Needles in a haystack
When I've posted about my Goodwill finds, a lot of you have commented on how fabulous my Goodwill must be. And while it is true that my Goodwill is pretty nice as Goodwills go (it's pretty new, and fairly organized...as organized as a store that stocks completely random stuff can be, at least!), it still takes some patience and effort to find the good stuff.
So, I thought I might share some of the not-so-great merchandise at our Goodwill. Because if you thought my Goodwill stocked nothing but fabulous stuff, you might be uber-discouraged at the thought of shopping at your Goodwill!
Hidden amongst the paisley tops...
the double-breasted little boy's jacket from the 90s....
a candleholder with a pillar sprouting out of a cherub's head...
a faux fur coat (this was more hideous in person, trust me)
old vacuums (how much do you want to bet that this one doesn't suck very well?)...
the sweater dresses from the 70s...
the brass frames...
the craft projects gone horribly, horribly wrong...
really, REALLY old candlesticks...
plenty of country/90s wall art...
and just a lot of STUFF,
there are good things to be had.
And sometimes soon, I'll put together a post of some good things we've found lately. For the moment though, feel free to browse through the Goodwill archives to see a few needles from our Goodwill haystack. 😉
I am one of the ones that said you goodwill , looks like a good one. Well orginized, some nice stuff.
I am sure all of them have stuff that is well.... sould have went into the round file (trash)
Your seens so orginized.
Ours looks like a bomb went off in it.. I mean, stuff is just thrown on shelf in a pile, How can you look at stuff if its just in a heap??? I mean if you have a whole day with nothing to do, no kids with, (or the husband) and can afford to "dig" threw stuff... its ok.. but if you are trying to do a quick scan, you cant!
And I have to agree that "art" project gone terriably wrong.. is so so true! oh my goodness......
Yes, mine has shelves for everything, which is nice. I mean, there are some piles, but they're not super deep. lol
I think the saying one mans trash is another mans treasure sums this event up. To me the terrible of the group was that tacky sweater dress ughh...
Relatively new here in CT is a thrift store called Savers, which is a resale store for Big Brothers/Big Sisters. I am very impressed with it. I haven't shopped the Goodwill too much (pricey, as these things go), and the Salvation Army "Family Store," has become impossible - jam packed, disorganized, and there are no dressing rooms. It may sound petty of me, but I don't want to buy a pair of nonreturnable jeans that have not been tried on, even if they are only $2.00.
My mother was astounded when I told her my daughter had already made her Halloween costume. "how did you do that without a sewing machine?". (I borrow hers.). Because I bought clothes at Savers and iron on embellishments at the fabric store! My daughter deemed it as good as store bought, and I replied that it is better because it's one of a kind.
I've been reading your blog for a while, but this is my first comment. However, I couldn't pass up and opportunity to comment on "craft project gone wrong". So, I guess I shouldn't beg you to go back and buy it for me so I can get it to my daughter at her baby shower? Just think of all the time and love (bad love) that someone put into that.
And brass frames - are they really a no-no now?
I don't think brass frames are always wrong...they're just definitely not as "in" as they used to be, and so there are tons at thrift stores!
I know someone put tons of time into that mirror, but my soul, it was so poorly done. It's hard to tell from the picture, but it was all uneven and things were coming off. lol
Frugal tip - buy a can of spray paint - you can buy silver or bronze. Buy the cheap brass frames, rough them up a little with fine sand paper and then spray paint them.
I've never tried this but it seems like it should work.
One man's trash....I would love those frames. I've gotten several and they look awesome spray painted white in my shabby chic home. The more gaudy the better! Same goes for that Mary Cassat print hiding amongst the country/90's art. Just needs a new frame!
My cousin had that jacket! There's proof in Easter pictures!
"a candleholder with a pillar sprouting out of a cherub's head..."
That is hysterical! I see alot of that type of thing at my Goodwill also. I guess there is something for everyone!
I think it all depends on what you are looking for in a thrift shop. And who shops there. i try to be conscious of putting items back when I decide against them, but some people just rip apart a shelf looking for stuff, then walk away. I know in our local goodwill, many people just let their kids play in the toy area, so it is always trashed. I actually wanted to buy something, but a woman was letting her kid play with it so I couldn't, but they never did buy the thing. arg!
And FTR, I could totally salvage that paisley top, I love 70's dresses, and with a can of spraypaint those frames could look great!
Oh, yes. Thrift stores are great for ugly things that you can fix up!
I might think about buying the really old brass candlesticks....only because they remind me of my childhood 🙂
Oh, I dunno, Kristen--you could totally rock that sweater dress... 🙂
My favorite Goodwill find ever (which I am still kicking myself for not spending the 50 cents on) was:
A trophy
For a bowling competion
In 1965
For last place.
ha ha ha.
They didn't mind you wandering around taking pictures in there? Or did you buy all that stuff? PS: Sweaterdresses are back in. Maybe not THAT one.
That first pic is of a piece from the Liberty of London for Target line. Our Goodwill also seems to get a lot of items from Target with the tags still on! I think I have a dress in that pattern. And I would love a 70's dress like that for a retro party!
