Creative Glories of Hunting Through the Goodwill, or Goodwill Goodfuns

 

Edgar J. Helms a Methodist Minister and social innovator in Boston, Mass opened the first Goodwill in 1902. What a brilliant man he was. He invented my favorite kind of tool, a thing which has a complete cycle and serves everyone. From donation, to creating labor, to selling donation to fund the operation, to pay for labor, who generate donations, it’s a perfect revolution.

Wikipedia cites” In this pledge, Goodwill promises to fulfill the goals of success within each individual:

“We at Goodwill Industries will be satisfied only when every person in the global community has the opportunity to achieve his/her fullest potential as an individual and to participate and contribute fully in all aspects of a productive life.”

But all that History aside, we get to have fun with all the creative benefits, a store full of potentially fun things to recycle and use. A found objects paradise! And if your creative idea turns out to be uglier that Aunt Ra-Ra’s macrame plant hanger, then your not strapped for cash on your next project.

So here’s my latest Goodwill Goodfun, for my daughter who is needing a lamp in her bedroom:

One $ 2.00 Lamp Base + One $ 2.00 Dented Ivory Lamp Shade

and note this simple white lamp base with a clean classical shape would be beautiful in any decor, not just on goofy lamps. When shopping, don’t overlook simple designs.

 

 

PLUS, 2 bags of 50 cent colored puff balls, (and I had the glue gun, they run about 5.00, new. I’d avoid buying them used…..)

TAH-DAH!

Here’s how it looks all it up! She loved it, and it cost 5 bucks. Yeah! Now we can afford that.  It’s not a style for everyone, but if your starving to do something creative, go peruse through your local Goodwill and see what magic you can find….

(WARNING: You already know this, but if you should try this at home please use low wattage bulbs and large shades for safety)

STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT INSTALLMENT OF GOODWILL GOODFUN

Restraint, the big pay off

                                         Restraint:  It’s a terribly empowering thing. But it also reminds me of when I was a child and restraint felt like a thing for powerlessness;  always having to pull away from the burning candle before us. Restraints were everywhere. Today I took my 5 year old son to spend the twenty dollars he’s patiently saved since Thanksgiving. He slid every found penny into his piggy bank with complete satisfaction, and counted each lovely nickel from his weekly chores. He shook his bank and often poured all the coins out onto his carpet to just look at them grow. And this very Monday, today he divided them up, we counted them, and took them to the bank to cash em’ in for whole paper dollars! Oh it was marvelous! And on top of that, we found out they have lollipops inside the bigger bank too So we took his wad of 21 dollar bills, folded them up into his shiny blue wallet and crammed it into his back pocket till the seams grew taut. And then we walked into the toy department of our big grocery store to look for the car transporter truck essential to completing his semi truck collection. But, oh my on my, we found aisle after aisle of absolutely amazing colorful bright brilliant things lining the shelves. Shiny cowboy guns and half an aisle of Nerf guns and water guns, too. There were all these other types of trucks and one whole side of an aisle all just boxes of wonderful things to make from Leggos. It was utterly mouth gaping overwhelming. And I felt for him. Some patient part of my impatient self just stayed there all morning and watched him carefully scrutinize each and every possibly choice. And we ran into another Mom and her 4 year old son; she kindly restraining while he gently pushing to bigger toys for older boys. The negotiations were delicate.
   And after we arrived home and I put my son down for a nap with his new huge box of cheap army vehicles, he asked me “Mommy when I grow up will I still want to play with trucks?” And I whispered back to him,  “Yes Sweetie, and it will still be just as difficult to pick out the perfect one.”