First Rate Second Hand Buys

November 17, 2017 by violetannie63 ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Hello everyone. I’m so glad it is Friday. This week was my first back from holidays and, boy-oh-boy, what a long week it was! Work has been hectic and stress-filled and I don’t feel as though I have even just had a break.

It’s been a while since I did an op-shopping (thrifting) post so I thought I would show you some of the things I have picked up lately. There is a lot more than is featured here but, in the interest of brevity and not wanting to scare myself with how much stuff I bought, I’ll just show a few. A selection of goodies, if you will.

Canvases – I recently participated in a school fete (had a little stall selling my cards and other wares) and, at the end of the day, the White Elephant stall was selling all its leftovers for $1.00 (fill a bag for one dollar!). I had a quick look around and found some kids’ canvases – two sets of five. The lady at the stall told me they were $3 a set and the price could not be reduced to the $1.00 special. I figured $6.00 for ten canvases was still pretty awesome anyway, so I went to the counter to ask the lady to hold them for me while I went back to get some money. Before I could ask her, she said “That’ll be one dollar love…” I queried whether they should actually be the higher price and she assured me that no, they were reduced. So I happily paid the dollar and went off with my purchases. But it didn’t feel right. So, after feeling guilty for a while, I went back and told the lady I didn’t think the price was correct – that I should have paid more. She assured me it was ok but I felt bad, like I was ripping the fundraising off, so I gave her a few extra dollars anyway. So, I think I paid $4.00 in the end for ten really good little canvases – nice and study, ready to paint over, ready to hang and everything. I’ve already used a couple for paintings.

2. Vintage soup bowl – such a pretty little thing, this bowl. I love the design, and how it is different on each side. I liked the little bee on it 🙂 I saw the bowl outside an antique shop and I just had to have it. It’s not in perfect condition, but for $5.00 I can look past that. I will just use it as a display piece.

3. Pink shoes – Very pink for me…but super comfy and soft. I only wear leather if I can buy it second hand (because I’m a vego). These shoes are tiny too. I am sure my feet are shrinking. These were only a size 5 (36). Plus, they were half price so I only paid $3.00.

4. More canvases (and books) – I keep finding old canvases in op shops and, if they’re cheap enough, I snap them up. Especially if they come in sets. There’s a selection here – different shapes and sizes. I also got a few old children’s books for cutting up. I think this lot cost about $10.00 all up.

5. Floral Jacket – I recently attended a friend’s wedding and I had to buy something appropriate to wear. In my search for a nice jacket, I picked this one up for about $5.00. I didn’t wear it to the wedding though (I borrowed my cousin’s faux leather one for that – it went with the navy blue dress I wore much better) but I will happily wear it to something else. It’s quite fitted and cropped but nicely made and not too heavy. Oh and please excuse the bandaged thumb. My dermatillomania is a bit mental right now so I am picking my fingers to pieces. Not very attractive.

6. Books. Mum and I went to the annual Save the Children Fund Book Sale. We look forward to this every year. It’s the highlight of Spring 🙂 This year they didn’t seem to have as much stock, which was a bit disappointing, but I still managed to pick up quite a few bargains. The books ranged in price from 50c – $4.00 (unless they were antique etc). I bought about 30 books for roughly $60.00. I got lots of animal and bird titles, for cutting up for collage etc. So many lovely birdies! The “British Birds” volume features beautiful vintage images so I will probably not cut that one up – will colour copy instead. So of the pics are worth framing. Books make me happy!

So, that’s just a few of the things I picked up over the course of a few months. I love a bargain, but I am trying to only buy things I know I need or will use. I don’t do the buying frenzies I used to do 🙂 I am trying to not fill my house with more crap, and just because something is cheap, doesn’t mean you necessarily need it. Books are the exception, ha ha. I always need those!

