I have always been a thrift shopper. My mom was always hauling me to rummage sales on neighboring farms, tag sales, and church bazaars. I realized early on that finding beauty in things that people no longer needed or wanted was a passion that I have pursued my whole life in one way or another. In my upcoming book, “How to make a Thrift Score at the Thrift Store”, I am doing an entire chapter on decorating for Christmas. Year after year Milwaukee area charity stores like Goodwill, Saint Vincent De Paul, Value Village and many more are filled with cast off Christmas items and decor! What I love is that I can deck the halls, AND support programs that provide life changing services and training to those who need it most.
At this time of year it seems particularly poignant to not only keep our purchases local, but green as well. Why add more to landfills? So I asked my good pal photographer Tom Nardini of demodephotography.com to come over and snap some pictures of my repurposed holiday vignettes. They are composed entirely of items purchased from charity thrifts mixed with everyday objects from my home. I have a great time getting ideas as I pick up crazy stuff here there and everywhere, and then coming home and beginning to make the merry happen in my living space.
I ask all of you to consider doing some of your shopping this year at a charity store near you, or taking some of your decor overflow there to help make the season bright in so many good ways not only for yourself but someone else! Helping one person may not change the world, but the world will change for that one person.
