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This week, I visited the Leetsdale Goodwill, and have to say, I found some really great blazers.  A few were really unique, and  great finds.  Others were classic and mainly for business, but blazers can make anyone look great!
I found a fabulous Valerie Stevens spring blazer floral pattern and adds that “je ne sais quais” to dress-up denims or adds flavor to a neutral suit! $5.00, size 10.

Also in the same size and price (10, $5.00), was an Ann Taylor black blazer with slightly lighter wide pinstripes.  This provides a slimming and always a classy look.

It is always fun to find DKNY in a thrift store.  This particular blazer comes from their Essence line.  Neutral goes with anything and DKNY is a great add to the closet!  Size XL, $5.00.

Lastly, the most unique blazer for the day is this fabulous little intricately made blazer in a pale lavender color.  Tiny little snaps hold the blazer in place so the butterfly appears whole.  Patterns sewn into a blazer like this truly make a statement!  Wei Na Sie makes this, and although its medium, I find Asian designs usually run smaller, so I would consider it a small.  Nice price at $5.00, and truly a unique purchase because I cannot find this brand anywhere, and with all that intricate stitching, it must have been  hand sewn.

These blazers are held at the Goodwill located at:  5000 Leetsdale Drive, Denver, CO, 80222 and you can just go in and request to see or purchase with the manager.

Enjoy!

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Last week, my mother was venting her frustrations about not feeling good in her clothes because her body has been changing as she’s getting older. She’s over 50 (not telling how much!), and even though I’m not there yet, I have been feeling similar with my own age and how I feel in my clothes.

As we were discussing these new feelings, I was inspired to take her on a surprise shopping spree at Goodwill. It was such a fun time, pulling out all these clothes, filling the shopping cart and then preening for the best finds for her.  She tried on clothes for a good half hour, thinking she was helping me (inadvertently she was), and found some fabulous clothes!  And then?

We went to the checkout lane where she thought I was going to turn in the clothes to be held for a trend o f the week item and I purchased them for her!  How exciting is it to be able to take someone feeling uncomfortable in their new body shape and make them instantly feel pretty, and all for just a little!  What I spent on her was what I would if I purchased just a few items brand new! It was so intrinsically satisfying to see her face light up and also know she is getting staple items that she can wear all of the time!

Our best find was a pair of Ann Taylor Skinny Dark Jeans.  For $5.00, she looks youthful, firm, and not like she was trying to look younger than her age.  And she fits right in with what is in style today.

Her feet need more support and a lot of times (although times are changing) the shoes that give that support are not very attractive.  But what did we find?  A fabulous pair of eclectic Penny Kenny shoes that will add excitement to any pant outfit! And to top it off, a nice Italian Arienti sleeveless shirt, making a snappy ensemble.  Cost new?  Probably around $100.00.  At Goodwill, though, this cost me $15.00.  That’s a good deal, and a happy woman over 50.

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We’ve all been through it, we get older, we gain or lose weight, and suddenly things aren’t exactly where they used to be.  It doesn’t matter if you’re young or old, gotten pregnant, gained or lost weight, it’s inevitable, things just change!  This can become a conundrum if you are constantly going through these changes, as kids do, or pregnant women.  People in this stage are dealing with huge changes, but even people who are in-between sizes have this same issue. In fact, I myself have been “in the middle of a size” for a long time.  This has been frustrating especially in the jean realm.  It seems like no pant really fits me right.  And I’ve just dealt with that until this year.  I am tired of being “in-between” and I’ve thrifted for all clothing types except jeans, really. 

I don’t know what brilliant light went off in my head, but why not go to a department store and find a jean that fits and then start perusing thrift stores for a pair of my own fitted jean.  I finally did it!  I found a few different pairs that actually fit me well and then started my discount shopping with the intent of finding my TRUE RELIGION.  Ok, for anyone who doesn’t know True Religion jeans, these duds can go for about $160.00 a pop new. I personally cannot justify that much of a spend on pants when that can feed me for at least a week.  When there are struggling people right here in our back yard.  Once I found what worked, my search started in earnest.  I visited several thrift stores, (some have more denim than others), and finally landed myself the most comfortable pair of jeans I think I’ve ever owned.  Even more so because I can breathe easy knowing it was $20.00…..If you can’t read that, I’ll spell it:  TWENTY DOLLARS!  This is one of the best finds I think I’ve ever found in my thrifting days.