I do think you just have to dig through a lot to find treasures, but such is life!
I'd buy it just for the fabric! Liberty of London fabric is expensive.
Oh no! Am I the only one who actually liked that orange sweater dress?! My husband says that if he wants to figure out which piece of clothing I'd buy in a store, all he has to do is find the strangest, gaudiest piece, and without fail that's the one I go for. Sadly, it's true!
The sweater dress is awesome!
I never went to thrift stores when I was growing up. My mother thought they were gross and she hates "pawing" through stuff to find the gems. I admit I am somewhat the same way- I don't know that I'll ever actually buy a piece of clothing from Goodwill.
However, I LOVE their other stuff. When I was planning my wedding, I decided to have a candy buffet. I read somewhere that I could get bowls and containers at Goodwill to save some dough, so I went. I got the most beautiful cut crystal bowls that are just like my grandmother's. I think I spent $8 for 5 or 6 bowls, and the fact that they were all different added a lot of interest to my candy buffet. It was great! One or 2 got broken or re-donated, but the really beautiful, heavy duty ones I still use- and plan to pass down to my children!.
I also go hunting for a certain pattern of Phaltzgraff dishes that my mother-in-law collects. The pattern is discontinued and she's crazy about it. I usually find something for her whenever I go. I get so excited when I find pieces for her for only a dollar or two!
I've got a friend who loves to pass on her Goodwill shopping tips (and finds) as well (http://recyclestyle.blogspot.com) 🙂 And I'll always amazed at what Libby finds in her Goodwill. I guess I was in the "their Goodwill store must be nothing like my Goodwill store" group, but maybe it just takes patience???
I suspect frequent visits are another key factor.
Hahaha! Great post! That looks like my thrift store only their prices can get pretty crazy at times. I could buy stuff NEW at the store cheaper than some of their prices. I liken thrift store shopping to treasure hunting. Sometimes you find killer deals, a lot of the times just junk. The craft picture was hilarious!
That is so true! It is a lot of work to find treasures at thrift stores, but that is the one thing I love about it. Because when you do find something, it's usually unique and one of a kind that you'd be hard-pressed to find it anywhere else. This is making me want to root around and do some more thrifting soon...!
Well at least that Mary Cassatt peeking out from the frames is a pleasant find...NOT that I need it! We love thrift store hunting (at least some of my children do; some other children I think would prefer a hot brand be taken to them...) and it certainly is like searching for a needle in a haystack. I'm amazed at times at all the junk - why did anyone buy it in the first place? Or make it in the first place?
i agree with "why anyone decided to make" some of this stuff. what possessed them? and who agreed that it would be a good idea? haha
Kristen, have you ever looked at this site? http://newdressaday.wordpress.com/
This young woman goes to her local used stores (Goodwill and Salvation Army included) and picks up a dress for every day of the year. She is a whizz on the sewing machine and turns all those not-so-hot items into pretty cute things! Maybe that fugly sweater dress you found could be the next chic thing! 😉
I will say the paisley wasn't that bad... but that mirror with the baby items... I can only pray (and pray pretty hard) that no one puts that much effort into a gift for me in the future... especially if it turns out looking like that 😉 How could you keep from laughing as you unwrapped that? 😉
I found amazing things at the goodwill in Wyoming (now that I'm in Chicago, Goodwills are few and far between). We got our set of glasses for $1. Only prob was a set of 12 was missing one. Also got our window ac unit for $20 (working on three summers with it now!), and faux leather ottoman for $10.
Great post! I'm eager to see some of your fav goodwill finds. I know Zoe loves those bath fizzies!
i was just going to say about that site! crazy. she did awesome & she has some major vision. i would se the befores & wonder how on earth she could make that look nice & she did!
well I'm relieved
my goodwill looks a lot like that
I was beginning to wonder about all the finds lots of people find
Ok, now I feel better about the Goodwill stores I've been to! Some of them are really classy (and nothing is priced under $5), but most of them look like this one.
You remember in the first Toy Story movie, where the evil boy next door does horrible things to toys? It looks like he, named Sid, got ahold of that awful picture frame and did unspeakable things to it. The pink stuffed bear coming off of it on the right hand side?; Oh the horror, the horror...
Kristen- you might want to go backto your vacuum picture and change be to bet "how much do you want to be that this doesn't suck very well"
A Goodwill just went up nearby my house, but sadly it's nowhere near as organized as the one in town. Some things in there I see and just think.... wow. I think the best was a kind of plastic toilet, but they'd also stacked a sign someone had donated that said "Reserved for the family of the bride" on it.
I'm sure your Goodwill is like any thrift store. Some days you score big, other days there is stuff that should only be used as firewood. Everyone raves about my Habitat Restore finds. What they don't know is how many times I visit and poke around and find nothing of interest.
that's too funny - the vacuum! and the baby mirror.
thanks for sharing!
I apparently have no taste, because none of this looks bad to me except the wall art and the sweater dress. The paisley shirt isn't my taste for fashion, but I think it would make a cute pair of curtains! Also it all looks clean and in good condition, some things that the goodwill here in central NJ is sorely lacking.
LOVE the sweater dress