Friday, June 28, 2013

4th of July party...from the Logansport Goodwill!

Welcome to the Logansport Goodwill store!  Our fashion (and shopping!) guru Kathy Friend shops our store in Logansport to stock up on supplies for her 4th of July party. 


Monday, June 17, 2013

Easy Tips for Making Over Patio Furniture




The season for outdoor entertaining and eating is upon us and if you are looking to upgrade your patio set, you just might want to check your local Goodwill store. Today I wanted to share with you easy ways to update, refinish, and refresh an outdoor patio set into a set that is uniquely you with a few easy tools and strategies to help get you started. 

I, in fact, recently refinished my old set (pictured above) and have fallen back in love with it again, thanks to an easy afternoon of spray painting. 

Here are a few strategies for making over a set you might spot at your local Goodwill store.

 


Refinishing Metal Furniture 

Rusting on metal furniture happens and if you spot a set that looks a little worn in spots, a makeover transformation is easy to do and requires only an old cloth to wipe down the furniture, sandpaper, and spray paint (in any color you desire). 

Give your furniture a good wipe down to remove any dirt or debris that may be lingering from summers past. Use a medium-grit sandpaper to rub down any rust spots or imperfections on the furniture until they are level and no longer flaking off on the piece. Once the all of the areas have been sanded, spray paint the furniture and allow it to dry fully. I recently discovered a spray paint nozzle for recovering my furniture pieces and it really helps to coat the furniture evenly. If you plan to do a lot of spray painting to refinish your pieces, I highly recommend the small $5 investment to get a more even finish on your pieces. 


image source: The Homemade Diva

Refinish Plastic Furniture

Plastic furniture is one of the easiest types of furniture to update. There is no need to rough up the plastic with sanding, in fact, all you need to do is purchase spray paint that is made specifically for plastic (I recommend Krylon Fusion for Plastic) because it specifically bonds to plastic and requires no priming or sanding. 

I'm dying to score a few gently used Goodwill chairs to makeover for our back patio. You see, even plastic furniture can look trendy with the right colors and painting techniques. Stay up-to-date on fun trends, like paint-dipped furniture as pictured above from The Homemade Diva, for a fun splash of color on your patio. 

image source: Being Brook


Refinish Wicker Furniture

Perhaps one of the most intimidating types of furniture to many DIY'ers is wicker furniture. There is no need to be intimidated though because it is easy to spruce up and to even make minor repairs to. Look for a waterproof glue to fix any minor repairs and make sure that the glue has plenty of time to set (read the back of the glue bottle for specific times) before beginning your painting. 

After thoroughly giving the wicker a good scrubbing and air drying, spray paint your piece in several sessions of very thin coats of spray paint in your desired color. Try these spray painting wicker furniture tips from Rust-Oleum for refinishing your wicker pieces using their Rust-Oleum Universal spray paint line, that allows you to skip the step of priming. 

image source: 33 Shades

Recover Old Patio Cushions

Old patio cushions can get a new lease on life with fresh fabrics. If you have ever priced out new cushions at stores, you quickly realize that it would cost hundreds of dollars to get new cushions for all of your outdoor furniture. 

Did you know that you can actually buy weatherproof outdoor fabric at the fabric store? It's a handy tip to have in your DIY arsenal for a couple of different reasons.  I actually used this material on my dining chair indoors to help with easy clean-up from spills and stains with two small kids. This same material can be used to freshen up your old patio cushions.

Although I am no seamstress, this tutorial from 33 Shades looks like a great one for how to recover old patio cushions. Next time you see these at your local Goodwill, consider trying this DIY to get new cushions at a fraction of the retail price. 


Have you ever made over patio furniture? What are your tips and techniques for this DIY project?

Monday, June 10, 2013

Bathing Suit tips for Summer 2013

Well, the season is finally here...the time of the year we learn how to masterfully suck-it-in, creatively wear a towel as a skirt and head to the beach or pool.

This summer, I challenge you to embrace your curves and fluff.  To that end...I offer some tips and tricks to make this bathing suit season your best yet! 

COVERUPS

Carry a cover up with you wherever you go, and make sure that the cover up is one that dries quickly.  There is nothing more unsightly than a wet pair of shorts over a bathing suit.  Be creative with your coverups.  Maybe a men's button up might make a cute cover up (wearing it as a dress), or athletic wear that dries quickly, or maybe even a lightweight summer jacket?

As you scour your local Goodwill, be sure to keep an open mind and be creative with what might be able to be used as a coverup.



GETTING A GOOD FIT

Getting a great suit is all about dealing with your "situations"…or as some of my friends call it, fluff; those fluffy situations that seem to sit right at our midsections and on our hips. Here are some easy tips to camouflage the area:

  • Fabric:  the first thing to look for is a bathing suit with a lot of lycra or spandex. This will hold everything in. When you are seeking out a bathing suit at a Thrift Store, remember to be sure the elastic still has some spring in it, and the fabric still has stretch. 
  • Style:  A tankini style with rouching is the best for concealing the midsection. Rouching are small gathers at the side of the top that create a drape across the midsection.  If you can find a suit with side panels AND rouching - SCORE! Don't be opposed to purchasing 2 bathing suits at Goodwill, and using the top to one and bottom to another...but be sure to do this on a 50% off sale day!
  • A tankini with a patterned top.  The pattern will act like camouflage.  Pattern and rouching - double score on the slimming factor!

OTHER TIPS
But, for some of us, the midsection isn't' the part of our silhouette we are the most self conscious about, so here are some other tips:


Heavy Arms 
Shifting attention away from the neckline / shoulder area will be key for you.  Look for a suit with detail at the center, something that creates vertical interest. Another thing to consider is your coverup.  Coverups should match your bathing suit.  Going monochromatic here is a good choice.


Small Bust 
Look for suits that have a lot of detail or embellishment on the top. Things like ruffles, maybe metal rings on the straps or even a pattern with a lot of contrast (that demands attention).  Contrasting colors (like pink and orange) will make the top ‘pop’. 

Large Bust 
Make sure you choose a top with an underwire support.  Many manufacturers offer bathing suits in bra-sizing.  This makes it simple to get a very good supportive fit. Darker prints without a lot of contrast will help to minimize.  Make sure that the coverage (in the neckline and around the under-arm area) does just that…cover
     
Disguise Hips 
      Skirted suits have made a comeback and are cuter than ever! Look for a skirt that is longer than the widest part of your hip.  This style tends to look more like a tennis skirt than the "swimming dresses" our grandmothers wore. Don’t love the skirted idea?  Then the opposite is best for you.  A high cut leg will elongate your leg, and help to minimize your hip.

Plain (without pattern) on the bottom with an interesting contrast top will help to balance your hips and draw attention away from your hips to your face. 

Plus Size Bathing Beauties 
Looking for suits with extra Lycra will serve you well (about 15-20% of the fabric content).  Rouching and support will be important for you.  Choose a bold print.

Finally, CHEERS to a fun-filled and fashionable summer!









IMAGE CREDITS:
Cover Up: http://productshots2.modcloth.com
Other Tips: http://thriftstorerunway.com