Thanks for stopping by x

Thrifty-Happy

February 18, 2017February 15, 2017 by violetannie63 ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Op-shopping (thrifting), as I have said many times before, is one of my favourite things to do. Probably THE favourite thing to do, if I’m honest. I love the element of surprise, of never knowing what you’re going to find. I have learnt not to actually go in seeking a particular thing, because I won’t find it. It’s more of a treasure hunt – and sometimes you don’t find any treasure. Which can really suck 🙂

Recently, on my birthday week, when I had some time off work, I did a bit of solitary op-shopping. I had nothing to do and nowhere to be except in the rows of second hand goodness. The weather last week was dreadful – it’s the middle of Summer and it has been cold and rainy and blah. Which is probably the best kind of weather for trying on clothes because you don’t get hot and sweaty and cranky.

I have recently put on quite a bit of weight which, aside from being really upsetting and depressing, means that a lot of my clothes don’t fit me. Ugh. Is there anything more blues-inducing than trying to squeeze into a skirt that USED to be baggy on you but now makes you look like an overstuffed sausage? No, there is not.

So, I needed to buy a few more items of clothing that would a.) fit me and b.) be suitable for the weird weather we are having. Longer sleeves were the order of the day, because it’s too cool for short ones, and my arms are hideous. That’s right, I said it – HIDEOUS. They should be hidden away in case they scare someone with their white flabbiness. There should actually be a law against my arms – seriously. They could incite people to revolt.

Anyway, I went op-shopping. I found a really nice shop that I hadn’t been to before and it had a great selection of clothes – so much so that I found myself with a basketful just from the first rack. Reasonably priced and in my size – what could be better?

So here’s what I got :

Nice, lightweight top for Summer days. Beachy and bingo-wing covering!

2. Cute little jacket that is still cool enough for Summer, or I could even
wear it as a top – it’s a blousey sort of material.

3. Super-soft checked shirt. I don’t normally get these because I can never find one that looks ok on me. But this one fits perfectly, is SO SOFT and I loved the blue tones. It’s good as a cover-up over a t-shirt, or on its own. I channel Madonna in her “Don’t Tell Me” video when I am wearing it. Don’t judge me.

4. Was lucky to find this lovely Review top. It probably retailed for at least $100 originally, and I got it for $7. Can’t beat that! A good one for work.

5. At $10.25, this was perhaps a tad more expensive than I would normally go for in an op-shop. But it was so pretty, and just what I need for my craft room to organise my paintbrushes, pens, papers etc.

6. I found this teeny-weeny religious thingy for only 50c. It’s about the size of two postage stamps. So dinky! I am going to cover it and collage over it and make it completely non-religious, but hey if it has some built-in blessings or divine protection, I won’t argue! I wish I had been able to find more, so will have to be on the lookout for them. I guess maybe they are a little travel thingy so you can take your faith with you or something? Whatever, it’s cute.

7. I snagged this cushion cover for a dollar. Although it does have a store label on it, it is obviously handmade which neat, little stitches and imperfections. It is very large so will actually make a nice table mat or it could hang on the back of my couch. I liked the colours and the slightly rustic quality it has.

8. Shoes! I have wanted a pair of these chunky heels for ages but have never been able to find exactly the right pair. So I got these. They’re a tiny bit small so I might need to stretch them out just slightly. I got them for $5. I am a mega klutzoid so I need chunky heels if I am going to wear heels at all. Otherwise there is falling down and general embarrassment and humiliation.

Chunky! I mean the shoes…stop looking at my ankles!!!

So, a good day, and I have already worn a couple of the items which shows they were worthwhile purchases. I Especially like the checked shirt – I think I will be snuggling up a lot in that in the Autumn months. And pretending I am Madonna. When she was still cool and making good music and not gadding about in leotards and pretending she’s 25.

Hope you are having a happy day 🙂

Op-Shopping 101

September 8, 2016September 8, 2016 by violetannie63 ♥ 5 Comments

It’s a known fact that I enjoy op-shopping (thrifting) just a wee little bit. If by a “wee little bit” you mean “more than ANYTHING IN THE WORLD!!!!”

If op-shopping was an actual job, I would be quitting the one I already have and preparing to have an awesome, joy-filled career.

