I love my Goodwill!

Just stopped by for one of my quick runs around the Goodwill store to make sure nothing new had come in that I needed. Sure enough! I have been waiting for some running shorts since I have started walking three miles a day and jogging some, too. I found two pair this afternoon and a new Brita water bottle that filters the water! I also found a new skirt for church (long and slinky fabric in bright blues and black) and a nice pair of regular shorts. Oh, I almost forgot my three soup mugs with wildflowers! I love it when I score a good find. All for $4.75 which is less than what I would have paid for one pair of running shorts if I had just headed over to WalMart!

The clerk also told me they are opening a store in North Little Rock where I'll be able to buy clothes by the pound. So now I don't have to pay much for the ones I want to rip up and make into bags!

Now I just need a bright blue blouse to match this new skirt.....

a new and very compelling past time

Most of you know that I visit my local thrift shop several times a week to see what they have. I buy brightly colored sheets to make into crocheted rag bags and keep my myself outfitted with work clothes, bags, shoes and vintage pillowcases that will end up in a quilt. But since I am in there so often I am starting to get the urge to turn my relaxing past time of searching the racks into the beginnings of an upcycling sewing business. I look for pieces that are of great quality that happen to be on the "buy one get one free" tag special of the day and then make a plan to transform the used item into something new for sale.

I particularly like the idea of making flirty modern aprons, cloth baby shoes, bibs and burp cloths, bags (purses, totes, knitting needle roll-ups, project bags, diaper totes, cosmetic and pencil bags) and patchwork items.

So if any of you see anything you like online and would like to order, send me a message and I will see what I can do. I can't wait to see what comes out of this! It sure is a fun way to shop when you are all about refashioning old things into fresh products. Can't get much greener than that!

And it will be such a great way to teach others to sew, too. We can have a party. Bring an old shirt and turn it into a bag! Or turn a pair of old jeans into an apron! This is going to be fun!