pass up all the handiwork of these pieces.





The other day I forgot to post this little ceramic bell/wind chime from Japan. I loved her little face. However, I realized once I brought it home, when you hang it, it kinda looks like she's being hung by a noose. Ew. The slight tilt of her head adds to that effect. I'm debating putting this one up, for sure. Perhaps I'll add beads to the string to reduce that effect!

After going to the gross thrift store, Thrift Center (which, I should mention, gives you 1/2 off purchases when you bring in your receipt from the day before), I went to the crazy Goodwill. This is the Goodwill where my hands have a tendency to get the dirtiest. Literally. I was looking for a couple little figurines to place in my terrariums I will be making. I found these cuties:


They were a few dollars each, but I think worth it. They are so sweet and will look awesome in my terrariums once I find a receptacle of appropriate size. So far, I've only found jars (below) that will make great tiny terrariums, but nothing large enough to house these guys.




I made a deal with Tim that if I drove down to Benicia for a friend's party, he would go to a couple Goodwill stores with me on the way. We only got to one because we were running a little late, but it was a good one. It was the Goodwill in West Sacramento. It was 1/2 off day!!! This was very exciting. I spent $27.00. I will post those purchases soon. I need to remember what they were...

Yesterday, I purchased my biggest second-hand purchase ever (besides my condo): my new car! After learning way too much about cars to ensure I would feel good about any purchase I made, I finally bit the bullet! I'm excited about it. Now, I will now have to go about the task of selling my little red Civic hatchback, Floyd. (He's named after the hurricane that came through South Carolina a couple weeks after I got him when I was living there. Luckily the hurricane didn't do any significant damage and my little guy was unharmed entirely.) He's been so good to me. We've been through a lot together. I'll be sad to let him go, but I know it's time.