Kids Crafts: Goodwill neck ties make great snake puppets!

April 2, 2014

By Goodwill Keystone Area blogger Tony D.

Goodwill is a great place to shop when you need fun, affordable craft ideas for your children. We have seen many neat projects that transform Goodwill clothing purchases into new and improved outfits, however, with a little imagination the same clothing can be transformed into fun stuffed animals for your children.

Recently, we noticed a trend on the web: neck tie snake puppets! We enlisted a local thrift and craft enthusiast Danielle to find a tutorial and walk us through the steps to create a neck tie snake puppet using ties purchased from our Goodwill Store & Donation Center in Mechanicsburg, Pa.

Hat tip to Marie at Make and Takes for the original idea and tutorial: http://www.makeandtakes.com/crafty-snake-tie.

So here we go:

Step 1: Purchase Tie from Goodwill

Step 2: Assemble supplies

1 colorful men’s tie from your local Goodwill
(find a store near you www.YourGoodwill.org/shop/stores.php)
Hot glue gun & glue
Pillow or similar stuffing
2 googley eyes
Pencil or long stick to push stuffing down through the tie

Step 3: Using pencil, push stuffing into the gap at the bottom backside of the tie, down the length of the tie.

Step 4: Seal the gap at the bottom of the tie with hot glue to keep stuffing inside.

Step 5: Hot glue on googley eyes.

Step 6: Hot glue on red tongue.

Step 7: Ta-da! Enjoy your new snake tie!

Spring Styling at Goodwill

March 25, 2014

By stylist and blogger, Annette K.

With temperatures nearing 60 degrees for the first time in months, customers are turning to Goodwill in search of clothes and accessories to liven up their wardrobe for spring. Things like short-sleeve shirts in cool comfortable cotton, lightweight jackets or a pair of shoes or sandals for warm breezy days are popular purchases.

Shopper Barbara Kavelines of Tobyhana visited Goodwill to find an outfit to wear in her town parade.

“I love all the colors that the store has. Everything looks so nice,” said Barbara, community theatre actress and aspiring baker.

Spring is awakening in Pennsylvania and Goodwill Keystone Area stores are stocked and ready with racks of cothing and house wares in lively spring styles and colors.

Goodwill uses the revenue generated from the thrift stores to create jobs and job opportunities for folks with barriers and disabilities. Thanks to the generosity of local donors, communities and businesses, Goodwill Keystone Area provided life changing service to 3,265 people in Pennsylvania last year.

This spring, think Goodwill – where your donations and purchases make a local difference.

Special thanks to Eliana Spaziani and Alex Rolon, sales associates who work at the Goodwill Store & Donation Center in Bethlehem, PA.

Re-Design – Your Chance to Shine

March 19, 2014

By stylist and blogger, Annette K.

Everyone has a creative side. We’ve all re-designed, re-invented or re-fabricated something – foods, drinks, mechanics, gadgets or clothes. You name it, we’ve improved it, modernized it or just plain made it look nicer.

For most of us, the image or a thought ends in our head and we don’t go to the next level. But for others who possess the skills and determination – and who toil endlessly and earnestly – they can get it “just right.”

Are you a fashion designer ready to expose what’s in your mind? Shop at Goodwill, create your vision and enter our Re-design contest. (Entry period has closed)

All finalists will receive two free tickets to Goodwill Keystone Area’s Runway show and have their designs featured in our show!

And all winners in each category will receive a $50 gift card to Goodwill Keystone Area stores, be featured in the magazine Berks County Living and have their work displayed at GoggleWorks in Reading.

There is still time to enter. Visit our website for rules and deadlines. We look forward to seeing your designs. (Entry period has closed)

“The inventor looks upon the world and is not contented with things as they are … the spirit of invention possesses him.” Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone.

2013 RE-DESIGN WINNERS
Click to see the 2013 Re-Design winners featured in Berks County Living http://www.berkscountyliving.com/December-2013/The-Future-of-Fashion/

Wear Green – or Don’t be Seen

March 11, 2014

By stylist and blogger, Annette K.

