1.23.2008

Second Hand Therapy

If you were to give me an hour to spend any which way, I would spend it thrift store shopping. Since I am rarely given an hour, I take one (or two), about once a week, and hit three thrift stores which are a short distance from home. I call it therapy. Finding something good at a thrift store gives me a cheap thrill and just makes me happy.

While I'm not the intended recipient of the charity provided by organizations such as Salvation Army, Goodwill or American Cancer Society, I certainly benefit from their charitable works. Today I picked up four men's dress shirts, all half price, for a new batch of aprons. Maybe a few people I know will benefit from that transaction.

The nice ladies at St. Luke's (I think they are angels, really) perform miracles in Ziploc baggies. They carefully coordinate cotton remnants, package them up and sell them for 10-75 cents. I feel like a kid again, at the Hello Kitty store, picking out a grab bag. Except now, at the thrift store, the grab bags are see-through and less expensive. Of course I bought way too many remnants today, but really, can a girl have too much fabric?

Speaking of girls, I picked up this beautiful hooded sweater for Miss Avery for a mere quarter.

And Miss Avery kept herself quite busy while mommy was at therapy. She made Aidan a pair of flesh colored PJ pants (or alien pants as he calls them), using a pair of his pants for a pattern and directions from Simply Sewing. We checked it out from the library, but we will definitely buy our own copy - fun projects, simple directions, just my speed. If only I could find a copy at the thrift store! Perhaps Friday morning at 9 AM. I have a therapy appointment at the hospice thrift store. Everything will be half off. I can't wait.

12 comments:

  1. good for Avery! I'm super impressed. I'm far too selfish with the sewing machine to let my kids use it. :)

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  2. The Hello Kitty store!!! That made me laugh out loud. I haven't thought of that in a LONG TIME... Hurrah for therapy with the ladies of the hospice!

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  3. Cool alien pants. She's the best big sister ever.

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  4. I want to go with you! I think we need to schedule a "therapy" day for Mom. I call them "mental health" days, but I stay home and knit. You have always loved a good find; remember all the hours we spent at the thrift store, you always found the most amazing items. I know Miss Avery and Aidan love your keen eye.

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  5. no, you can't have too much fabric. Nive work Avery.

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  6. Can I come, too?! Oh! It's been so long since I've gone thrift store shopping and there are some good ones around here, too! Money just doesn't permit it and I have yard sale season to look forward to. Great finds and I am impressed with Avery's sewing skills!! How old was she when she learned to use the sewing machine?

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  7. The best free hour i have is always spent in a charity/thrift shop. Delicious minutes spent searching for treasures! Fabric is hard to find because around here its not cool and so the workers send it off to be textile recycled!! HORROR!

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  8. You were always a good shopper. I remember us giving you a set amount for the new school year and the results were always bountiful. As far as thrift shops, just consider them a wonderful way to recycle!
    Kudos to Miss Avery, and I know Master Aidan will benefit from her skills.
    Love
    Dad

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  9. I'm catching up on your blog tonight and I'm not sure where to start, there are so many things I want to comment on. I haven't been thrifting in so long--since elizabeth was born, i think! wow. We were on our way today but got distracted. I think tomorrow will be our day. I guess it would be a little far to go all the way to your thrift store. It sounds fantastic!!! :)

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  10. About Avery sewing, she started sewing with Grandma when she was about 5, making doll clothes. She loves to experiment with sewing, and when I offer assistance, she asks me why it has to be perfect. She just wants to have fun with it, so I let her.

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  11. Oh... that sweater is so Avery! very cool. And bravo, Aves, on the pants. Maybe she can give me a lesson.

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  12. Oh, I remember the Hello Kitty grab bag...and you are right, there is no such thing as having too much fabric.

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