Oakleigh Salvos is DANGEROUS!

Do you have an op shop that you sort of try to avoid because every time you go there you end up buying something? Yes, I know, most op shops are like that... but the Oakleigh Salvos is particularly bad, or good, depending how you look at it. I went there the other day innocently intending to browse, but ended up buying a crockery set. You know how it is.
This one was $44.99 and handgemalt (handpainted) in Germany. I can't read the brand name I'm taking an educated guess that it was made in the 70s!
**update... I neglected to mention how many pieces were in this set... please see comments as I've explained why this seems so expensive!

Thrift trip

Hi dolls,

Haven't had a chance to do much thrifting lately *BOOOOO*!

Managed to squeeze in a quick trip though at my fave spot - Vinnies Hoppers Crossing. I found these funky print loose pants, cute clutch and shabby picture frames.

For full post go to http://www.vintagefokus.blogspot.com/ and don't forget to enter my giveaway ending tonight!

Recycled Outfits

Not sure if anyone else has been reading this blog but it is an amazing outfit blog sourcing items from op shops! Definitely worth checking out, this girl has done an amazing job on her quest to do 100 days of opped outfits! :)

Oakleigh Vinnies and Dandenong Salvo's

I found some gorgeous tops out at Dandenong Salvo's today.. am only popping up 2! The first is my favourite... is a soft pale pink top with beaded detailing on the shoulders. At $5.99 I couldn't not take this beauty home!

The second item I wanted to share is a navy blue velvet blazer I got for only $4 (was one of the 50% items!) It is in immaculate condition, and is a UK brand... barely looks worn!
These finds below are from Vinnie's Oakleigh. I got the spice rack for only $4 (they are my own spices... I just couldn't wait to see how they looked in it!)

I got the wooden bangle for $2.

'The Grapes of Wrath' (amazing book!) was only 50c; 'House of Sand and Fog' (an Oprah book club book) was $1.50; and the 'Mrs de Winter' was $2... I had to have this book as it is marked as a sequel to Daphne du Maurier's 'Rebecca' which I studied a few years ago at university and just loved!

Trash and Treasure Sale Cancelled

A message from Bill Tompkins of the Blackburn North Lions Club:

"The next trash and treasure sale was to be held next Saturday, 2 October. Unfortunately, the Scout Hall is no longer available, and so the sale has to be cancelled. With the replay of the Grand final, this probably isn't such a bad thing.

The next sale is scheduled for Saturday, 13 November. Hopefully there won't be any more hiccups and I'll see you there."

Today's Outfit

Jacqui E cardi (Dandenong Salvo's), Country Rd tunic dress (I'm a giraffe so it's a top on me!)(Vinnies Edithvale), Scarf (Dandenong Salvo's), bag (Glen Waverly Salvo's), scarf on bag (Dandenong Salvo's).

I've blogged about all of the items separately so you can look up the price of everything there... just wanted to show how you can throw everything together and make an entire outfit out of things you buy at op shops :)

Label maker

I got this from the Blackburn South Rotary op shop today. Looove labels!

Rotex

Where eagles dare... otherwise known as Rowville Salvos

I found this amazing batik material for $3.99 at the Rowville Salvos a week or so ago (have been a bit busy to take photos... as usual...). Actually it was less than $3.99 because it was in a bag with about 5 other big pieces of material... so more like under $1!! Not sure where it's from originally, Indonesia or Malaysia maybe?

The design is of eagles soaring over a middle ground of plants and then lots of little birds in the foreground down the bottom.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it, probably I'll make it into a wallhanging when I eventually get around to it... how cool is the design, although the eagles are a bit scary!

Brotherhood of St.Laurence, Eltham.

Over at our favourite local oppie, my friend G. and I have had a lovely week. G. bought a new washed denim jacket and jeans set for $20, which still had a price tag on it for $180!!!!! I found an assortment of goodies - clothes and fabrics, pictured below, except for a piece of iron-on interfacing for 80c which wasn't worth photographing. I also bought a 2009 calendar of vintage travel posters for 50c. I just love those old art deco posters! Haven't photographed that one either. My clothes aren't as exciting as G's, but I'm happy.

This piece of fabric is 19 feet/5.79 metres long, and 60"/1.5 metres wide. It cost me $15. The lady behind the counter said "What are you going to do with that?" and I told her I'm going to make two togas. Ken and I are going to see the Ben Hur stadium spectacular in Sydney next month, and the publicity people are urging ticket holders to dress up for the night. I Googled 'how to make a toga' and have all the instructions (DON'T use sheets!), so when I saw this material, I decided it will be perfect!