I’m a German-Austrian-Swiss-Polish-Lithuanian American … and proud of it. But on Monday, March 17, I turn Irish for the day!

Green will be all around us on Monday. It’s a day when The Unicorn Song’s green alligators, long-necked geese, humpty-back-camels and chimpanzees dance their way over the radio waves – and clip-clopping Irish shoes stomp in cadence at every mall, restaurant and pub.

It’s a day to relax the rules, kick back and come up for air. And after the apocalyptic winter of 2014, we could all use a long, deep breath. St. Patrick’s Day is an enchanting time – a day to begin transforming winter’s dreams into summer’s magic.

So get your Irish on and don’t be seen without your green! Stop by your local Goodwill store, where a little bit of green can get for you a big “pot-o-clothes.” Our stores are stocked with green shirts, skirts, pants and accessories, and our friendly staff is on hand to help.

When choosing your green, remember, the more green the better, the more creative even better, and wearing it all with a smile … the best!

Make this St. Patrick’s Day your lucky day!

Special thanks to Goodwill Store Manager Phil Koch and his friendly staff at the Goodwill store in Bethlehem, PA.

Red Carpet Runway – Goodwill style

March 4, 2014

By stylist and blogger, Annette K.

You don’t have to be Meryl Streep or live in Hollywood to get a front-row seat at the show.

Goodwill’s best-dressed will be at The Body Zone in Wyomissing on Thursday, April 24, for a fashion experience.

Local designers, fashion consultants and hair and makeup professionals will be putting their best brush forward in showing off bold colors, solid styles and fearless fashion.

And all at thrifty prices that any budget-conscious fashionista can afford!

Get up close and personal and see local fashion and style at its best. You’ll be star-struck in your own backyard.

THURSDAY, APRIL 24
Doors open at 4:30 p.m.
Show begins at 6:30 p.m.

NEW LOCATION
Body Zone
3103 Paper Mill Road
Wyomissing, PA 19610

TICKETS ARE $40 AND INCLUDE:
Happy Hour • Silent Auction • Runway Show • Goodwill Boutique

Remember to consider Goodwill as your donation center of choice, where we create jobs for folks with barriers and disabilities.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS
www.yourgoodwill.org

Color your wedding with a personal touch

February 25, 2014

By stylist and blogger, Annette K.

It’s wedding-planning season and brides-to-be and grooms-to-be are in the whirlwind of ensuring every last detail is just right: clothing, venues, menus, formalities … and the rules – all the rules.

We all know the “rules” … white gown, formal tuxedo, bridesmaids who walk in sync wearing matching dresses, shiny shoes, stiff collars, bustles and trains.

These rules are customary to our American culture and serve an important role in the sacred bond of marriage – a sort of pilgrimage to “forever.”

But aren’t rules made to be broken? Or at least tweaked?

Let’s tweak a little.

Let’s change the rule that says weddings cost a lot of money. They don’t have to – especially the apparel. Before going anywhere else, stop at Goodwill. Check out the wide selection of suits, dresses, shoes, ties and accessories.

And as you stroll the aisles, unleash your imagination and let your personality be your guide.

Maybe you’ll even find your wedding dress. Last week, the Goodwill store in Bethlehem had a row of wedding dresses starting at just $15! That’s not just tweaking the rules; that’s blowing them up!

Shop Goodwill for your wedding needs. And in tweaking the “rules,” you’ll be helping to create jobs and opportunities for folks with barriers and disabilities. It will add an altruistic meaning to your wedding shopping experience.

Forever Goodwill.

A DASH OF PERSONALITY

Give a color swatch to each bridesmaid so she can choose her own dress.
Add a vibrant pop of nontraditional color with your accessories such as belt, tie, sash or ribbon.
Colorful sneakers, laces and heels are another place to show your individuality

Photos from Goodwill Runway Show

Join us for the fashion event of the year. See how you can be stylish without maxing out your credit cards. Models will walk the runway wearing the latest trends found at Goodwill. This is Goodwill’s largest fundraiser in Berks County!

