Further Donate Donations

 One thing I like about my thrifty lifestyle is that it allows me to be more generous.  I tend to spend less and get more, which supports the gift-giver in me. Why not share when there is so little to lose? Beyond buying for the family and friends I love so much, I also try to support the causes I believe in. One belief of mine, is that talking about social problems is a good and positive thing, but it means nothing if no one offers a hand to help. We need to be the change we wish to see in this world; we need to effect positive change, not simply discuss it.So when I believe in something, I don't just state so, I try to take the steps needed to support it, back it, or incorporate it into my life.

When it comes to aiding charities, my thrifty ways have made helping out feel too easy, like I've done absolutely nothing, but this isn't the case; every action we take in life counts for something. Last week, Minnesota was bone-chillingly cold, -20F cold, and I know it wasn't much warmer back home in WI, either. On the news there was a feature on the Salvation Army, they were keeping their doors open at all hours for people to take shelter from the cold; several homeless people were suffering severe frostbite. I saw people lying on cement floors without blankets, as the news reporter requested that any gently used hats, scarves, mittens, and long underwear be donated.  "Gently used."  We can all donate gently used items at any moment, we all have gently used items in our homes, and even if we're not willing to part with them, we have thrift store donations that can be further donated; throwing an item into a chain of donations could hardly be a bad thing.

All I have here in Minneapolis is my one pair of gloves and my one scarf, so I wandered over to Steeple People.  They had bins and bins and bins of scarves, mittens and hot looking hats.  One bin in particular held several handknitted items, and the kind donator had requested that they be sold for .50 cents each. .50 CENTS! Beautiful, warm, hand stitched winter wear for absolutely nothing.  For only $3.00 I had the ability to make 6 people warmer. Think about that...it's amazing!

50 cents each!

Even a few months back when I conducted Shopping for Sharing in order to collect needed clothing, toys, and supplies for foster children in Milwaukee, my friends and I were able to buy bags upon bags of second hand supplies for close to nothing. Didn't set us back a bit.  It takes so little to improve someone's security.

Sorting Shopping 4 Sharing Donations

 I'm not trying to make a show of charity, that's far from what I care about.  I just want to display how little can make a lot, and how thrift stores really aid in making extreme generosity a possibility, even for poor college graduates like myself. I have very little, but I certainly have a lot to offer.We all do.

SOME of my Shopping 4 Sharing Team @ Target for hygiene supplies. We had so much fun!

Go ahead and donate someone's donation, it's a cycle worth repeating.

Never Underestimate an Upcycle

These days it seems we can't simply renew an item, we need to make it glitter and gloat "crafty" or it isn't worth our time. Yet retail stores are selling simple, solid colors by the millions; they never forget, solid shades are timeless. So what if simple doesn't emulate the I-spent-time-on-this craft mentality.  It's still a valuable undertaking. 

I do believe more of us are performing easy upcycles, we just aren't sharing them because they're not glittery to gaze upon.  Well, I don't have that fear. I'm going to make you look at my underestimated thrift projects, because they're impressive (to me). 

Underestimated Upcylce Numero Uno: Johnathan wanted a wall rack for his sweatshirts.

His chair wasn't cutting it anymore. It had lost its chair-ness.

So we went to the thrift store and bought one for a $1.99.  Except it had been crafted on before, and didn't quite suite Johnathan's style.

This pic makes the paint job appear far better than it was. Trust me.

Johnathan's timeless shade choice is black. So we needed to make a few crafty, quick changes   Luckily we had everything we needed right at home: *Sandpaper *Primer *Black Spray Paint and  *Screws,  which were kindly packaged and taped to the back of this donated wall rack. 

I sat down and sanded off the raised paint and small chips. Then we went outside and sprayed the rack with primer.

Once the primer dried, we took the rack back outside and spray painted it a stylish black.  We left the screws yellow for a small dash of color...

And voila! No more sweatshirts piled all sloppy on a chair.  

 

We accomplished a craft of organization. 

Sometimes easy does it, which is why we should never underestimate an upcycle.  Besides, most of these racks sell anywhere from $15.00 - $60.00--

upcycling an item will feel like a steal.  

Upcycle Star for Me!

Thrifting and upcycling aid the Earth's sustainability as well as our wallets.  

Win - Win! 

TRIPLE win here (we're cleaner than we were yesterday)!

The Sport of Thrifting

Yesterday I hung out with good friends and watched the Green Bay Packers beat the Bears. We're going to the Super Bowl! More fun to come! But I gotta admit, I'm not a huge football fan; I dabble in the viewing: my attention is held in the 1st quarter and definitely the 4th quarter, but is usually lost during most of the middle; I don't shout at the screen; my day is not affected by a win or a loss. I am into having friends around-- the excitement, the high-fives, and I'm totally down with the munchies and the beer. I also enjoy wearing my Packers jersey.

