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You are here: Home / Favorite Portland Outings / RECENT GOODWILL FINDS AND GETTING MY HALLOWEEN ON

RECENT GOODWILL FINDS AND GETTING MY HALLOWEEN ON

October 12, 2018

Now that the kids are back at school and the steady stream of visitors has been reduced to an occasional drip, I’ve had the time to venture out.

We all know what happens when I’ve got a few hours on my hands and I’ve got the itch to treasure hunt.

Yes, I’m talking about my love of a leisurely Goodwill Bins outing.

Regular readers and Portlanders are familiar with these Goodwills, but for those unfamiliar, here is where thousands of pounds of donated merchandise ends up in these giant stores. Nearly everything is sold by the pound (with books and videos sold individually).

It can be a lot of work to scavenge through these bins, but the bargains and treasures you can find are worth the effort. Now hundreds of people in Portland alone now make a living by buying and reselling that which they pick up at the Outlets– clothes, books, housewares, and pretty much anything sellable you can think of.

I’m not doing my digging for profit- just for kicks and for sharing with those I love.

I’ve received countless emails from those of you who like me are vintage/scrappy/crafty/junky fans so this post is for you.

Let’s start with Halloween decorations I’ve found in the past month or so (and almost all from the Bins).

I don’t think this paper mache-like owl is vintage but he’s enormous and super cute on my mantle and I think I may put an votive in there.

Vintage Goodwill Bins Outlet Portland

This ceramic vintage witch looks right at home nearby.

Vintage Goodwill Bins Outlet Portland

(They probably each cost less than a dollar.)

I found this vintage cut-out at the Bins, too, and although he’s not in the greatest shape, I still love how he looks in my window.

Vintage Goodwill Bins Outlet Portland

I’ve also picked up a number of owls and they’ve been put to good use around my house and porch, too.

Vintage Goodwill Bins Outlet Portland

I think this blue one was intended as a trivet — but he looks happy on my porch.

This fella I paired with a rare Gurley candle I picked up at a vintage shop on the coast.

Vintage Halloween Vintage Goodwill Bins Outlet Portland

I picked up this Gurley candlestick candle (maybe manufactured in the 50’s) at the same time and paired it with another Bins owl.

Vintage Halloween

My few Halloween pickups were just the tip of the iceberg.

I bought a red felted tote that’s ideal for storing food drop offs either to teachers or friends.

Vintage Goodwill Bins Outlet Portland

Something like this would fit in perfectly.

granola on porch

I love these little ceramics I stumbled upon amongst dozens of drinking glasses and jars.

Vintage Goodwill Bins Outlet Portland

I may just do something crafty with them or tuck them into one of the terrariums I have tucked around the house.

(Because they are glass — which is even less expensive–they were probably a dime each).

What else can I show you?

Vintage Goodwill Bins Outlet Portland

These glassine drinking straws were still in their original, unbroken packaging and they are so fragile yet the green is so vivid.

Perhaps I will offer them up to my friend Laurie, the crazy talented woman known to the blogosphere/crafty world/Instagram as Magpie Ethel. (I wrote a piece on her and her unbelievable house and craft cottage last year).

Laurie Romanaggi Magpie Ethel creations Portland vintage crafter

Laurie Romanaggi Magpie Ethel creations Portland vintage crafter

I adore Laurie and am so in awe of what she does with the odd vintage pieces like these straws, tiny glass ornaments or ornate ribbon spools… She’s a genius.

Magpie Ethel's Laurie Romanaggi's Garage Sale

Speaking of Laurie and Halloween, once again I picked up a number of items at her epic, Insta-worthy annual garage sale this past June.

Magpie Ethel's Laurie Romaneggi Eastmoreland Garage Sale

Among a huge pile of chosen items I came home with some Halloween themed framed wall art she’d put together.

This one looks like its vintage crepe paper and it looks wonderful in my kitchen this month.

Another framed piece I got from her has a vintage party invite and party hat?

It’s so cute.

I currently have a big box of odds and ends I’ve pulled from the Bins and estate sales just for her. There are some fun things in here and I can’t wait to see what she’ll do with them.

Vintage Goodwill Bins Outlet Portland

Let’s see what else I’ve picked up at the Bins.

Oh, I found a couple of cards tucked in an old box.

Vintage Card Goodwill Bins Outlet

The vividness and sweetness of these vintage cards always made me swoon — and also a little melancholy as I look at the inscriptions inside and careful cursive writing.

How’d this darling card from Grandma end up in a pile of old clothes at the Bins?

Vintage Card OUtlet Bins Portland Goodwill

Here’s another fun piece. I was tickled with this vintage paper cut-out and I’m sure I’ll be pulling this out in another month or so.

