BSL opshop Eltham.

I've been a bit lax in posting here lately, because although I always bring something home after I've done my stint for the day, it isn't always terribly exciting to anyone else.  Not that today's goodies are exciting to others either but I was VERY excited to find two vintage items of hand embroidery waiting for me.  Especially as this wasn't my usual day on duty; I was called in to fill in for someone.
Beautiful supper cloth with hand crocheted edging - $12.

Interesting table runner or scarf, in Japanese or Chinese embroidery on silk.  This photo does not do it justice. $5

  Four lots of ric rac on original cards going back to around the 1940s. 20c each.

Obviously an unwanted gift of soap, $1.  I've put it in one of my dressing table drawers, it smells so fresh.

Unusual brooch $2.50, which I doubt if I would wear.  I would prefer to pin it to a patchwork piece to embellish.

Ceramic magnet - free.  The other volunteer on duty threw it in the rubbish because the magnet bit on the back had come off.  I rescued it immediately - I've got those magnets in my craft stash!

I can never resist a biscuits cookbook.  50c.

Uncovering Delights in Mirboo North

On a recent trip to visit a friend near Morwell, the Chef and I found ourselves being driven out to investigate the op shop in Mirboo North.  If you're looking for Mirboo North, you'll find it in Gippsland, halfway between Morwell and Leongatha.  It's a sweet little town surrounded by lush pastures and a bit of bushland, packed full of cafés and specialty shops and, of course, the op shop.

Here's what I found (mostly old knitting patterns, of course):

The Winter Warmers book in particular is fantastic and not that different from the modern version Patons produces today.  The difference being that the modern book costs around $17 and mine cost about twenty cents.

But this was my favourite find, for obvious reasons:

Crocheted and knitted ties!  And yes, I will absolutely be making at least one of these because how could I not?

Apart from the knitting patterns (of which I only bought a few, so there are still many left), the Mirboo North op shop has plenty of clothes on offer, including a box full of hats.  It also has a steady supply of crafting and patchworking magazines, if that sort of thing is of interest to anyone.

If you ever happen to be driving through Mirboo North, you should definitely stop off at the op shop.  And when you're done, wander across the road to the chocolate shop and treat yourself to something sweet.

Camperdown Victoria op shopping

Found this great pure wool hand crafted cape/ poncho( it has arm holes) in the local Sunnyside op shop which supports the old folks home. Couldn't let it go at only $10.

The Upwey Treasure Shop

Last weekend, we detoured off the Burwood Highway into Upwey in search of an op shop, which we found in the form of 'The Treasure Shop', an op shop run a local Uniting Church.  It's a lovely little place just around the corner from the main strip of shops - a bit long and narrow with interesting little nooks packed full of treasures.  The name does not lie!

Here's what I found:

They had quite a few music books, plus a small collection of recorders and a folding music stand, if anyone's interested in those sorts of things.  I've just started to learn clarinet, so I was a bit excited to find a Grade One AMEB clarinet book with pieces I can actually play.  It's great when the original price stickers are left on things, because now I can delight in the knowledge that our entire haul of goodies (including some books for The Chef) cost us less than the clarinet book cost its original owner.

My favourite piece was easily the Traditional Knitting with Wool book.  Not only does it have some fantastic classic patterns, it also contains information about traditional knitting techniques from around the world.

No prizes for guessing where the last patterns are from.

The Treasure Shop is definitely worth a detour if you happen to be in the Upwey area.

Kyneton Op Shops

Someone asked about op shops close together which are open on a Saturday.  Kyneton (a small town to the north of Melbourne) has four op shops, three of which are open on a Saturday.


Salvo's Store  162B Mollison St, Kyneton  Open: Mon-Fri 10am-4pm, Sat 9am-1pm
The Preloved Pedlar 136 Mollison St Kyneton Open Mon-Fri 10am to 4pm Sat 9.30am - 12.30pm.
Uniting Church Op Shop 22 Market St Kyneton Open: M: 12.30-2.30pm, T: 1.30-3.30pm, W: 10.30-3.30pm, Th&F: 10-4pm, Sa: 10-12n


If you come on the second Saturday of the month you can have the fun of the Farmer's Market as well. 
 

Frankston OP Trip_05 APRIL

Frankston OP Trip_05 APRIL

Had a trip to Frankston last Saturday, noticed there are 7 op shops but finally can only visited 3 of them ;( It's a pity but I am lucky enough to grab some bargain. I work on weekdays, can only go op shop during weekend, enjoy going to suburb with few op shops nearby, so can grab every chance to shop before shop closed. Do you have any suggestions for SAT op shop trip?

1. $5 for the embroidery cotton dress.
2. $1 for the Genuine Leather Wallet.

Kilsyth Salvos

We spent a very rewarding half hour or so in the Kilsyth Salvos store this morning.  They had a fantastic selection of knitting needles and I managed to fish out a couple of pairs I need for my next project: a nice pair of woollen gloves for Winter.  I've never knitted gloves before, so it should be an interesting experience.