I know these tracky dacks will look so tacky to most of you, but I'm built for comfort, not for speed these days, and have been searching for some new tracksuit pants for ages. $3.


This cotton overblouse will be great in summer - $4.

Royal History

I found some books on the Queens Coronation and her family at the RSPCA op shop at Burwood East last week. $13 for 5 books isn't too shabby.

There are some beautiful old photos in these books. I love them!

Today's Finds

Bead/knot necklace $6 @ MS Op Shop, Glen Waverly

Ralph Lauren Polo $4.99 @ Salvo's Dandenong; Black and white satin shirt $5.99 @ Salvo's Dandenong (I thought this was lovely until I got home and saw 3 holes in the back!); 'Bride Stripped Bare' $2.99 @ Salvo's Dandenong
Esprit blazer $7.99 Salvo's Glen Waverly; Grey crumpled scarf $3.99 @ Salvo's Dandenong; Brown lace top $3.99 @ Salvo's Dandenong
Vintage Italian leather brown handbag $6.99 @ Salvo's Glen Waverly; L'Occataine travel pack $2.99 @ Salvo's Dandenong; Sportsgirl satin print scarf (new with tags RRP $29.95) $5 @ MS Op Shop Glen Waverly; Rimmel red nail polish (new & sealed) $1.99 @ Salvo's Dandenong.

More earrings....

I have something like 80 pairs of earrings, even though I don't have my ears pierced. This pair are my most recent find and were $1 from Vinnies in Dandenong, not that I needed them, but I couldn't resist...

Today's Opping

Cute necklace (boy & girl kissing) $3.99 @ Salvo's Oakleigh

Purr winged-top $4.99 and grey scarf $3.99 both @ Salvo's Cranbourne
Jacqui E sheer brown ruffled shirt $6.99 @ Salvo's Oakleigh
'Tommo & Hawk' $2, 'The Poisonwood Bible' $2, 'The Pilot's Wife' $1 and 'Henry VI' $1 all from Vinnie's Oakleigh. English verse hardcover book (1946 ed) $1.99 @ Salvo's Oakleigh.

Today's Outfit.. Mostly Opped ;)

I am stuck in the law library at uni so thought I'd take a snap of my outfit... Jacqui E cardigan from Salvo's in Dandenong (Lonsdale St) $5.99 I think; scarf 50c from Vinnies in Dandenong; you can't really see it but I'm wearing the Saba top I got on the weekend for $2.50 from Salvo's in Keysborough :)

Balwyn Salvos

I bought my favourite grandma cardigan at the Balwyn Salvos earlier this year, but I never posted about it on this blog, so here I am now :) It was $3.50 due to their half price colour days, which was also nice. Balwyn Salvos is significantly less overpriced than Camberwell, Hawthorn or Abbotsford. There is a pretty good range of dresses and other clothing as well as some homewares and bric-a-brac.

Some Suggestions Please

This post isn't really about anything I've bought recently. I've had the tablecloth for a couple of months now. The side plate, I've had for just ages and the mismatching teacup and saucer I bought at the RSPCA Op Shop at Burwood East a few months ago.

I keep my eye out for really pretty teacups, saucers, sideplates, bowls and dinner plates as I want a totally mismatching 'good' crockery set. I don't like to pay very much for each piece and I haven't seen a lot around, so, I was wondering if anyone would be able to tell me some great places to go where I can find really pretty pieces of fine bone china, preferably from England or anywhere in Europe really.

I'd really appreciate your help and suggestions to which op shops to visit.

~ Ky x

the happy hunter-gatherer

This article is actually a couple of years old now but I can't recall whether anything was posted about it at the time. Writer Amy Choi, who was kind enough to give this blog a shout at the time, has started her own op shop-happy blog called Revival.

(Illustration by Robin Cowcher, originally found here.)

Watsonia opshops.

The small Watsonia shopping centre has three busy op shops: The Red Cross, the Brotherhood of St. Lawrence, and the Salvos. My friend G. and I visited them all today. G found some great clothes as usual, four beautiful cushions, and a new four piece dinnerset for $11. I saw an English "Churchill Imari" teapot and matching milk jug in perfect condition, for about $18 for the pair. I wish now that I'd bought them, but I have enough teapots and milk jugs, and no room to keep any more. But I didn't come home empty handed. Of course.