In the meantime, here are a few tips and tricks if you are a newbie to op-shopping, or just one of those people who doesn’t really understand it and thinks everything will be stinky and gross and smell like old people :

Be Prepared to Rummage : Op shops are not like regular stores – everything isn’t always neatly set out in sizes and colours with multiples of everything. This is half the fun – you never know what you are going to find. I know some people hate that. They want to walk in and walk out with the item they wanted within minutes. They do not enjoy the chase. They are missing out on so much. You have to be prepared to rummage and look through lots of racks and explore. I personally think it is best to not go in with an exact “want” list in your head because, chances are, you won’t find what you’re looking for. Just enjoy the search and see what treasures you can unearth.
Wear sensible stuff : What I mean by this is you should wear easy-to-remove clothing items so that, when trying things on, it doesn’t take you forever and you don’t get hot and gross or annoyed. Don’t wear button-up things (unless they are also easy to just pull off over your head) or pants that need belts. In fact, avoid trousers if you can. A skirt is a better option because you can pull things on underneath them. That way, you don’t even have to get undressed or risk the dreaded op-shop curtain fling (that scary moment when someone yanks open your changing room curtain to “see if anyone is in here” – happens all the time, makes me want to punch people) when you’re sans clothing. Ideally, a skirt and loose-fitting top works best – then you only have to get half-undressed at any given moment. Wearing a dress means you have to take it all off if you’re trying on another dress. But, then, I have been known to try things on over or under whatever I’m wearing. It’s up to you. Just go for simple and comfortable and easy to pull on and off. Same goes for shoes, obviously – don’t wear things that have straps or buckles that need undoing. It just makes the whole process more laborious.
Where to go : When you’ve been op-shopping for most of your life, you learn the best places to go, and the places to avoid. I have certain shops that I always frequent because they are cheap, clean and always have great stuff. In WA, I really like Good Sammy’s. They have the best prices (which are generally consistent across all of their stores) and they are organised well. They have regular sales too – 50% off days which apply to all recycled clothing (as opposed to particular colour-tagged items). I live in hope of those 50% off signs – they make me so happy 🙂 I find Good Sammy’s to be excellent for dresses, shoes and handbags, as well as for books, knick-knacks and other household items.
Don’t Haggle : Op Shops are usually run by charities, who have to make a certain amount of money each week in order to remain viable. Their stock is already very cheap so please don’t ask for a discount of any kind, or haggle, or ask for the price to be reduced if you have bulk items. Just don’t. It’s rude. If you don’t want to pay $3 for that cute little top (that is probably worth $25 new), don’t. Walk away from it and look for something else. I am the biggest cheapskate out, but even I won’t ask for a price to be reduced, regardless of condition of the item.
What to buy : Obviously, buy what you like but don’t get caught up in the :Ooooh, it’s so cheap!” frenzy that sometimes affects us all. Yes, you may be able to buy 15 black t-shirts for under $30, but do you really need to? Find the one you like best and buy that one. Just because something is cheap, doesn’t mean you need it. It’s not a bargain if you don’t wear it. Keep a look out for designer items you might be able to sell on Ebay, if that’s your thing. Don’t buy items that require something else in order for you to wear them eg a sheer dress that needs a slip underneath it. Sure, if you have a slip that would go perfectly underneath, then cool, but if not, put the dress back on the rack and keep looking. It’s not very clever to buy something that costs you $5, if you then have to go and buy something to go with it that costs $25. It’s false economy, and the chances of you ACTUALLY going out and buying the extra item are pretty slim. Trust me, I know this. I have learnt my lesson.
Don’t shop hungry : As I said before, op-shopping is generally not a quick expedition, where you’re in and out in two minutes. It takes time to rummage and try things on plus, if you’re lucky, you will have several op-shops in a row in one place, so you’ll be there a while. Make sure you take some water with you so you don’t get dehydrated (shopping is thirsty work!) and it’s a good idea to have a little snack with you too – some muesli bars or a handful of nuts or whatever. You make better decisions when you’re not hungry or thirsty. You don’t want to go home with a pair of lime green stretch pants just because your bloody sugar was low and you momentarily lost your brain.
Know your colours : It makes life easier if you know what suits you and what colours look best with your complexion. You can scan past a whole rack of stuff and dismiss what doesn’t fit in with your ideal. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try new colours once in a while but, generally, you should stick to what works for you and makes you feel good about yourself. For instance, I love yellow and mustardy colours, but I know I look like death-warmed-up in them. They make me look like I am about to be violently ill or have some sort of plague. I avoid them.
Donate : There is a universal law that what you give out, you get back. So donate your unwanted clothes often. Have a good sort out and drop stuff off at the op-shop. While you’re there, you might as well have a look round, right?
Don’t discriminate : Go thrifting in lots of different places. I know one particular op-shop that is situated in a less than salubrious suburb that has the BEST stuff. Sometimes the “posh” towns have crappy op-shops. There’s no guarantee that postcode equals quality – not in this case anyway. Some of the smaller, slightly dingy shops in out of the way places have really neat stuff and, because it hasn’t been picked over by all and sundry, you can often find a bargain on some quality items.
Don’t be snooty : Within reason, everything can be washed and disinfected. I draw the line at buying underpants, but everything else is fair game. I’ve bought some lovely kitchenware and mugs, Tupperware and cutlery from op-shops. It just needs a good scrub and some hot soapy water. A lot of the stuff hasn’t even been used – you can tell by looking at something if it’s lived a hard life. Use your discretion.
Take a buddy : I personally am happy to shop on my own, but there is something to be said for taking a like-minded friend along. My cousin and I thrift together often, and we have a pretty good system. Usually this system consists of me finding awesome things for HER to try on (because she is super skinny and fit and can wear anything) but we always have fun. It’s good to have a second opinion on items you’re not sure of. Someone who can shake their head and say “Um, no….” when you try to squeeze into that crushed velvet boob-tube. If the other person knows your size, they can be on the lookout for things you may not have spotted as you trawl the racks. A buddy can also guard your changing room for you and stop people barging in, or hold the curtain closed for you if it’s a tad on the not-wide-enough side.
They have new stuff too! Thrift shops sometimes also stock brand new items. They get bulk amounts of “reject” products, ie things that haven’t sold somewhere else. There’s nothing wrong with them, they’re just excess stock. You can get undies and socks, clothing, and other items brand new, but at a fraction of the normal cost. I must admit to buying my undies from my local op-shop quite often. They’re $2.25. I refuse to pay $10 or $12 for a pair of undies. They’re a nice fit (I hate undies that ride up your butt!!!) and they are good quality and long-wearing. I’ve also bought one of those new-fangled bamboo pillows at the thrift shop for about half the price of one in the regular stores.

