Making "not new" glass garden flowers to sell at the Art Show

Hoping to sell some garden "art" this weekend. Made these from upcycled glass I've been collecting at thrift shops. FYI, none of the adhesives I've seen recommended on various blogs work for $%&t.

Full disclosure: bought "new" tops out of boredom.

I accompanied my son shopping for pants at Target and ended up getting myself a men's pullover. At 70% off, it was still $9, which is pricey to me. However, I am short on big, warm, unconstructed Fall tops and haven't had much luck at the thrifts for these. I think men wear such tops until they are rags. The other shirt I got when I took my mother shopping at Marshall's. It is also a Fall top, a tunic with a lot of fancy sewing to it. It was on clearance for $15. I didn't really need the top, but I will certainly get good use from it. I apparently just can't stand to do nothing while waiting for others to shop.

I can't resist a thrift store sale.

Around here, a good many of the non-profit thrifts have 50% off EVERYTHING on most holidays. Last year I cleaned up at AmVets on Labor Day. I managed to squeeze in a visit amidst family drama on Memorial Day, but didn't have much luck. I picked up these mock turtlenecks for $1.50 and $1. Can't remember which was which. Not really in season, but basics like this always come in handy...and I hate to leave empty handed.

Love my "not new" wet saw from craigslist.

One of my favorite craigslist finds, perhaps because I decided I needed it, found it right away and bought it (neaby, even!) the next day. This wet saw goes for $99 or more new. I purchased it for $40. The seller said it was very lightly used. He bought a pallet of them to resell. He does a lot of stuff like that as he is handy and can fix broken stuff to resell (but only one broken one in the lot he got). We are both guessing as to why anyone would have a pallet of slightly used wet saws. A very interesting guy (another bonus to the purchase). Can't wait to try out the saw.

Had to buy yet another damn used toaster.

First the offspring broke my cheap, new toaster. Then, he broke the used toaster I replaced it with. I purchased another used toaster (these are actually pretty difficult to come by...in the rare chance I see them at thrift stores, they often seem too scuzzy to purchase and the last one I saw at an estate sale had a $20 price sticker) and I think it will be my last used toaster. If this one breaks, I will bite the bullet and buy a new, quality toaster. I'm not saving myself or the environment if I keep tossing out cheap, broken toasters.

The thing I love most about thrift stores? The crazy items that turn up.

I did not buy this saddle, but I was slightly tempted. Fortunately, I don't have a horse or a place to put the saddle. Or the time to turn it into seating (though it would go nicely with my buffalo skull and longhorns). It was $79, so not cheap. Beautiful tooling on the leather, but it was well worn. Kind of entertaining to come across, if nothing else.

"Not new" shopping: too much of a good thing?

I haven't been shopping in quite some time, which makes me wonder if I have some sort of inner cash register that makes me want a certain amount of stuff. When I went to Savers yesterday, I seem to have overdone it. This stuff is not for me, per se. I am hoping to upcycle it into yard art that I will (hopefully) unload, ahem, I mean, sell, at a craft show in July. In the meantime, storing it and keeping it clean is a chore...not to mention that I feel the need to examine every single piece I have "in stock" before I put together a single garden stake. So far, I have one half-done. And July is looking closer by the minute. (BTW: basketful added up to $105 after my "senior" discount. Fairly pricey, but the other local thrifts don't have the inventory Savers does.

Some thrift stores are hard to find...but worth it.

I found out about a thrift store I'd never heard of at a meeting I attended tonight. I came home to look up the details on the Web, but could not find it on an Internet search of thrift stores (but, I did find dozens of thrift stores I'd never heard of when I searched "thrift stores" in the Yellow Pages, so I have lots of 'sploring to do when I get the chance).

Anyway, the thrift store in question is run by the Mental Health Association and is on the Buffalo Psychiatric Center campus. Apparently, lots of doctors donate to this store and almost every item sells for $1 (except coats are $4). The meeting members were raving about what great clothes they had there. (I imagine doctors can afford some nice duds.) It got me thinking that there might be some other thrift stores associated with local hospitals that aren't well known unless you are part of the hospital community. I'll have to nose around some. And so should you!

