Category: Thrifting

Kids Crafts: Goodwill neck ties make great snake puppets!


 

By Goodwill Keystone Area blogger Tony D.

Goodwill is a great place to shop when you need fun, affordable craft ideas for your children. We have seen many neat projects that transform Goodwill clothing purchases into new and improved outfits, however, with a little imagination the same clothing can be transformed into fun stuffed animals for your children.

Recently, we noticed a trend on the web: neck tie snake puppets! We enlisted a local thrift and craft enthusiast Danielle to find a tutorial and walk us through the steps to create a neck tie snake puppet using ties purchased from our Goodwill Store & Donation Center in Mechanicsburg, Pa.

Hat tip to Marie at Make and Takes for the original idea and tutorial: http://www.makeandtakes.com/crafty-snake-tie.

So here we go:

Step 1: Purchase Tie from Goodwill

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Step 2: Assemble supplies

  • 1 colorful men’s tie from your local Goodwill
    (find a store near you www.YourGoodwill.org/shop/stores.php)
  • Hot glue gun & glue
  • Pillow or similar stuffing
  • 2 googley eyes
  • Pencil or long stick to push stuffing down through the tie

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Step 3: Using pencil, push stuffing into the gap at the bottom backside of the tie, down the length of the tie.

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Step 4: Seal the gap at the bottom of the tie with hot glue to keep stuffing inside.

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Step 5: Hot glue on googley eyes.

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Step 6: Hot glue on red tongue.

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Step 7: Ta-da! Enjoy your new snake tie!

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Spring Styling at Goodwill


 

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By stylist and blogger, Annette K.

 

3-25-24 Spring Awakening 1 With temperatures nearing 60 degrees for the first time in months, customers are turning to Goodwill in search of clothes and accessories to liven up their wardrobe for spring. Things like short-sleeve shirts in cool comfortable cotton, lightweight jackets or a pair of shoes or sandals for warm breezy days are popular purchases.

Shopper Barbara Kavelines of Tobyhana visited Goodwill to find an outfit to wear in her town parade.

“I love all the colors that the store has. Everything looks so nice,” said Barbara, community theatre actress and aspiring baker.

Spring is awakening in Pennsylvania and Goodwill Keystone Area stores are stocked and ready with racks of cothing and house wares in lively spring styles and colors.

3-25-24 Spring Awakening 2 Goodwill uses the revenue generated from the thrift stores to create jobs and job opportunities for folks with barriers and disabilities. Thanks to the generosity of local donors, communities and businesses, Goodwill Keystone Area provided life changing service to 3,265 people in Pennsylvania last year.

This spring, think Goodwill – where your donations and purchases make a local difference.

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Special thanks to Eliana Spaziani and Alex Rolon, sales associates who work at the Goodwill Store & Donation Center in Bethlehem, PA.

Re-Design – Your Chance to Shine

 

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By stylist and blogger, Annette K.

 

3-19-14 Re-design_Page_1 Everyone has a creative side. We’ve all re-designed, re-invented or re-fabricated something – foods, drinks, mechanics, gadgets or clothes. You name it, we’ve improved it, modernized it or just plain made it look nicer.

For most of us, the image or a thought ends in our head and we don’t go to the next level. But for others who possess the skills and determination – and who toil endlessly and earnestly – they can get it “just right.”

Are you a fashion designer ready to expose what’s in your mind? Shop at Goodwill, create your vision and enter our Re-design contest. (Entry period has closed)

All finalists will receive two free tickets to Goodwill Keystone Area’s Runway show and have their designs featured in our show!

And all winners in each category will receive a $50 gift card to Goodwill Keystone Area stores, be featured in the magazine Berks County Living and have their work displayed at GoggleWorks in Reading.

There is still time to enter. Visit our website for rules and deadlines. We look forward to seeing your designs. (Entry period has closed)

“The inventor looks upon the world and is not contented with things as they are … the spirit of invention possesses him.” Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone.

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2013 RE-DESIGN WINNERS
Click to see the 2013 Re-Design winners featured in Berks County Living http://www.berkscountyliving.com/December-2013/The-Future-of-Fashion/

Red Carpet Runway – Goodwill style

 

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By stylist and blogger, Annette K.