So, there’s nothing to it, really. Just go in with an open mind and find some treasures. And be prepared to walk away with nothing and be ok with that. The hunt is half the fun.

Happy thrifting everyone 🙂

Thrifty Goodness (Even though officially I am banned from buying anything more…)

May 12, 2016May 12, 2016 by violetannie63 ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

So, I’ve had three glorious weeks off work. GLORIOUS. Not because I have done anything exciting or life-changing, but because I JUST WASN’T AT WORK. Which is pretty damn good to me. But the time has gone dizzingly fast. Depressingly so. Like, where did the last two weeks go? Where did the last 5 days go? The last three hours? I don’t know. I am a terrible time-waster, one of those people who is always “busy doing something close to nothing” (Thank you, Prince). I have so many things I want to do, I end up faffing about doing nothing. Which is horrible and makes me very annoyed. I don’t sit around doing nothing, I move around and never sit still, but at the same time doing nothing constructive.

I was supposed to get fit and lose weight on my holiday, but that hasn’t happened. I have pretty much eaten my way from one end of Perth to the other. Lots of lunches and breakfasts and dinners out. A coffee break here, an afternoon tea there – it all adds up. So, predictably, I gave up on the whole losing weight scenario. That will have to wait until I am back at work (although the workplace is often THE WORST place for trying to stick to a diet). But I have caught up with lots of friends and family, so I am not complaining really. I can’t do up my pants, but I am not complaining.

