Teapot-shaped trivet for teapots?

Teapot-shaped trivet from Vinnies Ringwood for 50c. Being only 10cm wide, it's a tad too small for a pot or pan, so I'm guessing it's for hot teapots?

I've also interviewed I Love To Op Shop and Lisa@SimplyMe about their op-shop obsession for mustbethrifty.com, so please check it out.

Cheers,

TL.

Summer in the Hamptons

Well, that's what my friends and I like to say. Makes "Hampton" sound a lot fancier, doesn't it?
I got these KG (Kurt Geiger's cheaper line, I think?) patent leather heels for $9 at the Salvos in Hampton on the way to the beach during the holidays - I love how the colour fades to being transparent halfway down the heel.


You can see me wearing them (along with a skirt I made from a sheet from Savers) here.
Also got a zip, but for $1 it was hardly a bargain as zips are not much more when you buy them at Clegs! Still, not bad for my first trip to the Hamptons Salvos (also went to Vinnies and the op shop opposite the Salvos, it's handy that there are 3 op shops all in the one spot on Hampton Street!).

Three Great Op Shops Worth the Drive

This turned up on The Age's website today:

http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/about-town/three-great--opshops-worth-the-drive-20111214-1ots3.html

Think I'll start casting my net further afield especially as the Savers stores are so picked over.

Weekend Haul

Tommy Hilfiger vest $10.49 - Savers Dandenong (with the 20% student discount available every Sunday)
French Connection cardigan $12.99 - Savers Dandenong (with 20% student discount available every Sunday)

Mirror $10 - Oakleigh Vinnies

Daylesford Vinnies

A few weeks ago I called into the lovely Vinnies store in Daylesford... I managed to pick up this pair of Witchery cargo pants with a gathered ankle for only $6 or $7! Apologies for the terrible pic!

A bit out of the way for most Melbourne readers, but the store is worth a look in if you happen to be in the area.

Savers.. and Salvos.. and Vinnies.. AND Uniting Care..

Did anyone else go to the Savers 50% off (clothing) sale yesterday? As usual at their sales, I hardly bought anything, but I did get this glass painting of a tiger for $12.99. Tacky, but cool. 

I also got a skirt there for only $2.50 thanks to the sale, but it's pretty formfitting and without a person in it you can't tell what it looks like, so if you're dying to know, head to my blog in the next few days as I will eventually put an outfit shot up.

It actually took me a while to get to Savers because I hit the three other big op shops in Dandenong beforehand and really took my time in there. I used to have to rush my visits there as I went on my lunch break, but no longer being employed at my former workplace, and having just completed a huge translating job, I was in the mood to spend, spend, spend. And I did! Here you see most of my purchases:

I won't go into detail about the clothes as I will do outfit posts on my own blog at some point, suffice to say I found an AMAZING long pink wool skirt for $8 at Uniting Care which you can just see under everything else, plus a brand new blue cardigan made of 100% merino wool for $8. Also at UC I got this tray thing for $4. The guy working there told me it was for threshing rice, but it's too heavy and awkward for that. Any idea what it could be?

 

Maybe just something ethnic looking that was made in China and sold at one of those interior stores, but I have a feeling it was used for something agricultural/culinary. I might use it for a tabletop.

I also got this cool black leather handbag at UC for $6. 

Also Le Specs "Roller Disco" sunnies for $2!! (Quite happy about that, although if I were being picky I would have said I preferred red ones).

At Vinnies I got two batik hankies for $1 (I looooove batik), a voile scarf for $1, and some books for $1-$2 each. Also a linen jacket for $8 and a dress which was free because there was a deal on summer clothes (two for one, or something like that, I didn't pay attention so it was a nice surprise when I got to the counter).

At the Salvos I got some jewellery for a few dollars and also found a black ceramic cat for $1.99. I already had two but got this one anyway, and now it's like my cat couple have a kitten. Aww. (I actually saw another set of these cats at Savers later, but they were more like $5 each and not in such great condition).

 

So all in all a very successful and exciting day, although now I have to actually work out where all this is going to fit in the house!

Lilydale lode

Recently my friend H returned home after several months of flying around Europe with her boyfriend in a plane they built themselves. The obvious thing to do after such an adventure was to head back to H's family residence in Melbourne's outer suburbs for some R&R, and it was there that I visited her earlier in the week. She seduced me out into that untamed territory (ie Lilydale) with promises of toasted sandwiches, but I have to admit it was when she started talking about hidden treasure (ie lots of op shops) that I really took the bait.

Lilydale turned out to be everything H said it would be, with op shops aplenty AND an NQR store (which is sort of like an op shop for food!). The usual characters are there, ie the Salvos and Vinnies (which is where I got this chain for $1)...


