...'G' is for GARBAGE and GUMDROP Trees

'ONE PERSONS "GARBAGE" IS ANOTHER PERSON'S TREASURE"... (or something like that!)

"G" Is for...

GARBAGE!

DISCLAIMER: Retail names have been edited to protect my sourcing!!

'DUMPSTER DIVING MERIT BADGE' by SPOOFBADGES

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/683632418415209160/

  Okay, dear svelteSTUFF readers (all two of you - LOL)... this may not be 'news' to you, but by putting it out into BlogLand- it's kind of like 'coming out of the closet'...  I have become an addicted Dumpster Diver! (MUCH to J's chagrin...)  Yes.  ANOTHER 'aquatic activity' joins my regiment- first 'saleing', now 'diving'.

  DON'T shudder and get skeeved out!  It's REALLY not like that!!  I don't 'NEED' to do this for financial reasons!  It all started 'harmless' enough - searching out economical (FREE!) packing supplies in clothing/homegoods retailers dumpsters (nothing spoiled or smelly in there!!).  I don't actually 'go in' the dumpsters!   At 6'-0", with my trusty 'grabber' in hand, I can pretty much reach anything of interest.  Yes. I do wear gloves.

Mug by REAL PEOPLE GOODS

https://www.etsy.com/listing/658996185/dumpster-diving-travel-mug-funny

  My eyes were soon opened to Just.How.MUCH. good~useable 'stuff' is sent to our landfills!  Quite sad actually.  I won't get my 'soapbox' out and start lecturing about Corporate America's Policies!  I am going to show you a few examples though...

  

**MY size - worn all winter and kept my feet warm and DRY!!

THANKS 'TreeLumber-Land'

USEABLE!

Quality, very slightly imperfect items.  Jeans, Clothings, Purses...  Yes, Retailers spend their time trying to prevent 're-use' by destroying discards (ie: Cutting to shreds or SHARPIE scribbles all over leather).  Wouldn't this time be better spent donating to a shelter or Not-For-Profit Organization??
Thanks to the wonder of the Web, I have learned that High SPF, aerosol sunscreen cleans leather Beautifully.

Neighbor's cat 'GUMBALL' snuggling in her 'new' bed!

FOUR-LEGGED PAMPERING!

~POUNDS and POUNDS of bags of dry food!

~CASES of canned food

~Pet Beds 

~TREATS, Greenies, Toys and MORE!!

  Local Animal Shelter, Friends and strays have all been reaping the benefits!  Only sealed food is taken.  Recalls were checked.  This 'waste' resulted in 'BestBy:' dates within the month, or a dent to one can in a case, or a 'mark' on the fabric.  Animals REALLY don't mind dented cans, and we even discovered our NE wild birds will eat 'Tropical Bird Seed' in the middle of Winter (LOL!).  Now, if only this Chain Store would stop 'slashing' bags to deter use, a LOT more animals could benefit...  Luckily they manage to miss some! 

Card Store rotating rack which held Last Season's "Very Best", but this chain care enough to send this 'outdated' display to the dumpster.

DISPLAYS!

~ HANGERS!!!

~CLOTHING RACKS of all shapes and styles!!

  You know what I'm talking about here - those Heavy-duty, commercial quality, wheeled and swivel Beauties that we all dream of and drool over...  Stores change layouts, replacements are made, the 'old' are discarded to the dumpster out back.

Extended life of rotating card rack, as a JEWELRY DISPLAY for TREMORS CREATIONS!

  We have actually acquired SO MANY of these that I have been passing them onto neighbors and friends!!

MANNEQUINS!

~ Need I say more?

just go to my post for 'D'.

UPDATES:

'Miss Crane' (R) now has a head, and is grooving into Summer with Sesame Shimmer (L)

~AND~

 Her twin 'Miss Tommi' has moved out of town and taken on a new identity as 'Lorraine', in charge of Marketing!

TREATS!

~ HOLIDAY CANDIES!

~CHIPS, COOKIES & CANDIES!

~HEALTH & BEAUTY AIDS!

  Before you go into the 'EEEWWW' mode, ALL items were CLEAN, DRY, Factory SEALED and in a clean, dry bag without 'garbage' items!  Directly pulled from shelves for coming close to 'BestBy:' date.

  Many, Many boxes of Cereal, Pasta, Crackers, Chips and candy have been donated to FREE Food Shelves at local thrifts.

*Of course the SUNSCREEN & STARBUCKS coffee are staying with us!!

THANKS Sea Vee Es!!

So, maybe I'm not making a huge dent in the big scheme of things, but Every little bit helps - right?  

...and the smiles that I have received from the beneficiaries of some of these 'treasures' is enough to fuel my passion!

Just in case 'GARBAGE PICKINGS' aren't a 'true' collection, I will recap one of our other 'G's"

"G" Is for...

GUMDROP TREES!

An 'oldie, but Goodie', that never gets 'OLD' in our house.  Check out past posts:
~https://ssveltestuff.blogspot.com/2014/02/they-are-magically-valentine.html
~https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2611406560113541885#editor/target=post;postID=4725827149284258834;onPublishedMenu=template;onClosedMenu=template;postNum=1;src=postname

BE WELL

and

en JOY!

...'F' is for enamel FLOWER POWER! (enamel pins, Frocks and FlipFlops)

"F" Is for...