Details

Thursday, April 24, 2014 doors open 4:30, show begins 6:30

Body Zone 3013 Paper Mill Road Wyomissing, PA 19610

Tickets $40.00 include happy hour, silent auction, runway show and Goodwill boutique

Old Sweaters Make Warm Fuzzies – Make your own and enter our re-design contest

February 17, 2014

Old Sweaters Make Warm Fuzzies

Make your own and enter our re-design contest

By stylist and blogger, Annette K.

Upcycling!

It’s the cool, hip word for re-design or re-create. And with the recent blasts of snow leaving us homebound and stir crazy, re-designing old things into new things might be the perfect antidote for your next bout of boredom.

Visit your local Goodwill store and upcycle with sweaters. Create fingerless gloves, hats and mittens. The ribbing at the bottom of a sweater offers stretch-ability and durability, while the sweater’s cozy texture offers a warm and “artsy” swag.

Take a quick walk around the aisles at Goodwill and pick up a few sweaters to stash away for the next snow day.

But be careful — these projects are addictive. You may end up wishing for more snow.

Who would have thought?

upcycle doc_Page_1

Do you like to re-design? Are you a fashion designer?
Enter the Goodwill re-design Contest!

Our Re-design Contest offers aspiring fashion designers, students, fashionistas and hobbyists the chance to show their creativity by repurposing items purchased at Goodwill. Finalists will have the opportunity to display their work at the annual Goodwill Runway Show on Thursday, April 24, at the Body Zone, just off Route 222 in Wyomissing. Doors open at 4:30 p.m.; the show begins at 6:30. The show is Goodwill’s largest fundraiser in Berks County.

DESIGN CATEGORIES
Avant Guard
Create an innovative look that is experimental and pushes boundaries.

Men’s Shirt Remix
Repurpose a men’s shirt or shirts into a completely different ready-to-wear piece.

Accessories
Construct an accessory (e.g. handbag, hat, jewelry or shoes) using a variety of items.

2013 RE-DESIGN WINNERS
Click Here to see the 2013 Re-design winners featured in Berks County Living http://www.berkscountyliving.com/December-2013/The-Future-of-Fashion/

You, Valentine’s Day and a Little Red Dress

February 10, 2014

By stylist and blogger, Annette K.

This Valentine’s Day make a bold statement with the elegance of a little red dress.

Many women swear off red from their wardrobes saying, “I look horrible in red,” or “red’s not my color.”

But red can be worn by anyone. The key is finding the right red that works in harmony with your skin tone.

Does your skin have golden undertones? Then choose a red with golden undertones. Think tomatoes. Yes, tomatoes!

Tomato-red will work to accentuate golden skin tones and create a balance between you and the dress. A quick look at the tomatoes in your local grocery store will reveal the endless range of color depth available in the tomato-red family. All will work for those with golden undertones in their skin.

How about pink undertones? If you have pink/blue undertones in your skin, choose red with a more pink/blue color. Think strawberries!

Strawberries have a pink/blue hue and, like tomatoes, also come in an endless range of color depth. Choosing any shade of strawberry red will create harmony with your pink/blue undertones and help accentuate your natural features.

This Valentine’s Day give the little red dress its day to shine. And visit your local Goodwill store where you will find endless colors and shades of red (or pink ) to choose from. Once you find your true red dress, it won’t be the dress that shines….it will be you.

Goodwill Runway Show
Join us for the fashion event of the year. See how you can be stylish without maxing out your credit cards. Models will walk the runway wearing the latest trends found at Goodwill. This is Goodwill’s largest fundraiser in Berks County!

Details
Thursday, April 24, 2014 doors open 4:30, show begins 6:30

Body Zone
3013 Paper Mill Road
Wyomissing, PA 19610

Tickets $40.00 include happy hour, silent auction, runway show and Goodwill boutique

Winter blues got you down? Warm up with color!

