I haven't posted in a looong time - a full time job that involved almost three hours of commuting did not leave much spare time for op shopping. However, the job is now over and I hear the siren call of the op shop summoning me. Here a couple of finds from a trip to the Salvos the week before christmas:

A pair of burgundy ankle boots that fit perfectly. There are a few small scuff marks that should come off with a bit of a brush, but in otherwise good condition. I take a large size and I don't often find shoes to fit while opping. $4.05 (discount day)

A part bolt of cotton fabric (might be polycotton). It took me a while to work out the text (it's upside down in the photo), but it says "inferno" with the O a ball of flame. There's approximately ten metres - a great find for $4. I plan to use this to test some new dressmaking patterns as it's cheaper than calico and I might end up with something wearable.

Today's purchases, Sunbury Salvos

A future gift for my brother-in-law, who appreciates all sorts of quirky objet de junk: a brass key holder made out of a gun made out of ducks, $5.99

The one on the left is for my boyfriend, a bargain at $1.50. The one on the right is for my present cabinet, which I keep stocked with stylish infotainment books for gift-giving emergencies. $1.

Flat Django & Juliette shoes to wear with very short skirts, $6.99 (I like very short skirts but very short skirts and high heels strike me as a bit slutty)

More to read on my blog.

I was thrilled when I found these shoes for $2 at the Uniting Church op shop in Romsey. They’d clearly never been worn, and as with most unworn shoes at op shops, when I took them to the counter the woman said, “They didn’t last long, I just put them out,” which just confirms to me that being a successful op-shopper isn’t about finding the best op shops, it’s about visiting whatever shops you can regularly and often. More on my blog.

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

Kew Op Shops

My friend and I today discovered the 5 opshops in various places along High St, Kew. Unfortunatley, we were only able to make it to two of the five due to time constraints, but we were happy as she found a gorgeous Portman's blue and white dress for $6 and I found these Lloyd's oxford shoes for $10. There are at least 20 years old as they are made in West Germany, and I am especially happy as they are a top end brand. All in all, it was a good trip and I would recommend these opshops.

Oakleigh Lions Op Shop

Having a job interview just down the road from the Oakleigh Lions Op Shop (in Neerim Road, Murrumbeena, just outside Murrumbeena Railway Station) was too great an opportunity to miss a visit. These Grosby shoes were just the ticket for my clodhoppers, particularly after a disappointing experience a few weeks ago with a pair of shoes (from a chain I won't mention by name) which turned into sieves in the rain. A mere $4 for these black beauties, and I think they've hardly been worn.

A good sized red handbag from a rack all priced at $4. I'm not sure if I'll use this myself, or use it as a canvas and paint on it.

A cute little wooden bowl, for the grand price of a dollar. Destined to be a canvas for ink drawing or perhaps some practice with the wood burning tool.

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.

It doesn't matter if these break!

We have a friend who breaks things when he drinks. Chairs, flower pots, shoes (don't ask me how, it's a mystery!) and of course, wine glasses. I looked in the cupboard the other day and saw a measly three glasses left.

So I took myself off to the Sacred Heart Mission op shop on Clarendon St, South Melbourne and scored these glasses for only $1 each. Now our friend can break as many as he likes!


While I was there, I couldn't resist picking up these Mossimo heels for only $10. They're in fabulous condition and a perfect fit. And with a cute, furry leopard print lining on the inside to boot!

Green and gold

I wasn't planning a trip to the op shop, but since I was paying bills just a few doors away I found myself giving in to the siren call of the Salvos in Atherton Road, Oakleigh, last week. And, woohoo, I'm glad I did because this pair of lime green beauties in my size were waiting for me. Lime green is my current favourite colour, at least on those days when my favourite colour isn't purple, and this pair will go perfectly with the skirt I made out of an op-shopped seventies sheet a couple of weeks ago.

















And almost even better than the shoes, all six volumes of the Golden Hands magazine from the seventies, which I have lusted after for such a long time, were also languishing on a shelf as if just for me. The lady behind the counter said she'd only put them out ten minutes before, so I was very lucky with my timing - just as well I succumbed to the unscheduled visit!


















