For Love of Thrift

Mondays are usually cleaning day. Today I had a routine doctor's appointment. Since I had to fast so that they could draw blood (for insurance), I treated myself to a coffee as well as grilled cheese and broccoli soup from Panera. Afterward, I stopped at TJ Maxx and St. Vincent de Paul.

Here are a few of my thrifty finds.

Lace

Planter

1956 Composition book

I overheard an interesting spiritual conversation at the thrift shop. It is not the first time. Is it because of the nature of charity, I wonder? Or is it the deeper spiritual understanding that comes with having less to cloud the mind?

I am still pondering this. What are your thoughts?

Vintage Find: Geometric Scarf

I enjoy searching for treasures. So when I found a $1.99 vintage scarf at St. Vincent de Paul, I thought it was a bargain.

Brand: Echo
Made in Japan
100% Silk

The scarf features gray and yellow geometric lines, and it is in excellent condition.

At the checkout, the cashier looked at the scarf. "Is that all you are getting?"

"Yes." I tried to hand her my debit card.

"It's yours."

I wasn't sure I understood her. "Excuse me?"

She indicted the door. "It's yours. Have a nice day."

I thanked her several times before I left.

In the car, I reviewed what had just happened. I am fairly certain she did not want to run the card because of merchant charges. I felt blessed by the cashier's gift, but I knew that I could not accept it. While I do not have a lot of money, I live comfortably. I found some change and went back into the store to put it in the donation jar.

And I will do it again the next time I visit.

St. Vincent de Paul seeks to end poverty through systemic change. Donations provide direct assistant to the local community; they provide aid for those who cannot afford bills such as funeral expenses, job training, and rent. Many Jackson residents struggle with basic needs, and St. Vincent de Paul does its best to serve them.

It is wonderful to snag a deal, but shopping at thrift shops has a greater purpose: supporting the less fortunate. 

Réjouissant

Lace and Musings

I am drying lace in the guest bedroom. Matt has not said anything which means either a. he has not noticed or b. he has grown accustomed to craft supplies randomly piled around the house

I like to think it is c. he has not noticed because he has grown used to my crafting antics.

We are approaching our one year wedding anniversary.

Sometimes it's the little things that records time's passage.

Thrifted: Buttons

Vintage supplies have a unique history. They were made before the level of mass production we see today. And using them to craft sets your product apart from those who shop at craft supply retailers.

Yesterday, I found this assortment of brass and plastic buttons for $2.

I love buttons because they are versatile; you can use them for crocheting, knitting, jewelry-making, sewing and more! 

Thrifting for craft supplies is like going on a treasure hunt. You never know what you'll find.

Thrifty Finds: Garnet Beads

Last week I spent my lunch at a consignment store. My crafty senses started tingling. At the jewelry counter I saw an 18" garnet necklace. As I examined the necklace I got excited at the $6 price sticker.

A strand of garnet beads can cost $5 and up. Over all the necklace featured 788 4mm, 56 5mm and 28 diamond shaped beads. That's 872 beads costing less than a penny each!

With a snip I deconstructed the necklace into a wealth of beads.

Tips for Bead Thrifting:

1. Look for unique beads, findings and pendants.
2. Not all beads are created equal. Choose quality jewelry.
3. Always be mindful of the price. To determine the cost per bead, divide the product price by the approximate quantity of beads.
4. Look in antique, consignment, flea markets, secondhand and thrift shops. Even retail stores can have nice beads on clearance.

Unfinished Weave

We all have half-finished projects laying around. Works in progress, as the craft community calls them, can speak to where we are in our lives. Some projects are never finished; they are too complicated, so they packed away and forgotten. Others are waiting for the right moment, the right detail, to be finished. 


You may remember I found the loom at Eaton Community Hospice Thrift Shop. I bought a large bag of loops at Hobby Lobby. I wanted a small project to work on in between larger ones. 