By the way, Goodwill has .99 cent jean days…in case you can’t read that, it is NINETY- NINE CENTS!

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Downcycling is still not a very well-used word. And really it is more correctly termed than the word Recycling. I learned a lot doing research online about downcycling. Number one? There isn’t much information on the World Wide Web.

Wikipedia Definition: “Downcycling involves converting materials and products into new materials of lesser quality. Most recycling involves converting or extracting useful materials from a product and creating a different product or material”. (or it cannot be recycled into the same product). Downcycling is very different from recycling, because recycling mostly means using something for the same purpose again. The term downcycling was coined by Reiner Pilz in 1994.

Advantages of downcycling compared to creation and use of brand new products:

1. Preventing potentially useful material from being wasted

2. Reducing raw material consumption and lowering energy usage

3. Water and air pollution reduction

4. Greenhouse gases consumption

5. Reducing your carbon footprint

Examples of downcycling are:

1. Turning old t-shirts or towels into rags.

2. Turning old plastic bottles into plastic outdoor chairs that cannot be recycled.

3. When people upcycle, they can also use downcycled parts. Like using an old computer as memory or backup storage.

Downcycling is good, however it turns reused resources into a lesser item, and eventually it turns up in a landfill and is completely useless. There is a lifespan to plastic. Every new drinking plastic bottle is made from raw materials. However, things cannot be totally reabsorbed into the original form and are made into a lower cost material until it’s completely useless.

Downcycling can be done both in business or at home. It’s a new way to be creative! Before you toss something away think of some possible ways you candowncycle! Although downcycling is not the BEST means of recycling, it is considered by most to be better than just throwing it into a waste dump.

Goodwill does a fabulous job of downcycling, taking in and reselling in large bulk clothes to be turned into rags, computers being downcycled for their reusable materials, trying to squeeze as much out of the donated products as they can and prevent further landfill trash. I fully support this, and was excited to hear how far they go with their cycling of as many materials as possible.

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According to Wikipedia, Upcycling is the process of converting what is considered waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or a higher environmental value. Reducing the use of new raw materials can result in a reduction of energy usage, air pollution, water pollution and even greenhouse gas emissions.

This is also a fairly new word being used more and more often. It goes right along with recycling and repurposing. I personally upcycle jewelry, taking already made pieces from garage sales or thrift stores like Goodwill and giving them new beautiful life. My mother repurposes with t-shirts, embellishing and making already cool shirts into something special, personal and unique

Upcycling is different from recycling because energy transfer is used most times for recycling, with the transfer of the physical state. (like aluminum being melted down). With upcycling, there is no transfer physical states.

Interested in upcycling? One idea is take old leather belts and make them into leather cuff bracelets. Or, how about making little journals or memory books made from old boxes, card stock and books with pictures from the thrift store or garage sales. These items cost very little but can mean so much. The value definitely goes up when human touch and creative artistry are involved. Plus? You can be proud that you not only did something lovely, but again you are helping the world by not using more precious raw materials.

Other Examples:

Making a beaded frame by taking old beads off a necklace and embellishing the frame with them. You can also paint over them to make your own personalized frame. Make a bib necklace with some ribbon or soft chord and some kind of appliqué and glue. Or coin purse key chains from dish towels (and a zipper!). Make a budget terrarium with some fake moss, rocks a clear bowl and some embellishments! Never have to worry about it being watered…

Or you could find an old clothing pattern and sew yourself up a new look! And you could even grab yourself material at the local thrift store to upcycle into your new piece, and really have something unique

Lastly, and probably the most creative and easy is to make spa slippers with a pair of flip-flops and a towel! How perfect for the pool!

I have found a ton of blogs on upcycling, and with our economy and many of us looking for ways to save money, I believe upcycling for yourself or others is the way to start helping yourself! Email me at aprilsdesigns@gmail.com for a list!

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Wikipedia hasn’t even developed the page for it, it is such a new concept, but honestly, it has a history. Dictionary definition is; “To use or convert for use in another format or product: repurposed the book as a compact disk.”

To repurpose means to take on a different and more creative way of reusing items you might have otherwise considered as trash. Repurposing can be fun and eye-opening as to the many different purposes one item can have…like using old credit cards to scrape pans with stuck-on food, or cut up and use as a mosaic on a picture frame or as a cake knife.