This morning, more than one person announced that they were going to go buy some Packer duds, and it made me think of all the Packers clothing I tend to see in the thrift stores-- TONS of it.  The Slinger Saint Vincent De Paul especially has racks (yes, plural) loaded with Packer gear, and that's where I bought my Packer jersey. With 50% off, I bought my awesome fitting Franks Packer jersey for $2.50.  My dad's name is Frank, so I figured it would be suiting to wear a Bubba Franks jersey to his restaurant's Packer parties (that Franks was a darn good Packer player doesn't hurt either).

$2.50

This jersey is in great condition, but overall, I think that slightly worn jerseys resonate a sporty, vintage feel that's fashionably fun, too.






 So if you suddenly want a new Packers shirt to show off your pride, why not go and thrift one?  You'll still look good and fan-like, but your wallet will remain full.  Sports clothes can be expensive; that's a fact, and with so many people having fickle fan syndrome, thrift stores are full of inexpensive football wear. Pick a team, any team, and you can find it in almost any thrift store.    

Johnathan n Bros @ a Packer Game

 GO PACK GO

 If you want a new sports shirt and you live near Slinger, WI, I highly suggest their Saint Vinnies; I have never seen that many sports clothes in a secondhand store on such a regular basis in my life-- you'll certainly strike green and gold.


Amongst other teams!

gOOFY gIRL

Know it's not the season, but oh how I love my Brewers gear!!  This baseball hat was a gift, purchased from the Minneapolis Lost and Found, "brand new," baby! Is it summer, yet?? I'm cravin' a hot dog and a crazy, competitive Sausage Race!

P.S. Katey Wegman, I know you are a Bears fan, on a  freak-like level, but you still like Charmstruck. Admit it! ;)

P.S.S. Everyone, Any team can be green!!

Green Fairytale of Renewable Energy

I had never seen a fairytale dealing with renewable energy, until I stumbled upon Chris Buzelli's artwork. The art below is for a German Entega calendar, not an actual children's book, but it is stunning all the same. I am unable to read the German tales that accompany each calendar page, yet the vivid artwork tells the story with talent. See for yourself:

"Picnik Show"

Create a free slideshow with Picnik!

This energy company definitely knows how to put an ecological calendar together!  Beautiful, thought-provoking work.  Also impressed that the artist, Buzelli, only had a narrow window of time to complete these works; such talent!

Hope you all have a colorful, wonderful weekend!

Jacqui & Julia: Cat-sitting, Not Cooking

Jacqui & Julia <3

Every now and then our friend, Foster, leaves town on business, during which time I am deemed babysitter to the cat he babysits. (His friend is in the army, I believe, so Foster took in his kitty for the year).  Well, this week I have been kittysitting Julia, and her cat charms have me wishing she were mine. I miss having a kitty to cuddle.  However, Julia is making up for all my lost cuddle time quite quickly; not even a second after I walk in the door, she aggressively wraps herself around my legs and trips me the whole way to the couch, where she literally tiger pounces my lap before I've even settled in my seat. I'm loving it!

I had wanted to bring Julia up to Johnathan's apartment (Foster lives right below him), but she has sharp claws and Johnathan has a nice, brand new couch.  He told me I could bring her upstairs if I clipped her nails, which sounded easy enough...but no...it is not. Hats off to skilled kitty claw clippers' everywhere! Julia would not let me hold her paw long enough to snip a single needle-like claw. 

Cat-like Reflexes: Julia - 1 Jacqui - 0 (Let's call it Love, I like being positive).

I made several attempts and she kept looking at me like, "Hey, keep petting. You're getting this cuddle completely wrong!" To which I replied (seriously, out loud), " Julia, if you just stay still and let me do this, you can come upstairs and we can cuddle all week." Jerks paw. "On a new couch." Rams head into hand. "You'll get to spend more time with me." Yanks paw. "Julia, I'm just. trying. to. Dammit!"  Happy-paws obscenely sharp claws into my thigh. "Okay, Okay! You're happy how you are; I get it." Rejection. "Don't cuddle on a new couch with me."

So, no all-out kitty cuddling going on in this upstairs apartment, but at least all I gotta do is run downstairs to get my affection fix. Still, it could have been so much more but she just wouldn't listen.

Sigh.

She's still too cute, though! Julia also doesn't have a tail-- just a little stub, which is surprisingly adorable on her. She is a very beautiful cat.  When I'm finally able to get a kitty, I think I might need to get a fluffy, gray one. A boy. Who enjoys cuddling on a new couch. With clipped claws...

Oh, won't Julia be jealous then. She'll be begging me to clip her claws.

