The following is a reprint of a previously published post. Enjoy!
It’s time again for Goodwill, Badwill Questionable-will, where I share some of the rather spectacular things I come across during my thrifting adventures.
First up is a very special treat for you. Why? Because it combines steampunk with snails, clocks and monkeys. Plus, it’s priced at $19.99, which I would expect from a priceless antique, but this bizarre juxtaposition of whatnot is plastic, as can be seen by the broken off right foot.
Truly baffling in so many ways.
Next up is a pepper shaker sporting glued on florist marbles and wire. I have asked you before to stop gluing florist marbles onto stuff. It is ugly, it has always been ugly and it will always be ugly. Nobody wants to receive it as a gift, not your gramma, your aunty, your momma, your mammy. (<– Macklemore quote!)
I beg of you, please.
Remember how I always come across targeted savings banks? Well today was no different from any other day. (<– Passover reference, yo!)
My old friend Hobo Warren Buffett made a repeat appearance, this time sporting a rosier nose and a dirtier plinth. (Seriously, compare him to his doppelgänger above.)
Not to be outdone is the new-to-me Trip Money bank. She fits quite nicely with her brethren:
- Retirement Fund
- Wine Fund
- Green Fees
- Girls Night Out
- Therapy in a Jar
- Casino Money
- Tax Money
- Swear Jar
They like to travel in groups.
And although “Katy” is far from a rare and exotic name, “Katy with a Y” is. Which is why this placard caught my eye. Luckily my younger son was present to snap a quick photo of me posing with my namesake. I did not buy it, as I have come to the point in my life where I can procure that shopping rush from photographing instead of buying fun but unnecessary (an unwanted) items.
A key towards my goal of an uncluttered home.
I saved the very best oddity for last because that item, my dears is:
Flamboyant New Gingrich!
You know, from how Liberace would display a photo of Newt.
- Rhinestones? Check.
- Cloisonné? Check.
- Exotic Key West-style bird? Check.
- Newt Gingrich with a come hither hand gesture? Check.
Man, do I love Goodwill!
What did I buy?
Just this small Jonathan Adler-esque flower pot. I have been wanting to start adding indoor plants to my house ever since I read The Crunchy Chicken’s Non-Toxic Avenger book. You know, for purifying the air. So why not do it in style?
The flowerpot was priced at $2.99. However, it was half-off as it had a purple tag. (This week’s 50%-off color.)
And $1.50 is well within this Non-Consumer Advocate’s price range for impulse purchases.
See how well it pairs with my Adler-esque lamp?
Mind you, it’s no flamboyant Newt Gingrich, but a girl can’t ask for everything in life.
Have you been finding treasures in your thrift shops lately? Please share your stories in the comments section below.
Katy Wolk-Stanley
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
I love the odd things you find at Goodwill, Katy. Can you justify going to Goodwill more often just to entertain your audience? Please?
My Goodwill is featuring displays of bunnies, flowers and eggs right now, as Easter is nearly here. Many of the items made me immediately think of my late mother-in-law, who loved her tacky plaster flower-covered boxes and overly decorated tea cups! Two decades after her death, I was finally able to get her “decorative items” out of their storage boxes and quietly take them away. My husband finally let go — thank heavens!
I believe that the “therapy in a jar” jar is actually a stash (marijuana) jar, not a bank.
In either event … puff, puff, PASS!
My first thought for “therapy in a jar” was good chocolate. 😉
Minus Newt i love the bird frame.
I have been spiffing up my husband’s work wardrobe with beautiful dress shirts purchased at the Humane Society Thrift Store. This week during his annual evaluation, he scored above average on professional attire! Because his evaluation was good, he received at $500 raise. I’d like to think the designer shirts from the thrift store had something to do with that. 😀
Way cool that his professional attire was thrifted!! And congrats to him
Never having heard of Jonathan Adler — but liking the planter very much, — I felt I had to look up his catalogue. I now realize that I too have an Adler-esque planter! (But no lamp which I can say the same for).
Still laughing at your finds. Definitely entertaining!!
LOVE the lamp. Total score. Looks like it came from a high end boutique.
To paraphrase Forest Gump,”Thrifting is like a box of chocolates.. You never know what you’re gonna get.”
You had me at Steampunk monkey…
To me, the key to shopping at Goodwill is to be open to whatever is there, rather than to look (unsuccessfully!) for a specific thing. But, paired with this, is to take home only the most compelling finds. If you had been looking for a Alder-esque flower pot, you would never have found one!
My new favorite thrift shop is St. Vincent dePaul – proceeds go to help the homeless. Finally got hubby to give up 11 shirts, 3 pr. pants and 1 pr. shorts that he never wears. Left the shop with 1 shirt for him and 2 pr long pants for me.
Funny thing is the clothes are always 50% off. Reason – after several sales that were blow-outs the staff thought lowering the prices would keep sales up. Didn’t work, customers said they’d wait for the 50% off sale. So…prices went went up, the 50% off sale is continuous and sales are up! Perception is everything.
I wonder what that picture frame(minus Newt) would be valued at on Antiques Roadshow?
I work at Goodwill and you even made me laugh! Rock on, missy !
That Gingrich picture is going to give me nightmares.