Two craft magazines from two shops: one for 50c and the other 99c (don't you hate that? We haven't had one and two cent coins for years, so it's a bloody DOLLAR, not 99 cents)


A huge ball of lace for 50 cents! Most opshops would sell this by the metre, but the lady at this shop just looked at it and said doubtfully "Is 50 cents okay?" Is the Pope a Catholic?


A self-help book about Arthritis. With my hands and feet aching most of the time now, and my neck and back getting stiffer every morning, I need all the help I can get.


A stunning glass paperweight for $7 (the ticket price was $6.99, but if you read what I said above...) A friend collects them, so I've been looking for them to keep for Xmas gifts, and they are mostly around the $20 mark, so this was a bargain.

Treasures For This Week

This is the first time I have contributed to 'I op therefore I am'. I'm feeling a little privilaged right about now.

I love looking at all the things that everyone finds and how much and where they got them. It's so inspirational.

Here a few of my finds in the past week.

Found this straw handbag in almost perfect nick at the Glen Waverley Salvo's for $3.99

These Demonia Mary Jane's in perfect nick at the Rotary Clothesline on Mitchum Rd, Mitchum for $4.50. I was so stoked to stumble across these!

These Nine West shoes for $8.00 at the Vinnies store in Mitchum.

I also picked up some old, hard back classics at the Adra Op Shop in Mitchum for 50cents each. Am finally going to read Doctor Zhivago.

You can read/see more of my op shop treasures by visiting my blog and clicking on the 'op shops' label in the side bar.

Hope you all have a great week and find some fabulous treasures while op shopping!

~ Ky x

Forest Hill finds

I had a little trip to Nunawading last week to get my tax return done, but what I did AFTER that was a lot more fun... I managed to visit 6 op shops but my best finds were from the three on Mahoneys Road in Forest Hill. I got this necklace for $2

and this convection oven that can be used on a stovetop for $13.50
(sorry that I can't seem to get the pic the right way up, not sure why this has happened, tips anyone?), both from the Youth Education Support shop. The oven is missing a handle and I'm not sure if it can be used on an electric stove but luckily the instruction manual is included so I'll just have to give the manufacturers a call and ask.
The Lion's Den op shop on Mahoneys Road is for hardcore oppers, it is like organised chaos but if you feel like a rummage it is perfect. I found some AMAZING fringed over-knee boots in my size .. but they were $30 which is over my budget and they weren't quite the right colour. But anyone looking for fringed boots, go and check it out!

Confessions of an Op-a-Holic

So after a very full week of classes and work I was in desperate need of some op-therapy! Here are my finds:

Country Road top/dress $6 @ Edithvale Vinnies

Purr "Betty Davies Eyes" tank top $3.99 @ Hastings Salvo's
Brown Witchery v-neck $4.99 and yellow Saba tank top $1.99 (was a 50% off item) @ Salvo's Keysborough
Silk tie $1.99 @ Hasting's Salvo's; 'The Art of Living' (an 1950s US Readers Digest collection) $2 @ Edithvale Vinnies; Books all $1 @ Mordialloc Lions Op Shop; Esprit brown leather belt $4.99 @ Salvo's Keysborough
Barkins purple and white stripe business shirt $2.99 (was a 50% off item) @ Salvo's Mordialloc

Pyrex pretty

I'm always on the lookout for vintage Pyrex. There's something so lovely about the translucency of the casseroles and covered dishes- it's very like milk-glass. And the coloured finishes and patterning are so pretty. They're like dressing-table trinket boxes you put in the oven!

Seen here is a Snowflake Blue divided casserole found today at the Brotherhood of St Laurence Opshop on Glenhuntly Road, Caulfield, for just $3. I've seen similar dishes in other opshops for $10 and upwards so I was very pleased. When I get my Pyrex pieces home I give them a gentle bicarb-soda scrub to remove baked on residue then rinse with clear water- they come up beautifully.

Besides being lovely to look at, this retro cookware is very practical. If you make a large bake or casserole, the leftovers can simply remain in the dish and get covered with the lid to go straight into the fridge. You don't have to fuss with gladwrap or get tupperware-type containers dirty. The flat covers enable safe stacking of two or more dishes, or other refrigerator contents can go on top.

The Pyrex Love blog showcases the extensive collection owned by Linda and Bryan, and offers a taxonomy of the different colours and patterns fossickers may find in opshops. I'm warning you, collecting these dishes is addictive!