She Photographs on Tuesdays
Reduce, Reuse & Recycle

thifting is the reason why I have Purell on my key chain

I chose to focus on the Reuse aspect of today's challenge.
On my 100 list is says:

#4 - I would rather have something old and
sentimental than something shiny and new.

I love to go to thrift stores. I love to dig through good trash and pull something out that still has life left in it. (the wooden high chair I have used for three kids, I pulled out of someones trash in New Orleans) I love to make something new out of something old. I have a hard time throwing things away. My heart jumps when I see a garage sale sign. I make photo galleries of things I have bought at thrift stores & garage sales.

I buy used items to give away as gifts. I recently gave a baby gift to someone that I got at a consignment sale, she loved it and I even admitted it was used.

I bought these silver serving spoons at Goodwill for $.29 cents each. I polished them up and gave them to my sister in law for her birthday.
from the left over brown felt from my Easter Cards, and ribbon from Kacey, I made a holder for them

I also reuse any salvageable mailing envelope. It is a good way of keeping the good mail circle going. I also save all my cereal boxes to ship packages. they are bright and cheery and FREE!

So today I made a goodwill stop to celebrate earth day. (what a new great tradition eh?)
I made a great discovery. I enjoy finding the items as much as buying them. Taking photos of items I wanted to buy, but didn't' were just as fun as buying them. I also thought this would be a good way to promote thrift store shopping, you never know what you will find.
So here is a list of what I wanted to buy but was trying to be thrifty and didn't.

What I wanted to buy

this awesome fabric. It was 4 curtain panels for $2.00

large curtain of lime green, raw silk fabric for $1.00.

brown and white eyelet fabric for $1.00

the lime green and this fabric would have made darling dresses for the girls.

remember the Avon perfume that came in shaped bottles. This find was fun to find.

These little dishes were great, i took a photo, turned away and then came back and a lady picked them up. She thought if they were worth photographing then they were worth buying. Rats!this was so cool. It was a crewel embroidery of a jungle theme. it needed to be reframed, but would have been darling in a little boys room! $3.99
I loved these salt and pepper shakers, but they were too big. 5" tall. $.59 cents each

this talking Ed Grimley would have been so fun to send to my brother Bevan,
but I resisted the $1.99


So what did I buy?
this total 80's Nancy Reagan look alike dress. I am going to cut the top off and put red and white ribbon ties on it to make a 4th of July sundress for Annie Kate.

this great dress up for Caroline and Sally Jane. $3.00darling little tea set. $3.00. They had two. I bought both.
I thought one would make a great gift.

My Thrifting tips:

1. everything that comes home goes straight to the wash with bleach
2. I usually walk through the store twice, there are somethings I miss the first time around
3. when the employees bring out a rack of clothes or anything to put away... follow them, it will be the best stuff in the store.
4. ask the employees what is the best time of day or day of the week to come
5. make friends with employees. let them know what things you are looking for. In TN when one of the girls in Goodwill saw me walk in, she would always say, "I have some girls clothes in the back you might like"
6. anything can be repainted, re-framed, re-sewn or polished. Don't get distracted by the fact it stinks or is dirty.

there it is my love of thrifting in photos and words. I love it!

** What is the best used item you have ever bought? **