... but I found the best stuff at a place called The Mustard Tree which has its own cafe and also seems to work as a relief agency of sorts as I noticed there was a basket that had been filled with free bread for the needy. I got some sewing patterns and this kangaroo fur clutch bag (still feeling guilty as I'm anti fur... is it OK to make an exception for vintage?).

One of the patterns was very grotty but it's got Jaclyn Smith from Charlie's Angels as the model and I couldn't resist. Plus, check out the gold suit!

The pattern must have put me in a shiny mood because I also found this... I think it would be the perfect top to wear when you need to win an argument as your conversation partner would be so dazzled that there is no way they could think up clever comebacks. Sort of like a weapon of mass distraction. Oh, and it was only $1!


In fact ALL the clothing is only $1, apart from some better quality leather jackets up the front. There were also dining chairs for $5 each and toys for 10c (from memory). So I'm not sure why the accessories were so expensive (well, 50c, $1, $2 etc... only expensive by comparison with the other stuff).

I ended up spending $16 or so all together, not bad for this huge haul! Enough to put me in the Christmas spirit, anyway. Hope you all have a great one!

Wingfield Rowbotham & Co Cutlery Set

I came across this cutlery set at Vinnies in Dandenong a fortnight ago, and for only $9 I couldn't resist! It's a bone handled and silver plated nickel cutlery set. The knives have beautiful floral engraving on them, and they're in immaculate condition! I did a bit of a google search of the markings on the knives (not pictured) and it turns out they're electro plated nickle silver... pretty snazzy!

Weekend Finds

Note: delay in posting this up because my internet has been playing up :)

I got this lovely belt for only $2 on Saturday at the Mornington Vinnies. I'd never been to the op shops down here and I must say I was very impressed. Both the Vinnies and Salvos stores were quite big and had a great range of items for sale. The Vinnies in particular had quite a few antique-ish pieces of furniture (chairs, tables etc)! I also loved the window display that the staff in the Salvos store had done with their stock.. a Spring Racing inspired display with outfits and racing items (boots, riding crop etc).

The white singlet underneath is a Witchery number I got for $3.99 or so, and the grey/silver Esprit wrap top for $5.99 both from Dandenong Salvos a few weeks ago.

Also, if anyone is in the Mordialloc area, the Lions op shop on the main street is having a sale, 50% of some of their winter stuff (scarves, jackets and jumpers from memory). I managed to pick up a Pyrex glass lasagna dish for only $5 at that shop so would definitely recommend a trip down to check it out!

Oakleigh Vinnies + Carnegie Salvos

Cue shirt $7.99, Witchery linen shirt $3.50 (was a 50% item) both from Carnegie Salvos.

Pile of books from Oakleigh Vinnies, total came to $5 (so between 50c and $1 per book)

Oakleigh Vinnies and Dandenong Salvo's

I found some gorgeous tops out at Dandenong Salvo's today.. am only popping up 2! The first is my favourite... is a soft pale pink top with beaded detailing on the shoulders. At $5.99 I couldn't not take this beauty home!

The second item I wanted to share is a navy blue velvet blazer I got for only $4 (was one of the 50% items!) It is in immaculate condition, and is a UK brand... barely looks worn!
These finds below are from Vinnie's Oakleigh. I got the spice rack for only $4 (they are my own spices... I just couldn't wait to see how they looked in it!)

I got the wooden bangle for $2.

'The Grapes of Wrath' (amazing book!) was only 50c; 'House of Sand and Fog' (an Oprah book club book) was $1.50; and the 'Mrs de Winter' was $2... I had to have this book as it is marked as a sequel to Daphne du Maurier's 'Rebecca' which I studied a few years ago at university and just loved!

Today's Outfit

Jacqui E cardi (Dandenong Salvo's), Country Rd tunic dress (I'm a giraffe so it's a top on me!)(Vinnies Edithvale), Scarf (Dandenong Salvo's), bag (Glen Waverly Salvo's), scarf on bag (Dandenong Salvo's).

I've blogged about all of the items separately so you can look up the price of everything there... just wanted to show how you can throw everything together and make an entire outfit out of things you buy at op shops :)

More earrings....

I have something like 80 pairs of earrings, even though I don't have my ears pierced. This pair are my most recent find and were $1 from Vinnies in Dandenong, not that I needed them, but I couldn't resist...

Today's Opping

Cute necklace (boy & girl kissing) $3.99 @ Salvo's Oakleigh

Purr winged-top $4.99 and grey scarf $3.99 both @ Salvo's Cranbourne
Jacqui E sheer brown ruffled shirt $6.99 @ Salvo's Oakleigh
'Tommo & Hawk' $2, 'The Poisonwood Bible' $2, 'The Pilot's Wife' $1 and 'Henry VI' $1 all from Vinnie's Oakleigh. English verse hardcover book (1946 ed) $1.99 @ Salvo's Oakleigh.