 

Red Carpet Runway - Goodwill Style

You don’t have to be Meryl Streep or live in Hollywood to get a front-row seat at the show.

Goodwill’s best-dressed will be at The Body Zone in Wyomissing on Thursday, April 24, for a fashion experience.

Local designers, fashion consultants and hair and makeup professionals will be putting their best brush forward in showing off bold colors, solid styles and fearless fashion.

And all at thrifty prices that any budget-conscious fashionista can afford!

Get up close and personal and see local fashion and style at its best. You’ll be star-struck in your own backyard.

 

THURSDAY, APRIL 24
Doors open at 4:30 p.m.
Show begins at 6:30 p.m.

NEW LOCATION
Body Zone
3103 Paper Mill Road
Wyomissing, PA 19610

TICKETS ARE $40 AND INCLUDE:
Happy Hour • Silent Auction • Runway Show • Goodwill Boutique

 

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Remember to consider Goodwill as your donation center of choice, where we create jobs for folks with barriers and disabilities.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS
www.yourgoodwill.org

Color your wedding with a personal touch

 

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By stylist and blogger, Annette K.

 

DSC_1000 - Version 2 It’s wedding-planning season and brides-to-be and grooms-to-be are in the whirlwind of ensuring every last detail is just right: clothing, venues, menus, formalities … and the rules – all the rules.

We all know the “rules” … white gown, formal tuxedo, bridesmaids who walk in sync wearing matching dresses, shiny shoes, stiff collars, bustles and trains.

These rules are customary to our American culture and serve an important role in the sacred bond of marriage – a sort of pilgrimage to “forever.”

But aren’t rules made to be broken? Or at least tweaked?

Let’s tweak a little.

Let’s change the rule that says weddings cost a lot of money. They don’t have to – especially the apparel. Before going anywhere else, stop at Goodwill. Check out the wide selection of suits, dresses, shoes, ties and accessories.

And as you stroll the aisles, unleash your imagination and let your personality be your guide.

Maybe you’ll even find your wedding dress. Last week, the Goodwill store in Bethlehem had a row of wedding dresses starting at just $15! That’s not just tweaking the rules; that’s blowing them up!

Shop Goodwill for your wedding needs. And in tweaking the “rules,” you’ll be helping to create jobs and opportunities for folks with barriers and disabilities. It will add an altruistic meaning to your wedding shopping experience.

Forever Goodwill.

A DASH OF PERSONALITY

  • Give a color swatch to each bridesmaid so she can choose her own dress.
  • Add a vibrant pop of nontraditional color with your accessories such as belt, tie, sash or ribbon.
  • Colorful sneakers, laces and heels are another place to show your individuality

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Photos from Goodwill Runway Show

Join us for the fashion event of the year. See how you can be stylish without maxing out your credit cards. Models will walk the runway wearing the latest trends found at Goodwill. This is Goodwill’s largest fundraiser in Berks County!

Details

Thursday, April 24, 2014 doors open 4:30, show begins 6:30

Body Zone 3013 Paper Mill Road Wyomissing, PA 19610

Tickets $40.00 include happy hour, silent auction, runway show and Goodwill boutique

You, Valentine’s Day and a Little Red Dress


 

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By stylist and blogger, Annette K.

 

Little Red Dress_Page_1 This Valentine’s Day make a bold statement with the elegance of a little red dress.

Many women swear off red from their wardrobes saying, “I look horrible in red,” or “red’s not my color.”

But red can be worn by anyone. The key is finding the right red that works in harmony with your skin tone.

Does your skin have golden undertones? Then choose a red with golden undertones. Think tomatoes. Yes, tomatoes!

Tomato-red will work to accentuate golden skin tones and create a balance between you and the dress. A quick look at the tomatoes in your local grocery store will reveal the endless range of color depth available in the tomato-red family. All will work for those with golden undertones in their skin.

How about pink undertones? If you have pink/blue undertones in your skin, choose red with a more pink/blue color. Think strawberries!

Strawberries have a pink/blue hue and, like tomatoes, also come in an endless range of color depth. Choosing any shade of strawberry red will create harmony with your pink/blue undertones and help accentuate your natural features.

This Valentine’s Day give the little red dress its day to shine. And visit your local Goodwill store where you will find endless colors and shades of red (or pink ) to choose from. Once you find your true red dress, it won’t be the dress that shines….it will be you.

