January/Early February Jewels: Cutout Brass Bangle

I try very very hard, when thrifting, to avoid that intense, sick to your stomach feeling you get when you realize it was a mistake to leave something behind. No matter how carefully you edit, this is inevitably going to happen. Poorly negotiating the tough questions that arise when you are attracted to something, lack of time to consider, fear of taking a risk, or a too high price, can all be reasons for these passing something by. The latter ($$$) is one of the most frustrating pitfalls, and the reason that I nearly missed out on this fantastic cutout brass bangle.

This is an incredible story, and one of the reasons why Green Bay thrifting is unparalleled. I first saw this bracelet over my Thanksgiving Green Bay visit and instantly loved it. I was torn because the price was $10, which is rather steep by GB standards. I was also considering how much money I'd been spending overall, and it seemed especially extravagant. I made the tough decision to leave it behind. Needless to say, I regretted it, and the bracelet was on my mind for the next several weeks.

Fast forward to Christmas, back in GB, three weeks later. I head back to the Salvation Army to do another sweep. First thing, I go to the jewelry counter to see if somehow, by the grace of God, the bracelet is still there. Holy crap, it is. I ask to see it and try it on again. $10 still seems a bit much, but it is worth the price of...wait, what? There is a second price tag! It says $4! This is too good to be true. Not only is it still here, miraculously, but it is MARKED DOWN?! I ask the lady behind the counter which price is the correct price. She says $4, that it was just recently marked down. I simply could not believe my luck. In the world of thrifting, such things simply do not happen. If you pass something up, you kiss it goodbye. No second chances. Only in Green Bay would this seemingly unbreakable tenant of thrifting be upended by the fact that practically no one is shopping for the stuff that I want. Unbelievable!

This bracelet also fits right in the world of the woven metal bangle and the Indian cord necklaces, as if they all magically coordinated themselves. It was a magical week for jewelry thrifting, indeed.