My lovely (almost) sister-in-law is an op shop wonder woman. Her kids are always impeccably dressed and suitably entertained with all manner of goodies from the local op shops - vintage toys, hand knitted cardigans and hardly worn shoes abound at their house. Since moving back home to Gippsland (and therefore being a bit closer to a lot more towns to shop in) I have been popping in to the local St Vinnies, Salvos or church op shop just to see what is on offer...and I have been pleasantly surprised. Behold...
Recently I have picked up some chairs in the exact spindle-back shape which I love (ala Tina's country kitchen). It came with a table which I didn't want, just the chairs so the lovely op shop man sold me four chairs for $30 and I happily loaded them into my chair pleased as punch. Two are painted white and two are stained a fairly unappealling orangey-wood colour, hoping to sand them all back and re-paint white.
I also snared three little glass bottles for $3, a gold photo frame for $1.50 and a stack of clothbound books for $3 each. I am slowly but surely growing my collection of vintage books, to start with we used them in our engagement photos, and then I thought I'd like them as table centrepieces for our wedding but I am still undecided about that. I have found some great ones for 50 cents a book - yay! These ones at $3 per book are definitely the upper limit of the book budget. No matter what I use them for they look pretty sitting in our built-in bookshelf in the loungeroom or stacked on a chair somewhere in a corner of the farmhouse.
And the lampbase, oh the lampbase! When I came across the lampbase I may have let out an audible shriek, and no the emerald green colour was not the reason. It is the exact 'ginger jar' shape that I had been swooning over, like one from White Port which appears to no longer be stocked. Plans are afoot for a little spray paint and new shade makeover for old emerald green lampy.
Tessa seems excited about it all too, out for her morning galavant about in the garden. Off the garden naughty puppy!
What about you? Are you an avid op shop scourer? Found anything interesting lately?
Images by Emma Durkin for Cinderella at Brindabella.
I also snared three little glass bottles for $3, a gold photo frame for $1.50 and a stack of clothbound books for $3 each. I am slowly but surely growing my collection of vintage books, to start with we used them in our engagement photos, and then I thought I'd like them as table centrepieces for our wedding but I am still undecided about that. I have found some great ones for 50 cents a book - yay! These ones at $3 per book are definitely the upper limit of the book budget. No matter what I use them for they look pretty sitting in our built-in bookshelf in the loungeroom or stacked on a chair somewhere in a corner of the farmhouse.
And the lampbase, oh the lampbase! When I came across the lampbase I may have let out an audible shriek, and no the emerald green colour was not the reason. It is the exact 'ginger jar' shape that I had been swooning over, like one from White Port which appears to no longer be stocked. Plans are afoot for a little spray paint and new shade makeover for old emerald green lampy.
Tessa seems excited about it all too, out for her morning galavant about in the garden. Off the garden naughty puppy!
Images by Emma Durkin for Cinderella at Brindabella.
10 comments:
I just found your blog and became a follower! I love it! I love using milk jars for vases! :) Erin
http://purplebookbloggingmommy.blogspot.com/
You know I'm a junk shop junky! In fact I think I might pop into the Salvos on our afternoon walk into town today - it's on the list!
xx
I'm an op shop queen. I've bought heaps of little trinklets lately glass jars, frames, cookbooks, its amazing how many bags you can come home with and for less than $20!
I love that green lamp I can see the potential a mile away :)
Those little bottles are adorable and what a steal!
These are some great op shop finds! Love the glass bottles. I think I clearly need to head out to country Victoria - finding an op shop bargain in Melbourne is way too difficult!
(p.s. I realise I'm a little slow on the uptake, but hello from a fellow BYW class member!)
I love a good bargain! I got my baby's high chair this week off of craigslist here in the US. It was super cheap. Does that count? :)
I love finding treasures in markets and junk shops (my husband is not always in agreement!)..the possiblities are endless when a tin of white spray paint is near! The shape of the lamp is perfection!
Emma...your blog looks really lovely. My daughters name is Emma and sh'es 23...so of course I'm fond of the name. I was in the BYW class with you. Congratulations on being invited to being a contributor to the magazine you mentioned on Creative Mint! We live next to a 25,000 acre forest and have lived in our little property for 24 years now...it will be fun to watch your efforts unfold. Nice to meet you!
linden
Those bottles and that lamp base - brilliant! And the chair too - great finds. Yes, love Op shopping but never seem to find much in our part of Sydney - the true gems are definitely found in shops in country towns...
hello just stopping by to say HI, i found you thru blogging your way. i just rummaged thru and old junk shop today. wow! it was super fun and i found some beautiful old tea cups. lovely stuff.
Great blog...
Lindsay
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