Burwood RSPCA finds: pony books, tea cosies and a suitcase

I visited the Burwood RSPCA op shops today, and found a couple of goodies in the posh bric n brac shop:


Pony novels for tweens. $5 each. So much more cooler than Saddle Club. I've stopped reading pony novels but I'm sure someone out there wants to read Rebel Pony.


Hand-embroidered tea cosies for $10. The second one was prettier but it had a couple of stains on it, so I left it behind. :(


White suitcase in good nick for $12. This one's put on hold for a friend. I hope she likes it.

Gold from Josie's on Balaclava

It’s delightfully old-fashioned, and I’m not sure I’ll ever use it. I found this letter and bill holder at Josie’s Opportunity Shop in Balaclava. There are a few small cracks in the wood and the gold lettering has faded a little, but it’s lovely.






When it comes to vintage and second-hand items, I really think that wood is a material that retains it look and feel. It’s such a tactile object and I have to say I love the smell. The volunteer at Josie’s appraised it and it was haggled it down to $3.

Has anyone else found unique items at Josie's Opportunity in Balaclava, or in other opshops in Balaclava ... I've believe it's a bit of a staple for quirky, vintage pieces.

http://recycledmelbourne.blogspot.com

Vinnies in Briar Hill (near Greensborough)

I was on my way home from having lunch with a friend, and as I was passing Vinnies, of course I had to stop and see what they had in stock. This store is a bit hard to find if you don't know where to look. It is in Para Road, and the entrance is down a ramp on the left side of the road coming up a hill. Well worth finding though. The store is large, fairly tidy, and has a good range of clothing, books, household goods such as glass and china, and usual bricabrac. Prices are very reasonable. I found this gorgeous leather shoulder bag for $5 -


As well as some craft magazines for 50c each (there were about 30 in the pile, and I sat on a chair and spent half an hour going through the whole lot to find what I wanted!)


And ANOTHER tie - $3...I've never seen one before with postage stamps printed on it.

anyone in montmorency?

Hello fellow op shoppers,

I have received a query regarding the 'Little Angels Op Shop' which is apparently in Montmorency. Not knowing that part of town myself, does anyone else have any details on this op shop? Address, telephone number, opening hours?

Please leave a comment and let me know!

Brief visit to the Brotherhood in Eltham.

Today I wanted to drop some clothes and books into our local opshop, and while I was there, look for a 100% cotton long sleeved blouse. Living in a high level bushfire risk area, I've been reading literature about what people should do if they are going to defend their properties against fire. One important aspect was the clothing you should wear, and it should be natural fibres such as cotton, wool, or leather. (Imagine being too close to a fire if you are wearing polyester - it would melt all over you...OUCH). On checking my vast wardrobe (mostly courtesy of Savers), I was shocked to find that I had not one item of clothing made of cotton, apart from two pairs of denim jeans. I do have leather motorcycle boots, and an Akubra hat, so along with the jeans, all I needed was a cotton blouse. And I found it. Laura Ashley, pale blue cotton for $3.


As usual, I didn't stop with one item. I found another tie (75 cents) to add to my bag of wannabee patchwork ties - this one has little elephants all over it.


A quick peek into the remnants box revealed a nice clean piece of calico (homespun) - great for my patchwork and other stitching projects!


The cashier put all three goodies into this calico bag - whooee! Another calico totebag to add to my collection! I much prefer using these to shop instead of those awful green supermarket bags, as handy as they are.

Exciting news!

Hey guys!!
Just here to announce I've grown in my opshopping adventures, I'm no longer just a buyer/collector (Hoarder or whatever you wish to call it... ) but I'm now officially selling the goodies I find!
I've finally opened an online shop which is now up and running!

You can visit by clicking!



In other news, here are some of the goodies I've picked up lately!!


















Until next time :):)

Happy opshopping!


- Trish

Can I recycle, recycled clothes?

Dear reader,

A new piece of furniture has come into my life. A lovely oak wardrobe from the late 1940s. It smells like chestnuts and has wonderful brass hooks and a heart-shaped lock and key. But its arrival has caused heartache, it’s been filled already by my robust collection of new and vintage clothes and shoes.

(LEFT: the wardrobe)

So, contemplating a life with no more purchases, I’m seeking some advice … can you recycle recycled clothes?

When you buy second-hand, it’s almost like giving an unwanted puppy a home. Shoulder-padded jackets, embroidered shift dresses and heavy winter coats with big brass buttons demand to be loved again. It’s this tangible sense of memory and history that you can hold in your hands.

It always seemed as if I would be the person providing a “final resting spot” for an item that had been disregarded. They would be resurrected again as part of my daily Dynasty and 1950s fashion fantasies, a glorious “autumn age” for an unwanted garment.

So, I unloaded the wardrobe and laid everything out on the floor. If I was going to do this, there would be some sort of fair process to it. There laid before me was a shimmering anthology (yes, literally shimmering, I have a thing for bright, shiny things) of the last few years. I couldn’t throw out a faux-fur lined cropped jacket from Fat Helen’s (Chapel St) or a red-leopard print shirt (with a scoop neck) from Grey’s Op-Shop in St Kilda.

Neither the shirt with the pearly embroidery around the collar, a bright green dress (in at the waist, out at the hips) or this cropped long-sleeved black lace top from Brunswick Salvos. Every item had some excuse, and some vague sense of attachment and story.

A blue top (which I had hacked from a dress) reminded me of a boy I once kissed and a crumpled red jacket of the time I left my car lights on at Coles and ran the battery flat on a rainy day. So there I was, reliving my own memories in other people’s unwanted clothes.

I’ve repacked everything back into the wardrobe. It remains a crowded, musky space. I’ve considered wearing as many clothes as I can during the day to maximise the amount of space in my wardrobe. Though with the current heatwave, this seems like a sweaty and uncomfortable option.

Can I send recycled clothes back to the op-shop? Will they be loved again? What should I look to throw away first? I’d love to hear thoughts from anyone!


love and regards,

Steph

(p.s - I'm new to I op therefor I am, so thanks for reading! come check out my blog http://recycledmelbourne.blogspot.com if you have some time!)