OP Shop Hopping!

Wow what a day. I have a pounding head and aching limbs, a sign of a hard day of op shopping. These side effects well and truly out weigh the feelings I get when Im about to enter an op-shop I've never had the pleasure of visiting before...butterflies in the stomach, heavy chest of anxiety and a squiel of excitement as I approach the store.

I had the day off work today so I decided to devote the day to Op Shopping. Something I havn't done in a long time. Ive had a lot of quick visits lately between work, on lunch breaks etc, but not a single day of solid exploring. My Mum and Dad came a long for the ride. They too are both keen Op Shoppers. I was hoping to visit about 6-8 shops today but we only managed to make it through 3 in a total of 4 1/2 hours. Where does the time go? We all had a good hard look around though, which is hard to do sometimes. And being a Friday, a work day, there weren't as many people in the shops in comparison to a Saturday, which made the task so much easier.

I came away about $100 poorer but found some real goodies!

The first Op Shop we went to was The Salvation Army in Bentleigh, around the corner from my Grandparents. This store is only a few weeks old.

Here's what I scored:

I got this Candlelabra for $9.99. Not a bargin but a good quality item. I've been looking for one for a while now for my dinning table but havn't quiet found the right shape, until today...Very elegant and will fit in nicely with the Damask / Fluer De Lys setting I'm trying to create in my dinning area of my lounge room.

This cute Milk and Sugar set was only $3.99! ( 2 bucks a piece) This matches the new bronze placemats my Mum bought me (in background). Perfect for entertaining! Love the splash of orange colour to brighten up the rather neutral look Ive got going at the moment.

Beautiful patent leather look bealt with interesting buckle...$4.99

A sucker for anything animal print, especially leopard, I had to get these adorable crushed velvet gloves. My Mum found then inside a bag on display. They were unmarked, so I'm not even sure how much I ended up paying for them?



Fantastic Italian Silk scarf...love the colours...wow! $2.99

I also ened up with long rectangular photo frame, approx 40cm x 1mt long for $14.99, to fill with photos of me and A.W above our bed. I'm thinking a black and white collage of some of our funny snaps. This is still in the car so I haven't photographed it yet. It is new with wrapping still on. I also got a pair of baggy bike riding shorts with the padded bottom for A.W., new with tags for $8.99. These retail for up to $99...we know as we have been reasearching them for him. No more sore bum after big bike rides. And lastly a very convinsing, yet fake Louis Vuitton Bag for $8.99. Im not big on the whole fake designer bag thing, but I love how sturdy and large this one was. Its the only designer copy thing I own...I'm allowed one arn't i?

The next stop was St Andrews Op Shop in Brighton. I was so excited on approaching this one. I could see it was full of goodies and couln't wait to get in. Before I entered I turned to my parents and said "It looks like a good one!". There was two cute little old ladies behind the counter. All good op shops have lovely little old ladies in them. Bless their hearts!

This is what I got:

Cute lime green parosail $2.50. Not quite sure what I'm going to do with it?...but I had to have it. these things are over priced at markets. I think it will look sute displayed in my study, I have a hot pink and lime green theme going on in there.

I found some great books and a couple of CD's all only a few dollars each.

Next stop was St Vinnies in Hampton. I had the most success here.

This is what I found there:

My Mum found these great coasters for me to go with my Damask dinning theme. What a score. I can't believe she saw these! It always helps to have an extra set or two, of eyes looking out for you! I got these great tissue serviettes at the $2 Shop in Moonne Ponds. Picked up 3 packets for entertaining. I was so excited when I found these.


This amazing Damask platter...this dint have a price tag on it but the lady only charged me $2! I was stocked. Again, perfect for my dinning setting! Yay!

Tosca genuine leather purse, red croc skin look. This also had no price and she only charged me $2 for that too!


How fun are these sunnies...all only $1 each. A little bit scratched up, but as I wont be wearing them as an everyday thing, they will be fine.



Cute little pudding bowls. Ive been looking for these as I've been tempted to make little dessert puddinsg when entertaining but haven't had the bowls to do so. Great neutral colour that fits in well with my dining setting. These were only $1 each too!


I nearly walked out with out purchasing these amazing vintage clip on earrings! What gteat colours. Just like traffic lights.



I have a habit of smashing wine glasses, and no not when I've had a few wines, but when it comes time to wash them. Anyway picked up these cute onesto replace the gap in my collection. Think these wil be used for Red wine. They were only 50 cents each...Bargin!


The vase was $2.00, just had to have it. I find it very unusal and I will use it when my Grandmas gives me clippings from here garden in spring when I visit. I've never really had a vase small enough for garden clippings...perfect!


Isn't this an amazing piece of work! I took this to show my grandma and she believes it is created on a wooden block with lots of pins stuck in it and the artist moves the string around the pins to create a pattern. Im not sure exactly what this method is called but I will look it up. I'm not really a doillie collector but just had to have this piece as it is amazing. The detail is incredible. It was only $1.00!


I also got this cute leather coin purse for $1.00 and a zip lock bag of green buttons for $2.00. The buttons will be used in a craft project of some kind.

One of my favourite places in Op Shops is the library. I found some great books.

The first, Laura Ashleigh Decorating for $4.00. Looks interesting, some great photos and decorating ideas for that kind of desired style. Might come in handy one day if my tastes change. Could be a handy tool one day though. A great addition to my library of reference books.



The second a book on Victorian costumes $2.00. Look at those beautiful shoes. Great references!



The third is a book on Chinese Cut Paper Designs for $4.00.