It's not just the craftiness of Golden Hands that I love, though there are more than enough projects and inspiration within the pages to keep me busy for several lifetimes, but also the illustrations. As a child of the seventies, this is both nostalgic and familiar.

Fabbo op-shop finds in Oakleigh and Glen Waverley

Visited Vinnies in Oakleigh, off Warrigal Road; tricky to get to, but oh, what a treasure trove.

I shall start my show and tell with:
a pair of Stunning Italian Leather pumps! Fitting perfectly; they were molded to my feet by little italian cobblers!



Metres of soft printed corduroy; I really think that it may be Liberty - anyone know?

My favourite find of the year: truly I kid you not, but I found a Kaffe Fassett shirt! Excellently made by hand by someone who knew and understood the quality of his material, pattern and colour.

It even came with a Spare Covered Button!

Gorgeously soft and beautifully printed vintage sheet; photo does no justice


MS Shop in Kingsway, Glen Waverley:
Another embroidered toaster cover; how many toasters do I have?
Two facinating Kuglehopf or Bundt molds; sort-of ugly but cute too. I actually saw one in a Antique store in Flinders, speciallising in French antiques, for $40!

( Anyone who loves the 70s era, there was a pair of really true-to-life iconic table lamps - very orange and brown, so ugly they were cool! oh, and also an crockery set with orange/brown pattern. I'm sure someone will love them again.)

I have turned a pretty but naff skirt from local op-shop into a makeshift cushion cover for Retreat Couch (it's becoming rather pink, with oranges and golds, mainly to hide split material on very old handmedown couch)
(Third last post til 100th giveaway - hang in there lurkers @ whippetgood

A Good Week

Its been a very successful op shopping week for me. I found these fantastic Witchery shoes on Tuesday. I'm so excited about them that I've blogged about them here as well. Apparently they had only come into the shop (Salvos in Florence Street, Mentone) about an hour before.

Wednesday's big find was a stash of embroidered and lace doilies from Temcare in Portman Street Oakleigh. Again, they had only just come in (seems lots of people cleaned out their cupboards over the weekend). I bought about eight of them and as of Wednesday there were still about 15 in the shop.

Last find, and I think my favourite of the week, is a silk scarf by Liberty of London. I adore scarves (must be square and silk). This was $1.50 at Southern Op Shop, Mentone. Here's more thrifted scarves:

a growing addiction

remember how I mentioned the nine west shoes at that little op shop on Hawthorn rd at Caulfield? well, it beckoned to me again.

I might have to start taking a different way home from the gym!

Shoes and other fun things!

The thrill of the hunt has drawn me each Saturday morning of late to my favourite local oppies. I must say I’ve found some good stuff lately, including many pairs of shoes! Women lie if they say they don’t love them…who can resist a cute pair of vintage Ferragamo’s? Honestly…

I haven’t posted in a while because, well, I get into lazy holiday mode and the idea of uploading photos, typing and lets be frank, even turning on the computer doesn’t excite me. Never the less, I just must share my recent finds!

ENJOY!



Cute tuxedo style jacket, very now and very cheap! $3 doncare, maceadon



Navy blue vest, $4 from cant remember where...its been a staple is all i can say



Navy/green plaid suit jacket. After i took out the shoulder pads and took in the shoulders, very wearable i must say! $15



Scarf #1: Cute nautical thing in pastel colours...i love this one, $2



Scarf #2 Red satin with horses. Already worn this one heaps, seems to match everything!

And now for the shoes.....



Black patent leather and gold salvatore ferragamo heels, love them and they were only $2 from Doncare in templestowe



Another pair from doncare, Templestowe. These ones are Nina Ricci, also $2 (woo hoo) They are a little small, might have to sell them on Ebay, size 7 if anyone's interested!



What my mum calls grandma shoes but i call practical and cute and blue leather...($4)



I think i can call these my favs...gold leather flats with snake skin pattern detail. Wore them today, very comfy and only $5. YAY



last but not least, 80's boots from Salvo's in East Doncaster, a little pricey ($30), but you'll easily pay $100 for boots like these in vintage stores... leather and fur lined....mmm warm....