hi yes I have a suggestion that I,ve been meaning to post here for some time. If a person is real determined to get some sort of "junk" do some checking around with your local auction houses they do a lot of estate sales and the very stuff we talk about on here and re use is the often the left overs from these sales . I have been to 3 estate auctions lately on my block and the leftovers from these would fill a semi. and will go to a landfill. christmas stuff I was told is the hardest to get rid of but just speak with one of these people and get specific for what you are looking for and that you will always be willing to give a few dollars for it . I spent the day with a long time auctioneer a few weeks ago and he told me he throws away huge amounts of xmas, arts and crafts stuff, bowling balls ,wood, ceramics ,the very stuff a lot of us use for mosaics and such. he also said he would rather give it away because it easier than throwing it away. good costume jewelry story I was looking in thrift store for pins for d.d,s teachers and found a 18ct. gold one for 1$ gave it to the teacher anyway. but having a talk with the folks at the thrift store is also a good idea and tell them what you want they go through huge amounts of stuff a day and love a fast turnover,and my fav. here, also has reduced day to clear stuff out. good luck Rick

Remember the Boyfriend Jacket? Take a man's suit jacket that fits you and layer on the pins, etc. You may want to just stick to one kind- say rhinestones on a black jacket. Finish up with a vintage lace handkerchief tucked into the front breast pocket. I once saw a TV show about weird cars- a man's wife passed away, leaving a ton of costume jewelry. He epoxyed it onto her cadillac, compleletly covering the car in her jewels.

Costume jewelry is inexpensive but "fashionable"...not gold filled, not semi precious stones unless they are in "gold toned" settings. Costume jewelry is from companies like Coro, Monet and some of the Krementz line....as well as other unnamed faux gem makers. Most "junk" jewelry is costume, but all costume jewelry isn't junk.

Trifari and Coro are two brands that sell briskly on eBay and Etsy, also. Don't discount the value of the jewelry just because it appears to be plastic. Search "vintage jewelry" with key words that describe your pieces. Other popular terms are "Pegasus," "thermoset," "jelly belly," "confetti," "fire," "parure,"and "moon-glow" in conjunction with the brand names. Carol ETA: added fire and parure to key search words.