I purchsed some of these from a little Chinese man in Manly Beach Sydney at the market there. They are acutually whats hanging above our bed at the moment. There are such great workes of art. So delicate and intricate. There are some amazing designs in this book.

A summary of some of my purchases. Funny how they all kinda make an outfit really...I didnt realsie until I took this group shot. The earrings match the colours on the scarf exactly!

What a very satisfying day of Op Shopping...cant wait to display and make homes for all my new goodies! Until next time....

Fellow vintage lover!

A Sunday tradition of mine is to buy the Sunday Herald Sun, even if I don't buy a single copy during the week, I really look forward to sitting down and reading the Sunday paper. It has so much more interesting reads then during the week. A favuorite is the SUNDAY magazine inside the paper. I love to read the "Can't live without" section where they interview celeb's on their fav things. In todays copy, Caroline Craig, from Blue Heelers and most recently the Underbelly series, shares her love of vintage clothing. I just thought it was interesting that even some "celebraties" as such, buy their wardrobe from second hand or charity shops. Most would be worried about designer names and what label they are going to be seen or photographed in. I know that "vintage clothing" is becoming more and more fashionable but for some of us, it really is a passion that can't be denied!

Partying like its 1979!

1979 Dress up costume.

This is the fantastic 80's satin green jumpsuit I mentioned in my last posting. It comes with a matching belt. I also managed to get a blonde wig from the costume shop on South Rd in Bentleigh. Aparently this particular style just arrived that day so I was the first customer to purchase it. It wasn't exactly the Farrah Fawcett style I wanted but with limited time and resourses, it was the best I was going to get. The necklace im wearing in the first photo is another great ebay buy. Its a vintage chocker necklace with a cougar motif pendant. I also have a gold glomesh bag to complete the outfit. I will post some more photos tomorrow of the actual party.

Dress ups!

Im so excited! My dress up arrived in the mail today. A emerald green late 70's/early 80's belted jumpsuit. An ebay purchase. I love it. It fits be almost perfectly, slightly tight around the waist as I hate to acentuate my hips and tummy, especially when I bloat after a few drinks. But after a few drinks, will I even care? My friend Greg is having his 30th Birthday party this Friday night and the theme is 1979 Dress up! Im thinking Farrah Fawcett style. Trying to get my hands on a blonde wig with those wispy bits that curl out to the side. That, or I could be a Charle Angel, an extra on the Love Boat...hmmm... I will have to take some photos tomorrow night and do some more research and brainstorming!
Thats all I have tonight. Got to do some washing and then its off to bed.

My first blog...

I have only just discovered the world of blogging!?! Wow just a few days and im already caught up in this, reading all these interesting blogs of crafty, vintage and fashion loving people. It has really inspired me to create my own and I hope that I may one day have a few followers here and there.

Im going to start my vert first blog by asking the question...Could there be such a thing as a thrift gene? I come from a line of "collectors" and thrifty, crafty people. Was it their influence and exposure growing up, or is it just in my blood?

Both my grandparents are thrifty people. So thrifty, they built their own house 60 years ago (and they are still living in that same house today at 83 years of age).
My grandmother is a seamstress extraordinaire. She was behind the creations of most of our family wardrobes. She still sews and knits her own clothes to this day. All my clothes as a child were hand made from her. Remember the 80's parachute tracksuits??...my parents couldnt always afford to dress us in the latest "fashion fad", so nan made my brother and I a couple in bright fluro colours (wonder if I can find some photos somewhere?). We though we were the bees knees! She started working in a sewing factory at the age of 15. I love that she is still best friends with a work collegue, Beryl, neary 70 years later. My grandmothers children (my mum and uncle) and Beryls children, have grown up together and my brother and I grew up with Beryls grandchildren. 3 generations of friendships and to this day we still celebrate every milestone in each others lives, along with a "friend" Christmas celebrated every boxing day. (Another of my loves...old tales and traditions...history, I love it!)

My grandfather is a retired artist. Im not sure if you ever actually retire from being an artist but he no longer pulls out his brushes and led pencils as age is catching up with him. Hes has a garage full of treasures, things from years ago, but "you never know when you might need them", things collected from the side of the road, things covered in years on dust. A piolet in the Air Force he was then a lecturer at a TAFE in the plumbing and gasfitting industry. He had always been very clever with his hands. If something is in need of fixing, then he's your man.

My mum has always dabbled in crafts. Shes unfortunatelty not a sewer, or a knitter, however she is starting a night course in quilting this week. She used to ran a craft stall at Gembrook market with the help of my grandparents. She gave that away once we startred highschool and us kids demanded more of her time. She hopes to one day get back into her craft when she finally retires.

My dad is a music lover. I swear he could open up a record store with the amount of LP's and CD's he has. He collects the old and rare and sells the rest at market stalls and record fairs. It is a major interest in his life and he has made many friends through his passion of old music.

Me I love recycled fahion. I very rarely buy any NEW clothes, unless for a special occasion or for my job, in which I have to wear their clothes. I love sourcing my wardrobe collection from op shops, markets and ebay. I love that it doesn't come from a chain stiore and that if someone likes it, they cant find the same thing and buy it too! I love having an original look that no one can directly copy! Thats the fun of vintage clothing! I studied Visual Arts and Visual Merchandising at Uni. I love painting, photography, jewellery making and anything "crafty". I love antiques, things from the past, anything that has a story and a history.

I hope to post photos of some of my favourite things in the next couple of days and my bargin finds of the week!