Repurposing is also a great way to recycle. You can turn t-shirts into bags, lotion bottles into cellphone holders, soup cans into a pencil/pen holder, ice trays to hold jewelry, pretty bottles into flower vases or candle holders or storage for olive oil, old plates/platters for plant drainage holders, and using wrapping paper to make thank you cards, clip on earrings into cocktail rings, with so many other things that can be done – the list is endless!

I have personally repurposed jewelry into other forms of jewelry or even found metal belts at Goodwill that I turned into a necklace. I have found things on the side of the road that I repurposed for a modern artistic necklace…ingredients were; tire rubber, broken glass and some old discarded copper wire. I have so much more appreciation for things creatively repurposed. If given as a gift, it’s so much more thoughtful because of the personal touch added to it. Back in the 80’s, I actually would purchase vests at thrift stores and embellish them with various things. Can’t say I’d wear any of it now, but it was fun!

When I searched “repurposing” online, I found so many blog results, it was heartwarming! There was even information on Facebook and Etsy. I love seeing fellow frugalists talking about how to keep our resources that are already used from being thrown away when they can have another life.

Here are 9 different ways to repurpose a t-shirt:

1. Cut into rags and make a twist tie rug
2. Pillowcase
3. Book cover
4. Patchwork quilt
5. Bag
6. Rags
7. Bed for cats or dogs
8. Cloth napkins (I have two girlfriends who stopped using paper towels and do this).
9. Dog shirt

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This week, I am going to focus on recycling, repurposing, regifting and upcycling, and will cover one topic per day.  Today, I’ll focus on recycling, specific to re-using items that may be discarded by people who don’t need them.

The definition of recycling by Wickipedia states the following: Recycling involves processing used materials into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution (from incineration) and water pollution (from landfilling) by reducing the need for “conventional” waste disposal, and lower greenhouse gas emissions as compared to virgin production. Recycling is a key component of modern waste reduction and is the third component of the “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” waste hierarchy.

When you make a purchase at a thrift store, you are a key part in the process of recycling.  This also means you a part of the green movement.  You are preventing items from being dumped in our ever increasing landfills.  In the long run, you are saving money, raw materials, waste disposal and thereby increasing the value of your purchase exponentially!

Bringing donations to thrift stores, or having them picked up at your house also prevents the landfills from being increased by items that other people will use. If you are a homeowner, this is also a write-off for you and that can help your pocketbook. 

My wardrobe consists of mostly recycled items and a large portion of these clothes happen to be upscale discards.  I feel proud that I spent less than a quarter of what the clothing costs new and helping keep our world a little cleaner.

If you feel limited in what you can do to be green, shopping and or donating to thrift stores is the easiest way to begin.

Check out Goodwill Donation sites here! (http://www.goodwilldenver.org/donate/items ), and remember, recycling helps everyone on the earth!

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Goodwill Industies of Denver has their trend of the week which is posted every week.  These great finds are items are chosen and held for shoppers who frequent this page. They are special, unique items held for you to come in and purchase after viewing! 

check it out! http://www.goodwilldenver.org/shop/trends

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I realize not everyone carries the same attitude towards thrift store shopping as myself, but it has gained great popularity in the Denver area. In fact, I recently heard that Goodwill has had it’s first wedding gown sale in TN! But as far as states are concerned, in the thrift stores I’ve been in all around the USA (San Francisco, Santa Fe, Hawaii, Las Vegas, and Connecticut), Colorado is one of the best places to shop. People seem to be more conscious of the fact that you can get high quality items at a discounted price.

I’ve also found certain specific stores in the state of Colorado are great, which has a lot to do with who is donating and how well it’s being advertised and marketed that there is a donation site where you can bring your unwanted items. Donations are a the only way many of these stores make their money and contribute to society. Not only are these donations helpful, but it keeps trash out of the landfills. It is a green, recyclable approach that is only going to grow as our world and its resources get smaller.

I truly enjoy the hunt, finding the perfect thing at a considerably fabulous price to me. I know what I am willing to spend, and like a person watching the stocks, you pay attention to much but maybe only take a little (unless it’s just too good of a price).

I can’t remember a time where I wasn’t visiting thrift stores as a hobby. Over the years, I’ve become more picky because I know my perfect find for what I need will arrive, and I will keep looking for it until it appears before my eyes. That becomes more of a thrill, an enjoyment when you actually find what you want. People do this in every type of hobby. Is thrifting a hobby of finding an item at a price below what you would pay for it new? I think so, and you can make it almost any type of item, not just clothes, so your hobby can be endless….and inexpensive.

Plus, your donations can be a write off!

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