Tag Archives: Shopping

Clean Your Closet – Shred Your Threads Clothing Swap & Cash for Clothes

Looking to update your wardrobe on the cheap? Here is a great excuse to clean out your closet.  Check out this AWESOME event at TechShop on Sunday or some of the other ways you can exchange you can upgrade your wardrobe on the cheap.

Shred Your Threads Clothing Swap at TechShop

pittsburgh clothing swapThis Sunday, June 29, 2014 – TechShop Pittsburgh is hosting an epic clothing swap and workshop event.

This is a great deal too – $12 if you aren’t a TechShop Pittsburgh member and gets you access to the swap, to TechShop Pittsburgh (a day pass is usually $50) and a day of workshops on basic sewing, laser cutting, screen printing and other ways to upcycle your clothing.

You can come for all or part of the day.  The workshops are designed to build upon skills – so if you are intersted in learning it is suggested you plan to come for the whole day.

I know that TechShop has lined up some of the craftiest folks around Pittsburgh to help with this event.  I was talking with a felllow Pittsburgh blogger and fashion stylist about the laser cutting demo (I’ve heard rumors that they might try to laser cut a leather jacket) and was informed that laser cutting is quite the trend right now.

The event will begin with Day One, June 28th, for a Call for Clothes (people can drop off their unwanted items to our swap room).  We will accept your donations, whether you are planning to attend day two or not!
Then return on Day Two, June 29th, for a Swap Meet and UpCycling Sessions.  Tickets for Day Two can be purchased through EventBrite.  Tickets include training, instruction, and networking with local artists, seamstresses, and professional instructors as well as light refreshments and all equipment and materials.
The timeline for Day Two includes:
  • 9:00AM – 12:00PM: Clothing Donations accepted
  • 10:00-12:00PM:  SWAP!
  • 11:00AM: Basic Sewing Class
  • 12:00PM: Lunch Break
  • 1:00-5:00PM: Equipment demonstrations, hands-on workshops, take-it-home activities
Demonstration Stations including:
  • Laser-Cutting fabric
  • CNC Embroidery
  • Vinyl-Cutting Techniques
More details about the Shred Your Threads event and registration information is available here.

 Sell Your Clothes for Cash in Pittsburgh and Online

If you can’t make it to the clothing swap this weekend, there are lots of other ways you can trade your old clothes for new ones.

In Pittsburgh, these stores will offer you cash or store credit for your clothes.  You bring in your unwanted clothes and they will offer you a dollar amount for the items they want to buy.  I believe that both offer 30% of the item value in cash or 45% of the item value in credit to buy something else from the shop.  So if you bring in a shirt that they would sell for $10 – you would get $3 in cash or $4.50 in store credit.

Both stores offer a range of new, used, vintage and designer clothing for men and women.

They won’t take everything and often only buy for the current and upcoming season – so don’t go in expecting to walk out with empty bags.

ThredUp Sell Bag [Photo Credit: Amy's Savings Tips]

ThredUp Sell Bag [Photo Credit: Amy’s Savings Tips]

If you have more clothes to get rid of, especially items that are out of season, you might try one of these online resale websites.  I have used both Twice and ThredUp and had a great experience.  Both Twice and ThreadUp will send you a free bag, that comes with a prepaid postage label.  Fill up the bag and send it back.  You will receive an email with an offer for you clothing.  Unwanted items will be donated to Goodwill or you can pay a little extra to have the items shipped back to you.  Twice will give you an additional 25% bonus if you select store credit as your payout.  (From now until 7/31/2014 – Twice is offering a 30% bonus for store credit payouts).

  • Twice – only takes certain brands of women’s clothing and handbags @twice
  • ThredUp – accepts women’s clothing, shoes and handbags and kids clothes for boys and girls @thredup

Do you have any tips or suggestions for closet clean outs?  Are there consignment shops that you would recommend for selling clothes in Pittsburgh?  Share your experience in the comments below.

Here are some additional blog posts about ThredUp…

Shop Late Night in Lawrenceville

When I visit Lawrenceville (which is not often enough), I’m always struck by its double life. By day, it’s a bustling lane of boutiques selling unique wares. By night, it’s my favorite place to meet up for dinner and drinks. Thanks to the industrious shop owners of Butler Street, the two worlds are becoming one.1052471_133807950159326_1915253319_o

Today, Thursday July 11th, stores are keeping their doors open late tonight in Lawrenceville for the inaugural “Shop Late Night in Lawrenceville”. This is the first time local store owners are holding the event, but it will continue now on the second Thursday of each month. Participating businesses will keep their doors open from 6-9p.m., and offer a 10% discount when you present a receipt from a participating store purchase the same night. Take a walk down Butler Street and check out what each store has to offer.