New lipgloss and "not new" perfume.

Full disclosure: I bought a tube of new lipgloss. Could I live without it? Yes. But, it's an $8 pick-me-up that puts me in a good mood, makes me feel special, and helps me put in a bit of effort on the otherwise lost cause of my appearance. Lipgloss is the only girly thing I use. No other makeup, no facial products, nothing fancy for me. I even buy Covergirl Outlast lipgloss because it lasts all day. I'm not one to touch up the hair or makeup during the day.

I was surprised to find that you can buy second hand perfume at the thrifts. (Note: the photo is from a drugstore...look at those high prices.) They had it at AmVets and I've seen it on shopgoodwill.com. I seldom use perfume as the smell makes my mother ill, so I'm always conscious about whether I'm going to be close enough to anyone to bother them. I do enjoy perfume, but have enough to last me a lifetime (mostly from gifts). If I needed some, I would not be shy about going "not new" for perfume. But, um, the lipgloss...that has to be new.

How's it hanging? At Savers, pretty good.

I'm not much of a brand-sensitive gal. However, I do have one brand/model of jeans that fits me perfectly and am too lazy most of the time to bother looking for other jeans at the second-hand stores. Which is why I appreciate the way Savers hangs their jeans (one of the few things I really like about Savers). It is very easy for me to go through an entire rack in just seconds to see if they have what I'm looking for.

Never be hungry for bread again...for under $20.

The shelf at Savers is always loaded with bread machines. I'm sure other thrifts may be similarly well stocked. I've seen what look like brand-spanking-new ones (in the box, with instructions) for up to $19.99. Usually they are much less, like the one pictured on the right for $5.99. I believe that is the same one I used to have. Loved that machine (lost the paddle, replacement didn't fit properly), bought a new machine as it was before I discovered the joys of going "not new."

It pays to do a little research to find out if the models available receive positive reviews (and if a manual is available online if you are not familiar with bread machine operation). I understand some don't bake that well, but I have been very happy with the two I've had (of course, I checked the reviews before purchasing).

It's really lovely to know you are just 3.5 hrs. away from a great loaF of fresh bread at any time. I usually buy my yeast in a jar and keep it in the freezer so I always have fresh. Many recipes/machines can be programmed to start at a given time, so you can set it up in the morning and have fresh bread when you get home from work...or whenever. The only downside is, it is very difficult not to eat the whole damn loaf when you have it sitting there hot and fresh in front of your face.

I'll leave you with a final bread baking tip: I've found I can add a 1/4 cup of flax seed (ground or whole) to a recipe without making any other adjustments. The resulting bread is somehow of a better (moister?) texture and you get the health benefits of the flax. Really doesn't seem to affect the taste much, if anything, the taste is better with the flax seed.

Resist the urge to buy new for baby...and other mother tips.

It is very difficult not to run out and buy all the cutest things for the new most important person in your life. But, you CAN buy all the cutest things second hand...because everyone before you did just that and those things only fit for like, 2 weeks, and they are still just like new at the nearest garage sale or thrift store. Really. Pick a young neighborhood on a garage sale day and it's like shopping at the most deluxe mall.

Your kids don't care a lick about their clothes at this age...invest the money you save wisely because when they get older, they will care. A lot. And they will want very expensive clothes. And if you bought all their baby clothes full price to satisfy YOUR needs when they are babies, you are going to be one big hypocrite when you try to talk them into cheaper or used clothes when they are teens.

Meet that parental urge to splurge on your child be doing other things like starting a college (or bail) fund. And when portrait time comes around, think, about always using the same background selection or putting all your kids in the same outfit every time. Makes for a nice collage when they move out and all you have is memories. I had the offsping in denim overalls and a white turtleneck (items I thought would always be available and low cost) from 6 months through age 14...then he rebelled. Can't blame him...plus, now I have the pics of him in outfits of his own questionable tastes to use as comic fodder in the future.