This woven project has been on my loom for over a month, but every spare moment has been devoted to our wedding. I am not sure if it will become a coaster or potholder or trivet, but I know that this project is waiting for the right moment to be finished.

Etsy Finds: Vintage Bookends

I cannot tell you how many books I own; over half of my collection is in storage, and I cannot seem to stop purchasing them. As Matt and I get closer to buying a house, bookshelves are on my mind.

And with bookshelves come bookends. Etsy is a treasure trove of vintage finds; any of these sets would enhance our library.

Alabaster Horse Bookends from The Estate of Things

Hollywood Regency Shell Bookends from Fabulous Mess 

Brass Swan Bookends from C. Marie Keely Vintage and Handmade

 Art Nouveau Bookends from Vintage Cats Meow

Playful Cats Bookends from Vintage Shelf and Wall

Book Bookends by Ronson from Curious Goods Trader

Pirate Ships Bookends from Think Old Think New

United States of America Great Seal Drum Book Ends from The Pretend Den

Thrifty Finds: Star of Wonder

This will be my first Christmas as a married woman. Although I have had little inclination to decorate in the past, this year I am excited to decorate for the holiday. I keep imagining heartfelt (and handmade) decorations on a tree and mantle. In my musings I imagine us sitting in front of a fireplace on this sofa. Now we just have to find (and buy) a house.

I found this tin star at the thrift store. Its original purpose is a mystery, but I am going to wrap ribbon around its base to attach it to the top of my Christmas tree.

Wordless Wednesday: Record

New Additions to the Library

I love to read. The majority of my books are in storage, and I cannot wait to get married so that I can organize them. I like owning books almost as much as reading them. The feeling of pulling a familiar book off the shelf to read is similar to meeting an old friend.

All of these books are meant to be creative resources. I did not pay more than five dollars for any of them.

Bellisima Bridal Boutique

My wedding day is quickly approaching. Last Saturday my mom, Matt's mom and I went to Bellisima Bridal Boutique in Albion, MI to find a wedding gown.

via Bellisima Bridal

I originally intended to get my dress at David's Bridal or Fantastic Finds because the shops are located near my job. Anyone who knows me knows this was a compromise; I prefer to be different. But with my September 24th wedding date looming, I needed a dress soon.

A couple of weeks ago I found a dress at David's Bridal, but it was twice as much I had vowed to spend. In order to cut costs I browsed dresses on secondhand bridal sites Recycled Brides and Once Wed. I did not like the idea of buying a dress without trying it on first, but I did not want to go over my budget. So when a search for bridal gowns brought up husband and wife-owned Bellisima, I decided to check it out before I made a decision.

Bellisima Bridal has been in business since 2005. The boutique is located in Albion's old Masonic Temple; the building's original woodwork is breathtaking. The shop is centrally located for the Mid-Michigan bride; it is only 35 miles from Jackson, 20 miles from Marshall, and 50 miles from Lansing. They even offer a $20 gas credit for brides who travel over 40 miles.

Bellisima boasts of over 1200 gowns, including a private couture line, priced from $69-$1900. Besides bridal gowns, they also carries dresses for mother-of-the-bride; bridesmaid; flower girl as well as prom dresses; tuxedos; shoes; accessories; and reception essentials.

We first explored the upstairs; the entire floor is devoted to one-of-a-kind clearance dresses priced $69-$500. The staff took my picks to the dressing rooms, but they did not hover or pressure.

After we perused the clearance dresses I tried on between 10 and 15 dresses. The owner of the shop took her time to help me in and out of dresses; she made suggestions based on my personality and body type. She also recommended local seamstresses and tailors for the possible alterations.

My appointment lasted longer than I expected, but I did not hear any complaints. In fact, the owner left the dressing room twice to look for dresses she thought I would look good in. I had a hard time deciding between two dresses (mostly because one of the dresses was a bargain at $99), but in the end I choose a bridesmaid dress (in ivory) that I am going to have altered to fit my vision of an elegant gown.

