i'm a little teapot

I bought this teapot at the Salvation Army op shop in Benalla on a road trip last long weekend. It's an insulated tea pot - the teapot itself is a pretty simple cream ceramic affair, but that metallic dome is actually a funky tea cosy with a wool felt lining.


It was a tad expensive - $35.00 - but it does pour really well and in a teapot that's almost priceless.

a tablecloth dress

The weekend before last I went to see this production 'My Life in a Tablecloth dress'. And indeed, Joanne O'Callaghan did wear a very fetching dress made from a tablecloth. Nice work, Joanne!

Interspersed with some cabaret song numbers she went through 10 good reasons to op shop - including supporting charity, wearing something unique, saving the planet and grabbing a bargain. She also included procrastinating by going op shopping. Sacred Heart Mission on Grey Street in St Kilda got a mention, including the bloke who sits on the stoop there and lets you know the opening hours. Anyway, I'm very glad to see op shopping taking centre stage.

One of the things that I find most gratifying about op shopping is confirmation of my 'eye for fashion' - that is, when in amongst a crowded rack you spy some fabric and think 'yes, that's lovely' and it turns out to be an Italian designer label. Like the Romeo Gigli 100% wool jacket that I bought today at Salvation Army in St Kilda. It was priced at $55 (no thank you) but when I enquired at the counter the kind volunteer told me that those prices were old and that I could have it for $15. Excellent! I intend to use the fabric for a child's coat. Having said which, an equal number of times I have spied something and thought the cut was great only to check the label and find that it came from Target. Just goes to show (perhaps that Target's range is really improving).

Sentimental St Kilda Finds

Here are a few of my favourite things.....


I look at photos of myself as a child and wish that my Mum hadn't gotten rid of all those great treasures of the late 70s and early 80s. If only they were still around for me to dress my Bella Cinderella in such funky attire. Hence I just had to buy these maroon tracky overalls, I'm guessing circa 1970 something.... $4 at the local Hunter Gatherer on Acland St. I was so desperate for her to wear them this winter that I even clumsily sewed extra buttons on the straps to make them smaller.




With my sentimental yearning in mind I discovered this treasure this morning at another local Op-Shop - The Sacred Heart Mission on the corner of Hotham and Inkerman. Melamine vintage Disney at only $3! I can already hear it hitting the ground over and over again....

flamenco kitsch

I have been keeping an eye out lately in my op shop travels for some needlepoint and couldn't pass up this fabulous example. It's beautifully done, very evenly stitched and (as it came framed and under glass) in perfect condition. I've donated the frame back and will use this in some crafty endeavour. Purchased at the Posh Opp Shop in Glenhuntly - all the details are in the treasure map.

Mitropa teapot

Another one from me: this little teapot is another Savers find. Can't remember whether it was Sydney Rd or Footscray. $2

I love this teapot. I love the typeface, the functional, practical design (might be a throw back to GDR style utilitarianism - I'm thinking The Lives of Others and 'grey men'). I believe Mitropa is/was the catering company for the German railways.

Check out Wikipedia for a bit of background.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitropa

A clutch with a touch of Bottega Veneta

OK - the lovely Amelia has asked me to contribute some of my 'best ever' op shop finds. This is one of them. I 'think' it is from Savers on Sydney Road but don't quote me - it's an old purchase. Of course it's not Bottega Veneta but it does have the woven leather look going on, although in this instance it's plastic. I'm sure Stella McCartney would charge her vegan celeb buddies a bomb for something like this.

I love it because it's the perfect going out bag, robust enough to withstand ciggie burns, being danced on and around, drop kicked....you name it, this bag has probably seen it. It also has a long chain strap if you want to make like Mischa Barton with her Chanel handbag.

All this for the grand total of $5.