Getting married? Go "not new."

There is a bridal consignment store opening near me. What a fabulous idea. Might even be possible for all the brideesmaids to get second hand dresses (they will kiss you). Of course, bridal gowns are always available second hand online or at Goodwill. I understand some cities even have rental places now. Starting a marriage out on a thrifty foot is a very good idea. Much better than the over-the-top extravagance of so many modern bridezillas.
To be upfront, I hadn't yet discovered the joys of "not new" when I married 23 years ago. I did sew my own gown and my bridesmaids wore off-the-rack numbers ordered from a catalog (I think it was Talbot's...still not cheap, but not as expensive as official bridesmaids gowns and two of my bridesmaids wore theirs several times...still, I heard the other complaining about the purchase). I wished I could have gotten one of the store sample bridal gowns that I'd seen on clearance for under $100...but I don't have a store-sample size body.

Took a foray into a pawn shop

Even though I love bargains and all things used, I'd never been in a pawn shop before. Just seemed like some sort of shady, dark world I would not be equipped to navigate. I mean, there's the three balls, the connection with crime and sketchy characters. But, that really didn't seem to be the case (except for the balls). I went in because I'd seen a telescope listed there on craigslist.com. I've been looking for a telescope, hoping I can employ it in bird watching (not to mention, I've always kinda wanted to get a better look at the stars). The place was in a safe area and the merchandise was in good condition. This one seemed to specialize in tools and I might go back for the miter saw they had. There wasn't all that much merchandise in the store, but what they had was well organized. They were asking a bit much for the telescope. I probably should have got the guy down another $20 (I paid $60), but I'm not good at bargaining, especially when the other party is likely struggling financially more than I. However, my "not new" telescope is in great shape, has all its parts and I'm happy to have gotten it in one quick, easy trip (been looking at estate sales and thrift shops for months and haven't found anything). I'll try going to more pawn shops in the future.

Be sure to checkout the back of those receipts at the grocery check out

If you shop at a grocery store that prints coupons on the back of its receipts, check 'em out! I officially gave up clipping coupons from the Sunday newspaper inserts because they are mostly for processed foods and I don't buy processed foods. But the grocery receipts have some interesting local pizza joint coupons AND, at least in my area, $4 off at AmVets coupons...which usually have a longer expiration date than the coupon on your receipt at AmVets.

It is amazing how often I'm forced to buy "new."

It's just short of 2 months since I decided to spend a year buying nothing "new." In that short time, there have been 3 birthdays (gifts and cards), a death (card and flowers), a broken thermostat, toaster and blender and now, the pegs (plastic) holding up two of the shelves in my kitchen cabinets have failed. Pretty sure from perusing the odds and ends at the thrift stores that I'm not going to find those there and it's definitely not worth the time and gas to try (especially since it is 5 degrees F today). I was at least lucky enough to find some on clearance at Lowe's ($5 as opposed to $8). I'm having company in from out of town this week, so it was not something I wanted to put off.
If you're curious and too tired to look through my posts, I replaced the toaster with a $1 used toaster from an estate sale (after a week or two). The thermostat was replaced with a new one (though, I did first try to find one at a re-use shop) and I'm still hoping to find a used Ninja blender somewhere, someday.

Selling finds on Etsy

I had opened an Etsy shop to sell some of my art glass collection (items for sale pictured). I am downsizing in anticipation of moving to a smaller place someday in the near future. As I am shopping "not new," I am finding so much really neat vintage stuff that seems destined to go otherwise unappreciated that I am going to try to resell some on Etsy.com. It will allow me to indulge my love of cool stuff and bargains while (hopefully) making a little bit of money and further “justifying” the gas it takes to drive around to garage/estate sales. I try not to drive too much, but, um, mileage happens. The name of my Etsy.com shop is ArtGlassAndMore. I also sell a little bit on ebay.com. Today I finalized the deal on a really nice (used) fur coat that I bought for myself, but never wore. I was hoping to break even, but I actually sold it for more than what I paid. Yipee!