Even better than the finds (more on which below) were the people we met.  I had a lovely chat with a lady in the knitting section, who handily had a knitting needle conversion chart to hand - handy because I needed to double-check if a no. 13 was the same as a 2.25 in. needle (turns out it was).  Like me, she also resists paying $27 for a pattern book or $6 for a pair of needles at stores like Spotlight when you can find much more interesting things at a better price in op shops.

Meanwhile, The Chef had run into a musical fellow who was telling us stories about people buying professional French horns valued in the thousands for $500 at Cash Converters.  It's amazing what you can find if you look hard enough!

Speaking of looking hard enough, this is what I found this morning:

My super-fine, glove-knitting needles, some books from the 70s and 80s (plus one classic book that's going to my mum) and a lovely patterned skirt.  I don't like the tie on the skirt, so it'll be going, along with the belt loops, and then I'll be completely happy with it.

Have fun with your op shopping this week!

BSL Eltham Friday.

I haven't found much of interest in the past few weeks, but today we had some really good stuff brought in, as well as what came in during the week.
This rug was brought in by a lady who said it was brand new.  It looked unused and had a tag on the back that looked as if it had just come from a shop, stating the rug was 100% wool.   We discussed it out in the back room and I said these rugs could cost up to $200 or more.  We paid that much for ours over 30 years ago, and it is now looking the worse for wear after all our cats have sharpened their claws on it over the years.   B.  (the manager)  asked us if we thought $40 was a reasonable price, and I said yes, I would buy it for that.  She said "You had better take it now then!"   The photo doesn't do justice to it, but it does match our lounge room decor.

This dear little teapot was on the shelf for $5, and as we are having our kitchen renovated in a few weeks, I decided this would look nice sitting on one of the new shelves.

The brown teapot was $2 - it is a lot smaller than what it looks here.  Really just a one person teapot, but I can use it because sometimes I want to make myself a proper brewed cup of  tea instead of a tea bag, and if DH doesn't want a cuppa, this will be just the thing.

The clock was out the back of the shop in the rubbish box, and I asked B why it was to be thrown out when it looked in good condition.  She said that it might not be working, so I took it home to see if DH could get it going.  All it needed was a battery, so it is now on the wall of our bathroom which is blue tones, and looks great.  (this pic was taken with the clock lying on the floor).  I'll ask B for a price next week; I'm guessing it won't be more than about $5.

I don't wear ear rings, but when I saw these Gumnut babies ear rings in the 50c box on the counter, I thought I can remove the hooks and use them to decorate craft projects.  Look at those dear little bottoms ;-)

Craft cutting mat for $1 - crafties can never have enough of these - they can wear out pretty quickly!

Vintage crocheted tea cosy for $1.

Long length of fabric $5 - haven't measured it yet, but it looks to be at least three metres.  The pattern looks like broderie anglaise, but it is just printed cotton.  I'm thinking it would be perfect to back a small quilt.

Brentford Square Treasures

Hello!  My name is Katie and I am incurably addicted to op shopping, especially when it comes to finding treasures relating to the art of knitting.

Early this week, I had a chance to visit the two op shops in Brentford Square on Canterbury Road: the Doncare Opportunity Shop and This ‘n’ That Community Store, both conveniently located within easy walking distance of each other.  I had previously found a World War II era knitting book in one of these oppies, so I was hoping for great things!

In the Doncare Opportunity Shop, I found a couple of knitting and crochet books that I don’t have - always a nice surprise (especially to my husband, The Chef, who is convinced I already own every old knitting pattern ever printed).

Who doesn’t love a good twinset?  The excessive blurring on that cover photo amuses me greatly.  There are actually some excellent patterns inside, though, which is what it’s all about.

We also ventured into This ‘n’ That Community Store, where I found a set of number 11 knitting needles (the only pair I have is tiiiiiny), a lovely set of long number 9 double-pointed needles and some fantastic pattern books.

How glorious is the Women’s Weekly Bedtime Knits?  I love finding knitting specials or books from magazines, because they actually have the dates on them.  The rest of the time, I have to resort to making guesses based on hairstyles or the currency of the cover price.

As for what’s inside...

What little girl wouldn’t want a crocheted dressing gown?

(I secretly want that crocheted dressing gown.)

And then I found my gem: a Patons Woolcraft book from the 1950s.

 
What is that strange thing stuck to the front cover?  I have no idea.  The passage of time has not been kind to this mystery object, but I think it was a leaf.

Seriously, this book is amazing.  It essentially contains everything you need to know about knitting and crochet, as well as every basic pattern you’ll ever need.  Yes, even undies for babies.

All this for two-and-nine.  Or in my case, 20 cents.  Even if you don’t account for inflation, I’m still ahead!

Next week, I am off to visit a friend in Gippsland, so you just know we’ll be hunting down all of the op shops.  Does anyone have any recommendations between Melbourne and Morwell?  Please leave a comment if you know of any op shops out that way that I simply must visit.

saw the funniest thing ever today  in Mornington, the Navy boys were in Vinnies and the Salvos trying on ladies evening wear for an upcoming function. there was some parading outside the fitting room and discussions about what to wear underneath. I had to stop myself giving advice and offering alterations.