Goodwill Hunting Roundup

It's that time of month where I show off my Goodwill purchases and you contemplate if an intervention is needed.

This month, I was drawn to more vintage pieces.  Or, perhaps, it was simply that there were more vintage pieces being sold.

Regardless, there was a stack of these, bright and cheery, vintage metal serving trays.  They were .99 cents a piece.  My mind said, you only need one {and by need, let's all admit, I didn't really need one at all} BUT my gut implored me to buy 2.  Since my gut's argument was a more passionate case, I bought 2.

Typically, I am not one to buy vintage Pyrex dishes.  I can appreciate there 'je ne sais quoi' {oh yes, this girl just used French, my high school French teacher would be so proud}.  So, I will usually leave the Pyrex dishes to those who truly appreciate them and possibly even collect them.  But...of course, there is a but...when I came across this Tiffany blue Pyrex dish, it spoke to me and for $3.99, I brought her home.

If you are wondering if I'll buy anything that is Tiffany blue, see my .99 cent purchase below.

Goodwill has almost an entire aisle designated for baskets.  I usually take a quick peek through them, you never know when  a nice basket might be of use when you are putting together a gift.

I found this child sized picnic basket for $1.99.  I thought it would be perfect to fill with some of my "I heart fake food" and give it as a birthday gift OR I am this basket might first be used in a prop for a possible Halloween costume for Grace.

I've come to realize, with all the beautiful tables I've seen, that a party isn't complete without one of these glass dispenser jars and, of course, some paper striped straws...so, when I found this brand new dispenser, with the Target donated tag, for $6.99, I decided to buy it...and start planning another party {handsome husband, if you are reading this, I'm joking...I am not planning any other parties...yet}.

I was happy to come across this brand new container of bead, which retails {according to the container} for $7.99 but was being sold by Goodwill for .99 cents.  Of course, as I am sucking up stray beads with the vacuum cleaner, this purchases has made me a little less happy.

And I found some cute clothes for Grace.  A $3.99 for the Baby Gap sweater and $2.99 for the Baby Gap shirt.

And a lovely cropped jacket for myself for $3.99.  As much as I can't resist anything in the shade of Tiffany blue, I also can't resist a cropped jacket.

No trip to Goodwill is complete without looking through the .49 cent stuffed animal bin.  My mom, the Queen of Quilts, is a collector of Boyd Bears.  Her collection is reaching intervention levels but for .49 cents, this lovely little bear couldn't be left behind.

I feel as if I have just come out of an AA meeting and confessed my latest binge.  My name is Amy, and I have a Goodwill Shopping problem.

What good deals have you found this month?

Linked up and a big thanks to:

 

Beaded Monogram Tutorial

Beads are typically not my medium of choice. I guess, if push comes to shove, felt is my favorite material to work with. So, when I learned my first craft challenge in One Crafty Contest was beads, I was definitely outside of my comfort zone. Being the frugal minded {cheap} person I am, I hit the thrift store and found a beautiful vintage silk wrapped beaded necklace and inspiration struck.

Supplies:
BEADS!  Any kind or color will work.  I selected a few {each were $1, in the end, the Tiffany blue beads won me over}
Floral Stem Wire {I tried a hanger, which equally a fail and I tried some electrical wire, which resulted in my cutting my finger open, learn from my mistake and get some floral wire}
Galvanized wire 28 gauge, color silver {really any kind of really bendy wire will work}

Take your necklace apart.  Keep your eyes open for the beads that want to roll away.  Maybe it's just that my house is more slanted than most, almost all my beads tried to escape.  Bend your floral stem wire into the shape of your desired letter.

Cut your galvanized wire, longer than you think you might need.  Wrap the wire several times around the end, to secure it in place and then begin to weave the beads.

With the addition of each new bead, tightly pull the wire and wrap around the floral stem twice to secure the bead in place.

When all of your beads are in place, cut some addition galvanized wire {approximately 2 inches}.  Form it into a loop shape and wrap around the floral stem, between your beads, where you think it will allow your letter to hang evenly.

String some ribbon through your loop.

Hang, display and admire.

Gee...don't you think just about everything is better in the shade of Tiffany blue?  

Link Party Websites

{M} * Simply Done Wright * Busy Mondays at a Pinch of Joy  *Made Monday at Toastie Studio * *The Cure for the Common Monday * *Polly Want a Crafter * Craftastic Link Party * Brassy Apple, Make it Monday * Made By You Mondays * Between Naps On The Porch * Thrifty Decor Chick *  Skip To My Lou *

{T}  * Delicate Construction * The Winthrop Chronicles * Stringtown Home * Open Call Tuesdays on Salt Tree * Adventures of a DIY MOM * It's a Cinch Party * * Show me what ya got from Not Just a Housewife * Take a look Tuesday at Sugar Bee Crafts * Blackberry Vine Tuesday To Do Party * Night Owl Crafting *  Coastal Charm * My Uncommon Slice Of Suburbia *  Mommy By Day Crafter by Night * Tip Junkie   *Measured By The Heart *  

{W}  *Well Crafted Wednesdays *What I Whipped Up Wednesdays * Homemade by You Wednesday * Whimsy Wednesdays  * Blue Cricket Design  * Fireflies and Jellybeans * Shabby Creek Cottage *   Home Happy Home * Someday crafts * The 36th Avenue * 

{TH}* Thursday's Temptation Link Party* Delightful Order* A Glimpse Inside  *  The Crafty Blogstalker * Made In a Day  * Somewhat Simple* A Little Knick Knack* House of Hepworth's * Chic on a Shoestring * 52 Mantels *
 

{F} *  Fab Not Drab Fridays *  Shine on Fridays with One Artsy Mama *  Share What YOU Did with Two Sasters *  Bubbly Nature Creations *  Friday Favs Party at Nap Time Crafters *  Centsational Girl *  Dwell on Friday *  French Country Cottage *  At the Picket Fence * Serenity Now  * Tatertots and Jello * Chic On A Shoestring *  Decorating

Nutmeg Place

{Sat}*Overflowing With Creativity *YOU Inspire Link Party *Be Different Act Normal * Nifty Thrifty Things * I heart naptime * The Sweet Talk Shop * Funky Junk Interiors *  Twigg Studios * 

{Sun}* DIY Showoff * The girl creative * By Stephanie Lynn * My 1929 Charmer Blog * Embellishing Life Everyday * Alderberry Hill * Homemaker On A Dime * Delectable Home * Everything Under The Moon * 

A bit of bling...

I am a hair accessory kind of a girl. Typically I'll add a flower to my hair...

But with the holidays, it seemed like adding some bling to my hair might have a more festive feel.

So, I grabbed a bobby pin and raided my button jar.

I found a beautiful sparkly bead hidden among my buttons. With some grey thread, I attached it to a bobby pin.

Simple enough.

Better in the button jar, I think not. Even with this sub par self portrait, the beauty of this shimmery sparkly bit of bling is much better as a hair accessory.