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Goodwill Runway Show
Join us for the fashion event of the year. See how you can be stylish without maxing out your credit cards. Models will walk the runway wearing the latest trends found at Goodwill. This is Goodwill’s largest fundraiser in Berks County!

Details
Thursday, April 24, 2014 doors open 4:30, show begins 6:30

Body Zone
3013 Paper Mill Road
Wyomissing, PA 19610

Tickets $40.00 include happy hour, silent auction, runway show and Goodwill boutique

Timeless Beauty at Goodwill


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By stylist and blogger, Annette K.

 
Slide2 When Christine Bachman was a teenager, she played drums in an all-girl band. She wore a beautiful taffeta gown with spaghetti straps and a sparkly bolero to keep her shoulders covered. The band played three nights a week for three years at local clubs and each night they opened with the same song, “A Pretty Girl is like a Melody.”

Christine just turned 88 and that song continues to be the anthem for her life.

“I don’t feel like I’m 88,” she said. “I still like to be modern.”

A former cosmetic specialist at Hess’s Department Store in Allentown PA, Christine always had an eye for style.

“A neighbor who used to wear cute outfits all the time told me she shopped at Goodwill. I decided to go and check it out,” she said. “But instead of shopping, I ended up getting a job.” That was 20 years ago and Christine has been working at Goodwill ever since.

“Chris is an amazing person,” said Goodwill team leader Donna McElvenney. “She is a ball of energy and a positive and great person to be around.”

Today, Chris helps shoppers find and choose clothes and housewares to fit their thrifty budgets. She encourages her fellow seniors to “dress modern, moisturize and not to dress like an old lady.”

Her favorite color to wear is red, and she has picture-perfect porcelain skin that women 40 years her junior are in envy of (trust me!). She loves to shop at Goodwill and take advantage of the huge selection of “modern” clothing.

Christine’s beauty doesn’t stem from the reds she wears, her flawless skin or her impeccable fashion sense. But instead, her beauty is timeless and comes from the colorful fabric of her life.

On January 24, 2014 Christine celebrated her 20 year anniversary as sales associate at Goodwill.

Slide1 Special thanks to the staff at the Goodwill store in Fogelsville, PA and to Christine for sharing her story.

Are you an aspiring fashion designer? Enter the Goodwill Re-Design Contest. The Re-Design Contest offers aspiring fashion designers, students, fashionistas and hobbyists the opportunity to show their creativity by repurposing items purchased at Goodwill. Finalists will have the opportunity to display their work at the Goodwill Runway Show on April 24, 2014 at the Body Zone, Wyomissing, PA. Doors open at 4:30pm, the show begins at 6:30pm. The show is Goodwill’s largest fundraiser in Berks County. For more information about the Goodwill Runway Show, go to www.yourgoodwill.org

The Power of Plaid


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By stylist and blogger, Annette K.

 

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A quick walk through the aisles of your local Goodwill store and you’re bound to see them… Reds, blues, greens, yellows, pinks, browns, blacks.

Plaid.

Many people swear off plaids from their wardrobe.

“I look huge in plaid,” is a common phrase, or “It’s old-fashioned,” is another.

But plaid is a hot trend right now. And wearing plaid well can actually enhance your natural features and create harmony with your skin tone, hair color and body type.

When considering plaid, first think color. It’s important to create a color balance between your natural tones and the garment. If your skin is lighter in tone, choose more muted colors. If your skin is darker in tone, clearer, more bold colors will work for you.

Next, consider your body type. Taller frames can wear larger-scale plaid prints, but if you are on the petite size, choose a smaller plaid pattern.

Remember, you want to wear the plaid. You don’t want the plaid to wear you.

 

 

Visit Goodwill and find plaid to match your color tone, body type and budget. The model below is wearing clothes from the Goodwill Stores in Bethlehem and Fogelsville, PA.

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Are you an aspiring fashion designer?  Enter our Re-Design Contest. The Re-Design Contest offers aspiring fashion designers, students, fashionistas and hobbyists the opportunity to show their creativity by repurposing items purchased at Goodwill. Finalists will have the opportunity to display their work at the Goodwill Runway Show on April 24, 2014 at the Body Zone, Wyomissing, PA. Doors open at 4:30pm, the show begins at 6:30pm. The show is Goodwill’s largest fundraiser in Berks County. For more information about the Goodwill Runway Show, go to www.yourgoodwill.org

Weather or not, Allentown marathoner runs on…

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By stylist and blogger, Annette K.