Some businesses will be holding special events in the evening, including trunk shows, pop-up dance parties, and styling events just to name a few. The stores participating include Mid-Atlantic Mercantile, Jules, Pavement, Panello, Wildcard, 720 Music Clothing and Cafe, Divertido, O’Bannon Oriental Rugs, Urban Cottage, Glitter and Grit, and T’s Upholstery Studio.

Emily Slagel of Mid-Atlantic Mercantile explained,

“The event was created by several of Lawrenceville’s women business owners whom collectively see a need to support independent retail and the many diverse local boutiques both newly opened and established in the neighborhood. On a larger scale, the monthly event hopes to draw attention to the importance of shopping locally at small, independent businesses. In recent years, there has been an increasing growth in consumer awareness towards eating locally but there has yet to be the same shift in retail. Both eating and shopping locally is better for you, your community and the environment. Locally owned small businesses provide quality of life while serving as the economic backbone to the community. When you spend $100 at a locally owned and operated small business, about $45 dollars goes directly back into the community opposed to only about $13 when you shop at a nation wide chain.”

So, that’s more than reason enough for me to get that scarf I’ve been lusting after. Check out the event tonight, and keep coming back each month. For more details, head on over to “Shop Late Night in Lawrenceville’s” Facebook page.

Treader’s Choice: Test Pattern [Live Set]

Treading Art has been putting together an amazing list of weekend events around Pittsburgh. Each week we will highlight one of those events here on IheartPGH and link you back over to Treading Art’s weekly events post.

This weeks Treader’s Choice event:

Friday, July 12th

Test Pattern [Live Set] by Ryoji Ikeda

Test Pattern in concert

Test Pattern in concert

Long awaited and much anticipated, test pattern is art in the form of experience. Data is converted into barcode patterns and translated into audiovisual performances of intense flickering imagery highly synchronized to a soundtrack. This will be the third concert in Ikeda’s datamatics series.

Pierce Studio @ 805 Liberty Ave – Cultural District

10pm//$10

Get your tickets here

Stay up to date on all of the Weekend Treadings and see what else is going on with local Treaders here.

Saturday Shopping at Moop and Boutique 208

Two great places to shop on Saturday December 15, 2012 – these great Pittsburgh businesses have some special holiday shopping events to help you finish your Christmas shopping.

Moop – is a Pittsburgh manufacturer of handmade waxed cotton bags.  Their bags have been featured all over the web and the country but they are made right here in Pittsburgh.  Moop has recently moved to a new studio.  Usually their bags are only available from their website – MoopShop.com, but this Saturday you can stop by their studio for a special holiday sale.

Moop Handmade Holiday Open Studio Sale
Saturday, December 15, 2012
10am-7pm
100 Rosslyn Road, Carnegie, PA 15106 (detailed directions are available here)
Facebook Event Link – http://www.facebook.com/events/448135231912504

Boutique 208 is located downtown at 208 Sixth Street – it started as part of Project PopUp last year.  Boutique 208 is hosting a “Clever Handmade Holiday Shopping Event” on Saturday from 2-8pm, featuring the works of local artists bel monili and juNxtaposition – two unique local artists who create up cycled jewelry and accessories.  There will be wine and free gift wrapping.

A Clever Handmade Holiday Shopping Event
Saturday, December 15, 2012
2pm-8pm
Boutique 208, 208 Sixth Street
Facebook Event Link – http://www.facebook.com/events/133812220101969/ 

Read more about Moop:

What the What is a “Weihnachtsmarkt” ?

Deutsch: Braunschweiger Weihnachtsmarkt

Deutsch: Braunschweiger Weihnachtsmarkt (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A Weihnachtsmarkt is a traditional Christmas street market dating back to the late middle ages.  Yes folks, Halloween has passed, election day is over and it is time to begin the holiday celebrations.  Fortunately you don’t need a DeLorean to visit the Weihnachtsmarkt.  You can fire up your Prius, station wagon or SUV and take a short drive up 79 North to the Historic Harmony Weihnachtsmarkt.

