SPRING GOODWILL OUTLET FINDS

Confession Time: I’ve been hitting the Goodwill Bins pretty hard lately — and I can’t wait to show you what I’ve found there.

The Airport Bins is dangerously close to other places that I often hit (namely Costco and Target) so I think nothing of popping in for just a few minutes to see if the binning luck is with me that day.

Before you know it, an hour or more has passed and I’m walking out with a cart full of goodness.

Do I have too much at this point?

Probably, but when I know that all these items have just hours on the floor, I want to bring home so many things lest they go unloved or recycled.

Often I go there with a mental grocery list of things to look for others, too — and I delight when my matchmatching quest of paring unique items with recipients is successful.

Because almost everything at the Bins is by the pound, I think I picked up this sweet gal for about twenty cents.

Someone recently called me a “rescuer” and I suppose that’s true; I feel a kinship with both people and things that get overlooked or are temporarily dinged up by their travels.

I want to give them a little TLC and then get them back on track, either by energizing them for the road ahead or finding them a place in which they are valued.

It feels like I’m always adopting someone going through a rough patch and playing fairy food godmother until they get back on track.

Dropping off this sustenance (much of it on Goodwill serving pieces) is showing my commitment and support to them.

And when I bring items like these home from the Bins, perhaps dirty or slightly damaged,

I then live for the moment that I get them rehabbed or spruced up enough to use (or give to someone else).

This plate brings back so many memories of my childhood in The Nutmeg State — and I can’t wait to serve my family something on it to see if they notice the details.

Okay, enough of the tease. It’s time to show you what I’ve found lately.

On my birthday last month I had perhaps one of my best days ever.

The flowers and the purse and towel were birthday gifts from friends, but the vintage crocheted Humpty Dumpty doll, the giant felted deer and the box of Shiny Brites were all found at the Bins that day.

I have a belief that if you meet someone and they love an item even more than you do, you should consider sharing it with them as they do that item more justice than you can.

I loved these ornaments but a neighbor fell in love with them so I gifted her the whole box — and she was thrilled!

I mean, C’mon–wouldn’t you?

I also found a number of 1940’s Gurley candles and tree

and over the last couple weeks there’s been a lot of holiday goodness that’s crossed my path.

Behold these ornaments and little felted sleighs and tiny deer and a giant bell I plan to paint my favorite blue.

This old guy found his way to me.

It took me forever to find the second one of these in those giant bins but I love these two fellas so much.

Their faces are whack-cute.

Let’s see… what else can I show you I found there?

I found this oversized framed 1910 photo from the Portland Historical Society of a Portland baseball team.

A bevy of mid-century how-to drawing books (oh those fonts!).

Vintage board games

and a really fun kid’s tracing  set.

I can’t decide if I’m going to keep this set intact or use some of the adorable over-sized shapes inside for crafting.

Recently a reader of this blog reached out to me and we’ve met up at the Bins for junking forays.

Lisa moved here recently from California and she’s got a great eye.

We make good thrifting partners because we both have a sense of what each other likes and we share what we find with one another.

A few weeks back I found her this old German ornament and enamel mug

and this week she found these Spritz cookie accessories (and stand) plus these fun old cookie cutters.

She was kind enough to share, so I brought these home.

She also came home with a vintage holiday tray

and the most amazing songbook from the 30’s with illustrations from Rose O’ Neil, the woman who created Kewpies (and Lisa tells me was also a suffragette).

Here’s Lisa with the book and some Salted Caramel Bars I foisted on her.

The color on the illustrations inside were stunning — what a find.

I came home with this little fella (oh how I love honeycomb decorations!),

and all kinds of vintage paper coasters which I will incorporate into packaging baked goods in some way.

(Lisa suggested the shamrock ones could accompany Irish soda bread and I think the ones below would be great as part of a welcome-to-the-neighborhood package or dinner party swag set).

Lastly I found this huge stack of unopened trading cards from the 70’s that I will either gift to my son’s Constitution Team (if he gets on the team in the fall) or, failing that, to a favorite history teacher.

And I also came home with these adorable teal moccasins for a toddler neighbor and these Golden Books for a friend who asked me to be on the lookout for a craft project she’s working on.

Thank you Lisa for this week the gift of hazelnuts (she has a farm)

and Goodwill as always for all those lovely things I’ve picked up from you.

Next up — dinner parties and cooking galore.

Looks like grilling season is finally upon us — and I couldn’t be more excited.

Meyer Lemon Chicken Kabobs with Cilantro Tahini Sauce, anyone?

Happy weekend, y’all!