February 4, 2014

By stylist and blogger, Annette K.

It’s winter. It’s cold and it’s snowy. Frigid temperatures stop us in our tracks. Days are short and skies are dismal. We wear our staple clothes – the blacks, browns and grays. It’s easy to become complacent. We’re bored.

Add some color, prints and textures to your wardrobe. Don’t give in to the blacks, browns, and grays. It will help brighten your appearance, transform your mood and warm your spirits.

Carolyn Ross, 72-year-old resident of Cumberland County, knows all too well the battles of keeping her spirits up. And during these winter months, it’s especially challenging.

Carolyn is a two-time breast cancer survivor, had double bypass heart surgery, and received a bone marrow transplant for treatment of Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma at John Hopkins two years ago. She said, “All those times that I was getting treatments, I always dressed in bright colors.”

When I met up with Carolyn at the Goodwill in Mechanicsburg (Hampden Township) last week, she just came from the gym (yeah, you read that right…the gym). She had on leggings and a cute red sweatshirt.

“I like to wear color,” she said. “It makes me feel young and active.”

Tremendous research has been done on the psychology of color and its effect on mood and energy level. The color red, for example, evokes energy and confidence, while pink suggests femininity and grace. Purple conjures up creativity and green a sense of calm.

Don’t let the winter blues get you down. And Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and offers us a reason to celebrate! And while preparing to celebrate, stop by your local Goodwill store for a quick winter wardrobe update and huge selection of colors and styles.

Special thanks to Store Manager Barry Hackman and Sales Associates Cynthia Diodato and Leslie Oneglia from the Goodwill store in Mechanicsburg, PA and to Carolyn Ross for sharing her story.

Are you an aspiring fashion designer? Enter the Goodwill Re-Design Contest. The Re-Design Contest offers aspiring fashion designers, students, fashionistas and hobbyists the opportunity to show their creativity by repurposing items purchased at Goodwill. Finalists will have the opportunity to display their work at the Goodwill Runway Show on April 24, 2014 at the Body Zone, Wyomissing, PA. Doors open at 4:30pm, the show begins at 6:30pm. The show is Goodwill’s largest fundraiser in Berks County. For more information about the Goodwill Runway Show, go to www.yourgoodwill.org/

Timeless Beauty at Goodwill

January 27, 2014

By stylist and blogger, Annette K.

When Christine Bachman was a teenager, she played drums in an all-girl band. She wore a beautiful taffeta gown with spaghetti straps and a sparkly bolero to keep her shoulders covered. The band played three nights a week for three years at local clubs and each night they opened with the same song, “A Pretty Girl is like a Melody.”

Christine just turned 88 and that song continues to be the anthem for her life.

“I don’t feel like I’m 88,” she said. “I still like to be modern.”

A former cosmetic specialist at Hess’s Department Store in Allentown PA, Christine always had an eye for style.

“A neighbor who used to wear cute outfits all the time told me she shopped at Goodwill. I decided to go and check it out,” she said. “But instead of shopping, I ended up getting a job.” That was 20 years ago and Christine has been working at Goodwill ever since.

“Chris is an amazing person,” said Goodwill team leader Donna McElvenney. “She is a ball of energy and a positive and great person to be around.”

Today, Chris helps shoppers find and choose clothes and housewares to fit their thrifty budgets. She encourages her fellow seniors to “dress modern, moisturize and not to dress like an old lady.”

Her favorite color to wear is red, and she has picture-perfect porcelain skin that women 40 years her junior are in envy of (trust me!). She loves to shop at Goodwill and take advantage of the huge selection of “modern” clothing.

Christine’s beauty doesn’t stem from the reds she wears, her flawless skin or her impeccable fashion sense. But instead, her beauty is timeless and comes from the colorful fabric of her life.

On January 24, 2014 Christine celebrated her 20 year anniversary as sales associate at Goodwill.

Special thanks to the staff at the Goodwill store in Fogelsville, PA and to Christine for sharing her story.