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.





past finds :)

Hey everyone! I haven't posted on here in quite awhile even though I have been op shopping like mad these past few months!
So here are a few of my fave finds from a few months ago, they are from all over the place!
First off: a lovely floral peplum skirt for $8 from a small Care Bargain Centre in Keilor, it's Mink Pink and it still had the tags on it! I've been wearing it like crazy.
I always believe that if you op shop enough, you'll eventually find what you're looking for. I was actually looking for a denim vest for a long time, couldn't find anything and so tried bidding on a few on ebay (didn't win though.) So I was really happy when I found this Gap one in the Salvos in Niddrie for about $7. It's the perfect size and colour for wearing over cute dresses :)
I also found this patent leather Kookai wallet in the Niddrie Salvos for $8, as a replacement for my really old Anna Sui knockoff wallet which was bought in Malaysia.. haha


A cute peach shirt $4 (still with tags) and denim button up skirt $6, Just Jeans denim high waist shorts $6 $and a red belt $3 from the Salvos in Kensington. These are perfect for Summer, although I haven't worn them yet and Summer is over... typical me! (not sure why the photo is uploaded sideways, argh)

And a denim shirt from the tiny Arthritis Victoria op shop in Moonee Ponds. This was probably the best purchase i'd made in awhile, well worth the $3 I paid for it! I wore it every single day when I went on a 10 day camping trip to Tasmania & Falls Festival over the New Years holiday, it was perfect for wearing over a top so you didn't get sunburnt: (After my face got badly sunburnt during a hike on the first day there, I was really slip slop slap conscious for the rest of the trip!)
Unfortunately when I got home, it was put in the wash, and my mum who NEVER separates anything, also put my sister's bright red shorts in the wash... so when the shirt came out it had light pink blotches all over it, and another white tshirt (which I had only worn once!) was ruined. So sad!! So i've been scouring op shops trying to find the perfect replacement but so far to no avail! Haha!
Please check out my blog if you want to see more photos, outfits and ramblings by me. Until next time!

thrifting days

Hi again! Haven't posted anything in awhile, even though I have been op shopping quite a bit (too much if you ask my boyfriend, haha!)
These are a few things which I bought quite awhile ago but didn't end up posting.
I went to the Care Bargain Centre (on Puckle St in Moonee Ponds) and found this vintage dress for $15, I just couldn't go past the bright red colour and the peplum! I think the design is pretty 80s. What's with vintage dresses and having a drop waist/that extra puffy material above the waist?? It's so unflattering, especially if you have a large bust! XD I also have to cut it shorter... i'm still not sure whether I should keep this or not though because I think the waist looks a bit weird :S
I also bought a leather bag, I think it was $4, a tan belt for $3 and a cute wide brim boater style hat for $2. I can't wait to wear it when it's Summer! I'm still on the lookout for a boater hat with a small brim, please tell me if you've seen one somewhere :D
I also went to the Salvation Army store on Mt Alexander Rd that day, and I got this polka dot blouse for $6, I love polka dots and cute collars!
And I also got this black top with a lace back for $4.
So, good shopping day. I've got quite a few more posts lined up for the next couple of weeks! Feel free to check out my personal blog Sweethearts and Celebrations for photos and random stuff :)

Saturday at Savers

Hi again! On Saturday boyf and I went to the Footscray Savers. When we got there we found out they were having a special Savers weekend with a few different things on- free face painting and lucky dips for children (so sad I was too old for one!!), 20% off if you spent over $50 and hourly door prizes (they gave you a ticket when you went in.) Of course we have the worst luck ever, so we never win anything :P But I ended up with a few nice things!

A dusty pink wool blazer/jacket $6.99:
A gorgeous red full skirt $7.99
A cream crochet Dotti cardigan $5.99 and a small leather satchel $6.99. (Does anyone know why my photo was uploaded the wrong way around?? The other ones are the right way!)
Hope you're all having a lovely week, more posts by me to come soon. More finds and photos at my blog Sweethearts and Celebrations if you're interested!

around moonee ponds

Hi again! Last week I went op shopping around Puckle Street in Moonee Ponds, one of my favourite places :) It was quite successful!
I went to the tiny little op shop next to the Kmart (can't remember what it's called) and I got 3 pairs of shoes for $2 each! Some Forever New tan t-bar heels (one size too big but I can wear tights!) a pair of vintage red shoes with bows and brown suede Nine West shoes (not sure if I will wear these but I couldn't pass them!!)
I also went to the Brotherhood op shop and got these two skirts:
One of them is a blue denim high waist skirt from Forever New for $6, the other one is a white lace skirt from Sportsgirl for $5- which is actually still selling in stores right now!Sorry for the horrid quality photos!
I think I may have bought some other things from another oppy that is on Puckle St but right now I can't remember what they are! :P
Anyway I've got another post lined up so you'll see that soon.
Feel free to check out my blog Sweethearts and Celebrations!

thank you impulse buy...