Because I am looking at moving out soon, I have tried to limit the amount of shopping I do. I need to declutter, not get more stuff. I sorted through my wardrobe and culled a bunch of stuff that I no longer needed or fitted in to (giving up the dream of ever being skinny again any time soon). I didn’t go op-shopping for a few weeks. I stayed away from those havens of thrifty goodness because I don’t want to fill my wardrobe again. And I thought it would be incentive to lose weight – the promise of new clothes down the track.

Well, that lasted all of about three weeks, which is actually pretty good for me. Probably a record, in fact. I even took stuff TO the op shop in order to donate it, and did not go inside “to have a quick look”. I was a good girl. For a little while. Hey, an accomplishment is an accomplishment, no matter how small, right? I will try and hold out for longer next time.

So, this last week, unable to stand the withdrawal symptoms any longer, I stopped into a couple of my “locals”, ie the op shops that get all my money. I desperately needed a new pair of black boots for Winter – mine are getting very beaten up and scuffed because I wear them to death, and have done for several Winters – so I did actually have a goal and purpose. I wasn’t just wandering aimlessly, as I would normally do. Most of the boots in “proper” shops are a.) too expensive and b.) too high in the heel for me. I have trouble finding shoes in general, but finding boots I like is a nightmare.

Almost immediately, I came across these boots, which were nearly new and in great condition , and in my size (which doesn’t happen very often). They fit really well and are comfortable so I popped them in my basket (whilst secretly doing a little happy dance).

Next up, I found this cute little handbag. My own bag (sorry about cruddy photo – half of these were taken on my rapidly ageing phone) is VERY ANNOYING because it just won’t stay on my shoulder, it sits funny and I am just over it! This one was a perfect size, nearly new and a great colour (pewter goes with everything) so it too went into my basket. My old bag will be donated – I am trying to donate one thing for every other thing I bring in to the house. That way, I don’t become an official hoarder.

Was super pleased to find these little pots for only $1.00 each! I got five in all different colours. Perfect for my succulents 🙂

Then, I found this denim jacket. It fits really well (I’m not skinny but I am petite, and jackets are often too wide with ridiculously long arms!) and I like the distressed detail and zip-up front. It’s fitted so isn’t too bulky on me, but will be nice and warm for the coming colder months (ugh!).

Another jacket – this time a leather-look one. I did have a nice faux leather one, but it has been worn to death and was starting to fall to pieces, as faux leather will do after a while.

My cousin actually bought this top but ended up giving it to me. I like grey, and the little zippered pocket is a nice detail. It’s long enough to wear with leggings and will be nice with jeans too, if I am brave enough to wear skinny ones this year. Which seems unlikely, but you never know…

Yes, I did buy another faux leather jacket – don’t judge me! This one was so cute and feminine, and super soft. Brand new with tags on still, it only cost $4.50! It’s a bit dressier than your run-of-the-mill jacket and I love the detailing on the back (see following photo). Hard to take a picture of, so hopefully you can get an idea of what it looks like. It feels like one of those lovely old leather gloves – so soft!

My friend thrifted this dress (sorry about blurry photo – I am hopeless today) but decided to give it to me. I’m not sure about the bright colours on me, but it fit well so will probably wear it with some opaque black tights and a cardigan, for work.

I wore this one today – a comfy oversized top. Good for this in-between weather that we are currently experiencing. I like the faux suede on the shoulders and fake pocket area. I don’t wear a lot of pink but I didn’t mind this one as it had the grey/black through it.

A cute little knitted jumper. Not my usual colours, but I kinda liked it and it fits well. I generally wear a lot of dark things so this will make a nice change. It is also very soft and cosy, without being bulky or heavy.

