More on "the bins"...

Since posting about "the bins",  I've done a little more research as people here, and on other groups, have mentioned not having any where they live. Apparently in some areas, they are called not the Goodwill Outlet, but the Goodwill As-Is Store...or even the Goodwill Blue Hanger Store.   I was told by a Goodwill employee that in Oregon and Washington, there is one outet for each Goodwill region within the state.

To find what you have, Google Goodwill Outlets...or call your local Goodwill and ask (or ask to speak to a supervisor if you get nowhere with that).   Of course, other sources for goodies are all your friends (once you put the word out that you are looking for things), estate sales, garage sales, thrift stores, and secondhand stores.   Also some recycling centers (here in the NW) also have recycle/reclaim stores that are affiliated with recycling station.  And, in some parts of the country (not here) local dumps still let you dig.  And then, there is dumpster diving....and on...and on...and on....

The point is really that once you start looking, there is stuff everywhere!  I've found some wonderful things squashed on the road or street...rusty cans, metal bits from cars, a squashed frog, bones, bottle caps, and more.  Look at all of nature's discards...feathers, bones, teeth, moss, lichen, branches, leaves, cones, seedpods, stones.

Take a different look at all your own stuff.  For example, for years I had boxes of some of my mother's things....boxes I never opened.  In my clean out and organize mode, I decided I needed to either donate, use or discard many of these things.  It was very freeing to put some of them in my art, and I felt good to have upcycled it.  I felt good that her image, her stuff was out there in the world being enjoyed by whoever bought the art.

By the way, the free art was shipped to squidglass.  Watch for other giveaways....like maybe some "stuff" to work/play with.
(Childhood copyright by Diane Lou)