Just the basics

(Reprinted from The Shopping Sherpa)A lunch date in Kingston today meant a good excuse to check out the inner south op shops for a change. Where I stocked up on some basics:

Black jeans: $5, Vinnies Narrabundah
White T shirt: $3.50, Salvos Fyshwick
96 pocket CD case (to keep my backup discs in): $3, Vinnies Narrabundah
2 stainless steel mixing bowls with measurements on the side: $5 (3 litre) and $3 (1.5 litre), Salvos Fyshwick

While I was at Fyshwick I bumped into Ken who tells me the opening of the new Mitchell store has been pushed back to late September/ early October at the stage.

Some favorite finds.

Hello,
Although this is my first post in this blog, I have been op-shopping in Canberra for as long as I have lived here, some 8 years or so. I think op-shopping is in my blood. I get that withdrawal mood when I haven't op-shopped for a while. ;-)

I'm going to share with you some of my all time favorite finds.

$1, Scullin Op-shop

It was covered in ugly dirty clear plastic. I almost walked out the door before went back to check it out. Bingo! Underneath the plastic was this stunning handmade embroidery. Still hanging proudly in the guest bedroom.

$8, YMCA Jamison (now Belconnen)

This is one of my earliest op-shop finds. Bought this some seven years ago and it's still being used as the most favorite TV blanket in the house. Every house guest has seen this. Also used as a background in many family photos. ;-)

What are your favorite op-shopping finds?

Score!

Okay, I know this is primarily a place for extolling the virtues of Canberra op shops. However due to working full time (doh) and a lack of Sunday opening times, I haven't had much opportunity (sorry bad pun!) to be thrifting in my home town.

I just had to share this great score though that I picked up on my way into Sydney last week. Out of the corner of my eye on the highway I spotted a big blue and red Salvos building. Hastily turning off I just managed to catch the last 20 minutes before they closed and quite politely but firmly asked me to leave. It wasn't nearly enough time, however a lovely crystal bowl set was my prize for only $8.00. The bowls are quite heavy and haven't been used much - they even have gold "Made in West Germany" stickers still attached. I am thinking they will look lovely for serving up some summery fruit salad.

The store is in Canley Heights: 136 Torrens Street CANLEY HEIGHTS NSW 2166. Ph. (02) 9724 0017.

Funnily enough as the guy helped me load my purchases into the car, he saw my number plates and mentioned that there had been a succession of Canberra people that day buying up big in the store!

Second hand Show and Tell

(Reprinted from The Shopping Sherpa)

It was wonderful to have time yesterday to do one of my favorite op shop loops.

First stop was Salvos Mitchell where I picked up a book and a paper making kit for $5 total (just what I need: another hobby. But for under $5 I figured it could sit in the craft cupboard until inspiration struck. And if that never happened I could donate it to the Community Arts tent at The National Folk Festival next year)
Salvos Belconnen provided me with three CDs for $4 each: Hoodoo Gurus' Ampology (especially pleased with this one as I don't have any Hoodoo Gurus on CD and this is a very comprehensive double best of collection), Norah Jones' Come away with me and The Whitlams' Torch the moon (another double CD which contained a cover version of my favorite Icehouse track)

Keeping to the music theme, at my next stop ( Y's Buys Belconnen) I picked up some recorder tuition books for $1 each. This week I rediscovered a recorder I picked up second hand ages ago and had the sudden urge to do something with it. So I'm planning to reteach myself to read music, a skill I last used about twenty five years ago. I surprised myself last night by discovered I can play Depeche Mode's Just can't get enough by ear...

And at Vinnies Belconnen I found this.... err... thingy for $3: No idea what it is but since it looked like it could be a spinny weavy type thingy I bought it on the off chance that it could be useful for Taph. Any ideas what it might be?

Lost - one Friday night date

Salvos at Phillip has ceased its flirtation with Friday night opening - most disappointed. It is, however, now experimenting with extended Saturday trading.

From this week 9.00am-4.30pm each Saturday.

Spreadsheet all up to date.

How to read an op shop...

Since discovering this blog, I've reflected a bit on how I came to be a committed op-shopper. It started as a necessity - moving to another city with no furniture and no money - but then somewhere along the line, it turned into something else. Now I find myself quite happy to walk out of an op shop empty-handed, satisfied because I know there's nothing in there for me, at least for now.

Is the art of op-shopping about intuition or developing a practised eye? Or a bit of both? For example, on my last visit to Mitchell Salvos I knew almost as I walked into the shop that I would find some clothes for my daughter, but nothing for me, and that is exactly what occurred.

But of course, the other great thing about opshopping is getting a lovely surprise, and that's what happened on the way to the counter to buy the clothes. This lovely gentleman's travel kit caught my eye (I think I have already accidentally uploaded the picture): an English-made leather case full of grooming devices, including shoe buffer, extra shoe laces, a nail file, and moustache comb!

My husband really loves these relics from an earlier, gentlemanly era. For years, I have tried to find him an old-fashioned tinderbox, but without success. But one day, I know I'll walk into an opshop, somewhere, and just 'know' that that day IS the day when I find one. For now, he is chuffed to bits with the grooming kit - I just hope he doesn't grow a mo to warrant the use of the comb...

Too many books at Salvos Phillip

As I was paying for a couple of patterns at the Salvos in Phillip today, the customer in front of me was informed that all books were 50 cents, as they had so many. Not sure how long the special is on for.

Recent finds....

Two Sugarrrs and I have recently picked up:

$5 movie camera - auction

$5 watch - Vinnies Tuggeranong

$2 snoopy stationery - Vinnies Tuggeranong

50 cents each - Vintage patterns - Slavos Phillip

St Vinnies $3 shirts and pants.

Just seen at St Vinnies at Belconnen.

All mens shirts are $3 on 29 and 30 June and 1 July.

Also all mens pants are $3 on 29 and 30 June.

Help me grow my Johnson

Reprinted from The Old Flame

My parents have used a Johnson Brothers dinner set in the Summer Chintz patten for over 20 years.

I stumbled over a Johnson Brothers dinner setting (well a nearly complete setting for four) in the Regency White patten.

I am now looking for the pieces to make a setting for 12, along with the other table setting bits (gravy boats, soup tureens, serving platters, etc) and I want to do this for around $2 a piece (well, i may pay a bit more for soup tureens and serving platters), so dear readers, if you see something, let me know.

As I find pieces I will post photos and the cost. The 14 pieces found today cost $25, and I got 4 dinner plates, 4 side plates, 2 cereal bowls, 2 cups and saucers.

YMCA garage sales

I saw this on the door at the Belconnen YMCA shop.

I guess the last line is the important line. Future sales will be the first Saturday of even numbered months (First Saturday of February, April, June, August, October and December).

I wonder if they realise that these dates include the October long weekend and Easter 2010 is going to be April 2 until April 5.