Outside of scratching posts, anyone have friendly tactics for claw clipping? This cat's curious. :)

Can’t Buy Me Love— Cards

 

In recent years I stopped buying Valentine cards, not only because I wanted to save a tree, but because I find them somewhat odd; you go to the store, pick out someone else’s words, someone else’s artwork and proceed to sign your name to a sheet of paper you just spent $4 (or more) on, while chances are it will be skimmed once and tossed aside tomorrow. Not feelin' the love? Neither am I. Store cards are a waste of creativity, money and meaning.  Whereas, a handcrafted card stands a better chance of being cherished by more than the already spoiled trash. 

This Valentine’s Day, whatever you do, please don’t buy a card!  Make your lover (or the one you like) a sweet little Valentine, with supplies you already have at home. 

 Johnathan and I didn’t get to spend our first Valentine’s Day together, but I still wanted him to know he's damn fine.  So I baked him a huge brownie cake, and then I bravely struggled to make Valentine art... for a professional artist, mind you. I drew about six versions of the caterpillar from Labyrinth, and my first attempt looked more like an alien slug from a low budget sci-fi film. My drawing skills had definitely gone rusty, but I had the determination of infatuation on my side, and the end result turned out just as I had hoped.

  My lil "Ello!" caterpillar is recognizable, don’t ya think?

 And, my Valentine has graced the side of Johnathan’s frig ever since. 

The caterpillar card also started a tradition: I will always make my love his Valentine, because I know it means all that it is meant to.

Last year’s Valentine was a bit more simplistic, Gary from Spongebob was super easy to draw. Like the Labyrinth caterpillar, there was inside meaning between the two of us-- which is another Valentine rule worth following: The card should refer to something from your time together; it adds to the valuable “us” feeling of Valentine’s Day.

This postcard Valentine was made out of leftover cardboard from a soda can box and recycled paper  (I simply doodled my art on the backside of a used sheet of paper and wrapped it around the cardboard). 

I already know what 2011’s Valentine is, but I can’t share that yet. It would ruin the surprise! 
I promise you’ll get to see it…as long as it doesn’t go all sci-fi on me. ;)

“Tell me that you want the kind of things that money just can’t buy”

Make it to your Valentine’s frig hall of fame!

(Ha! Yes Man was even our first movie date...how suiting)

If you make a Valentine, please be sure to comment & share a link/ photo with me! :) Love it!

Discover Bush Hippie Art

Sometimes art can momentarily misplace us, stop us in our tracks, and remind us of the epic tale that is beauty. However, Bush Hippie Art places us precisely on the trail we were meant to trek, tempts us to wander deep into the wooded world, and reminds us of the stunning nature far too many have forgotten.

Dina Sharapata Rosbeck’s Bush Hippie Art:

"Burton"

"Sly in the Woods"

“I honor Mother Earth and Father Sky by being a green business and take pride in reducing my carbon imprint by repurposing wood, canvas, pape, frames, paint and other supplies.” – Dina Sharapata Rosbeck

"The Duel"

"The Protector"

“Who’s the Hippie? Well, not really a Hippie. Bush Hippie is a fun name a friend of mine coined for those who are one with the woods (the bush).¬ Bush Hippie activities may include hiking on the trail, enjoying camp fires, kayaking and canoeing the lake, self-sustainable living, eating local, smelling the fresh air, recycling, or milling around the wilderness in your Vibram five-fingers.” – Dina Sharapata Rosbeck

"Rocky Mountain High"

Dina is a Wisconsin artist & photographer, if you are interested in any of the above works, prints are available. She also takes on commissioned pieces.  To contact Dina or view more of her artwork, please visit Bush Hippie’s Facebook page.

My personal fave: "Battle Cry"

Support our artists, our crafters and always our locals; talent is a gift deserving of acknowledgement and success.

Thrifter's Closet: Where Celebrities Chill

Insider Information: Thrift stores are a common hang out for celebrities, old and new. What's even more outrageous-- they don't just wanna give you their autograph, nah-uh, they want to go home with you! They want to live with you rent free, chill on your bed, and maybe even push the envelope with casual cuddling. They can't help their expectant arrogance, they've got it made, they'll only be secondhand, second rate celebrities for a moment before fortune finds them again, and they know it...oh, do they know it. 

Warning: Moving celebrities into ones home will result in wild celebrity parties that are completely the result of an overactive imagination.

                                                 IT IS AWESOME!  



Johnathan bought Alf at the Slinger Vinnies (WI). He's in perfect condition and brings back a lot of memories of 80's television. Nostalgic roomies like Alf are the best.

Slinky Dog, is an addition to our Toy Story collection (Click here to read about it)! We even found Buzz, and already gave him to our friend's little one, along with Woody and Rex. Slinky Dog was only $1 and I don't know that I can part with him; he's super fun and doesn't wet the carpet.

