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Nifty Thrifty Stuff I Found…

January 2, 2009

I used to be the op-shop queen. Yep. I had that really good op-shop luck that comes from regular visits and excellent op-shop eyes. You know the kind of eyes that scan backwards and forwards over the merchandise like a wacked out thrift machine…. until they come to rest on the perfect piece of vintage fabric, or the most adorable vintage dress or a chip-free, texta-ed upon pyrex dish. That was me. Crazy-eyed, getting stuff lady.

But last year was such a super busy year for me that I rarely had time to go any more. I was pretty op-less if the truth be known. (And plus, I didn’t really NEED anything. Which is a fair point to consider. It was more the wanting then the needing. Which can’t be good.)

Taking all that into consideration, I must say that I have been thrilled that Savers has been open over the Christmas Break. 2008 was a year of pretty spartan opping and shopping in general, so I feel it’s okay to carefully spend my Christmas money on second hand stuff that I might need some day, right? I’m filing it all under inspiration, which is a need not a want. I think I can justify that.

From the top:

Little Girl Playing Cards and Fishing People Playing Cards – Savers Brunswick
‘Coles Funny Picture Book’ and ‘The Man Who Didn’t Wash His Dishes’ – Savers Footscray
Vintage Polka Dot and Satin Trims – Savers Frankston
Vintage Fabric Pieces – Savers Brunswick
‘The Picnic At The Zoo’, ‘The Farm Book’, ‘Where is Bruin?’ and ‘The Cap That Mother Made Me’ – Savers Footscray
‘Let’s Walk Up The Wall’, ‘Heidi’, ‘Peter and The Wolf’ and ‘The Little Red Boot’ – Savers Footscray

A lot of people don’t like Savers for various reasons, and I understand that, but I’ve yet to find a better place to pick up vintage linens and haberdashery. I think it’s funny that at Brunswick I bought lovely old tea towels for $1.99 and they were $4.99 at Footscray. You have to be pretty strict with what you would like to pay for stuff at Savers. They really do price stuff pretty inconsistently within the store and between stores – and some things are STUPIDLY expensive. Do not buy them. Leave them for some other nutter.

You know, once I found a battery operated Fisher Price turntable at Savers Brunswick. It was under $10 and so CUTE. So you can be lucky. In fact, my friend Paula told me that she just saw a really lovely old Janome sewing machine at the Brunswick store. So if you are local you might want to know that. And if you are sewing machine-less you might want to know that too. Thanks Paula!

Savers is also good if you want to buy an old organ. Just a thought. Maybe you don’t want an old organ. Maybe you already have one. Good for you.

xx Pip

14 Comments

Little Brown Sparrow January 23, 2009 at 5:32 PM

Oh my Gosh! I thought I was the only kid in the universe outside of 1909 who knew what Coles picture book was!! You’re lucky to score it at the thrift.

I go to Savers when I can’t go to a ‘real’ op shop, mostly to laugh at their prices. I did score a bit of antique science glassware for .99c last week, and both seasons of Hu$tle- unwatched- for $10 each!

ps- thank you for not shopping at Savers Greensborough, that’s my local one. Don’t bother coming, we don’t have anything good. Just…stay away. Yeah. *shifty*

lindsey clare January 8, 2009 at 12:13 AM

Coles Funny Picture Book is the best. i pored over that as a child!

ok that’s it. i’m convinced that 2009 is going to be the year of me getting back into op shopping. oh yes.