Okay, maybe I’ve been hitting the Goodwill Outlets a little too much.
But hey, when you see what I’ve found lately, can you blame me?
When we lost Bailey early January, I found that in the first time in forever, I didn’t like to be alone at home.
The house felt so empty without him that I’d find pretty much any excuse to get out and stay out until the kids came home from school, and this meant that I was hitting the Goodwill Outlets (both the Milwaukee and the Airport one) quite a bit, sometimes even popping into one or another a couple times in a week.
And just for the record, I’m not here receiving any renumeration from Goodwill for my fan-girl raves.
I’m showing you all this, because I think what’s out there at these Outlets can be amazing.
Of course those who’ve ever been know that my finds are in no way predictive, but I can say that if what you’re looking for is varied enough — and you’re both patient and a bit lucky — you too will find things that you’ll really enjoy– at bargain prices.
Friends who come to my house can’t believe how much of what’s in it has been bought by the pound at the Goodwill Outlets.
Let me show you what my newest bumper crop of bargains includes.
First off, here are some of my favorite finds– something I’ve never been lucky enough to find here until recently:
Vintage (or vintage inspired) blow molds (now in my messy attic).
This one below is HUGE– maybe four feet high?– and can be lit up and put on a wall or siding of my porch.
He looks similar to another one I had on my porch last season, but he’s much, much bigger.
Here’s the one I found last year at the Bins.
The first Santa, like the other holiday molds I found over the course of a month, need a good scrubbing, but are so much fun.
Here’s another vintage fella I found.
A week later I found another snowman (marked separately at $5.00) and I snagged him right as he was brought out by a Goodwill employee.
Within seconds a dealer tried to buy him off of me, but it was love at first sight and I couldn’t bear to part ways.
He too is giant, maybe three and a half feet tall?
If you look at the above picture clearly, you will see another find I snagged by the pound.
Black Dansko Mary Jane clogs– in my size!
And in no particular order, here’s an array of other random things picked up at the Goodwill Bins.
Shiny Brite ornaments, including some of these in luscious ombre colors.
And on another day, more in my favorite color.
And milk-glass like vases that I’m going to use for succulents.
I love mixing modern items (like these plants) with vintage holders.
I scrounged throught one bin and found a number of florist picks that I will use to festoon Easter deliveries. The rest I will share with my friend Laurie, the amazing vintage crafter) who will surely do something really clever with them.
But wait, there’s more.
I picked up a number of vintage Bake King loaf pans (I wash them up and then bake banana bread in them and give them as gifts) and as you can see underneath, a sturdy vintage tray in a wonderful teal color that will live in my car (occasionally I need to eat or write a note in my car and I like to use a tray for this).
Speaking of loaf pans, I also found these paper baking ones still in their original packaging with its price tag ($7.95).
Heaven only knows how much I love my gingham.
By the pound these were a particularly good value — maybe a quarter for all?
There’s been lots of ribbon added to my stash recently, too.
These are on really nice oversized wooden spools, had the Home Goods price tags still on them and didn’t look touched or used.
The blue velvet is especially pretty.
Don’t go anywhere quite yet — I still have a couple last things to show you.
Like a really cute oversized paper mache owl that will look terrific on my porch next October.
Perhaps it will sit next to another find — a giant black-velvet tree, perhaps two and a half feet wide.
There’s been a little more holiday, a dash of glam
and something I’ve never seen before here, and now something I wear a couple times a week because I love it so much.
This pearl necklace with a silky black ribbon tie.
Sure, I’ve spent so much time wading through the giant bins, but I love that you never know what you’ll find here.
Like a horse paint-by-number gem.
Or an oversized piece of 1950’s gift wrap.
And a tiny vintage robe I will give to a neighbor’s daughter to adorn her doll baby.
And sometimes I never know who I’ll bump into while shopping.
I was wading through a huge pile of stuff last week when I looked over and saw my pal (and talented designer) Rebecca Ringquist right next to me.
I showed her a giant roll of vintage gift wrap I’d just found,
and we had fun unrolling it and gathering sections of it to purchase.
But here’s my little guilty secret.
We laughed and shopped alongside and I walked out of there with my big piece, but then I turned the car around 5 minutes later and went back for the whole roll.
Sure it was expensive (22 pounds at roughly $1.50 a pound) but I’ll have– and share!– this roll all my years.
(Live in Portland and want some of this sweet paper? I’m happy to drop some off!)
And one last reveal.
I sorted through a giant box of vintage instructional tools (records, papers, and this large wheel that enabled you to rotate questions and answers) and I picked out the enormous paper wheels with graphics I liked.
