NQF: Wild times at the Goodwill

Back in November there was a day where the weather forecast called for rain in the morning, and only the morning. So, of course, it was raining in the morning, and then it kept going lightly in to the afternoon, and then it started back up right when I got out of the T in the evening. Go figure, it is New England, the weather changes.  Even though I had an umbrella, I felt it prudent to wait until the rain subsided so that neither my feet nor my computer would get wet.  I’m cautious like that.  I also have a fondness for the ‘Miscellaneous Metal’ section of the Goodwill, so that’s where I went to wait out the storm.  Nothing panned out there, and the rain kept going, so I wandered into the women’s sweaters ($4.99 each!), and at the very last section I saw it (actually I can see it now too, because I’m wearing it) -- a wool cardigan, from a familiar brand, with a print just odd enough to be interesting. I’m calling it animal-esque. 

Giraffe? Leopard? Paintbrush?  Giro-pard?

There were two holes so small I didn’t notice them until after getting the cardigan home, washing it, laying out to dry, and asking my roommate what I should wear with it.  I fixed them.  Can you see the repaired areas in the picture below?

How about if I circle the repairs in red?

If anyone in real life is looking that closely at the back of my sweater I'll be happy to tell them the whole story, otherwise I'm calling this a win for the DIY needle and thread repair.  I should have taken a 'before' picture, but got carried away in the excitement. They were around the size of a dime each, pretty small, but noticeable if you were wearing a contrasting color underneath this wild cardigan.  And yes, I do get excited about repairing sweaters from time to time.

That's the story of my walk on the wild side in the aisles of Goodwill.

Happy freestyling, rawr.

Lampshade to dirtshade

Over a year ago a previous roommate and I found a pair of white glass lampshades at le dump.  Now, maybe if we were re-doing a bathroom, or had pendant light fixtures to fancy up, they could have just been installed as intended and spent the rest of their days as plain old white glass lampshades, same old same old. Yawn.

What purpose could be better than filtering the light of a "soft pink" compact fluorescent bulb?  Why, supporting dirt of course!  Despite not having the ideal bottom configuration for dirt retention, they were put to use as planters.  I managed to watch at least one orchid wither away into nothingness while cradled inside this sleek environ, sigh. (Orchids continue to elude me.)  But I did not remain discouraged, when time came to split a mystery plant (Philodendron spp.?) that been hanging in the window I knew just what to use.

(Why, yes, those are free books peeping out from the bookshelf there. How kind of you to ask, alas I have not yet read them all.)  The Philodendron spp. (?) seem happy in their new homes away from the direct sun, and we now have a nice little symmetrical arrangement for the bookcase top.  Everybody wins!
Happy freestyle.

A Paisley Pink Mug Shot

Le dump is not a place you go expecting to find matched pairs of Chippendale chairs, or coordinating/ matching/ harmonizing anything. Don't expect it, but keep your eye out for it anyway, like cashmere sweaters at the thrift store without stains or holes, or purple giraffes speaking French, just because you've never seen it doesn't mean they don't exist!  Magic does happen in Cambridge, which is how I felt when I came across a set of matching mugs this fall.

A mug - pretty paisley, but pretty happens...

A pretty pair? well, now, this is something eh?

[[Digs deeper into box, through assorted kitchen supplies, mumbles to self....]]


Three!  Wow, what else is in this box?

Four! Hmm, maybe time to buy lottery tix?

Thank you to the lady who dropped off that big cardboard box of kitchen goods.  Maybe you were moving, or just cleaning out excess gadgetry, but your kitchen discards are my paisley-print treasure. Also, hot chocolate tastes good in them, I can attest to that as of last night.

Happy freestyling!

Busy as a bee with a return policy

Of the things I find in frames, among all the family photos, movie posters, original artwork, and insects with beautiful wings, I would not have expected to find a store return policy.  Yet another surprise from le dump. 

Let me point out that it was not some simple 8x11 inch printout in a flimsy plastic frame. Quite the contrary, this was a poster-sized calligraphy version on vaguely marbled paper of what you should expect as a customer shopping at [store name omitted].  I don't know if I would have been intimidated or glad to see such a poster in a store.

Of special note was the fact that the glazing was intact and scratch free, and that the frame itself was quite sturdy. An odd bronzey color, but a solid frame nonetheless.  After the frame came home Creative Roommate got busy with her paints and paper and created this snapshot of a beehive interior.

Simple and elegant, I see no need to return this one!

Happy freestyling.