Seeing Red and how do you handle a shoplifter?

(My shop entrance 8 School street, Gorham, Maine)

I am seeing red today and not just because it is Wednesday is Rednesday over with Sue @ Its a Very Cherry World. Thank goodness, Sue always throws a swell party and I could use a little cheering up. Before I explain, let me show you a little red fun at my shop. Come on in, the open flag is out.

I know, I know, what is the first rule of refinishing furniture, TAKE A BEFORE PHOTO! Honestly, though, I am always so anxious to begin the project, that I just dive in and start scrapping and sanding. This little red side table did not look like this, just a week ago. it is a lawnsale find for $1.00, it was filthy and the paint was chipping off and not in a desirable shabby chic way. Three coats of carnival red oil paint later, I have this cute little functional piece perfect for the kitchen or even a bathroom.

For the moment it holds a few red treasures. I like to group my vignettes by color.

This is an Animal Cracker tin from 1979. A lawnsale find for $.50 cents.


I love this little black & red tin, Salvation Army for $1.99. Marked Made in England.

And I really love, love, love this red & black cookie tin! Same day, same Salvation Army store, for $.29 cents. I am starting to enjoy my runs to SA, but don't worry, I will always stay true to Goodwill.

This step stool was a lawnsale find for $2.00 and it needed work. A little spray paint and a new seat cover was all it took to go from drab to fab.

For my shop, I tend to go for small furniture pieces as smaller scaled items fit better in a dorm room or first apartment. Remember, I am in a college town. This past weekend was the first full weekend of the kids back in school, and back in town. My shop was packed all day. Needless to say, I was one very happy gal. But it wasn't just the college crowd at the shop, there were lots of folk my age as well.

One of those ladies in fact bought quite a bit from me. She was parked directly in front of the shop and I noticed her New York Plates. Being close to Sebago Lake, a tourist destination, we get a lot of out-of-state traffic through town. While she was in the shop, I was busy putting out new jewelry that I had just finished pricing. I was working on pricing some books, when the lady brought her pile up to cash out....$133.00, paid with cash. Yup I was happy, happy, happy. Then the lady left along with a necklace and 4 rings, not paid for, the ones that had only been on the shelf for ten minutes. Really, you have cash for other items, and you still have to steal. Really, my shop is a one room little business venture, and you feel the need to steal. I was upset. My first shoplifter, and I know not my last.

At first I was angry. Then sad. It had been a beautiful necklace made of 50 rhinestone buttons. Then I totally rearranged my shop to move the jewelry display case right next to the cash register. Lesson learned. So here is the question: How do you handle shoplifters? How do you make your shop a little safer? I know I am asking the right folks, so any suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks.

Please don't forget to stop over and say hi to Sue and visit all the other folks showing Red.

Got it at Goodwill
Sherrie

Pinkalicious Vintage Finds

Oh Happy Pink Saturday. I have always enjoyed visiting Pink Saturday Posts and have always wanted to participate. Well today, I am doing just that. A big thank you to Beverly @ How Sweet the Sound for hosting this lovely pinkalicious gathering, (Click here for your invite).

For a girly girl like me, finding something pink is not a problem. Let's start in the kitchen shall we, with this pair of cute little pink piggie salt n pepper shakers.

Actually, with them sitting on the kitchen table, staring at you, it makes it hard to eat your bacon.

I just love this Russel Wright - Steubenville casserole dish. It is really more than a dish, it is a piece of art. The way the lid handles turn up, and the bottom handles are down turned, I am not embarrassed to say, it makes for one sexy stylish piece of pottery. What makes it even more appealing to me, is that is was a Goodwill find for $4.99.

Russel Wright (April 3, 1904 – December 21, 1976) was an American Industrial designer during the 20th century. Beginning in the late 1920s through the 1960s, Russel Wright created a succession of artistically distinctive and commercially successful items that helped bring modern design to the general public.

Wright is best known for his colorful American Modern dinnerware, the most widely sold American ceramic dinnerware in history, manufactured between 1939 and 1959 by Steubenville Pottery in Steubenville, Ohio.

Still visiting in the kitchen, is this fabulous, still in its original packaging, never used, bread slicer. You would place the piece of bread in the metal holder and then use the knife to slice down to make two perfectly thin sliced pieces. When making your cucumber and watercress party sandwiches, a girl has to have thin slices. Don't forget to cut off the crusts.

My favorite pink kitchen utensil is this wonderful egg beater from the 50's. You have seen my collection of green and red painted handle utensils, quite popular and readily available at flea markets and church sales. I have never seen a handle that is pink and black. Makes me want to change out my kitchen with a new color scheme just to match this egg beater.

