Pyrex pretty

I'm always on the lookout for vintage Pyrex. There's something so lovely about the translucency of the casseroles and covered dishes- it's very like milk-glass. And the coloured finishes and patterning are so pretty. They're like dressing-table trinket boxes you put in the oven!

Seen here is a Snowflake Blue divided casserole found today at the Brotherhood of St Laurence Opshop on Glenhuntly Road, Caulfield, for just $3. I've seen similar dishes in other opshops for $10 and upwards so I was very pleased. When I get my Pyrex pieces home I give them a gentle bicarb-soda scrub to remove baked on residue then rinse with clear water- they come up beautifully.

Besides being lovely to look at, this retro cookware is very practical. If you make a large bake or casserole, the leftovers can simply remain in the dish and get covered with the lid to go straight into the fridge. You don't have to fuss with gladwrap or get tupperware-type containers dirty. The flat covers enable safe stacking of two or more dishes, or other refrigerator contents can go on top.

The Pyrex Love blog showcases the extensive collection owned by Linda and Bryan, and offers a taxonomy of the different colours and patterns fossickers may find in opshops. I'm warning you, collecting these dishes is addictive!

Three oppies in one day.

I had a message to do in Clayton on Thursday, so while I was over that side of town, I dropped into the two opshops in Clayton Road. At Vinnies I found this cute apron for $2.50,

and at the Salvos I found this gorgeous kimono for $6.99

and a book about paper crafts for $2.99.


Then I came back home and dropped into our local Brotherhood shop. I found a circular tablecloth for $5 - printed, not embroidered, but that doesn't matter.

We have a round table in the kitchen, and I rarely find cloths to fit, so this was a bargain! I also bought the other book in the above photo (70 cents) and this tiny little watering can miniature (30 cents) for my blue and white miniatures collection.

Red Cross, Koornang Rd (Carnegie)

Found this cricket style knit for $5 at the Red Cross in Carnegie a while ago, but am wearing it today so thought I'd share :) Am pretty sure there was a % off so I got it for like $3.50 or something crazy like that!

I had this lady run up to me while I was at the register asking me where I'd picked it up (assuming she wanted one too?)... not sure she realised it was an op shop and there might not necessarily be several others sitting on the shelf?!

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!

Savers sale today!!

Hi everyone, it's lovely to join the team of dedicated op shoppers here! I just wanted to get this out there quickly - it's 50% off at Savers today and they are open until 9pm. So you know where I'm going to be after work today! Because I was in a rush to do this post and tell you all about the sale I don't have a pic from a really recent find, but I'll get that happening soon. Instead, here's a top I found ..oh dear, last year.. at the Salvos in Oakleigh. You can read more about it and see how I altered it on my blog, Style Wilderness, if you like!

Cardigan (Seems to be alot of them at op shops all over at the moment!)

Picked up this cute little cropped cardigan at Salvo's Dandenong (Lonsdale St) for $2.50 (it was $5 but it was one of the 50% coloured tag items of the week!) It's kind of quirky, not sure where it is from, but the care instructions tag inside is all in Hebrew so I'm guessing it has travelled a while to make it to this op shop :)

The dress was from the same op shop, is Teaberry brand... and I have mentioned it in a prior blog post (cannot remember cost off the top of my head sorry)

Kew - Grandma Cardigans

I was off to Kew this morning and there found three items - two grandma cardigans and a leather belt for a total of $20. One cardigan is very 90s and double-breasted, the other hand-knitted.I found all of the shops to be really well priced except Vinnies- it was a little overpriced. This is especially good as often in wealthy areas the owners of opshops like to charge more (anyone been to Camberwell salvos recently?) . All in all, it was a good trip and I would reccomend these shops to anyone who lives in the inner east :)