In the Second Chance Cat
mysteries Sarah Grayson owns a re-purpose shop, Second Chance. Sarah likes
finding treasures for her store, sometimes giving things a whole new life.
Thatโs something we have in common. I like thrift stores, flea markets, second
hand shops and consignment stores. And itโs not just about saving money,
although I am known for being wellโฆfrugal. For me, it really is like going on a
treasure hunt. I never know what Iโm going to find. And to make it more likely
Iโll end up with a treasure and not a lump of coal I have some rules I try to
follow.
If it canโt be washed, donโt buy it.
Anything that canโt go in my washing machine or my basement sink with lots of
hot water and soap stays at the store. My art table (solid top, solid legs) was
wiped off before it went in the trunk of my car and stayed in the back yard
until it could be scrubbed top to bottom. (Did I mention Iโm a little
germaphobic?)
Check everything.
Look over every seam for tears, every hem, cuff and collar for wear. Make sure
the zipper works. Check for pills and holes in the fabric. Itโs nice if a shirt
or sweater has all of its buttons but not essential. Buttons can be replaced
very inexpensively. I bought a shirt once just to get the flower buttons to put
on something else.
If the legs on a table are loose can they be glued or tightened? Are there any
chips around the lip of a mug or a casserole dish? Is the glass cracked in that
picture frame? A quick check in the store can save a lot of frustration later.
Carry a measuring tape
Will that table fit in your trunk or make it down the basement stairs? I missed
the first art table I saw because I wasnโt sure it would fit in the corner in my
office.
Not every thrift store has changing rooms and you may not want to try something
on before youโve washed it. Plus a size 10 by one manufacturer may not be the
same as a size 10 from another. Measure your best fitting pieces of
clothingโpants, skirt, shirtโand use those measurements as a guide when youโre
shopping.
Know your dirt.
It would be nice if everyone made sure what is set out for a yard sale or sent
to a thrift shop is freshly washed. And most people do. But sometimes youโll
find just what you want is a little grubby. Take a close look at the dirt. Is it
just dirt? Not something greasy? Plain dirt is easy to deal with. My first line
of attack is generally an old-fashioned scrub brush and some elbow grease.
I do know several thrifters who use everything from spray stain removers, to
dish washer detergent, to a bar of yellow laundry soap with at least some
success on clothes.
Give back.
Think about your local Salvation Army store, Goodwill, church or charity next
time you have a pile of things youโre not using. Please make sure everything is
clean and works. Clothing should be gently worn. That means those yoga pants
with the baggy knees and the paint stains go in the garbage, but the green
sweater you never wore because it makes you look like your liver is failing
might look great on someone else. Someone like me.
Sofie Ryan is the pseudonym of young adult writer and mixed-media artist,
Darlene Ryan. Sofie/Darlene lives on the east coast with her husband and
daughter. In her spare time she practices Wu style tai chi and likes to prowl
around thrift stores. And she admits to having a small crush on Matt Lauer.
Spring has come to charming North Harbor, Maine, and with the new season
comes a new haul for Second Chance, the shop where Sarah Grayson sells lovingly
refurbished and repurposed items. Sarah is turning her keen eye to the estate of
collector Edison Hall, hoping for fabulous finds for Second Chanceโbut when her
rescue cat Elvis discovers a body in the kitchen, everything goes paws
up.
The body belongs to an appraiser who had been hired to check out
Edisonโs wine collection. When Edisonโs sister shows up at Second Chance, she
hires Sarahโs friendsโthe kooky and charismatic trio of ladies who call
themselves Charlotteโs Angels and work out of the shopโto solve the murder,
Sarah knows she and Elvis are only going to get deeper into the case. But as it
becomes a cat and mouse game of lies, cons, cheats, and family squabbles, can
Elvis and Sarah claw their way to the truth before the killer slinks away
forever?
I love books that are based in Maine. Your book sounds great. Yesterday, Goodwill had 50% off and my daughter went to a lot of them. I got needlework and yarn and books. My daughter got some dishes and wine glasses for her brother-in-law's Groom's Dinner. (Leona Olson 10:17am February 16, 2016)
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