Last, but not least, this jumper. I am going to go ahead and call it the Muppet jumper. Because it looks like someone skinned the Cookie Monster. It is ridiculously soft (I have a thing for soft, apparently) and makes me want to cuddle myself. It’s a bit more cropped than I would normally wear, but I’m sure with a high-waisted skirt or pants it will be fine. The lady at the counter charged it as a kid’s knit, so I only paid like $2.00 or something crazy. I love it. Have no idea where I will wear it but maybe I will just wear it around the house and stroke myself a lot. Which would be weird. So maybe I won’t do that.

So, that’s it for now. I tend to get in a bit of a frenzy, where op shopping is concerned. It’s a bit addictive so I have to pace myself and remind myself that I am supposed to be de-cluttering and culling. But I have already worn several of these items so I know they weren’t frivolous purchases, and many of them were half price so they cost me less than $5.00 each. Not gonna feel guilty about that.

Back to work next week. I’m so sad my time off is over, but I have really needed it and feel somewhat human again after feeling like I was at risk of curling up into a ball under my desk and never coming out. I may well feel like that on my first day back, but at least I will have new boots to help get me through. Shoes are very powerful – just ask Dorothy!

May the thrifting Gods smile on you all today 🙂

Little Maids All in A Row (2)

January 19, 2016January 17, 2016 by violetannie63 ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Just a quickie post today, showing you some of the cards I made on the weekend. I wanted to get some more of these little dress cards done. They’re so quick and simple and quite effective. I started to lose to plot after a while so finished with the “Beautiful” tartan-inspired one at the end here. Sometimes you have to know when to stop. I’m not good at the whole “production line” method of making things – I get bored if I have to do a similar design over and over. So it was time for a change – will show you the results of that in a later post. But, for now, here are some more pretty little maids (or, at least, their dresses).

Thanks for stopping by 🙂

Op-Shopping to the Max

January 6, 2016 by violetannie63 ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It is fair to say that op-shopping is one of my favourite things to do. Without question. I am always in the mood for it and will seek out op-shops wherever I go. If I go somewhere and they are thrift-free, I am disappointed and sulky. What kind of town doesn’t have an op-shop??? That’s just craziness and I don’t understand it.

These past couple of weeks, when I should have been saving money after the Christmas spend-up, I did a fair bit of op-shopping. My Mum is my enabler in this. She loves it as much as I do, although she is more restrained than me. I get caught up in a bit of frenzy and end up with bags of stuff that I have no room for in my wardrobe. Which then necessitates a clear-out of said wardrobe, which then leads me to the op-shop again when I go to donate stuff. It’s a bit of a vicious cycle. Vicious, but oh so enjoyable. Plus it isn’t costing me a fortune (I tell myself, too scared to actually add up what I am spending). And it’s a form of recycling, right? So I am being eco-friendly! 🙂

Here are some things I got recently. I actually bought a ridiculous amount so I won’t bore you with all of it. But I snagged a few bargains and some designer stuff as well as a few things I got for other people (because I really, really like the pieces but am too fat/short/stumpy/long-in-the-tooth to wear them myself). Apologies for the crappy photos – I am yet to figure out how to take decent photos of clothes…I probably should have worn each of them for the photos, but a page full of pictures of me seemed cruel and unfair punishment to my readers.