A house full of secondhand celebrities wouldn't be complete without a few infamous troublemakers about, so I bought the little Bart Simpson collector's doll for $2. I found him buried, in perfect condition, in the vintage corner of Slinger's Saint Vincent De Paul.  I couldn't wait to surprise Johnathan with him, and I got the reaction I was hoping for. :)

Then Johnathan treated himself by inviting the South Park cast into his apartment; slowly but surely his buddies are taking over the place.  John's profession as a digital artist makes this all completely acceptable; they inspire him and, surprisingly enough, they respect late night hours better than I suspected.

Besides, I have my thrifty, FREE Iron Man super hero to keep things in order! (Yup, I'm an Iron Man fan; I like the cocky super heroes far better than the dweeby, over-the-top goody-goody types). Every home should have one. ;)

Except... at the end of the day I still may fail at keeping things in order, because I have my own secondhand, trouble-making celebrity resident: Bloo, from Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends.  I love this cartoon so much-- it makes my cereal taste better!

Bloo is one character I will always be tempted to save from the secondhand, second rate celebrity of being in a bin.  Bloo was a few cents, but I cherish him...he was a present to me from you know who. :)

You have any celebrity roommates fresh outta the bin?





Thrift Necklace Gone Poetic

Yesterday, I stopped into Steeple People's Surplus Store (MN) because it was across the street from The Wedge grocery store (yup, even grocery shopping leads to thrifting). I always peruse thrift stores whenever the opportunity presents itself, but I don't buy whenever the opportunity presents itself, which is key to being truly thrifty. Thrifting is like hunting and gathering: you need to checkout the territory to find what you are in need of. Along with knowing the territory, comes knowledge of the sweet spots and the deals: holiday sales, buy one get one free days, fill a bag for $5, student discount days, 75% off storewide sales,colored dot discounts -- on already cheap prices! So I can't help but scan the territory when I'm a few footsteps away with time to spare.

Plus, I did find a little something for myself yesterday.  A necklace; a golden teardrop shaped pendant with a raised pattern of vines, and a tiny silver bird angled in flight atop it.



 I found it to be simplistically beautiful, and it brought to mind the poem by Emily Dickinson that I have tattooed on my back:





 "Hope is the thing with feathers/ That perches in the soul/ And sings the tune without the words/ And never stops at all."
     

This particular necklace just captivates me; I keep wanting to look at it. <3

Did I mention it was only a $1.00? All the eye-catching jewelry on Steeple People's left wall is only $1.00-- Jewelry Feign Heaven. I don't usually buy myself jewelry, but the sparkly dollar wall dragged me in.Once home, the little silver bird actually came loose, but a teeny dab of Gorilla Glue took care of that in seconds.

Hope Perches in the Soul

Silver Bird

Today I wore it for mine and Johnathan's lunch date, and I know I will be wearing it often; for just a buck this necklace sure goes with everything!
That gray Gap sweater was a $4 Steeple People find too, by the way!

Have a great weekend!

Thrifter's Closet: My First Vintage Fabric Find

Well, the drive to Minneapolis was only lightly snowy, but my tires chose to be dramatic about it, which led to a dramatic, clinging-to-the-wheel-freak-out for myself.  But, I made it! Safe and sound-- I just have a greater hate for winter weather than I did a day ago.  Since I didn't get the car unloaded till after 11 pm, my intentions of sharing my cute coat vanished, and bed became a priority. The coat will be unveiled in the days to come, but today I feel like sharing other things that have grabbed my attention; vintage things.

Yesterday while I was thrifting I kept coming across amazing vintage finds, some of which I had never had the opportunity to see in person before. Such as this vintage baby carriage:

I love the dainty details! I imagined a woman much like Scarlett O'Hara pushing this pram along with a gentle, gloved grip.  Also made me flash back to the days when I would push my doll around in a little stroller whenever my mom would go shopping; my kiddy stroller was cute, but not quite this eye-catching.

A delicate, swooped, cloth umbrella, really, it's too precious.I wasn't the only one charm-struck by this piece; several people were stopping to admire it. In all seriousness, I do not have any excuse to buy a decorative baby carriage, so I left this find behind.  If you're interested, act quickly because it's available at Slinger's Saint Vincent De Paul (WI) for $50, which is out of my price range, but completely reasonable considering how vintage this piece really is.  

Oh, there was also an old-time chest complete with pullout drawers, hangers and shoe pockets; you can somewhat see it in the background...pretty neat stuff out there! 

But, what I really want to share with you today is something I do own! Not too long ago I made my first vintage fabric buy! It was originally marked $5.99, but I received 50% off because it was yellow tag day-- I just love when the discount color corresponds with my wants!

When I first brought the fabric home I thought I would use it as a decorative table cloth, but it's a rather large, thick piece of fabric and I'm debating turning it into living room curtains eventually...what do you think? The turquoise and shimmery olive green will truly be lovely no matter what I do with it, but I enjoy thinking of all the possibilities!