FLOWERS!

as in ENAMEL FLORAL PINS!

(that Nobody wears quite like Ms. KitCat!)
"Part of the appeal of the bright enamel flower pins that came onto the costume-jewelry scene in the early 1960s was that they were not your mother's jewelry," ... "There was nothing conservative about them. They were cheerful, cheap, and mass produced, and you could wear them in all kinds of ways and in all kinds of places,"
"Today, collectors covet the perky pins for the same reasons. They're fun to collect, look great on hats, bags, and dresses, and they don't cost a fortune"
CountryLivingOnline
PINTEREST

~and~

"F" Is for...

vintage Floral Frocks!

 
...that Sesame Shimmer and Miss Crane due proud, while sporting VERA scarves!!
(despite the fact that I can no longer squeeze into them!)

~and~

"F" Is for...

Flip Flops!

I have been working on adding 'earrings' to my FlipFlop Arsenal.  Earrings are previously unventured territory to me, but I think that I am getting the hang of it! It has been a FUN adventure (and diversion)... ~sorting through our seaglass/beach bricks/beach pottery hoards for the perfect sizes and shapes ~a Great excuse to play with the power tools in the Studio Annex (ie: Garage) ~and it has gotten my creative juices flowing again!  SOON this addition to the North Shores Collection will be ready to hit the stores!


 ~BUT, most importantly~

"F" Is for...

Family and Friends!

April 29,2019 , just barely over 2 weeks ago... Such a short time that seems like forever. 

 I've learned what a big hole a persons' departure can leave in my life.  At the same time I'm realizing just how he formed the 'complete' person I am today, and that is something that will never be taken from me.

~My 'creative' side was definitely a gene from him.

~Remain observant and curious, there is always more to learn.

~There is So Much waste in the world.

~If you Want to do something, You CAN.

~Be positive

~Actions speak louder than words.

~Take pride in your belongings.

~Always shine your shoes.

~A man's word is his honor.

~Love until the end.

and

~SMILE.

Over the last four weeks, our Family has rallied and drawn closer.  Friends near and far have been an unending wealth of support.  Family and Friends truly are the most important 'STUFF' we can have in our lives.  MANY THANKS to all!!

“Love people and use things. The opposite never works.” 

 I love you Dad ~ you will always be near in my heart.

BE WELL

and

en JOY!

...and The Bucket List is a 'bit' lighter!

...3,000 miles...10 days...5 states...2 countries!

I haven't been to Canada in about 10yrs. , and now in the last month I have been there twice!!

'Nova Scotia' and 'New Brunswick' have been staples of my Bucket List for years - NO LONGER!

What an AMAZING ROADTRIP!!

...and I am 'single-handedly' trying to bring back 'The Hat'!

Who else would be soo amused by the Bathroom Signage?

"Who is that Crazy Lady in the Hat, taking pictures of the Men's Bathroom??" !!

Now we are back home, and trying to get 'in-the-swing-of-things' again!

Saling... charm bracelets, Vera Bradley Bags, old Crisco canister (we collect them in different colors), misc. jewelry, Fossil watch, sqwish toy, mink Poodle pin, Dr. Seuss birthday figure, ..and S's keys?!?

Did you see that - TWO sweaterclips (one is even a signed LISNER, on original card!



AND a Great FirePlace screen!!  Bought with the 'intension' of taking to the shop to sell, but we better get it there quick, 'cause jewelry display images are dancing in our heads!!!

It is hard to tell from this horrible photo, but we also picked up a GLITTER CROW w/ a lime green tummy!!

Taking advantage of our Wonderful 'at-home' weather, A photo shoot has been in progress in our yard... 

Wouldn't these be sweet 'mannequins' for a Fall Craft show,

Do you know of anybody who makes Build-a-Bear / Am Girl Doll clothers for resale??

THAT's all for now...

and remember:

a

...LUCKY STONE ~ INDEED!!

 While out trolling the lakeside this weekend with a friend - a Lucky Stone was discovered!
 

I have been in the Finger Lakes for 25+ years, scoured these shores NUMEROUS times, and this is a FIRST!!


 

 

 

Other 'Friday FIND GOODNESS' came from a large KAT sale (fundraiser for SPCA) and an Estate sale, rather than off the beach...

Holiday Craft supplies, and a few Mid-Century Ornies

2013 VERA #19 $1.00

 2013 VERA #20 $1.00

May I introduce this sweet, little, honey who was still at the sale 3hrs after it opened, only because they had put a LARGE UGLY Wool coat on her and zipped it up completely, so you had NO IDEA what was holding the coat up!  I jumped for JOY at the $2. they quoted me!!
WELCOME to the family Ms. Tabatha Kat
(she is a TABle top style, and we got her at the KAT sale - or Tabby Kat for short since it is an SPCA benefit... now do you think she is a Miss or a Mrs????)

2 Atomic Shades,

A 'Fall'? tree ~ .50¢each

ROYAL HAEGER Fall Leaf Ashtray 2013 #3 - $4.00
(2) Spikey Flower Frogs

Now, for anyone wondering how I am doing with the prep for the 80th Birthday~60th Anniversary~Family Reunion~Chix BBQ ...
(THANKS for all of your offers to help!!)

Flowers are DONE!!

NOW, KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED THE WEATHER MAN KNOWS WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT AND HE DOESN'T CHANGE HIS PREDICTION!!!!