Cook Books and Silk Scarves

This is my first blog post here, hello I'm Erica! You can find me over at Recycled Fashion chatting about all types of upcycled and secondhand fashion, sewing, and ethical fashion.

I love op shopping, but over the past few months haven't had much of an opportunity (!) to do so, as I have a small baby to look after.  My eldest son started school this week and bubs is nearly 3 month old, so I'm slowly starting to get out and about a bit more.

Today I popped into Carrum Uniting Church Opportunity Shop, and two cook books immediately caught my eye.  I've got a small collection of op shop cook books, as I'm always looking for inspiration for evening dinners!  I actually hesitated on these two books because I thought to myself I actually have too many.  One of the op shop volunteers persuaded me to buy them because she said they were only 50c each, and that's a bargain!  

Secondly, a couple of silk scarves took my fancy at $1 each.  I do love a silk scarf, and perhaps have too many of those too, but I'm actually thinking about cutting these two up to make into a top, I'm working on the idea in my head, and hope it works out.

Op Shopping in Macleod

Hi, I have been reading this blog for a while but this is my first post.
Last weekend I had a chance to drop into Macleod after dropping my husband off at Cricket.
I arrived after 12pm so I was too late to look in St Andrew's Anglican Church op shop.

However, the Diamond Valley Community Support op shop was open.
I found a couple of handbags for $3. They are small but a handy size for work.
A top for my young niece for $1. A nice scarf for $3.
A bag hook ( useful for hanging up bags) $2.50 and a pair of earrings for $2.
I have found this op shop to be quite good for jewellery.

 

 

Next, I went to the Strathalan op shop in Erskine Rd. It's a bit tricky to find if you haven't been there before. You have to drive into the retirement village, through the portico to the car park. The op shop is just near the car park.

 

I usually find some clothes here. This time I found a tunic top/dress for $5, a Liz Jordan suedette blouse for $5 ( I'll be using this as a light jacket for summer) and a cute little silk vest for my niece for $4. I also found another larger bag for $5 and a very nice enamel brooch for $3( It has the maker's name M. Kidd Aust. on the back).

 

 

 

 

 

I enjoyed my little op shopping fix in Macleod. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to go to the nice café on the corner of Aberdeen St. Maybe next time.





The Glitz and the Glamour

Oh my life is so glamorous it's unbelievable, Vegemite up my jumper, cat biscuits through the kitchen, don't get me started on the washing placed just by the basket, not quite in it but just by it!!

Possible why when I'm off out op shopping I'm drawn to the not so casual.

One of my local shops Family Life in Chelsea had this 80s strapless floral number - 50% off? Yes please, pretty peachy pink please! Great shop with a boutique feel but still reasonable (op shop) prices and the music always makes me happy, think Rat Pack.

This was bought on the Melbourne Op Shop Tour I went on hosted by Erica of Recycled Fashion that was featured on Coxy's Big Break last weekend, yes I can be seen but I kept my mouth shut for fear of saying something like "Radical", "Down with the kids" or "Da Bomb".  I have a habit of making an idiot of myself when there's a big enough audience and national telly was too dangerous!  It's a gorgeous cotton maxi dress that I think is stunning.  It was bought from Vinnies and had 20% off with an extra 10% discounted because we were on the tour.

Finally this is such a great colour and really timeless I think and also bought on the Op Shop tour in Brighton

It's great to see adorable clothes being donated to charity and people valuing Op Shops and the reuse of goods in general.  I've always wanted to volunteer but with having a toddler committing to a set time has been an issue.  I have now managed to raise over $1,000 for the Salvation Army by listing clothes purchased from their Chelsea Heights Shop on Ebay - latest listing here including a Trelise Cooper skirt on at 99c!  Dogstar Bazaar

Happy Op Shopping this weekend and Happy Mothers Day x Vicky