Pale Blue Linen Dress – I wasn’t sure about this one as it is very plain and I tend to prefer pattern or dark colours to hide any wobbly bits ha ha. It is very cool though – great for Summer – and easy to wear and accessorise. I’ll wear it with a belt I think to break the monotone-ness up a bit.
Review Office Dress – Very excited to see this on the rack as I can’t afford Review brand new. Their clothes are very well cut and made and this fits really nicely. I’m trying to be more professional-looking at work and I think this is a good start.
Simple Shift Dress – Again, I wasn’t sure about this one. I ‘don’t tend to wear a lot of shapeless stuff – it makes me look lumpy and sad. This dress is pretty shapeless, so I might wear it with a belt or just have it as a casual, bumming-around-the-house kind of dress. I do like the print though – nice and bright and Summery.
Maxi Dress – I suppose this isn’t technically a maxi dress…but I am short and so it is maxi on me 🙂 It sits really nicely and drapes well – I don’t usually wear clingy materials but this is ok. I liked the colours and pattern of the fabric. I’m not sure where I think I will be wearing it – it is fancier than what I would normally get, but will be a good standby if I suddenly become sociable and get invited to lots of soirees 🙂
Plain Office Dress – Hard to take a photo of plain black items, but this dress fits nicely and, other than my pudgy arms, is slimming. I will wear it with a coloured belt to break up the black and also to pretend I have a waist ha ha (I do, actually – it is the only part of my body I don’t complain about).
Sunny Girl Love Heart Dress – LOVE this dress! It’s so cute! I showed my friend last night and I had to wrench it out of her hands because she wanted it for herself. I love the heart print and the style of the dress – the skirt sits just right and isn’t too short, and I think I am just on the cusp of being too old to wear this style but I am going to wear it anyway, so there! I tried to find a similar one from Sunny Girl online last night but couldn’t…so my friend is out of luck ha ha. I think this cost me $2.50 – such a bargain 🙂
Blue and White Tiered Dress – This dress is SO eighties but when I tried it on it actually looked nice and I thought I would give it a go. The frills at the bottom actually hide my less-than-model-perfect thighs and backside and does a cute swirly thing if I jig about. It is cool and I love the print.
Print Dress – I REALLY liked this but it is way too small for me. The top part fitted fine which surprised me as it is a size 6 and I am so NOT a size 6 normally. But the bottom part – Jesus, I could barely get half a leg in it. So disappointing. I bought it anyway as I thought it would look great on my friend who is a size 6. She tried it on last night and couldn’t get in to it either. So I’m not sure what kind of woman-child hybrid person they think it is supposed to be worn by, but it made me feel better that maybe I’m not quite the heffalump I think I am. Having a little, skinny friend not fit into something you’ve also tried and failed at is a comfort. Anyway, I might see if I can make the dress in to a top as it fits fine there, and I have run out of tiny friends to offer it to. Please excuse car keys in the first photo – whoops…
Ruby & Kit Floral Backpack – gotta say, I am a bit in love with this little bag. It was brand new and un-used, plus I really like Ruby & Kit stuff. It will be my new op-shopping bag now – hands-free shopping! Could be dangerous actually… This was $7.25 which is more than I would normally pay but I liked it and it was something I have wanted for a while.
Review Lace-Detail Wrap Dress – now this wasn’t something I purchased (a friend at work gave it to me) but it came in at the same time as the op-shopping haul so I have included it. Love navy blue and the lace detail on the shoulders of this piece is so pretty. I am always wary of wrap dresses – they always seem to gape and threaten to come undone at inappropriate moments with me… However, this seemed to look ok and fit really nicely and I certainly wouldn’t have bought it brand new (because I am a tight-wad).

So, that’s just a bit of the haul I ended up bringing home (with serious buyer’s remorse/guilt, seeing as how it was just after Christmas and I probably didn’t need any more stuff…). I also got skirts and tops and narrowly avoided buying a clock…and a silver reindeer perfume bottle. I am now in self-imposed op-shop exile…no more shopping for me for a while. This is what I tell myself, anyway. You can all be my witnesses 🙂

Op Shopping Wins

October 19, 2015October 19, 2015 by violetannie63 ♥ 2 Comments

I’ve been a bit naughty with my spending these last couple of weeks. I hadn’t been shopping much for the last few months, mainly because I was trying to restore some of my savings after having to pay for my surgery. Besides that, I just wasn’t in the mood somehow. I’d walk into a shop and lose interest in it by the time I’d made it past the first rack of stuff. Even in op shops, which are normally a haven for me, I was disheartened and bored.

But that has all changed now, whether for the better or not. My bank balance would probably say “not”. I went op shopping a few times in the last ten days or so and picked up loads of things. Like, LOADS. A ridiculous amount of clothes (when I already have a wardrobe that is groaning under its own weight) and knick knacks. Let me give you an example of one shopping trip – in one store alone, I bought 6 skirts, three tops, a dress, a pair of shoes and a jumper. Like I said, ridiculous.