Hey! So you might be wondering about the title of this post. Of course we probably all have too many impulse buys which we regret :( but in this case I was very happy that someone else had made an impulse buy!
A little while ago I went to Savers with my best friend. She told me this funny story about something that had happened with her mum. The day before they had gone to Savers and her mum tried on a coat. Apparently it was hideous, a weird green velvet with strange puffy sleeves and wrists. My friend told her mum it was disgusting... but this only hardened her mum's resolve to buy the coat! And it was $30. They came home and the family managed to convince her it was ugly- and the next day the coat was returned for store credit, which she gave to my bestie because she couldn't find anything she wanted.
The same day my bestie and I went to Savers with the credit voucher. My friend got a top, jumper, shoes and a scrabble book which added up to around $20. I found some awesome Gripp jeans high waist shorts for $3.99 and a black boyfriend blazer for $5.99, almost $10 in total so my lovely friend got them for me with the store credit! As she said, "it's mum's shout." I love best friends!
This was the way I styled the blazer in one of my outfits, the velvet dress was also from an op shop:This is the blazer by itself, so glad I found it as I had been looking for a black boyfriend blazer with the perfect lapel for awhile.
Here are the shorts I got, they were so cheap because they were missing buttons but I got some new ones from Spotlight :) Not sure why the photo is sideways though, it wasn't like that on my computer...I went op shopping again this week and found some lovely things so you'll be sure to see them soon :) Feel free to visit my blog Sweethearts and Celebrations if you'd like to see more writing, op shop finds and outfits from me :)

everything but what i intended to buy

Scored these from the Vinnie's in High Street, Kew, along with a couple other pieces you can see at my blog. I was looking for a wooden kid's table for my two year old. Think I'll have to start scouring eBay for one instead.

Everything at the Vinnie's in Kew is a bit more expensive that average op shops (though still bargains), but I usually find great looking designer wear. And it's good to remember that the money goes to a very good cause.

Frankston Opping

These finds are from a trip to Frankston in December, to take advantage of one of Saver's half price garment Mondays. There are enough op shops in the main shopping area to make a day trip a worthwhile exercise - I think I visited five, including Savers. Above are a jumper and cardigan which I intend to deconstruct for the yarn. You can't ever have too much yarn :)

The purple cardi has giant snaps down the front, which I'll also reclaim and repurpose. I'd priced snaps about this size in the haberdashery section a while back and they retail for at least $1 each, and I have six of them now. Both knits were two or three dollars each.

A large scarf featuring a gorgeous print of horses. I tried to convince the checkout operator that scarves are apparel, but apparently they're considered accessories and not included in the half price offer. Still a bargain at $3.95, I think. I may turn this one into a halter top, if I can bear to cut it.

A cowboy motif doona cover that I'll use as fabric. I couldn't resist the cute print. Enough here to make a shirt, a skirt and still have some left over. Can't remember the price exactly, but it was
about $5.
A gorgeous green caftan, for me to wear in the heat. Cool and comfortable now that I've altered it to my satisfaction: it was a little tight over the Rack of Doom, so I let it out at the side seams only to find that this rendered it rather shapeless in other areas. So I added a couple of waist ties to tie at the back and now I love it. $9 at Savers.

An "Eight Wives of Henry the VIII" tea towel, to be refashioned into a tote bag. $1.95.
(Edited: Obviously that was meant to be "Six Wives of Henry VIII" - I think Melbourne's hot and muggy spell has damaged my brain)

An Isle of Wight tea towel, also to be refashioned into a tote bag. Also $1.95. Both tea towels from Savers.

On the same trip, I also bought ten balls of black mohair yarn, at $1 a ball in St Vinnies, plus a
set of dominoes for $2 in another op shop (can't remember which, memory failure due to hot weather). Like I wrote earlier, can't have too much yarn! The dominoes are intended for a jewellery project I have in mind, and they came in a little wooden box that I'll use for something else. A good day.

Venturing further afield

I ventured to a slightly different suburb this week on an errand and decided to check out some new-to-me ops. This painted metal tray is from an op shop in Sandringham, opposite the pub. The back says: "Chatsworth, Derbyshire. Home of the Dukes of Devonshire". A bargain at $1, and the kind lady behind the counter threw in a pair of green knitting needles for free. I was going to use it as a painting surface, but I may keep it as is - it's growing on me.

A round batik table cloth, $4 from an op shop near Moorabbin station. Destined to be refashioned into a full circle skirt.

Background is a black and white sarong, $3 from the op shop in Bay Road, Sandringham (to be refashioned into a skirt or possibly a tunic). Purple flats with gold bows, $2, same shop. The book is Arthur Mee's Book of One Thousand Beautiful Things, $1, same shop (will become an altered book, I think). Black leather handbag, lable inside says Made In Italy, $3, same shop. Two leather belts, $2 each, from the Moorabbin op shop (for an art project/experiment).

Egyptian Mythology, $2 from Vinnies in Crewe St, Oakleigh. Sculpture book, $3.99; Old Macdonald, 99 cents (love the illustrations, I may adapt some for applique); The Wonder Book of Kittens, 99 cents (too cute to leave behind) - all from the Salvos in Atherton Road, Oakleigh.

Free knitting needles from Sandringham op shop, resting on folded Liz Claibourne skirt - a linen/cotton mix, feels lovely and soft - $3, from op shop in Bay Road, Sandringham (destined for embellishing/upcycling with pen, fabric paint and thread). Barbie clock, $1.99 from Salvos in Oakleigh. The lady behind the counter suggested that some lucky little girl would be thrilled to have a Barbie clock - I thought, but refrained from voicing, "Not when I've finished with it!". The clock is intended for, um, refashioning of a sort...

Quite a lovely haul! I did hit another Salvos and a fabric store (no purchases to report), after which I was pretty much op shopped-out. I must make an effort to range a little bit wider than my local oppies in future, that trip was fun.