I highly recommend Bellisima; I am happy I supported a local shop. Not only is my wedding gown under $300 (my original goal), it is going to be unique and elegant.

Now I need to choose dresses for my bridesmaids.

Plato's Closet Review

As I mentioned before I am moving in the fall so I have decided to reduce my load. On Tuesday afternoon I stopped at Plato's Closet in East Lansing to sell my unworn clothing.

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I first learned of Plato's Closet five years ago. My college roommate had heard about the Utica store from a co-worker. Although we talked about visiting the store, we never made it. Ironically, in researching for this blog post I have found there is now a Rochester Hills Plato's Closet close to where we lived. When my fiance transfered to Michigan State University he moved into an apartment complex within walking distance of the East Lansing store, so I became familiar with that location.

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According to their website, Plato's Closet "buys and sells the latest looks in brand name gently used clothing and accessories for teen and twenty something guys and girls." They buy gently worn clothing from the past 18 months and resell it. For a girl who is about to embark on her 30s, some of the clothing is meant for someone half my age. But I have an eclectic style, and I am willing to search through unappealing trends to find quality clothes. I prefer to shop for style over name brands; fashion is fleeting but style can be shaped and nurtured.






The East Lansing Location has expanded since my last visit. Although the expansion doubled the size of the store, they still have a limited men's section. According to my fiance, this is the case at many clothing stores, and I believe him.

When I went to the counter the clerk asked me to fill out my information and drop off my bag. She requested I stay in the store while she looked at the clothing. This is a sales tactic; they obviously want you to browse and buy something. Last week I had stopped on my lunch last hoping to sell clothing and they told me the wait was forty-five minutes. This time I stopped after work.

Plato's Closet, like many thrift shops, is hit and miss. You have to search through the clothing. I keep a mental list of the items, colors and brands I want to add to my wardrobe. I needed summer dresses so I did not mind waiting.


Perhaps the one complaint I have about this visit to Plato's Closet is the service. The staff is young; the minimum age to work at the store is 16. Some of the clerks are gossipy; they are preoccupied with their lives and what they do outside of work. As a retail worker I find this completely unprofessional. To be fair, I have had better service in the past, and I was not treated rudely.

When the clerk finished she forgot to tell me. I waited about thirty minutes before I approached the counter. Out of the seven items I brought, Plato's Closet bought three dresses, two from Target and one from Meijer, a pair of leggings (from Walmart, they passed on the pair from Deb) and a pair of lace-up boots from Kohls. I received $14.98, or an average of about $3 for each item. In my circumstance this is fine; I will never wear the clothing. I will donate the rest of the clothing to Goodwill or Salvation Army.

Although I did not find a dress I did buy two large tank tops (American Eagle and Banana Republic) that I plan to reconstruct. I also bought over 30 bangles which I plan to use to make jewelry.

Even with the poor service on this visit, I recommend shopping at Plato's Closet. It is thrifting for those who do not like to thrift. You can find lightly-worn, name brand clothing at great prices. If you want to sell your clothing, do not expect to get a lot of money back unless you sell them fashionable clothing. 

I love thrift shopping. You never know what you will find.

Coffee and Tea Dyed Yarn

Although many of us enjoy iced coffee or sun tea on a warm summer's day, they are not just for drinking--you can also use coffee and tea to dye yarn! I have been interested in dyeing for some time, and Friday's rain made it a great day to experiment. 

Natural fibres (cotton, hair, linen, silk, wool, etc.) are easily dyed.  For centuries humans used herbs and berries to change the color of fabric, yarn and even paper. While modern commercial dyes have consistant color, they sometimes include strong chemicals.

Dyeing yarn with Kool-Aid is an alternate to using commercial dyes. Using packets of Kool-Aid you can dye a broad range of vibrant colors. I recommend the following tutorials: Leethal's Crockpot Kool-Aid Dyeing, Knitty.com's Dyed in the Wool or Eunny's Techniques: Self-Striping Yarn).