But I kinda let myself off because it is op shopping and so the prices are low and the money goes to charity. So, really, I am being very selfless and thrifty! Maybe?

So without further ado, here are a few of the items I bought this month:

A fabulous turquoise ring. It’s enormous. Who would wear this as a ring??? I just wanted it for its beads…it was only $1.00.

This good-quality, stoneware plant pot. With a hole in the bottom. I
hate it when pots have no drainage holes. It’s so annoying. It was $1.25, so even if it didn’t have a drainage hole, I would have bought it. It’s nice and solid and I think the green will go well with something that has some bright flowers, or variegated leaves that add contrast.

Stacks of magazines (teapot not included – I forgot to remove him before taking the photo) for 75c each. I love magazines but they are so expensive now. Why pay $10.00 for one when you can buy them for less than a dollar?

This pretty grey and white floral top was only $4.50. It’s a Portmans piece so would have been a lot more expensive than that originally. Portmans is a shop I don’t even walk in to – I can’t afford their normal prices. Because I am a tightwad basically.

Black and white sheer and lace skirt. This was $5.00 I think. The sheer layer over the top covers the shorter one underneath. I liked the lace details and the pattern.

Another skirt. Because I need them apparently. This one is just a basic pencil skirt, but I really like the small-print floral and it is very comfortable to wear, especially on fat days ha ha.

Um, another skirt. I am still trying to figure out if it is brown or purple. In the shop, I thought it was purple, then I got it home and decided it was actually brown. Now I am just confused. The lighting in my room is DREADFUL, so it could be bright green and I wouldn’t be able to tell. It was also $5.00. I liked the lace detail on the hem of this one also. It came with this horrible brooch/chain thingy that was made from lace and ribbons. Hideous. That came off straightaway.

Brown leather shoes. I don’t normally buy or wear leather, but I will make an exception if the item is second hand. I figure the damage has already been done to the poor animal. Me buying these shoes isn’t going to make a lick of difference in the long run. They’re a little big for me but comfortable and soft. I might end up giving them to my Mum, if my leather-guilt gets too bad. She has bigger feet than me so they will probably fit her better anyway.

Got this cute little brooch for $1.00. I looked the creator up online and the brooches normally retail for $30.00 each so I think I got a bargain. I don’t even know if I will wear her, but she might go on a bag or something. I might even re-gift her. I’m not opposed to re-gifting things, within reason. Don’t tell anyone…

I actually got this book from a 2nd-hand bookstore in Margaret River. I just liked the illustrations. It was $7.00, which is more than I would normally pay for anything, but I got sucked in by the pretty pictures inside.

These gorgeous yellow beads (from a huge necklace that was so heavy it could possibly give you scoliosis of the spine) were like a ray of sunshine to my yellow-bead-deprived heart. I am always looking for this kind of yellow. Not plastic or glass, I needed ceramic or clay ones. And here they are! And so many too! They’re hand made and so each bead is a little different to the next, which I kinda like. Although, if I am trying to make earrings from them, I will probably go insane trying to find a pair that matches. These were $5.75.

Finally (for this post anyway), this delightful little Stilton cheese pot. Love the shape and colours and overall design. I have no idea what I will keep in it. It will probably just be a display item on my bookshelves. It was only $3.00. I can even see me planting a succulent in it, although that would render the lid a bit redundant. I just liked it. It’s cute 🙂 So there.

So, just a few of things I bought this month. I am not quite sure where this spending frenzy is coming from but it is best not to fight it. That could get messy and lead to whining and possibly the over-consumption of cookies/cake/insert bad food of choice here. I think I am also sub-consciously putting off starting the process of buying a house. I have given myself a year to make a decision about it and the months are already dwindling away and I am no closer to even STARTING to think about it. Sigh. It’s too grown-up a decision for me to make without hyperventilating and coming out in hives. Op-shopping is safer and cheaper and downright nicer.

That’s my story and I am sticking to it,.

🙂

The Paper Wallflower

Craft, Words and Waffle by Violet Annie

Tag: clothes