 

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Allentown native Darleen Rosenblatt Mostellar didn’t let frigid weather get in the way of her 2013 New Year’s Resolution!  In fact, she didn’t let wind, rain, snow or sleet get in her way either.

On December 31, 2013, Darleen ran her 2013th mile in her quest to run 2013 miles in the year 2013.

“And I ran one extra for good luck,” she said.

Considering Darleen is among the 50-something age group and a working mom of 2 teenage kids, running 2014 miles in one year became a daily priority and commitment.

“Lots of people ask me how I fit it all in,” she said. “It was persistence, dedication, and wearing lots and lots of layers.”

Darleen shops at Goodwill stores where she can purchase her layers at thrifty prices and keep within her family budget.

“I run outside in all kinds of weather. I never used a treadmill,” she said.

From fleeces, wools, cottons and blends, Darleen dresses with many layers in frigid temperatures including three on her legs and up to four on her upper body.  Then she uses a scarf around her face and mouth to help shield the cold air.

Darleen has been running for 35 years and has completed 28 marathons. Among which are Boston, Marine Corp in Washington DC, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, and The Goofy Challenge in Orlando, FL. Her most recent run was the Christmas Classic in Bethlehem PA, where she and her son ran together.

A mentor to younger runners and inspiration to many, Darleen has made her 2014 resolution.

2014 miles… and maybe an extra one for good luck.

Don’t let dropping temperatures become an excuse to ignore your goals and resolutions. Layer up at Goodwill where you can find clothing for all types of weather at prices for all types of budgets.

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All clothing pictured comes from the Goodwill store in Bethlehem, PA.
Cost of clothing: running pants $4.00, fleece pullover $4.00, turtleneck $3.50, vest $6.00, scarf $2.00, gloves $1.00, headband .49

Have fashion tips or blog ideas? Interested in doing a donation drive at your home community, business, church or school? Contact Annette Kaiser at akaiser@yourgoodwill.org.

Thanks to Darleen Rosenblatt Mostellar for sharing her story and to store manager Phil Koch and assistant manager Sandra at the Goodwill Store in Bethlehem, PA for their time and assistance.

Goodwill Store Manager Lost 142 Pounds and Counting

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By stylist and blogger, Annette K.

 

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Exactly one year ago Todd Bozes’ wife brought him a gift. It was a brand new scale – one that registers higher weights than the standard bathroom model. Without thinking too much, Todd stepped up.

401pounds.

“I’m never eating again,” he said.

It’s the start of a new year and this week hundreds of thousands of Americans are making commitments to lose weight. According to a University of Scranton study, weight loss is the number one New Year’s resolution. But unfortunately, only 8% will achieve their desired goal.

Last year, Todd Bozes, a Goodwill store manager, was one of those people and made the resolution to lose weight. He is also a member of that 8% group.

To date, Todd has lost 142 lb’s. He has dropped from a 58” waist to a 44” waist and went down three shirt sizes. He even lost weight in his feet! Todd’s shoe size went from 12 ½ to 10 ½. His wedding band had to be adjusted. It went from fitting his ring finger to fitting his thumb.

Goodwill stores don’t resize jewelry, but Todd could find everything else he needed on the racks at Goodwill. “I bought new pants every four inches and donated clothes that I no longer could wear,” he said. Todd has met other people who do the same.

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“I hope to get into a size ‘large’ shirt and 34” jeans when all is said and done,” he said.

The question he is asked the most is: “How did you do it?”

His reply, “No pills, no surgery, no restrictions. I count calories and use portion control.” He stopped drinking soda and instead drinks four bottles of water each day. He doesn’t snack at night, cutting off his food intake at 7pm. Instead of eating a heavy lunch, he walks two miles.

The simple gift of the scale was the encouragement Todd needed to protect the well-being of his family, his wife Beth, 4-year old son and brand new baby boy born January 3, 2014.

“You have to do whatever needs to be done to ensure that you are around to support and love those close to you for a long, long time. Losing this weight now is putting me in a better position to do just that,” explained Todd.

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