I have an eye for good quality fabric as well as classic styles. I search for brights that aren't faded and classics that can easily be updated. To me, its a treasure hunt. I love it!

I've always gone thriftin with my mother, but its only now that I've noticed so many more people going. Infact, the face of the thrifting crowd has changed a lot over the years - its become younger and even hipper. The only problem with that is less available treasures and higher prices which then leads for poeple not wanting to donate. I mean, I saw a dress for $200 dollars a few months ago at a Goodwill in Lancaster, CA. When my mother asked the manager about it, he said that he could sell it for more on Ebay! Exscuse me, Sir? You got that for free and the clothes are technically suppose to be for people who need it!

being the Queen of thrifting..(cough) I can vouch for the thrill of the hunt

the rejected,discarded,the impulse buys or misfits, uninteresting,overated miscellania donated or just flat out giveaways of you can have its !

are definitely a treasure to some and I am thankful as I have found many over the years~

My sister sparked this interested me when I was 10 years old. She is quite a bit older and had just moved into her first apartment. She was able to look at a pile of rusty old junk and see what it could become with a nice paint job.

Over the years I have embarrassed my children many times by stopping to pick up someone else's garbage or dumpster diving. Not to mention dragging them around to thrift stores rummage sales and estate sales most of their lives. They now both love it and are big into up cycling.

My oldest daughter now works at a thrift store. She often calls me complaining. She just can't believe how much stuff that is donated never even makes it to the shelves. A lot of items are just thrown in the dumpster or marked so high that no one purchases it.... and then thrown in the dumpster after 30 days. The fact is they want to make as much profit from the shelf space in a short a time as possible.

Also growing up with parents who lived through the Great Depression. They taught me how to make use of most items that would normally end up in the trash. My mother's favorite saying was...."Use it up... Wear it out... Or do without!"

I just wanted to let everyone know that I recently started a non-profit organization that helps provide maternity clothes for pregnant women in need of assistance. The name of this organization is Belly2Belly and you can find more info on facebook or on our website. All of the clothing we receive is from donations and we distribute to women based on their needs. Check it out!

www.facebook.com/Belly2Belly

www.Belly2Belly.org

Thanks~ Josie Taveras

Director-Belly2Belly