Today's Outfit.. Mostly Opped ;)

I am stuck in the law library at uni so thought I'd take a snap of my outfit... Jacqui E cardigan from Salvo's in Dandenong (Lonsdale St) $5.99 I think; scarf 50c from Vinnies in Dandenong; you can't really see it but I'm wearing the Saba top I got on the weekend for $2.50 from Salvo's in Keysborough :)

Confessions of an Op-a-Holic

So after a very full week of classes and work I was in desperate need of some op-therapy! Here are my finds:

Country Road top/dress $6 @ Edithvale Vinnies

Purr "Betty Davies Eyes" tank top $3.99 @ Hastings Salvo's
Brown Witchery v-neck $4.99 and yellow Saba tank top $1.99 (was a 50% off item) @ Salvo's Keysborough
Silk tie $1.99 @ Hasting's Salvo's; 'The Art of Living' (an 1950s US Readers Digest collection) $2 @ Edithvale Vinnies; Books all $1 @ Mordialloc Lions Op Shop; Esprit brown leather belt $4.99 @ Salvo's Keysborough
Barkins purple and white stripe business shirt $2.99 (was a 50% off item) @ Salvo's Mordialloc

All fine and Dandy-nong

Despite knowing that Savers was having a sale on Monday, I couldn't restrain myself last Friday and hit Uniting Care and Vinnies in Dandenong (well, I had to warm up for the Savers sale, right?). I got a few things which I haven't taken pictures of yet and which look horrible on me at the moment anyway so I'll post about them on my own blog once I've altered them.

I also got this cute little brown wool cape for $5 at Vinnies - for once I bought something that is fine as-is, although I am considering adding some leather buttons which I found at Vinnies Ferntree Gully a while ago... or should I just leave it like this? (Full outfit pic here)
Seeing as I didn't end up getting anything exciting at the Savers sale on Monday, here are two recent purchases from there that ARE exciting...
Clip-on earrings in the shape of leaves with acorns on them (or berries, as they don't seem to be oak leaves, so why would they be acorns?) for $4.99:

A potholder (on the reverse of the label it says this brand make teacosies so it's my uneducated guess that this might be quite old, as I don't recall seeing new teacosies anywhere recently) which I think was about $2.
I love the retro print and colours, but obviously the person who donated it didn't, as the packet hasn't even been opened!

An Op Shopping Excursion

Witchery dress found at St Vincent's in Hampton

I haven't posted here for quite a while.  Not that I haven't been op shopping all this time, of course not!, but if you ever drop by my blog you will be aware of our house moving project.  It has been selfishly hogging my time so that blogging is a rare occurrence. However, I had to share a recent jaunt to some of my favourite op shops with you.  

Two new Melbourne friends (1 from Sydney & 1 from Chicago) are very keen thrifters, but lack a local's knowledge of all the secret haunts where treasure can be found.  So I planned a day (from school drop off to pick up) to share 4 of my favourite haunts. The trip was such a success that a plan is developing for fortnightly jaunts.  Lucky I still have a few secrets up my sleeve.  Here is our itinerary if you would like to go on your own excursion.

1.  Sacred Heart Mission Op Shop - cnr Inkerman Rd & Hotham St, St Kilda East:

great for adult and children's clothes, ties and jewellery.

2. St Stephen's Op Shop - 116 Martin St, Brighton:

run by a lovely bunch of nanna's who will help you find just what you are looking for, and at a great price!

3. Gibney's Gourmet Foods - Martin St, Brighton:

we stopped here for a scrumptious lunch and coffee break.

4. St Vincent's Hampton - 501 Hampton St, Hampton:

large collection of china, glassware, clothes, books and furniture.  I always go home with something from here.

5. Oppe Shoppe - Hawthorn Rd, Caulfield North:

shoes, clothes, bags - they often get Olga Berg and Nine West seconds.

I wish I had photos to share of the bootful of goodies 3 girls can accumulate on one excursion, but well we were just to busy searching!  I'll let you know how the next goes.

Happy thrifting.

Golden Hands

Anyone who likes a bit of the old crafting, has dabbled in a bit of sewing or likes the clickety clack of the knitting needles will be familiar with the Golden Hands books of the late 1960s / early 1970s. In the last few years they seem to have become like hens' teeth, although I was lucky enough to pick up the complete set in their original binders at the Salvos in Oakleigh a few months back.

I've spotted some of the magazines (about 10) in that very same shop in the last week. They are in amongst all the knitting patterns and haberdashery, rather than in the book section.

The Vinnies store on Nepean Highway in Edithvale also has about 15 of the hardcover books for $1.00 each. Yesterday was the first time I had been into this particular store and I think its one of the best around.

Vinnies seems to be having a resurgence at the moment with a new store having recently opened on Nepean Highway in Mentone and their Mornington store currently closed for renovations. First time I've ever seen an op shop undergo renovations!

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