Vintage Goodwill Bins Outlet Portland Santa Holiday

Also, I’m always thrilled to add more to my enamelware collection.

I found four bowls and two large dinner plates.

Enamelware Vintage Goodwill Bins Outlet Portland

And here’s another thing I found Binning that I love.

It’s a 1950’s-60’s plastic tray (vanity organizer?) that I’ve converted to a countertop salt organizer.

It currently holds Maldon Smoked Salt, Lemon Flake salt and Fleur de Sel.

Vintage Goodwill Bins Outlet Portland

It’s such a great color that always makes me smile, and its proximity to my cooking means that I use these finishing salts a lot more often.

Like here in today’s early lunch.

Ramen

Say howdy to saffron ramen with pork, asparagus, jammy egg and topped with Trader Joe’s Everything but the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend, lemon salt and a flurry of Vietnamese cilantro leaves.

And now I’m off to enjoy off some of the killer biscuits I made for my crew.

Buttermilk Biscuits

Perhaps I’ll serve them up on the oilcloth tablecloth I also found at the Bins yesterday during a quick pop-in — all folded up and ready for purchase (again, for about a buck?).

Cute, right?

Vintage Goodwill Bins Outlet Portland

(Do you live in Portland and want to meet at the Bins? Email me. I’ve met perhaps a dozen of you there and enjoyed it every time.)

XO

Filed Under: Favorite Portland Outings, Goodwill & Thrift Stores, Holidays, Incorporating Vintage at Home in Portland, Shop Portland

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Comments

  1. Rebecca Ringquist says

    October 12, 2018 at 2:43 am

    My grandma had that same santa claus cut out. Every year someone got it taped to a present- it was always a surprise who was going to get it that year.
    I’m happy to say that Santa now lives at my house and graces our mantle each year.

    What a fun memory to see the same happy face on your blog.

    See you soon, Sarah. 🙂

    Reply
  2. Sasha Kaplan says

    October 12, 2018 at 3:28 am

    I don’t live in Portland anymore.
    But I do miss the bins.
    And you Sarah dear, I miss even more.
    Good finds!
    Seattle is good for junkin’, though don’t get there too often. Well get to Seattle, but mostly to babysit my sweet grandjoy.
    Happy Halloween, happy inspired thrusting and spreading goodwill which you do.every.day by your acts of culinary love.
    Ill be back in mid December forma few days. Maybe we can get together.

    Reply
  3. Linda says

    October 12, 2018 at 9:31 am

    I’m so jealous…your bins have the greatest finds!

    Reply
    • Sarah Kline says

      October 13, 2018 at 3:07 pm

      It’s luck — and a dogged determination to find one fun thing every time. The bins are the best!

      Reply
  4. Gisela says

    October 12, 2018 at 11:42 am

    I live in Buenos Aires,, Argentina. There are no bins here nor goodwill with beautiful things to enjoy. Love your findings!

    Reply
    • Sarah Kline says

      October 13, 2018 at 3:08 pm

      Hello Gisela, thanks for checking in and the kind words. Cheers from one beautiful corner of the world to another!

      Reply
  5. Dale Emanuel says

    October 12, 2018 at 6:34 pm

    Thanks for shopping with us beautiful Sarah!

    Happy Halloween!

    Reply
    • Sarah Kline says

      October 13, 2018 at 3:05 pm

      Dale, it’s been years! Hope this finds you well and that we bump into each other soon.

      Reply
      • Dale Emanuel says

        October 25, 2018 at 10:32 am

        We should make that happen! I’ll reach out directly. Xoxo

        Reply
  6. Laurie Romanaggi says

    October 12, 2018 at 7:39 pm

    You truly do have the luck at the bins! Great finds and hope our paths cross soon.
    (that is vintage crepe paper framed that you got at my garage sale)
    Happy day!

    Reply
    • Sarah Kline says

      October 13, 2018 at 3:06 pm

      Hey Laurie, looking forward to it! Hope you’re able to find time in your busy crafting time to get out and enjoy this spectacular weather.

      Reply
  7. Nancy Kearsley says

    October 13, 2018 at 2:43 am

    Next time I am in Portland visiting my daughter, I would LOVE to go binning with you! You have gotten me hooked! Just wish I wasn’t so limited on what I can bring home!!!

    Reply
    • Sarah Kline says

      October 13, 2018 at 3:11 pm

      Love to meet up! Here’s my email: olivebred@aol.com. Shoot me off a note with “portland sampler reader” in the subject line (I get so much email I hate to miss it) with as much notice as you can muster and we’ll see if we can figure out a time that is good for both of us. FUN!

      Reply

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