I think what I’ll do is save some of the images but in the meantime I’ve turned a handful of them into gift labels.
Any other thoughts on these images or uses for all that gift wrap? (kindly insert brilliant crafty thoughts here).
Happy Weekend, all!
You stink!
I’m glad you got it- it really is amazing wrap, and I doubt you’ll ever see that MUCH at once again.
Of course if you do, it will be a the bins!
Yes! Don’t forget– I’m happy to restock your supply any old time. Let’s go back later this month?!
PS- Here’s a link to that card workshop.
https://www.creativebug.com/classseries/single/iris-fold-card
I think you guys will really like it- she uses envelope liners, but I made a bunch using vintage wrapping paper and it was so fun. Also- if you want to get together and make some for a craft night I’m ALL IN!
Ooh, I will check that out. Congrats on biz going bombers– you deserve all the accolades and attention 🙂
I enjoy your blog so much. I laughed out loud just reading one entry after another while viewing the photo’s.
Your Goodwill adventures are a hoot. I bet your attic is getting a bit crowed. But oh the finds you’ve made. As for the million yards of wrapping paper, perhaps a google search will help. Here’s one I found http://diyjoy.com/diy-projects-leftover-wrapping-paper
I think I just might take up the “Goodwill hunting” as I see Rosie in every corner here at home. But then again she so loved her car rides, too.
Take care and all the best for your next hunt.
~ Lacy
Thanks, Lacy, for all the kind thoughts. Ah, Rosie… it’s so so hard. I forget– do you live in Portland? If so, we should meet up at Bins!
I live in Oregon City. Our ‘regular’ Goodwill here in OC is nice but not nearly as GREAT as the Bins.
Oregon City, that’s right! Let me know if you want to meet up at the Bins one day!
I enjoy posts of what’s been found for bargain prices so much. Thanks!
Thanks, Mary… shopping and digging here is so much fun — it’s often like a treasure hunt!
Oy vey! What is the PDX zoning law re storage pods (for you to live in after house is full)?
I’m not sure, but I sure as hell should check out soon. Bin Hoarder Alert!
Fun! I went this week and came home nearly empty handed. It’s weird how I find so much on some visits and so little on others.
What’s that in the “dash of glam” photo? It looks like a miniature box of ornaments and some vintage earrings/buttons. If it’s a miniature box of shiny brites, then consider me jealous!
Hey Lisa. So true– it’s feast or famine so many times at the Bins. Which location do you like most? The dash of glam is in fact a miniature box of ornaments, and those shiny baubles are vintage jewelry I pulled off one of those giant framed trees — you know the kind, the velvet backed pieces made completely of old jewelry. I was at at least the third person to come across it, and the second in line was kind enough to let me pull off a couple of my favorite pieces (she was taking the rest). What do you look for while Bin-ning? Cheers — and thanks for chiming in!
Hi Sarah. I like the airport location best because it’s a mellow crowd. The staff there are really good about enforcing the rule that you can’t start grabbing stuff out of a bin until the entire section has arrived. In Milwaukie, people get really aggressive and I don’t stand a chance!
Also, I can combine a trip to the airport bins with a Costco run or a trip to IKEA or an airport drop off, so the visit doesn’t seem as frivolous.
I look for vintage decor and kitchen items and craft supplies and clothing for my kids who are in middle school and high school. I keep telling myself that I can’t get any more Christmas decor, but the one thing I came home with last week was a vintage wooden Christmas sleigh.
I’ve also told myself that I can’t bring home any more cookie presses, and I’m holding strong. There are so many good cookie presses at the bins. Heartbreaking!
You’re talking my language! Even though we collect same stuff, we should try to met up there— I’m
Often there once a week at same one— wouldn’t it be funny if we recognized each other from previous trips? LMK!
Yes, that would be fun. I’ll admit I scanned the background of the bins photo to see if I was in there! (I’m not.) I suppose you’re one of the ladies peeking out from behind the wrapping paper.
I’ll happily enable your Shiny Brite habit.
Okay! Email me (olivebred@aol.com) after you take a look at your calendar and let’s figure out a date in the next while to head over. Can’t hardly wait!
Which Goodwill outlet do you shop at? We go to Portland for vacation and I’ll put Goodwill as one of the must see places ;). Thank you!
I live in the bay area and the Goodwill is here is like a Macy’s! I occasionally go Saver’s, when they have a 50% off sale.
Hello Farhana. I shop at all the Goodwills, but my favorite is the Outlet on Ochoco in Milwaukee — just south of Portland. The Airport Outlet can also be good; it has less stuff but it’s cleaner, newer, and seemingly less dealers shopping there. Best of luck — and let me know what you think!