Pink in my sewing room. Here are a few finished yo-yo's for a baby's quilt I am making. I first learned how to sew these yo-yo's or what I call puckers when I was 10. Over the years, I literally have made thousands. Here is a hint. A plastic coffee can lid makes the perfect pattern for the perfect size pucker.

Remember at the start of August, I spent my birthday doing some "Thrift Shopping". One of the places I visited was Salvation Army. On that day, I found a cute little yellow canister for only $.79. It wasn't till I got home, that I realized something was inside the can.

Here she is in all her pink deliciousness.!!!!

Here is what the bottom looks like. Now I have some ideas as to what she might be, but I would really love to hear from you as to what this lovely lady was used for, thank you in advance for your help.

So that is my pink today. I am glad to be sharing with you for this most colorful party. Makes me want to get out my pink ruffles and bright pink lipstick and go have some pink fun visiting everyone at the party. Thank you Beverly for hosting. See you there.

Got it at Goodwill
Sherrie

New Goodwill Store Opening

I am so excited! A new Goodwill store is opening up tomorrow! Friday March 26th, Goodwill will be opening its new flagship store and donation center. Located at 555 Maine Mall Road, South Portland, Maine. It is a newly renovated building that features a convenient donation drive-thru and 16,000 square feet dedicated to retail sales. Be still my heart. The best part is that it is only 22 minutes from my house!!

Will I find a jadeite piece, a vintage apron, a cookie jar (perhaps McCoy) or a wooden chair just waiting to be refinished? Oh the possibilities are endless, I am sure. Realistically, I will not be a customer till late tomorrow afternoon, hopefully after the initial onslaught of shoppers has passed. I suspect that goods will be continuously making it out on the floor throughout the day, right through opening weekend.

I am very spoiled by retail thrift shops, and I shall explain. I am only 25 minutes at the most from the following stores: the Goodwill on Forest Avenue, Portland, GW at Mill Creek Shopping Ctr, South Portland and now the GW at Maine Mall Road in South Portland. There is also a Salvation Army on Warren Avenue, Portland, and one at Clark's Pond, South Portland along with one at Preble Street, Portland. With the addition of 15 minutes or so to the driving time, you can visit Goodwill shops in Windham and Falmouth. I am not kidding. If my birthday falls on a weekend, armed with my Goodwill card and birthday discount, I can hit 9 Goodwill Stores on one tank of gas and never be more than 45 minutes from home.

Oh I forgot to mention my favorite Goodwill store is 725 steps from my back door. Yes I said steps, as in walking. I live in the village and am a few minutes walk from the store. Unfortunately I work late most evenings and this one closes promptly at 7:00 but I do make it at least twice a week in the evenings and of course on Saturday. (Who am I kidding, I pop in on Sunday as well to check the new discount color and sales of the week.) I am very proud of myself in showing restraint on those days when I do leave the store empty-handed. The prices are so good, that I could easily buy just for the deal and not for the love of an item. So I try to reign myself in and purchase only what I already collect and not start a new collection, definitely a herculean effort.

The dish section is my first stop (I know, no surprise there) then jewelry, then if I have time, the clothing. Last night I picked up a brand new (yup, tags still in place) periwinkle blue sweater from Talbot's, my favorite brand. I have never been in an actual Talbot's store or ordered anything from them online; however, I have a closet full of Talbot designs. I think that there is some size 8 woman in Gorham that is a Talbot's shopaholic and maybe changes her mind about her purchases but is too busy to do a return and has enough money not to worry about the return..... so she donates. Whatever her reason, I am glad that she does.

When people complain that Goodwill prices are too high, I remind them of Goodwill's slogan "Our business works, so people can." If my purchases can help support another person, then isn't it a win/win situation for both?

Here is an open invitation to all my friends, anytime you are up in southern Maine, I will give you the ultimate thrift store tour, you might want to bring a U Haul.

Just a reminder for my 100 FOLLOWERS GIVEAWAY CELEBRATION.

By the way, I have changed the date of my Giveaway to April 10th. I don't want to keep the lucky winner waiting any longer. So if you haven't signed up yet, be sure to check out my Giveaway click here and enter.



Have a Good Day
Sherrie

Time for a Road Trip

It is November. No hope of any lawn sales, not until spring. How sad. There will be the "white elephant tables" at the upcoming church fairs, that will be nice; however, not the same as doing a lawn sale hunt. A comment made on my last blog (thank you Kelly) got me thinking that it was time for a road trip....to visit all Goodwill and Salvation Army stores in my neck of the woods. That would cover Raymond, Windham, Westbrook, Portland, South Portland and of course my hometown, Gorham. Who knows what treasures await.