Coffee and tea can be used to dye fibres as well. Many crafters use them to make fabric, yarn and paper appear aged. I chose four teas (green, black, Earl Grey, and chamomile) and a coffee for my experiment.

I boiled water in a tea kettle and poured it into mason jars. I used two types of yarn: a wool blend and silk ribbon yarn. Both were from thrifted sweaters I unraveled. I looped the yarn around my arm to create loose sections.  I soaked the yarn in lukewarm water with splash of vinegar, pushing the air bubbles out of the yarn so it would be thoroughly saturated. The tea brewed for an hour before I added the yarn.

Left to right: Bigelow Green Tea, Tazo Awake Tea, Coffee, Twinings Earl Grey Tea, Chamomile Tea

The yarn soaked in the dye for four hours. I rinsed it in the sink, and then I gently pressed out the excess water with towel. After the yarn dried I roll it into balls.

The variables make the dyeing possibilities endless. I got five different shades of soft brown. A darker hue would require another tea bag and an overnight soak. 

My next project for the yarn to explore knit, crochet and macramé texture.

Thrifty Finds: Eaton Community Hospice Thrift Shop

In my "New Yarn for the New Year" post, I mentioned I went thrift shopping. I have been waiting for a day off to check out the Eaton County Hospice Thrift Shop in Charlotte, MI. Drew from Twisted Stitches had mentioned it has a large craft supplies section.

I probably should have postponed the trip because of the snow. The roads were terrible. I saw one car had skidded down a ravine backwards. But I was pointed in the right direction and I did not want to turn around, so I kept going. I am glad I did.

I love doilies. I would like to crochet a doily one day. Meanwhile, I will be content to find heirloom crochet at thrift shops for $.75 (white) and $.25 (mustard).

I was super excited to find these hand-tatted earrings. What a treasure! I don't like gold, but tatting is a lost art. I could not believe they were priced $.25!

Even though I haven't learned how to crochet doilies, I like to pick up vintage thread for chance I might try it on whimsy.

I am love with these brass buttons. I plan to use them for bracelet closures.

Here is another craft I have been meaning to try. I had a weaving kit when I was a kid, but I don't know where it went. This kit did not come with the loops, but I am sure a craft store carries them. Or I might take some tights or nylons and make the loops myself. Another $.25 find!

I plan to make rugs with these sheets. The plum sheet on the bottom is king-sized!

I do not have plans for this vintage fabric yet, but I couldn't resist a red, white and blue theme.

I did not take pictures of a couple things: some jewel-toned felt, some more fabric and a vintage wool coat. The coat is currently in quarantine because it may have some moth damage. I am not sure what to do with it because there are two tiny holes on the back shoulder. Also, I bought two sweaters and some books at Goodwill.

I recommend the hospice thrift shop. All of the items were well-priced and all of the proceeds go toward running the hospice. 

Thrifty Finds: Let's Picnic

This thrifty find is a two-parter. A couple of months ago I found a flawless, brand new picnic blanket at World Thrift Mission in Lansing, MI. Even without the accompanying picnic basket and accessories, the blanket was a steal at $3.99.

With the blanket in mind, I have been watching for the perfect picnic basket. I almost stooped to buying one at Target, but I am trying to live thriftily and frugally. I decided to forgo until they went on clearance.

My "new" secondhand picnic basket came from Goodwill in Charlotte, MI. At $9, I felt the basket was a bit overpriced for a thrift store (I've noticed Goodwill and other thrift shops are raising their prices as they realize people are shopping secondhand with the bad economy). But after a few minutes of inspection and debate, I decided to purchase the perfect summer accessory.

The next time I thrift I am going to watch for picnic essentials such as plates, silverware, sealable containers and wine glasses. Maybe I'll make some d.i.y. napkins. And after that, I'll plan a picnic (with pictures to follow, of course)!