Category — Reuse and Recycle

Today I’ll continue with the topic that I began in my last entry, pre-owned jewelry. The two costume sets that I wrote about were in perfect condition, but I also buy jewelry to take apart and use to make other items. For example, many of the unappealing plastic beads in one necklace that I bought for a dollar or two a few years ago went right into the trash. The rest of the beads, and there were quite a few, were sterling. I’ve used these silver beads in countless other necklaces that I’ve made. Also, most of the old earrings that I buy are clip-ons, which were very popular in America until the 1960’s, when ear piercing became the rage with us groovy hippies. I fiddle around with the clip-ons until I figure out a way to add earwires so that they work with my pierced ears.

 I’ve been making beaded jewelry for about 15 years, so I have the tools that I need to update pieces such as ugly necklaces and clip-on earrings. If noodling around with old jewelry sounds like fun to you, I suggest visiting a bead shop with knowledgable staff. They will sell you the right tools and give you the information to turn your old treasures into something wearable that you can enjoy today.  

Today I bought a new looking Brooks 346 (that’s what Brooks Brothers calls their casual line of clothing) navy tee. I already have a tee shirt in the same color in my closet, and since I don’t wear that one very often, I really didn’t need another. But one of the benefits of the secondhand wardrobe is that you can upgrade clothing for very little cash, and then donate the items that the new ones are replacing. The navy shirt that was already in my closet fits me well, but has a small flaw that bothers me, so for 75 cents (regular retail is $19.50), I now own one that’s perfect.  

I’m out four dollars. That UPS jacket that I bought on April 1 is now clean, dry and in the pile to be donated back to the thrift store. I love most of what I buy, but this one’s gotta go! I just wasn’t sure about it in the store. If you want to go to a department store, they’ll hold things for you while you make up your mind. Since that doesn’t happen at any of the thrifts that I go to, sometimes I make a mistake. For four bucks, I can live with it.