kind of Aztec stripe

Oh, I'm on a roll now. It turns out that I have any number of photos on my phone of op shop purchases.  Some of them I bought a while ago so am a bit hazy on the details. This is the lower edge a long straight H&M woollen skirt. I bought it because I really like the trim at the hem, although the skirt itself is a couple of sizes too small. My intention is to cut it off from the top so that it fits me. This would involve putting in the darts anew as well as the zipper. Maybe one day ...

Or maybe a bag ...

DVD/phone/sewing box story

I was going to post too about something that I bought from the Animal Protection Society Op Shop but can't because ... well, it's all a bit of a long story but perhaps encouraging for others out there.

I have been egregiously absent from this blog because time, well, time is the only thing that I don't manage to find at the op shop: although I do lose a lot there. I barely use my camera anymore, just my phone, and when I tried (quite some time ago) to post from my phone, I couldn't get a photo in because ... oh look, it's that long ago that I can't remember.

Anyway, I decided to try it again recently and lo and behold for the small cost of joining google+ (which is free) it is actually possible now to upload photos straight from phone to blog. Hooray!!! But evidently not a photo that you took 5 minutes ago of a Charlie and Lola DVD that you bought at the AAPS op shop. Maybe it takes some time to churn through. Instead, here is a fabulous vintage sewing box that I bought at Sacred Heart Mission in Bentleigh a couple of weeks ago. It was under $10 if I recall rightly.

So, my first phone-to-blog post. Now that I've managed it, I'll try to do many more!

Late last year I scored on a trip to the Australian Animal Protection Society op shop in Centre Road, East Bentleigh. Actually, each of my visits there have yielded treasures :)

A pretty stretch top in pinks and burgundy - I loved the print on this one.

 A striped t shirt to add to my collection of striped tees, destined for refashioning.

 Another stretch top with a great design. It's hard to pick out, but it has gold accents.

 I LOVE using bias binding in all kinds of my sewing, and it's surprising how often unused packages turn up in op shops. I hadn't come across the Nainsook brand before, nor seen such a pretty teal coloured one.

Fish sarong! The background is much more vibrant than this photo shows - I apologise for the poor quality of some of these images, but sometimes it's a case of "get 'er done!" when I can or don't get 'er done at all, and the morning was very changeable weatherwise :)

Necklace of pewter coloured beads, very shiny.

I love old linens. This one has a bit of stain (which has faded after three washes) but as it's destined for making into something else I can likely cut around the mark or cover it with an embellishment.

And another vintage retro tablecloth, no marks, no stains, no rips - perfect. I love the design on this one. I think it wants to be a tunic top.


The whole lot came to the grand total of $20! Made my day.

Super Grovedale Op Shops

If you are down Geelong way head on down the Torquay Rd as far as Grovedale, there are several excellent op shops. Firstly the Brotherhood super store has everything. Recently bought a great red leather retro office chair for my shed/studio, just needs the leather on the arms replacing (2 screws) $10. Then back this week I found a great old preserving pan, no thermometer, so I can have a go at India Flint's special natural dyeing technique Also had a big box of jars and lids for $40, but I selected 6 of the biggest jars from anther box for $2 each. Dress patterns for 20c, mostly 80's, lots of old knitting books. Next Op shop was the salvos, lots of as new designer clothes, some not so cheap, but probably okay by Melbourne standards. Will take the teen daughter here for a browse. There is also a small vinnies, good for odd bibs and bobs.

Bargains in Bentleigh

Happy New Op Shopping Year, op shoppers!

To start the year off, I thought I'd share the goodies I found in my second-last op shopping expedition for 2014, which saw us heading to Bentleigh.  As we happened to be there in that odd time between Christmas and New Year's, many of the smaller op shops were closed.  The Vinnies was open, however, and I found this delight inside:

It's a Nally Ware sugar canister.  I absolutely love Nally Ware and have an entire set of canisters I inherited from my Nan, but now it looks as though I'm adding a new set to my collection.  Finding the rest of the set will be my goal for 2015.

Further up the street, we found the Sacred Heart Op Shop, which was absolutely amazing.  Firstly, this:

My parents had asked me just two days before to look out for one of these on my op shop travels, in order to replace the copy my dad already has (on which the cover is now falling off).  I thought the odds were against it and yet there was a copy, complete with dust jacket, for the princely sum of $4.

Of course, this being me, the remaining space in my bag was filled up with knitting and sewing patterns.

Some rather stunning Vogue patterns in my size.  I found a whole stash of these in another shop recently, but they were too small and, as much as I wanted them, I decided to leave them for another lucky op shopper.

I've said it before, but I'll say it again: I love old knitting patterns.  Plus, people keep having babies and babies need cute clothes.  The Winter Warmers is a duplicate for me, but the other copy I have is in appalling condition and this one is pristine.

And a couple of retro treats with interesting details.

Then there was this one...

This is an example of when I buy something because it is just too unbelievable to pass up.  The patterns inside are... interesting, to say the least (the pattern on the cover there is a pretty tame example, compared with the rest).

I just cannot imagine anyone ever wearing something like that, but you never know.  The designer in question definitely has a style all of her own.

This is why I love op shops - you just never know what you'll discover once you step inside.

Have a fantastic 2015!  I hope it's full of old favourites, new discoveries and many a treasure found in those delightful op shops we love so much.



P.S.  I have a new blog all about my knitting, sewing, photography and roadtripping adventures.  Please drop by and say hello!  katiewritesstuff.wordpress.com