This is the 22rd annual Harmony Weihnachtsmark which will be held at the historic Harmony Museum.  Lots of food, music and of course Chirstmas shopping – its a good excuse to get started on your holiday shopping and I promise it is much more charming that hitting the mall at 8am on black friday with a turkey hangover.

Here are the details for the market – more info is available on the Harmony Museum’s website here.

Saturday November 10th 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Sunday November 11th  12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Call 724-452-7341 or email hmuseum@zoominternet.net

Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for seniors, $3 for students and children under 6 free.

Admission includes: Museum, miniature train exhibit, vendors, artisans and craftsmen, antique show and sale, horse drawn wagon ride, weavers and quilters, wine and beer tasting, Santa and Mrs. Claus, kids crafts and activities and all day German style entertainment

Saturday Entertainment Schedule

Entertainment Tent

  • Burke’s Bavarian Brass – 11:30 to 2:30 p.m.
  • Alpen Schuhplattler Dancers – 3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
  • The Pittsburgh Swiss Singers – 3:30 t0 4:30 p.m.

In Stewart Hall

  • Wha-Ke-we-nn Dulcimers – 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • The Seneca Valley Girls Madrigals – Carol along with them as we celebrate the Tree Lighting!  5:30 at the Festival Entrance

Sunday Entertainment Schedule

Entertainment Tent

  • The Frank Palombi Band
  • 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
  • Alpen Schuhplattler Dancers
  • 1:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

All around the festival both Saturday and Sunday (weather permitting) look for Ron our strolling accordion player!

Antique Show Dealers

Stop in the Antique Show & Sale’s huge tent and see the beautiful items that over 15 high quality antique dealers have to offer!

Artisans and Vendors

  • Third Eye Imagery, Photography
  • Amanda Lee Glassware, Hand Painted Glassware
  • From the Heart Pure & Simple, Shampoos & Body Products
  • Wyatt McQueen, 18th Century Style Furniture
  • Faces by Christina, Face Painting
  • Brooke Espersen, Handcrafted Jewelry
  • Monika Dalrymple, Hand Tatted German Ornaments
  • The Enchanted Olive, Gourmet Olive Oils & Balsamic Vinegars
  • Nancy K Wallace, Author “The Christmas Cats”
  • Little Germany, German Christmas Foods, Steins, Nutcrackers, Toys
  • Theresa Stauffer, Hand Painted Wood Apples & Eggs, Ornaments
  • Hidden Treasures, Museum Reproductions, Hand Painted Boxes & Furniture
  • MP Pinecone Designs, Pinecone Wreaths, Garlands, Ornaments, Birdhouses
  • Stramba Farm Alpacas & More, Yarns, Felt, Hats, Socks, Rugs, Scarves
  • Margaret L Bickenheuser, Basketry & Seat Weaving
  • Rugs of Character, Handwoven Rugs from Recycled Materials
  • Ashgrove Soaps & Beeswax Ornaments
  • Lindsey Lee Creations, Hand Crafted Beaded Jewelry
  • James Kapusta, Shaker Oval Nesting Boxes & Carriers
  • Pine Knoll Clock Shop, Clock Repair, Restoration & Sales
  • Pine Knoll Herb Shop, Hand Crafted Soaps, Lotions & Dried Herbs
  • Apple Blossom Pottery, Hand Thrown High Fire Functional Stoneware
  • Pleasures of the Palate, Traditional German Roasted Nuts
  • Riverwood Trading, Hand Carved Wooden Treenware
  • Fred Threlfal, Map Maker, Colonial Prints
  • Honest Brothers, 18th Century Silversmith
  • Harmony Tin, Colonial Punched Tin Lanterns, Lamps, Ornaments, Leaves
  • Don Allaman, Stained Glass & Kiln Formed Decorative Glass Items
  • James Varley, Wooden Toys & Gifts
  • Claus & Truax, Leather Bottles, Mugs, Canteens, Buckets & Leather Goods
  • Irmgard Rebel, German Dolls & Teddy Bears, Embroidery
  • Bees in a Basket, Scented Beeswax Pinecones, Bars, Cinnamon Sticks
  • Everlasting Gardener, Aromatherapy, Herb Teas, Potpourris, Flavorings
  • Cinnamon Scents, Handmade Candles & Rustic Scrubs
  • Volant Mill Winery, Locally Made Fine Wines, Wine Tasting
  • Bill Fugate, Blacksmith
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