I really don't need this but I'm going to buy it anyway

Ashburton's new Salvation Army Store (formerly Bargain Browser) at 401-403 High Street was sporting some funky retro furniture today:
Retro armchair - the chair was in pretty good nick, though the cushions probably need replacing. It didn't have a price on it, and I was too scared to ask. Behind it, leaning against the glass window, was a fold-up rattan chair going for $15.

Wooden high chair for toddler with stickers - this one was going for $30. 

Retro wheeled tray with tiled surface - this was my favourite. I managed to resist grabbing everything else, but this I had to buy, though a) I don't have anywhere to put it and b) it cost $50. The Elmo cookie jar was going for $2, but somebody knocked it over five minutes later.

On my way out, I also picked up some retro-inspired canisters for $7/set. 

Like Heartofpearl, I am also a newbie on this blog. I'll be posting up pictures of cool things that I find but can't afford to buy. Hopefully you'll have the space/cash to buy them instead. :) 

What would you use this for

I've always thought of how pretty glass ashtrays were, although I found no use of them being a nonsmoker. Recently when I was hunting for some goodies at the Doncaster Salvation Army, I found myself staring at this beautiful, heavy & undamaged piece of glass and thought what a perfect jewellery holder it'd be! 

So, now I  have this pretty little jewellery holder, it fits my bits & pieces and it cost me about $2, what a bargain! 

Just like to say a big 'HELLO' to everyone who reads this blog. I'm a new contibutor as of today, and would like to start sharing all the little treasures I find in our Melbourne secondhand stores. Hope you enjoyed my first post! x

kreativ award

Hooray - we won an award!! Many thanks to Carli of Minilala for the kudos.

Now, there are a set of rules that come with this award:

1. Copy the picture and post it on your blog.
2. Thank the person that gave it to you and link to their blog.
3. Write 7 things about yourself we don't know.
4. Choose 7 other bloggers to pass the award to.
5. Link to those 7 other bloggers.
6. Notify your 7 bloggers.

So, seven things about me/this blog/op shopping that you may not have known ...

1. I set this blog up, inspired by Nikkishell's Wardrobe Refashion, which was itself inspired by the excellent fiftyrx3.
2. One of the very first things that I recall buying at the op shop was a gold crochet sleeveless cardigan from the Salvation Army on Chapel St in Windsor. When I was about twelve mind you.
3. The most recent thing that I bought at an op shop was a t-shirt for my daughter (a bit more prosaic).
   
4. This blog has 93 authors registered to post to it - would you like to be number 94? Let me know!
5. There are some 355 op shops in Melbourne - what a great city.
6. Canberra and surrounds are busy with their own version of I op therefore I am.

7. And from The Age: "Op-shop workers have handed in thousands of dollars left behind in furniture donated by a mystery person in Melbourne's south-east....Police are hunting for the owner of the large amount of cash forgotten in furniture left at the Salvation Army Store in Rowville last Friday."
   

A number of people who post to this blog also have their own blogs, including:

heart of pearl
mildly crafty
sparkly green knickers
running amok with an ax
emily kate
trish hunter finds
patra's place of stitching and vintage linens

All of whom deserve their own Kreativ Blogger award.

Pulp fiction

Two books, $1 each, from St Vinnies in Oakleigh. I had to have them because of the fabulous pulp fiction covers. The DA Takes A Chance is by the author of the Perry Mason stories. They're resting on a short length of fabulous tie dye fabric, also $1 from an op Shop in Glenhuntly (the name of which escapes me, but it's near the railway station).

Also $1 from Vinnies in Oakleigh, this book is Practical Home Mending Made Easy, published in 1946. I love books like this, it's full of great ideas for frugal me; I am building quite a collection of how-to sewing books. I particularly love this page, One Yard of Fabric-To Make a Dress.

Gorgeous book of colour photography of Chesapeake Bay, $2 from the nameless Glenhuntly op shop. I may not be able to travel at the moment, but I can dream! I'm fascinated by the personal inscription in the front and a note about osprey watching - I love the little glimpses of other people's lives via the op shop (I am such a sticky beak).

A little bag-o-yarn, $2 from Vinnies, and freebie box of little books shaped like fish from the Glenhuntly op shop. A good day!

upstart

Upstart is the magazine for emerging Australian journalists and Susan Munro has recently had an article published all about op shopping - hooray! And I op therefore I am gets a good mention (as do I - as for representing op shopping at the elite level, I promise that is Susan's description, not mine).

Have a read: Finding your vintage soul: underground fashion Melbourne style

Lions Trash and Treasure Sale - Saturday, 21 November

Blackburn North Lions Club is holding its next (and last for the year) trash and treasure sale next Saturday, 21 November.

Where: 1st Vermont Scout Hall located near the corner of Canterbury Rd and Mitcham Rd in Vermont.

Time: 8 am to 1 pm.

Our shed is bulging with generous donations from the community, so come along and grab a bargain or three.

Goodies found at The Brotherhood shop in Eltham.

This shop is only a little one, but they have a good range of clothing and bricabrac. I couldn't pass up this framed cross stitch for $3!

On the same day, I also bought two paperbacks and some other items that were apparently so trivial that I can't remember what they were!